Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora introduces three brand-new clans to the Avatar universe: the Aranahe, Zeswa, and Kame’tire. Each tribe calls one of the Western Frontier’s three biomes – Kinglor Forest, Upper Plains, and Clouded Forest, respectively – home. Ingratiating yourself with each one by learning their ways is an important step in your journey to reclaim your Na’vi culture, as well as garnering enough support to push back against the exploitative mining of the villainous RDA.
For a heads-up on what to expect as you try to warm up to each clan, here’s a breakdown of the culture and personality.
Aranahe
The first clan you encounter resides in the Kinglor Forest. Like the Omatikaya clan from the first film, the Aranahe live in a Hometree and have a symbiotic relationship with Kinglor, large moth-like creatures. That’s because the clan primarily consists of weavers and artisans, so these Na’vi rely on the Kinglor’s silk to create extravagant and intricate fabrics. The silk’s strong fiber is also applied to weapon crafting, such as making powerful bow strings. In return for these gifts, the Aranahe serve as caretakers for the Kinglor.
Unfortunately, this balance becomes disrupted by the RDA’s presence in the area, and one of your first tasks is restoring this way of life. Rallying the clan to retaliate won’t be easy, though. The Aranahe’s refined tastes mean they have a proud, somewhat superior attitude. When you initially meet them, their leader, Kan’nat, is in a bit of denial about the dire situation and distrusts you and the resistance, burying his head in the sand to the chagrin of his rebellious daughter, Etuwa.
Nonetheless, the Aranahe is a peaceful and orderly tribe that values consensus over individual needs.
Zeswa
This colorful, boisterous, and ferocious warrior clan roam the hilly grasslands of the Upper Plains. Their eagerness for battle means that, unlike the Aranahe, they seek out the player’s help in fighting RDA. You can easily spot their settlements thanks to their large, colorful kites that soar overhead thanks to the Upper Plains’ perpetually windy environment.
The Zeswa are nomadic due to the fact that they travel alongside large, docile creatures called zakru. These peaceful, elephant-like animals produce milk that forms the basis of the Zeswa’s diet. Zakru rarely move and survive by burying their trunks underground to feed on bacteria in the earth. The Zeswa’s tents are pitched on and around their stationary bodies to shield them from the Upper Plains’ powerful winds. When the zakru finally move on, which developer Massive describes as a once-in-a-generation occurrence, the clan moves with them.
According to narrative designer Chella Ramanan, Massive looked at Kenya’s Maasai tribe as a primary influence for the Zeswa. This is reflected in the Zeswa’s hues of red and yellow for their fabrics and their beautiful braided hairstyles that sometimes resemble horns. These Na’vi love to have fun as much as they love to fight. According to Ramanan, they’ll even welcome you with a party once you prove yourself to them as a capable warrior.
Kame’tire
Search well enough and you’ll find this secretive tribe hidden within the foggy depths of the Clouded Forest. Reclusive, introverted, and as mysterious as their home, the Kame’tire are expert apothecaries and herbalists. Their intimate knowledge and appreciation for plant life is also reflected in their organic clothing. That includes imposing armor made through wood shaping, the art of softening and sculpting wood into different shapes.
Befitting the nature of the clan, Massive was the most cagey about sharing specifics for the Kame’tire. We do know that no one has seen the clan for some time, as they’ve chosen to live in self-seclusion. Personality-wise, Ramanan describes the Kame’tire as “moody,” “suspicious,” and “a bit brutish” compared to the other two clans, and they are not eager warriors. They would rather conceal the things they value than physically defend them. Most of all, the Kame’tire are renowned caretakers and, despite their wariness of outsiders, would make valuable allies.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora launches on December 7 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Be sure to subscribe to the magazine to read the digital edition now, and visit our cover story hub by clicking the banner below to find more exclusive features and videos this month.
