Corrupted (also known as Infected) are the primary antagonistic force in Punishing: Gray Raven. They can consist of any type of mechanical body, from simple reconnaissance drones to advanced Constructs, and are the result of exposure to the Punishing Virus. Upon viral takeover of the corrupted logical circuits, the entity then becomes a mindless, maddened "zombie" whose will revolves entirely around the extermination of anything that possesses a human consciousness. Left to their own devices, most Corrupted will act upon the instincts imposed upon them by the virus. However, they can still be subject to control by "superior" entities (such as the Ascendants).

The Ascendants are a group of upper-echelon Corrupted. Unlike ordinary Corrupted, these individuals fully retain their sense of selves, memories, and abilities. Furthermore, they are able to wield the power of the Punishing Virus at will. These capabilities are granted to them by their connection to the Ascension Network (or Ascnet). Ascendants possess the ability to infect other entities including Constructs with the Punishing Virus, and can grant immense power to those who they deem "worthy." While all Ascendants wield this ability, only a few select individuals are chosen by the Ascension Network to become Agents. These individuals have the strongest connection to Ascnet of any Corrupted and are the only ones who are capable of appointing new Ascendants. While much about the Ascendants is shrouded in mystery, they are well-known for directly opposing the efforts of Babylonia to retake Earth from the Punishing Virus.

The Ascension Network (also known as Ascnet) is the primary power system within the Punishing Virus and it's "Will" that not only gives both Ascendants & Agents their power but a way to communicate, exchange information, and find out more about the Virus's "language". The Ascension Network can be likened to a cloud within the virus where Ascendants and Agents connect. The Ascension Network is not a tool of free use to Ascendants. Luna described it as a "flame that can shred the user if they are not careful." For Ascendants, it first manifests as thoughts that do not belong to them, causing them to later fall into a dream like state where they feel as if their perception is being shaped by someone else.

The longer they stay in that state, the more likely they are to forget themselves. The Will compromises the emotions of people who died, like hatred, nostalgia, protectiveness, etc. Luna describes the Agents as "pseudo-gods created by an emerging religion." A will resonates with them, and the Agent will act as an "embodiment" of that will. The first will that resonated with Luna was the Will of Hatred. Her current affixed will is unknown, to become an Ascendant you must first survive the infection of the Punishing Virus, then, pass the filtering of the Ascension Network. Once in, an Agent will grant you an Ascendant status, and your control over the Punishing Virus will be linked to the Agent. If your Agent falls, you will too and you will revert back to a normal Corrupted.

Babylonia (also known as Eden) is a space colony in low-Earth orbit that was originally designed to serve as a relay point for spacecraft deployed in space exploration. Currently, the station houses the majority of what is left of organized humanity. Along with surviving citizens, it is also home to what is left of societal government systems as well as several military factions.

Constructs are combat cyborgs who were originally humans; their consciousness is stored in a device inside their bodies. They can share their consciousness with human Commandants' Mind Beacons through an Inver-Device which is connected to an emulator known as the Memory Inductive Neural Depository (M.I.N.D.). This system is one of the most effective ways to prevent M.I.N.D. deviation and therefore prevents succumbing to the Punishing Virus. M.I.N.D. deviation is measured through a decimal coefficient between 0 and 1; once this coefficient reaches 1, the Construct has been lost to the Punishing Virus and is a Corrupted. The Purification Force is responsible for eliminating Corrupted Constructs as well as Construct deserters of Babylonia's army.

Much effort and resources are expended to reinforce M.I.N.D. stability. Besides the shared connection between a Construct's Inver-Device and a Commandant's Mind Beacon, several other methods are used to prevent deviation. Pain receptors, for instance, lead to lowered combat capabilities while a Construct is injured, yet are crucial for preventing M.I.N.D. deviation.