Factions

The Factions of the Arena

Deathmatch is more than just a competition—it's a clash of fundamentally different ideologies, technologies, and fighting styles. In the arenas of Mars and Earth, fearless machines face battle-hardened humans, highly specialized cyborgs, and alien warriors with centuries of combat culture. Each faction brings its own history, its own aesthetic, and a distinctive way of fighting. Whether perfectly networked robots, disciplined human task forces, brutally specialized cyborgs, or the honor-driven close combatants of the Aiudi – no two factions play like each other. Together, they form the heart of the arena and make every fight a unique spectacle.

Phalanx

The Phalanx arena teams are recruited from the armed forces of the corporate world. Security guards, mercenaries, and soldiers, who often leave active service at a young age, find a new purpose in Deathmatch. Some were discharged honorably, others dishonorably or politically dropped – for many, the arena is the last chance to use skills that no longer have a place outside of combat. Former Migun soldiers, security personnel from Barkal or Wölund, specialists from GASAG, or representatives of the Memor compete against each other in changing teams. What unites them is experience in armed combat and the willingness to risk everything once again. Deathmatch offers them fame, income, and social visibility—and provides companies with a stage to showcase their fighters and technologies. The Phalanx's success is based on cooperation and diversity. Equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry from the corporations' workshops and laboratories, they operate as a closed combat formation. They bear their name with pride: like an ancient phalanx, they stand shoulder to shoulder, covering each other and pushing back their opponents through coordinated pressure.
The arrival of humans in the arenas fundamentally changed deathmatch. The fights became bloody, and the spectators' enthusiasm became more fanatical. After initial attempts at suppression failed, the Twelve decided to regulate human participation and exploit it economically. Today, human and mixed teams are the figureheads of corporations, stars of the arenas, and at the same time advertising media, propaganda instruments, and testing grounds for new technologies.

Anaimaktos

Robots were the first combatants in deathmatch arenas. As early as 2140, workers in the Mars colonies began building primitive fighting machines from scrap metal and waste from the Wölund facilities and secretly pitting them against each other. Despite strict prohibitions by the Migun troops, a thriving underground operation quickly developed. Rivalries between residential complexes led to organized teams, class struggles, and constant technical advancement. After years of futile repression, Migun recognized the benefits of the fights for morale and control of the workforce and finally allowed the competitions. Legalization was followed by arenas, sponsors, and corporate teams—deathmatch was born. Modern combat robots have little in common with their primitive predecessors. Simple tools gave way to sophisticated weaponry, rigid constructions to flexible, often multi-legged platforms with advanced power supplies and adaptive AI. Today, the term “robot” covers a broad spectrum: from simple machines to drones, guns, and support units to extremely mobile, humanoid weapon platforms.
Their greatest strength is their complete interconnectedness. All units in a team share information in real time and coordinate their actions with maximum efficiency. The fact that they feel no fear or pain and cannot die earned them the name Anáimaktos – “the bloodless ones” – and made them the morally accepted foundation of Deathmatch competitions. However, with the increasing development of their AI and the emergence of alien robot systems, their future remains unpredictable.

Organon

Of all the factions in Deathmatch, the Organon cyborgs are the most directly designed for combat. They combine human fighting spirit, intuition, and ingenuity with the precision, resilience, and ruthlessness of machines. Depending on the degree of modification, they are either human machines or machine humans—but every Organon fighter must have at least three technical enhancements permanently attached to their body. Artificial limbs with enormous strength or reach are just as common as sensor-enhanced sensory organs or reinforced skin and bone structures. Organon teams not only serve the purpose of competition, but also as a testing ground for new technologies, especially for corporations such as Hachiman or Apcot. What works in the arena later finds its way into the civilian market. Accordingly, many recruits come from the ranks of injured members of other teams, disabled veterans, accident victims, or even convicts – people to whom the corporations offer a second chance in exchange for their bodies.
Since deathmatch is primarily a spectator sport, many augmentations are deliberately spectacular. Gold-plated hydraulic fists, massive jump prostheses, firmly bolted exoskeletons, or limbs converted into weapons are just as much a part of the Organon aesthetic as heavily armored body segments with integrated weaponry. Function and presentation go hand in hand. The fighting style of an Organon team is strongly determined by the specializations of its members. The more extensive the modifications, the clearer the role in combat. Heavily augmented fighters take on clearly defined tasks, while more flexibly modified cyborgs form the backbone of the team, providing fire support or coordinating attacks. Organon teams operate as precisely coordinated units of specialized weapons.

