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Content Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Fallout Season Two.
As the second season of Fallout (2024-) came to an end on February 3rd, many of the factions we love (and, in some instances, hate) have been drastically altered.1 The constant clash of ideologies in the desolate wasteland fuels a persistent power struggle, both internally and externally. Fans of both the show and the games have witnessed the transformations of these factions as far back as 1997.
This power struggle is one that fans have been eagerly following in the “Fallout” games. The critically acclaimed game series first released in 1997 and was developed initially by Interplay Studios and later by Bethesda Softworks. The games take place in an alternate retro-futuristic world in which the world ended in a nuclear Armageddon following a much longer Cold War.
While each faction in the wasteland has distinct beliefs and traditions, their goal of uniting (or conquering) Post-War America remains constant. But are they all really doomed to fail if war never changes? Ideology or adaptability is the key factor in who endures and who withers away.
The New California Republic — Expansion & Fragility
The New California Republic (NCR) is easily the most versatile of all the factions covered.2 Throughout the games, the NCR has been shown consistently growing in power, even establishing embassies in New Vegas and battling to take Hoover Dam.3 As a federal republic, the NCR’s goal is to restore the old world values of liberty and unification across the wasteland. This goal isn’t without its trials, as immense mismanagement and corruption run rampant throughout the republic
In the Fallout TV show, it is shown that the NCR has been nearly destroyed, with their capital city, Shady Sands, now only a crater. The people of the wasteland have mixed opinions, favoring the lesser of the two evils between the NCR and Caesar’s Legion, another prominent faction. The NCR was shown in a united yet fractured state at the end of season two, episode eight, and is met with cheers and an overall hopeful atmosphere.
Regardless of the destruction of Shady Sands, their main issue was their rapid expansion. The consistent misallocation of the resources they have led to their fragility and eventual diminishing control. The bear licks its wounds, and with the Legion en route to The Strip yet again, the question of who will end up on top that lingered in players’ minds sixteen years ago reappears.
The Brotherhood Of Steel — Tradition Vs Adaptation
The Brotherhood of Steel has always been struggling in regard to its goal of preserving pre-war technology. Many sects of the Brotherhood differ in how to achieve this goal and what is considered important technology. The last time the Brotherhood was seen in the timeline was 2015’s “Fallout 4,” on the East Coast. The West Coast chapter, however, was at its weakest. While the east chapter flourished, the west was confined to a bunker in Hidden Valley after their defeat at Helios One by the NCR.
As the show revealed, the reason the West Coast Brotherhood shrank was because of their rigidity. While the East Coast expanded and adapted to each of its territories, the traditionalist ways of the West led to a lack of growth, both internally and externally.
Now we see the Brotherhood chapters in an all out civil war and the growing threat that is the plan to construct Liberty Prime in the post credits of the season finale. Before that, the soldiers of the Western Brotherhood seemed more akin to those of fraternity members as opposed to true soldiers. It seems that this internal conflict will overflow into season three, and the question of adaptability remains uncertain.
Caesar’s Legion — An Empire Without Its Caesar
The Legion is the antithesis of the NCR, taking a more primal and tribal approach to their rule. Created by Edward Sallow after being tasked by the Followers of the Apocalypse to study the tribes to the east. Sallow ended up training and teaching these tribes, uniting 87 tribes into a mass empire based on the Roman Empire.
The Legion was last seen as a formidable threat to not only the NCR, but the entire wasteland (Strip included). Their brutal practices of enslavement and crucifixion struck fear into the people of the Mojave, and they put up a good fight at the first Battle of Hoover Dam. So now returning to the Legion in season two in complete disarray is immensely confusing.
Just as the true ancient empire of Rome, the Legion is shown in a civil war over who the next Caesar is. A physical boundary was made between each camp with Caesar’s skeleton in the middle, carrying the name of the successor to the Empire. This drives the loyal followers into blood fueled disarray.
Upon Lacerta Legate (Macaulay Kulkin) getting access to the name on the body, it reads, “I am Caesar. I am the Legion. It dies with me,” stating that the Empire has reached its natural conclusion.4 Lacerta, however, kills the only witness to the note and destroys it. While stopping the civil war, he has now crowned himself Caesar and marches on The Strip with what little men they have left.
The failure to accept Caesar’s last wish will surely lead the Legion down a blood fueled path. As they march into the unknown, the question is whether they will not only survive the battle, but stabilize their once great empire.
The Enclave — America’s Shadow Government
The Enclave, much like the United States government at the time, resides in secrecy.5 With its founding by the President shortly after the bombs dropped, it is dedicated to restoring America. However, in the opposite sense of a faction with the same goal, such as the NCR, they take a more authoritarian approach. With their last big mention being in 2008’s “Fallout 3,” in which they attempt to cleanse the wasteland of unfavored (irradiated) individuals and creatures.
After their crushing defeats (now on both coasts via events of 1998’s “Fallout 2”), the Enclave seemed to have retreated their remnants to an unknown location.
The Enclave is generally considered (alongside the Legion) as the “big bad” of the wasteland, but their stubborn nature weakens them. This is most evident in the end events in “Fallout 3,” where their facade of structure crumbles as the Brotherhood marches against them. As of the events of the Fallout season two finale, it is confirmed that The Enclave is not only back, but is also more involved in the Vaults than initially foreseen.
Survival In The Wasteland — Adapt Or Collapse?
The many factions in Fallout demonstrate that no matter how big or small a group is, it can still crumble or triumph under the sway of a single person. This false narrative of a collective being able to unite everyone in the wasteland through might and tradition is crippling. The only factions that have a semblance of hope in their future are the ones willing to take the extra step, embracing the new world, with its flaws and all.
In a perfect world, this would be achievable; however, as we’ve seen, the single constant is war. Someone will always disagree, someone will always be greedy, and someone will always find a weakness.
Footnotes
- Revelle, Chris. “‘fallout’ Season 2 Ending Explained and Season 3.” Pajiba, February 6, 2026. ↩︎
- Walsh, Michael. “The History of Fallout’s New California Republic.” Nerdist, April 26, 2024.
↩︎ - First Battle of Hoover Dam | Fallout Wiki | Fandom. Accessed February 9, 2026.
↩︎ - Dornetto, Karey. “Fallout The Strip.” Episode. 2, no. 8, February 3, 2026.
↩︎ - Rusak, Rotem. “Macaulay Culkin’s Legion Character Gets Promoted on Fallout Season 2’s Finale.” Nerdist, February 4, 2026.
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