Meet Farx Zonas, a Roman politician with aspirations of running for the Senate. His problem? A tainted family name, thanks to a corrupt father. His solution? Blood, spectacle, and public redemption through the gladiator pits. In this run, your goal is to gain 90% favor with three of the four patrons, using cunning, combat, and crowd-pleasing antics to sway public opinion in your favor.

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Opening Strategy: Trade the Jug, Train the Body

You begin with a valuable fancy jug, and if you didn’t already know, it’s worth thousands of gold. Sell it immediately to give yourself a hefty gold buffer right out of the gate. This is critical for:

• Buying your first strong weapon (e.g., a warhammer).
• Starting early training, especially in stamina and movement.

Also note: as a politician, you have permanent access to bodyguards, which adds a unique edge in early team fights and helps offset risk in boss battles.

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First Kill, First Impressions

A simple 1v1 or team fight is ideal for warming up. With bodyguards by your side, aim to let them tank while you dish out damage—or vice versa, depending on your weapon. The warhammer works wonders early if you aim low and avoid the enemy’s helmet.

Also: don’t forget to buy Seal of Approval early. It grants passive favor gains after fights—a crucial tool when juggling three patron relationships.

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Managing Patron Favor

Your entire victory hinges on this system. The key facts:

• You must reach 90% favor with three patrons.
• Gaining favor with one often reduces favor with others.
• Bribery becomes essential—but expensive.

Tip: Pick one patron (like Alaur) to completely tank if needed, so you can focus on the other three.

How to Gain Favor Effectively:

• Tournaments and draft missions grant wide patron support.
• Spoils fights give you money (and sometimes weapons) for future bribes.
• Bribe patrons when your gold allows it—ideally when they’re close to the 90% line.

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Boss Battles and Elite Fights

This run features several intense encounters, like:

• The Captain Boss: Armed and armored, but defeated through stunlock tactics and ally support.
• 3v5s and 1v8s: Huge payout, high risk. Leverage the Claw weapon, a high-damage slicer perfect for crowd control.

Even in a suicidal 1v8, Farx came out on top using strategy, positioning, and stamina management. These moments were essential not just for gold and gear, but for the favor boost tied to difficult matches.

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Favorite Gear and Builds

• Claw Weapon: Insane cleave damage; useful for 1vMany scenarios.
• Heavy Armor + Large Shield: A late-game investment that enables you to survive even the deadliest encounters.
• Training Focus: Prioritize stamina and dashing to keep mobile and recover quickly.

Farx’s ability to switch weapons mid-fight and use the environment (traps, pillars, audience throws) proved crucial in boss fights and survival battles.

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Draft Battles and Army Glory

A highlight of the run was participating in a draft battle, part of the game’s newer updates. It offered a perfect narrative moment: the politician defends the Republic, gains favor, and earns glory as a soldier.

Notable moments:

• Cleaved through enemy soldiers like a Roman chainsaw.
• Competed alongside a towering captain.
• Secured kills in rapid succession to maintain crowd momentum.

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Late-Game Favor Juggling

This is where the run nearly falls apart. A string of critical bribery failures, even at 95% success chance, nearly derailed the victory. But through patience, clutch fighting, and a miraculous final 1v8 win, Farx clawed his way back into favor.

Final Tips for Favor Mastery:

• Save bribes until your patrons are in the 80–90% range for best efficiency.
• Avoid overlapping favor loss with risky matches unless the payout is crucial.
• Use expensive loot (like fancy jugs or boss weapons) to fund bribes or shop for upgrades.

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Victory Achieved: Running for Office

After 20 victories, 66 kills, and more than 4,000 damage dealt, Farx Zonas earned his demigod victory. The final reward? The ability to “Run for Office”—a button that symbolically concludes the campaign.

Farx began as a tarnished noble but left the arena as a crowd-favorite hero, blood-soaked and Senate-bound. Whether he becomes a just ruler or slips into corruption is for history to decide.

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Conclusion: A Gladiator’s Path to Power

The Politician run is one of the most strategic and chaotic in We Who Are About to Die. It’s not about survival or gold—it’s about manipulating public perception, dodging RNG, and earning redemption in the eyes of the crowd. With patience, showmanship, and a good hammer, you can cleanse your family name and become the golden son of the Senate.