Shelzahav

For the Aiudi, contact with humanity marked the end of centuries of flight. Around 500 Earth years earlier, they had left their home planet Aiud-Kal to escape a cosmic catastrophe. Earth had already been identified as a possible new home, and only the expedition, which was confirmed from a Mars station in 2250, could safely report their arrival – in the hope that the news would still reach those left behind. The name of the association of Aiudian fighters in the Deathmatches is derived from a basic concept of their military organizational structure. The word loosely translates as “sword arm” and describes the strict division of a unit or team into different areas of responsibility. The arm of the Shelzahavs is made up of specialized soldiers who intervene from the background and support the rest of the squad in the attack. The hand is formed by one or two higher-ranking warriors who wield the actual sword with their experience and extensive tactical training.
This, in turn, consists of two parts: the blade and the basket. The soldiers of the blade are the ones who attack the enemy in close combat, often heavily armored and armed or even genetically enhanced for this role. They always make up the vast majority of the Shelzahav, which has been tested in countless competitions and wars alike. The fighters of the basket form the minority of a Shelzahav and serve in defensive roles, protecting their comrades and, above all, their organizationally brilliant but less combat-proficient leaders from counterattacks and surprise attacks by the enemy. The Aiudi are tough opponents with brutal, efficient weaponry, powerful armor, and a penchant for dramatic duels, which quickly earned them many fans in the deathmatch world after they were admitted to competitions. Facing an Aiudi is the ultimate challenge for any close-combat fighter, and the growing number of Shelzahav teams promises to take the sport of Deathmatch in a new and exciting direction.

Heroes of the games

The deathmatch arenas are not only the scene of teams and factions, but also of individual careers. Many of the most famous fighters started out as freelancers, fighting for different clients and only making a name for themselves through spectacular performances before being signed by major teams. Others started their careers in permanent teams, but only perfected their style after switching to new factions or organizations. Players are traded, bought, and sold—a process that benefits not only the teams, but also the fighters themselves. Each change opens up the opportunity to learn new tactics, equipment, and ways of thinking. They bring these experiences to their future teams, shaping the style of entire teams. Many of these veterans are highly celebrated stars, the faces of the sport and crowd favorites. Some remain in the spotlight for years, while others fade more quickly. But even those whose glory fades retain their value: thanks to their experience, many heroes of the arena are able to fight across factions and fit effectively into a wide variety of teams.

Deathmatch 2 Spieler Starterbox

Mögen die Spiele beginnen! Dieses Set ist der perfekte Einstieg in die Welt von Deathmatch! Inhalt: 5 Figuren der Fraktion Phalanx (Argonauten) aus Photoresin 5 Figuren der Fraktion Anaimaktos (Firewall) aus Photoresin 1 Regelbuch Profilkarten (Set 1 komplett) 2 RNG-Decks Deathmatch Schablonen (Papier zum selber Schneiden) 2 Deathmatch Markerset (35x) 1 Schnellreferenz Die Miniaturen sind unbemalt und müssen noch zusammengabaut werden. Nicht geeignet für Kinder unter 14 Jahren.

€89.95

Starterbox - Phalanx (Argonauten)

Contents: 5 metal models 1x Strategos 1x Peltast with shotgun 1x Hoplit with energy fist 1x Prometheus 1x Artemis 5 bases (30mm) 5 profile cards Models supplied unassembled and unpainted. This is not a toy. Not suitable for children under 14 years.

€29.95

Starterbox - Anaimaktos (Firewall)

Contents: 5 metal models 1x KMN-D3R 1x GN5-L1N-6R 1x LNG-5WRD 1x L4-SR 1x KN-16HT 5 plastic bases (30mm) 5 profile cards Models supplied unassembled and unpainted. This is not a toy. Not suitable for children under 14 years.

€29.95

Starterbox - Organon (Icarus Protocol)

The Organon team is not a force for generalists – each unit is a specialist, created for a specific purpose. Every unit is tailored to a particular role and executes it with deadly efficiency – their mix of overwhelming close-combat power, devastating ranged support, and tactical control makes them an unpredictable opponent that ruthlessly exploits any weakness of the enemy. Contents: 5 resin models 1x Pyro 1x Corrosia 1x Aegitron 1x Pulsar 1x Juggernaut 5 profil cards 5 plastic bases (30mm) Model supplied unassembled and unpainted. Safety information: This is not a toy. Not suitable for children under 14 years. Resin dust can irritate the lungs and airways and may contain harmful substances. Using a filter mask is advisable. Work in a well-ventilated area. Resin residue on 3D printed models can be hazardous and cause skin irritation. Clean thoroughly before assembly. Wearing gloves is advisable.Detailed safety information.

€29.95