The four playable Clans at a glance
Each Clan lives in its own territory within the Lake Territories. The terrain descriptions below come from Steam and the PlayStation Store, which agree with each other. Each Clan's campaign is shaped by its own culture and conflicts. The trailer above also advertises four storylines and a choice of Clan.
The table compares setting and campaign only. It does not list stat bonuses or difficulty, because no comparison numbers have been published. Treat it as a guide to each Clan's identity. Each Clan has its own section below.
| Clan | Territory | Campaign |
|---|---|---|
| ThunderClan | Dense forest | Own story campaign |
| RiverClan | Marshlands | Own story campaign |
| ShadowClan | Pine swamps | Own story campaign |
| WindClan | Open moors | Own story campaign |
ThunderClan
ThunderClan's territory is dense forest. It is one of the four campaign choices, with its own story. Fans of the books will recognize it as a familiar Clan, but this game tells an original story. The forest setting is the classic Warriors image for many readers.
You play an original cat, not a character from the novels. The developer confirms the protagonist is created by the player. No ThunderClan stat sheet or opening quest list has been published. Our ThunderClan guide covers what is confirmed in more detail.
RiverClan
RiverClan lives in the marshlands. Its campaign has its own story, shaped by the Clan's culture and conflicts. The wetland setting sets it apart from the forest and moor Clans. It is the only Clan territory described as marshland.
No RiverClan-specific abilities or stat bonuses were published. Any claim of a special defensive bonus is not supported by official sources. Choose RiverClan if its setting and story appeal to you. We will add tested details after launch.
ShadowClan
ShadowClan's territory is pine swamps, a darker woodland setting. Like the others, it has its own campaign. Its story follows the Clan's own culture and conflicts. The mood of its home sets it apart from the brighter forest and moor.
Official materials describe the setting, not specific mechanics for this Clan. We found no verified ShadowClan bonuses. Marketing words such as cunning are flavor rather than stats. We will add tested details after launch.
WindClan
WindClan roams the open moors. It has its own story campaign, set in the most open terrain of the four territories. The setting contrasts with the dense forest and swamps. Wide landscapes give its campaign a different feel.
Claims that WindClan always acts first in battle are not verified. No turn-order rules were published for any Clan. Treat such claims with caution until tested. As with every Clan, choose it for its story and setting.
What your Clan choice changes
In the IGN interview, the developer says Clan choice influences your base stats, along with level and training. No numbers comparing the Clans were provided. So we cannot say which Clan is strongest. Any ranking published before launch is opinion.
Your Clan also decides which campaign you play and which territory you call home. That is the most visible difference at the start. Quests and favor come from your Clan, too. Our best Clan page explains why no ranking exists yet.
| Area | Effect of Clan choice |
|---|---|
| Story | Decides which of the four campaigns you play |
| Territory | Sets your home landscape |
| Base stats | Affected, together with level and training (developer) |
| Relative strength | Not published |
Shared systems across every Clan
All four Clans use the same core gameplay. You hunt, explore, take on quests, craft items and customize your den. Exploration includes scent tracking, climbing and environmental puzzles. Completing quests earns favor with your Clan.
Combat is turn-based for every Clan, with up to three cats per side and 75 unlockable moves. Stances, Clan techniques, enemy weaknesses and ancestor attacks shape each fight. Which techniques belong to which Clan was not listed. Our combat guide explains the shared system.
StarClan, SkyClan and other groups
StarClan appears through spiritual guidance and ancestor attacks in combat. That does not make it a playable campaign. The four selectable Clans remain ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan and WindClan. StarClan's role is spiritual rather than playable.
No SkyClan campaign was verified. The novels include more groups than the game's playable roster, so do not import the full book list. The Moonpool and the Island are sacred locations, not Clans. Our map page lists all six locations.
The Clans and the sacred places
Besides the four Clan territories, the Lake Territories contain two sacred destinations: the Moonpool and the Island. Official stores list them alongside the territories as the game's six locations. They are shared places rather than any one Clan's home. What happens at each one was not detailed in our sources.
Their presence connects to StarClan's spiritual role in the game. StarClan guides the Clans and appears in combat through ancestor attacks. That gives every Clan a link to the same spiritual world. Our map page covers all six locations.
Choosing your first Clan
Because no Clan is confirmed to be stronger, choose by setting and story. Think about which landscape you want to spend your first campaign in. Forest, marsh, pine swamp and moor each give a different atmosphere. Your choice also decides which story you see first.
You are not locked out of the other stories, since each Clan has its own campaign. Exactly how switching works will be confirmed after launch. Our best Clan page explains the decision in more detail. The beginner guide covers the rest of your first steps.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Clans can you play?
- Four: ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan and WindClan. Each has its own story campaign. They are confirmed by the publisher and the official stores.
- Can you play as SkyClan?
- No SkyClan campaign was verified. The playable roster is the four lake Clans. We will update this page if that changes.
- Can you switch Clans later?
- Each Clan has its own campaign, so you can play another Clan's story. How saves and characters work across campaigns was not published. We will explain it after launch.
- Is StarClan playable?
- No, StarClan appears through spiritual guidance and ancestor attacks. It is not a selectable campaign. The playable Clans are the four lake Clans.
- Which Clan has the forest territory?
- ThunderClan's territory is dense forest. RiverClan has marshland, ShadowClan has pine swamps and WindClan has open moors. These come from official store descriptions.
- Does each Clan play differently?
- Each Clan has its own campaign, and Clan choice affects base stats. The combat system is shared by all Clans. Clan-specific techniques were not listed in detail.
Sources and further reading
- Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest — Steam
- Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest — PlayStation Store
- Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest — Trailmark Games
- Official Release Date Trailer — IGN on YouTube (September 1, 2026)
- The big Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest interview — IGN (September 1, 2026)