Summary:
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The WLF and Seraphites are locked in a brutal war over territory and ideology in The Last of Us Season 2.
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Their conflict stems from a broken truce and the killing of the Seraphite Prophet.
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Ellie and Dina become caught in the middle as the violence escalates across Seattle.
Why Are the WLF and Seraphites Fighting in The Last of Us?
The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 4 deepens the intense conflict between the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) and the Seraphites. As Ellie and Dina pursue their path through war-torn Seattle, they’re pulled into a dangerous battle with no clear beginning and no foreseeable end. Both sides see themselves as the victim, and the violence between them only continues to grow deadlier.
What Sparked the WLF vs Seraphites War in The Last of Us?
The origins of the conflict between the WLF and the Seraphites are deliberately murky in both the HBO series and The Last of Us Part 2 game. In the show, the tension is highlighted during a disturbing interrogation scene in Season 2 Episode 4, where Isaac (played by Jeffrey Wright) questions a captured Seraphite. Their back-and-forth reveals a long-standing cycle of retribution:
“You kill our children.”
“Never by choice. You train them to shoot at us.”
“Because you broke the truce.”
“Because you broke it, because we broke it.”
This ambiguous dialogue reflects the core message of The Last of Us: violence rarely has a clean starting point. Each side accuses the other of instigating the war, and neither accepts responsibility for ending it.
In The Last of Us Part 2, the game adds more context. The Seraphites were initially allowed to grow in peace outside of FEDRA’s Quarantine Zone. But once FEDRA fell and the WLF seized control of Seattle, the Seraphites began moving into old FEDRA zones, which aggravated the WLF.
Clashes broke out as the Seraphites spread their beliefs and presence, leading to the WLF targeting and eventually killing the Seraphite Prophet. Her death marked a major turning point. Though the Seraphites retreated to Queen Anne Island, the violence escalated, and a truce was eventually called. However, that truce was broken—by whom remains unknown—and the war resumed in full force.
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How Are the WLF and Seraphites Different in The Last of Us?
While both groups are militant, their ideologies and operations are fundamentally different. The WLF is a well-organized military faction that rose after FEDRA’s collapse. They’re disciplined, heavily armed, and focused on controlling Seattle with sheer firepower. Their leader, Isaac, runs the group with tactical precision and zero tolerance for resistance.
In contrast, the Seraphites—derisively called Scars by the WLF—are a religious cult formed around the teachings of a deceased Prophet. They use stealth, close-combat weapons, and spiritual ideology as the foundation of their resistance. Despite being less technologically advanced, they’re just as lethal.
In Season 2 Episode 4, Ellie and Dina discover a scene where Seraphites have brutally executed WLF members, stringing them up in ritualistic fashion. It’s a stark display of their violent capability and conviction, despite using weapons like bows and sickles instead of guns.
The HBO adaptation emphasizes that neither side is portrayed as purely right or wrong—instead, they are two factions locked in a self-perpetuating cycle of revenge and survival.
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What Role Does the Prophet’s Death Play in the WLF–Seraphite War?
The Prophet was the spiritual and ideological leader of the Seraphites. According to The Last of Us Part 2 lore, she gained followers after preaching peace and rejecting the old world’s sins. While FEDRA ignored her group initially, once the WLF took over, tensions began to rise. The Prophet was eventually captured and executed by the WLF, an act that ignited full-scale war.
Even after her death, the Seraphites’ Elders continued her mission. They amassed an army of more than 500 fighters and retreated to an island to regroup. But the Prophet’s death created a martyr, turning the Seraphites even more fanatical. The broken truce and mutual attacks intensified from that point on, ensuring that peace became nearly impossible.
When and Where Can You Watch The Last of Us Season 2?
The Last of Us Season 2 continues to air on HBO and stream on Max, with new episodes premiering weekly on Sundays at 9 PM ET. Episode 4, which sheds light on the WLF–Seraphite war, was released on May 4, 2025.
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