diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus.go
index 1eb54694633a..7d532fac4dad 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus.go
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ import (
 type Consensus interface {
 	fmt.Stringer
 
-	// Takes in alpha, beta1, beta2, and the initial choice
-	Initialize(params Parameters, initialPreference ids.ID)
-
 	// Adds a new choice to vote on
 	Add(newChoice ids.ID)
 
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_performance_test.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_performance_test.go
index 59ae6de287f8..b4aa2c53722d 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_performance_test.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_performance_test.go
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ func TestSnowballOptimized(t *testing.T) {
 
 	sampler.Seed(seed)
 	for i := 0; i < numNodes; i++ {
-		nBitwise.AddNode(&Tree{})
+		nBitwise.AddNode(NewTree)
 	}
 
 	sampler.Seed(seed)
 	for i := 0; i < numNodes; i++ {
-		nNaive.AddNode(&Flat{})
+		nNaive.AddNode(NewFlat)
 	}
 
 	numRounds := 0
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_reversibility_test.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_reversibility_test.go
index 96c4315c5d9a..d3549edc839a 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_reversibility_test.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_reversibility_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestSnowballGovernance(t *testing.T) {
 
 	sampler.Seed(seed)
 	for i := 0; i < numRed; i++ {
-		nBitwise.AddNodeSpecificColor(&Tree{}, 0, []int{1})
+		nBitwise.AddNodeSpecificColor(NewTree, 0, []int{1})
 	}
 
 	for _, node := range nBitwise.nodes {
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ func TestSnowballGovernance(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < numNodes-numByzantine-numRed; i++ {
-		nBitwise.AddNodeSpecificColor(&Tree{}, 1, []int{0})
+		nBitwise.AddNodeSpecificColor(NewTree, 1, []int{0})
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < numByzantine; i++ {
-		nBitwise.AddNodeSpecificColor(&Byzantine{}, 1, []int{0})
+		nBitwise.AddNodeSpecificColor(NewByzantine, 1, []int{0})
 	}
 
 	for !nBitwise.Finalized() {
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_test.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_test.go
index 0944c68d555d..484c5c9fbc87 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_test.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/consensus_test.go
@@ -16,16 +16,18 @@ var (
 	_ Consensus = (*Byzantine)(nil)
 )
 
+func NewByzantine(_ Parameters, choice ids.ID) Consensus {
+	return &Byzantine{
+		preference: choice,
+	}
+}
+
 // Byzantine is a naive implementation of a multi-choice snowball instance
 type Byzantine struct {
 	// Hardcode the preference
 	preference ids.ID
 }
 
-func (b *Byzantine) Initialize(_ Parameters, choice ids.ID) {
-	b.preference = choice
-}
-
 func (*Byzantine) Add(ids.ID) {}
 
 func (b *Byzantine) Preference() ids.ID {
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/factory.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/factory.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 716f8f6ad3c7..000000000000
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/factory.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (C) 2019-2023, Ava Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.
-// See the file LICENSE for licensing terms.
-
-package snowball
-
-// Factory returns new instances of Consensus
-type Factory interface {
-	New() Consensus
-}
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/flat.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/flat.go
index cf08c9bd6196..5ae0aa69692d 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/flat.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/flat.go
@@ -8,16 +8,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/utils/bag"
 )
 
-var (
-	_ Factory   = (*FlatFactory)(nil)
-	_ Consensus = (*Flat)(nil)
-)
-
-// FlatFactory implements Factory by returning a flat struct
-type FlatFactory struct{}
+var _ Consensus = (*Flat)(nil)
 
-func (FlatFactory) New() Consensus {
-	return &Flat{}
+func NewFlat(params Parameters, choice ids.ID) Consensus {
+	f := &Flat{
+		params: params,
+	}
+	f.nnarySnowball.Initialize(params.BetaVirtuous, params.BetaRogue, choice)
+	return f
 }
 
 // Flat is a naive implementation of a multi-choice snowball instance
@@ -29,11 +27,6 @@ type Flat struct {
 	params Parameters
 }
 
-func (f *Flat) Initialize(params Parameters, choice ids.ID) {
-	f.nnarySnowball.Initialize(params.BetaVirtuous, params.BetaRogue, choice)
-	f.params = params
-}
-
 func (f *Flat) RecordPoll(votes bag.Bag[ids.ID]) bool {
 	if pollMode, numVotes := votes.Mode(); numVotes >= f.params.Alpha {
 		f.RecordSuccessfulPoll(pollMode)
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/flat_test.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/flat_test.go
index 0291c03be1aa..22665e610785 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/flat_test.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/flat_test.go
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ func TestFlat(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 2, Alpha: 2, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	f := Flat{}
-	f.Initialize(params, Red)
+	f := NewFlat(params, Red)
 	f.Add(Green)
 	f.Add(Blue)
 
