Root Riverfolk Expansion Guide: Riverfolk Company & Lizard Cult
Root: The Riverfolk Expansion adds two highly interactive factions—the Riverfolk Company and Lizard Cult—plus additional Vagabond options and support for games with more factions in the Woodland.
What Riverfolk adds
- Riverfolk Company faction
- Lizard Cult faction
- Three additional Vagabond variants
- Components that help support games up to six players
- Mechanical Marquise material in the original expansion package
Riverfolk Company
The Riverfolk Company is a merchant faction. Other players can buy services from it, giving the Riverfolk funds that are then used to take actions.
Its economy depends on making services attractive enough that opponents spend warriors with the Company without giving them too much value in return.
Riverfolk services
The Company can monetize access to cards, river movement and military help. Pricing is a public strategic decision, so the faction creates negotiation and table politics that most Root factions do not have.
Lizard Cult
The Lizard Cult spreads gardens and converts enemy pieces rather than relying on a conventional action economy. Its actions are strongly shaped by card suits and by the current Outcast suit.
Lost warriors become Acolytes, which can be spent on powerful conspiracies tied to the Outcast. That makes losses and enemy aggression potential fuel rather than purely setbacks.
Why Riverfolk changes table interaction
Both factions care unusually strongly about opponents’ decisions. Riverfolk wants customers; the Lizards want useful card suits, Outcast conditions and opportunities to convert pressure into Acolytes.
Player count
Leder Games lists the expansion for games up to six players when combined with Root. Higher-player-count Root is possible, but turns and board congestion naturally increase.
Who should add Riverfolk?
Choose Riverfolk when your group enjoys negotiation and unusual faction economies. It is especially attractive at higher player counts where Riverfolk has more potential customers and the Woodland is densely contested.
Related guides
Publisher sources
Expansion details checked September 2026.