Warlords

In a city of ruins, the Warlords write the law with iron and blood.

The Warlords are a warrior-focused faction in Wasteland 3, the 2020 role-playing game developed by inXile Entertainment. As a faction, the Warlords represent a martial, survivalist philosophy in a landscape where organized governance has broken down. They are defined by their emphasis on combat prowess, territorial control, and the belief that strength is the primary currency of the wasteland. The player's interactions with them shape the political and military balance of Colorado Springs throughout the campaign.

Quick Facts

Setting: Post-apocalyptic Colorado Springs

Lore & Background

The Warlords emerged from this chaos as a collective of fighters who rejected the softness of trade, faith, or scavenging in favor of direct, physical dominance. Their territory is marked by fortified positions and a culture that prizes combat skill above all other measure. To them, the old world's institutions are ash, and the only legitimate authority is the one that can be enforced by a raised weapon. Their philosophy is not purely nihilistic. The Warlords maintain a rough internal code: protect the weak members of their own ranks, honor a challenge once accepted, and never break a sworn word. What they lack in diplomacy or long-range planning they compensate for with sheer tactical aggression and a willingness to fight that other factions find unsettling. The Warlords' relationship with the Rangers—the player's squad—depends heavily on the choices made throughout Wasteland 3. They can be persuaded, fought, or left to their own devices, and each path reshapes the final political landscape of the city. Their warriors appear as both adversaries and potential allies, and their internal politics provide a recurring thread of conflict and negotiation across the campaign.

Reader's Guide

They are not part of the player's Ranger squad but function as one of the key power blocs the squad must navigate, negotiate with, or oppose. Their role in the story centers on the broader power struggle for control of the city. The Warlords control fortified territory and project military force, making them a constant presence in the political landscape. Missions tied to them often involve territorial disputes, challenges to their authority, or requests for military support against rival factions. In combat, Warlord warriors are generally aggressive and well-armed, favoring direct engagement. Encounters with them tend to be more intense than skirmishes with scavenger-type enemies. The player can recruit or confront individual Warlord fighters depending on the path chosen. Branching choices tied to the Warlords affect the endgame: siding with them, opposing them, or maintaining neutrality each produce different outcomes for the city's final state. Dialogue options and quest decisions early in the campaign set the tone for later interactions. The Warlords are specific to Wasteland 3. The earlier titles, Wasteland (1988) and Wasteland 2 (2014), feature different faction structures and do not include this group by name.

Did You Know?

Wasteland 3, in which the Warlords appear, was developed by inXile Entertainment, though the original 1988 Wasteland was created by Interplay Productions.
The Warlords' territory and influence in Colorado Springs shift based on player choices, meaning the faction's final status is not fixed.
The Warlords represent one of several competing power groups in Wasteland 3, reflecting the game's theme of fractured post-apocalyptic governance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Warlords in Wasteland 3?

They are a militant, warrior-centric faction operating in the post-apocalyptic ruins of New Vegas. As a major player-interactable group, they hand out missions and react to the choices you make across the campaign.

What philosophy drives the Warlords?

Their creed is blunt: in a world where institutions have crumbled, raw combat ability and territorial dominance are what actually count. To them, strength is the only currency that still holds value in the wasteland.

How do the Warlords affect the player's campaign?

Your decisions regarding them ripple through the political and military balance of the city. The game offers branching outcomes depending on whether you ally with, oppose, or otherwise engage the faction.

What role do the Warlords play in the city of New Vegas?

With no functioning government left, they impose their own order through force, effectively ruling their territory by the sword. Their presence makes them one of the key power players the player must navigate throughout the story.