ELEX
50 Achievements
80-100h
Balance of Power
Details for this achievement will be revealed once unlocked
18.0%
How to unlock the Balance of Power achievement in ELEX - Definitive Guide
I have read on other sites that to get the achievement you must always side with the same factions where possible in the Abessa conflict in order for the questlines to result in one faction taking lead.
I did not do it this way as, with knowledge at the time, I sided with the Outlaws against the Clerics as the clerics seemed up to no good, but I sided with the Clerics once I learned of Outlaw Darrell's evil intentions. I also allowed the Alb to be the new communication technician.
One quest, where I have to either kill the bandits outside the walls or the cleric gatekeeper, I backed out entirely, cancelling both questlines.
In the end I exhausted all possible Abessa quests and arrived at a stalemate.
After finishing the game, I discreetly murdered him. THAT gave me the cue "You chose a side...".
After travelling/sleeping a few days the achievement popped.
I also found that murdering Rorik the Beserker activated the Abessa conflict quest notice, I tested to see if the final quest activated after killing him and it also worked, which I assume will also pop the achievement.
I also didn’t ever get the kill the bandits or gatekeeper quest you mentioned. I think there’s a wide variance of quest options depending on how you handle different choices.
Abessa City is also called the Domed City in the game. Coming here is optional for the story, though there are a lot of side-quest available and you'll recruit Caja here as well. After completing any of the side quests that begin in this city, you will see a notification on screen that says you "took a side" in the conflict. Make sure to complete them all, and then travel outside of the city. It may take a few days, so rest a few times, but eventually you'll get another notification that says "something" happened in the city which is when the achievement will unlock.
My outcome was that the Albs overtook the city, though I don't think it matters which ending to the quest you get for the achievement, just that the power struggle came to an end and someone "won" the dispute.
The following side choices are available:
1. Who will you give the fake passes to?
2. Help in killing a guard or outcasts.
3. Beat a berserker or an outcast.
4. Let the outcast dig into the details of the shield or not (an additional factor of consequences).
5. Whom do you recommend to Viviana (an additional factor of consequences).
6. Will you expel the separatists (exile is the side of the berserker clerics).
7. Give weapons to clerics or outcasts.
8. Will you install a bug when repairing the connection (NOT installing a bug deprives you of the choice in step 9).
9. Give the box with Elexit to the clerics or outcasts.
If it is equally divided, then there will be no uprising, as well as achievements.