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/network_test.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/network_test.go
index 35b91eaafe3e..711bbf89010e 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/network_test.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/network_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/utils/sampler"
 )
 
+type newConsensusFunc func(params Parameters, choice ids.ID) Consensus
+
 type Network struct {
 	params         Parameters
 	colors         []ids.ID
@@ -26,34 +28,44 @@ func (n *Network) Initialize(params Parameters, numColors int) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (n *Network) AddNode(sb Consensus) {
+func (n *Network) AddNode(newConsensusFunc newConsensusFunc) Consensus {
 	s := sampler.NewUniform()
 	s.Initialize(uint64(len(n.colors)))
 	indices, _ := s.Sample(len(n.colors))
-	sb.Initialize(n.params, n.colors[int(indices[0])])
+
+	consensus := newConsensusFunc(n.params, n.colors[int(indices[0])])
 	for _, index := range indices[1:] {
-		sb.Add(n.colors[int(index)])
+		consensus.Add(n.colors[int(index)])
 	}
 
-	n.nodes = append(n.nodes, sb)
-	if !sb.Finalized() {
-		n.running = append(n.running, sb)
+	n.nodes = append(n.nodes, consensus)
+	if !consensus.Finalized() {
+		n.running = append(n.running, consensus)
 	}
+
+	return consensus
 }
 
-// AddNodeSpecificColor adds [sb] to the network which will initially prefer
-// [initialPreference] and additionally adds each of the specified [options] to
-// consensus.
-func (n *Network) AddNodeSpecificColor(sb Consensus, initialPreference int, options []int) {
-	sb.Initialize(n.params, n.colors[initialPreference])
+// AddNodeSpecificColor adds a new consensus instance to the network which will
+// initially prefer [initialPreference] and additionally adds each of the
+// specified [options] to consensus.
+func (n *Network) AddNodeSpecificColor(
+	newConsensusFunc newConsensusFunc,
+	initialPreference int,
+	options []int,
+) Consensus {
+	consensus := newConsensusFunc(n.params, n.colors[initialPreference])
+
 	for _, i := range options {
-		sb.Add(n.colors[i])
+		consensus.Add(n.colors[i])
 	}
 
-	n.nodes = append(n.nodes, sb)
-	if !sb.Finalized() {
-		n.running = append(n.running, sb)
+	n.nodes = append(n.nodes, consensus)
+	if !consensus.Finalized() {
+		n.running = append(n.running, consensus)
 	}
+
+	return consensus
 }
 
 // Finalized returns true iff every node added to the network has finished
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/tree.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/tree.go
index 367573c76095..a0e8668c9e5c 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/tree.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/tree.go
@@ -12,17 +12,26 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	_ Factory   = (*TreeFactory)(nil)
 	_ Consensus = (*Tree)(nil)
 	_ node      = (*unaryNode)(nil)
 	_ node      = (*binaryNode)(nil)
 )
 
-// TreeFactory implements Factory by returning a tree struct
-type TreeFactory struct{}
+func NewTree(params Parameters, choice ids.ID) Consensus {
+	snowball := &unarySnowball{}
+	snowball.Initialize(params.BetaVirtuous)
 
-func (TreeFactory) New() Consensus {
-	return &Tree{}
+	t := &Tree{
+		params: params,
+	}
+	t.node = &unaryNode{
+		tree:         t,
+		preference:   choice,
+		commonPrefix: ids.NumBits, // The initial state has no conflicts
+		snowball:     snowball,
+	}
+
+	return t
 }
 
 // Tree implements the snowball interface by using a modified patricia tree.
@@ -46,20 +55,6 @@ type Tree struct {
 	shouldReset bool
 }
 
-func (t *Tree) Initialize(params Parameters, choice ids.ID) {
-	t.params = params
-
-	snowball := &unarySnowball{}
-	snowball.Initialize(params.BetaVirtuous)
-
-	t.node = &unaryNode{
-		tree:         t,
-		preference:   choice,
-		commonPrefix: ids.NumBits, // The initial state has no conflicts
-		snowball:     snowball,
-	}
-}
-
 func (t *Tree) Add(choice ids.ID) {
 	prefix := t.node.DecidedPrefix()
 	// Make sure that we haven't already decided against this new id
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowball/tree_test.go b/snow/consensus/snowball/tree_test.go
index 26406e428023..1879b65e64bf 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowball/tree_test.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowball/tree_test.go
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ func TestSnowballSingleton(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 2, BetaRogue: 5,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, Red)
+	tree := NewTree(params, Red)
 
 	require.False(tree.Finalized())
 
@@ -62,8 +61,7 @@ func TestSnowballRecordUnsuccessfulPoll(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 3, BetaRogue: 5,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, Red)
+	tree := NewTree(params, Red)
 
 	require.False(tree.Finalized())
 
