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Do Factions Affect the Story in Dying Light 2? A Comprehensive Guide

The question of whether factions impact the storyline in Dying Light 2 is a common one among players navigating the infected streets of Villedor. The short answer is: Yes and No. While your faction choices don’t drastically alter the overarching narrative or lead to significantly different ending sequences, they do have a notable impact on the gameplay experience, district control, and side quests, while subtly coloring your personal journey through Villedor. Let’s delve into the nuances of this system and clear up the confusion.

How Faction Choices Influence Your Game

Gameplay Modifications

Choosing to align with either the Peacekeepers or the Survivors significantly alters the environment. Each faction provides unique upgrades and tools within the territories they control.

Survivors: Opting for the Survivors means you’ll experience Villedor with a focus on parkour and mobility. They implement traps, ziplines, and air vents that will allow you to easily navigate the rooftops and avoid street-level combat. This aligns with a playstyle that emphasizes stealth and quick getaways.
Peacekeepers: The Peacekeepers, on the other hand, implement combat-oriented upgrades. You’ll see more car traps, electrical fences, and potent cannons, leading to a more offensive approach, encouraging you to take on larger groups of infected and bandits head-on. Their approach favors direct confrontation.

Ideological Differences and Narrative Color

While the core story remains largely the same, choosing a faction will shape your character’s experience. The ideology of the faction aligns with your actions and how Villedor perceives your character.

Survivors: They represent a more chaotic and freedom-loving element within Villedor. Aligning with them showcases your more independent and anti-authoritarian traits. They are typically more interested in getting by and rebuilding, but not necessarily under any strong central control.
Peacekeepers: The Peacekeepers embody order and control, believing their harsh measures are necessary for survival. Siding with them portrays Aiden as someone more inclined to embrace a strict, military approach to law and order, despite the restrictions that come with it.

The Impact on District Control

When you assign a Facility (such as a Water Tower or Electrical Station) to a faction, you’re essentially handing them control of the surrounding districts. This control will affect the environmental layout, gameplay, and availability of certain side quests. This does not, however, influence the core story.

Side Quests and Character Interactions

Your faction alignment also subtly influences side quests and how NPCs perceive you. Characters aligned with your chosen faction may be more welcoming, while those belonging to the opposing faction might display more distrust or animosity.

No Significant Ending Variations

It is important to emphasize that while there are some minor variations in the immediate aftermath of key decisions based on your faction, these choices do not fundamentally alter the ending of Dying Light 2. The primary endings are determined by choices made in the final stages of the game, unrelated to district assignments and facility ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 commonly asked questions about factions and their impact in Dying Light 2:

Is it better to side with Peacekeepers or Survivors? There’s no definitive “better” faction. It depends on your playstyle. If you prefer parkour and avoiding fights, Survivors are best. If you like direct combat and laying waste to enemies, choose the Peacekeepers.
Does assigning facilities impact the main story? No, assigning facilities to either faction does not alter the main story’s path or ending. It mainly affects the gameplay environment within the controlled district.
Can you romance in Dying Light 2? No, there are no romance options in the game, although relationships with characters like Lawan are heavily implied to be more than just friendship.
Is Aiden in love with Lawan? The game often hints at romantic feelings between Aiden and Lawan, but it is never explicitly confirmed or developed into a romance due to the lack of romance system in the game.
How can you sleep with Thalia in Dying Light 2? After completing the Book Club quests, Thalia will invite Aiden to her apartment where you have the option to sleep with her.
Which faction is the best for combat? The Peacekeepers are the best faction for combat upgrades, offering car traps, electric fences, and other tools designed for fighting.
Are the Peacekeepers evil? They are not portrayed as inherently evil, but they are authoritarian and can be quite aggressive in their methods of enforcing law and order, often restricting freedoms of other factions.
Who murdered Lucas? Hakon killed Lucas on the orders of Waltz.
Can you save Birdie? Unfortunately, Birdie dies in the game. There are no actions you can take to save him.
Is there a gun in Dying Light 2? Yes, the Boomstick is the only firearm in the game. It’s obtained after completing the “Observatory” mission and purchasing the blueprint from a Peacekeeper craft-master vendor.
Which ending is the “good” ending in Dying Light 2? Letting Lawan detonate the bombs is considered the “good” ending. While Mia may die, you will save Villedor, and Lawan can be saved too depending on prior choices.
Do dialogue choices matter? Yes, yellow dialogue choices will advance the conversation, while white options only reveal additional details without moving forward. However, most choices will have limited long term impact.
Who should you assign the Water Tower to? It depends on your playstyle. Survivors provide movement bonuses, while Peacekeepers offer combat bonuses.
Should you save Aitor if you sided with the survivors? Yes, you should give Aitor the small petals from the Recluse Herb if you want to save him, despite any animosity that might exist.
What is the hardest enemy in Dying Light 2? Volatiles are the most dangerous infected, with incredible speed and strength, and are best avoided if possible.

Conclusion

While your chosen faction doesn’t dictate the core narrative or endings, the impact on your gameplay experience in Dying Light 2 is substantial. You are not making a decision on good or evil, but a decision on how you want to experience the world. Whether you prefer the acrobatic agility of the Survivors or the brutal efficiency of the Peacekeepers, your choice will define how you navigate and conquer the infected streets of Villedor. The lack of a direct story change ensures that you can explore both faction options during additional playthroughs and see how differently your experience will be without affecting the overall outcome of the game. So, choose a side, embrace the chaos (or order), and carve your own path through the decaying city.

Do factions affect the story in Dying Light 2?