Faction – a faction is any group or any individual that you may attempt to do quests for, etc. For example, the Cenarion Circle, Thorium Brotherhood, or Zandalar Tribe.

Reputation – what you earn when completing certain quests or killing certain enemies in order to gain favor with some factions. (Gaining reputation with some factions allows you to purchase items that are unavailable to other players. Building reputation also opens up some unique quests, usually with impressive item rewards, that are similarly unavailable to others.)

Now that you know the difference, don’t you feel a little bit smarter? I know I do. So, throughout the rest of this little guide, when I start talking about reputation or faction you’ll know what I am talking about.

There are many factions in game that you can work for. Some of them are common, and some of them are not so obvious. I’m going to do my best to list them all here for you. If I miss a few, don’t be concerned; that’s what updates are for!

Factions do not appear automatically on your character’s reputation pane. However, every time you encounter a new faction group, it shows on your character reputation page. The moment that occurs you can begin building your reputation with them.

If you press ‘U’ on your keyboard it will bring up your reputation pane. On this pane is a list of factions that you have earned reputation with, or are at war against. It can also be brought up when you open up your character pane (‘C’) and click on the ‘Reputation’ tab. This tab also includes a ‘mouse-over’ detail. Just mouse over the reputation bubble and it will display how much further you need to go in order to go up to the next reputation level.

If you’re Horde, like myself, the pane should have a list of main factions, for example: Horde, Horde Forces, Steamwheedle Cartel and Other. For Alliance players, these factions are Alliance, Alliance Forces, Steamwheedle Cartel and Other. Under each faction heading are sub-factions. For instance, the Steamwheedle Cartel consists of four individual groups: Booty Bay, Everlook, Gadgetzan and Ratchet. Take note that these particular ones are all related: they’re all goblins.

The sub-factions of course grow in number as you grow in level and encounter new mobs. In addition to the main, well-known factions that you may have by the time you reach level 60, I’ll be including ones that are not as well known. Of course, with the expansion only a few months away, numerous new factions will be added to the game. However, lets continue in the present and begin with our current factions, shall we? Please also keep in mind that I am doing my best in listing all items that are received from class quests and vendors, but these are subject to constant change. I am likely to miss some, but I’m getting paid in rupees, so what more do you expect?

Okay, gaining reputation with various factions has its benefits and rewards. As you complete quests given by these factions, or kill their enemies, you are able to gain favor with them. Gaining reputation with these factions is important, because it may be the only way to purchase those much sought after alchemy recipes or blacksmithing plans that you will be unable to purchase anywhere else. In fact, sometimes you may not even use a recipe or plan unless you’ve become exalted or revered with a particular faction. Gaining reputation with your Horde or Alliance factions is important too, as it saves you money on flight travel. Neutral status can give you a flight fee of one silver and some copper, however you bring that rep up to friendly or revered, even exalted, and your cost of using the windriders or gryphons decreases by a silver or so. Interesting huh?

Listed below are the different reputation levels. Generally speaking, you start out as neutral with most factions; gaining friendly takes some effort, but it’s not excessive. Honored is a bit more challenging; revered and exalted are monumental accomplishments requiring tremendous effort.

Exalted The highest level of reputation attainable with any faction.
Revered Special reputation level reserved for heroes.
Honored 10% discount on bought items from vendors.
Friendly Standard reputation level which gives access to certain vendor items.
Neutral Standard reputation level for factions that are not on a players list and are not KOS (Kill on Sight).
Unfriendly Cannot buy, sell or interact, but are not KOS either. Isn’t that a real peach?
Hostile KOS, there’s no coming back from this one folks.
Hated KOS (all opposing team factions are set on this level).

As I’m sure you have guessed, affecting one faction can ripple through and affect any and all factions that are connected. For example, killing a goblin in Booty Bay will anger and affect the goblins in Ratchet and Gadgetzan. (Have you ever wondered what the “At War” checkbox does? Have some fun; experiment with this fun feature). When you are neutral in any faction, meaning they are yellow in color to you, just check off the “At War” box and watch how fast they turn red and then how fast you die. It’s funny. You should really try it. No? Go ahead, it's ok, I got your back. What? You don’t trust me? Awe, my heart is hurt.

You may find yourself asking about a particular faction, “how can I improve my reputation?” Well, there’s really only one of two ways: complete quests and kill certain mobs. Its that easy. At the end of this guide, I will give you a list of factions and their affiliates, so that way, you’ll think twice before killing any reputation destroying mobs by accident.