@@ -89,8 +87,7 @@ func TestSnowballBinary(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, Red)
+	tree := NewTree(params, Red)
 	tree.Add(Blue)
 
 	require.Equal(Red, tree.Preference())
@@ -129,8 +126,7 @@ func TestSnowballLastBinary(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 2, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, zero)
+	tree := NewTree(params, zero)
 	tree.Add(one)
 
 	// Should do nothing
@@ -170,8 +166,7 @@ func TestSnowballAddPreviouslyRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, zero)
+	tree := NewTree(params, zero)
 	tree.Add(one)
 	tree.Add(four)
 
@@ -224,8 +219,7 @@ func TestSnowballNewUnary(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 2, BetaRogue: 3,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, zero)
+	tree := NewTree(params, zero)
 	tree.Add(one)
 
 	{
@@ -271,8 +265,7 @@ func TestSnowballTransitiveReset(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 2, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, zero)
+	tree := NewTree(params, zero)
 	tree.Add(two)
 	tree.Add(eight)
 
@@ -352,8 +345,7 @@ func TestSnowballTrinary(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, Green)
+	tree := NewTree(params, Green)
 	tree.Add(Red)
 	tree.Add(Blue)
 
@@ -403,8 +395,7 @@ func TestSnowballCloseTrinary(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, yellow)
+	tree := NewTree(params, yellow)
 	tree.Add(cyan)
 	tree.Add(magenta)
 
@@ -449,8 +440,7 @@ func TestSnowballAddRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, c0000)
+	tree := NewTree(params, c0000)
 	tree.Add(c1000)
 	tree.Add(c0010)
 
@@ -495,8 +485,7 @@ func TestSnowballResetChild(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, c0000)
+	tree := NewTree(params, c0000)
 	tree.Add(c0100)
 	tree.Add(c1000)
 
@@ -555,8 +544,7 @@ func TestSnowballResetSibling(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, c0000)
+	tree := NewTree(params, c0000)
 	tree.Add(c0100)
 	tree.Add(c1000)
 
@@ -618,16 +606,14 @@ func TestSnowball5Colors(t *testing.T) {
 		colors = append(colors, ids.Empty.Prefix(uint64(i)))
 	}
 
-	tree0 := Tree{}
-	tree0.Initialize(params, colors[4])
+	tree0 := NewTree(params, colors[4])
 
 	tree0.Add(colors[0])
 	tree0.Add(colors[1])
 	tree0.Add(colors[2])
 	tree0.Add(colors[3])
 
-	tree1 := Tree{}
-	tree1.Initialize(params, colors[3])
+	tree1 := NewTree(params, colors[3])
 
 	tree1.Add(colors[0])
 	tree1.Add(colors[1])
@@ -650,8 +636,7 @@ func TestSnowballFineGrained(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, c0000)
+	tree := NewTree(params, c0000)
 
 	require.Equal(initialUnaryDescription, tree.String())
 	require.Equal(c0000, tree.Preference())
@@ -741,8 +726,7 @@ func TestSnowballDoubleAdd(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 3, BetaRogue: 5,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, Red)
+	tree := NewTree(params, Red)
 	tree.Add(Red)
 
 	require.Equal(initialUnaryDescription, tree.String())
@@ -766,7 +750,7 @@ func TestSnowballConsistent(t *testing.T) {
 	n.Initialize(params, numColors)
 
 	for i := 0; i < numNodes; i++ {
-		n.AddNode(&Tree{})
+		n.AddNode(NewTree)
 	}
 
 	for !n.Finalized() && !n.Disagreement() {
@@ -787,8 +771,7 @@ func TestSnowballFilterBinaryChildren(t *testing.T) {
 	params := Parameters{
 		K: 1, Alpha: 1, BetaVirtuous: 1, BetaRogue: 2,
 	}
-	tree := Tree{}
-	tree.Initialize(params, c0000)
+	tree := NewTree(params, c0000)
 
 	require.Equal(initialUnaryDescription, tree.String())
 	require.Equal(c0000, tree.Preference())
diff --git a/snow/consensus/snowman/snowman_block.go b/snow/consensus/snowman/snowman_block.go
index ddb3ae3045f8..782c77d8e415 100644
--- a/snow/consensus/snowman/snowman_block.go
+++ b/snow/consensus/snowman/snowman_block.go
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ func (n *snowmanBlock) AddChild(child Block) {
 	// if the snowball instance is nil, this is the first child. So the instance
 	// should be initialized.
 	if n.sb == nil {
-		n.sb = &snowball.Tree{}
-		n.sb.Initialize(n.params, childID)
+		n.sb = snowball.NewTree(n.params, childID)
 		n.children = make(map[ids.ID]Block)
 	} else {
 		n.sb.Add(childID)