Dauntless was a faction formed by those who blamed cowardice for society's problems. They believed the only answer is to face your fears is through bravery. Dauntless are the faction dedicated to courage, bravery, strength, intimidation, and fearlessness. It was formed by a group of people who blamed fear and cowardice as the cause of problems that society faces, genetic impurity. Their substance at the Choosing Ceremony is ignited coals, which symbolizes their unyielding dedication and bravery towards protecting society. The Dauntless value the virtue of bravery over any other, as such they train to fight and use weapons to prepare their bodies to respond to threats and challenges, which is necessary if they want to survive life as a Dauntless member. The faction also emphasizes the idea of freedom from fear, and test this daily by attempting death-defying feats. Dauntless members and initiates are the only ones allowed to ride the train and do so in a daring way; jumping onto and off the train while it is moving. Most Dauntless children are known to choose the knife in the simulation of the Aptitude Test when facing the dog and they take the stairs in an act of wildness. Members generally wear provocative or full black leather clothing (or other black materials), piercings, tattoos and are usually seen freerunning through the ruins of Chicago.

Initiation is taken very seriously in Dauntless. When Tris went through Dauntless initiation, there were only twenty new initiates that made it to the compound after the Choosing Ceremony and only ten were accepted. The rest became factionless. The initiates are ranked together (Dauntless-born and faction transfers together) throughout the process and the higher the rank, the better job options there are.

After the Choosing Ceremony, the new Dauntless initiates will head towards the Dauntless compound via the train, which they all - including faction transfers - must get on the moving train, and then jump out of it onto the roof of a seven story building, which they then have to jump off and land in a net that they can't see. Anyone left behind immediately become factionless. The initiates that have arrived are then separated into the Dauntless-born and faction transfers. The faction transfers are given a tour before dinner.

After dinner, a Dauntless leader or high-ranking member leads the faction transfers to their dormitory, where they all share the same room. They introduce the rules and stages of initiation. There are three stages of initiation: primarily physical, emotional, and mental, respectively.
 

• The paths in the Dauntless compound are treacherous and hard to climb. Physical endurance and capability is required to be a member. Once members can no longer climb them, they cannot be a member of Dauntless. When members pass their physical prime, they are asked to leave in one way or another, either by death or becoming factionless.
• In order to perform a Dauntless execution, three leaders of Dauntless must have one gun each, and only one of the guns has a bullet while the others are empty. The guns are then put down and shuffled, after which each leader picks the gun in front of them, aims their gun at the head of whoever is to be executed and pulls the trigger. It doesn't matter who shoots the gun but mostly who's lucky enough.
• The specialty serum of the Dauntless is the simulation serum. They use it in stages' two and three of their initiation process.
• After being given new clothes when joining Dauntless, new transfers must throw their old clothes into a pit where they are burned.
• When it comes to funerals, the Dauntless have it immediately after they are pronounced dead because they want to acknowledge the death as soon as it happens. It is more of a celebration and there is a lot of drinking.
• When you become elderly and passed physical prime, they must leave the faction. There are two choices: death or becoming factionless. This is why there are no elderly Dauntless in the compound. The elderly often jump into the chasm as a sign of bravery for their death.
• Common foods in Dauntless include muffins and toast for breakfast, burgers for lunch or dinner. Chocolate cake is the preferred Dauntless dessert.