In *Avowed*, Companions offer more than just conversation and story; they're vital for traversal and combat. This ranking assesses each Companion's practical usefulness, from least to most effective.
4. Marius
Early game exploration benefits aside, Marius's utility quickly diminishes. His abilities, while helpful in specific situations, lack the overall power of other Companions. His kit focuses on crowd control and weakening enemies, making him suitable for melee-focused Envoys facing weaker foes. However, his limited impact makes him a less desirable choice for most of the Avowed journey.
Abilities & Upgrades:
- Blinding Roots: Roots enemies (upgrade to stun, trap multiple, and inflict Bleed).
- Heart Seeker: Piercing shot (upgrade to hit two enemies, increased damage vs. low-health enemies, reduced cooldown).
- Shadow Step: Vanishes and attacks (upgrade to instantly kill stunned enemies, increased damage vs. low-health enemies, increased targets).
- Wounding Shots: Inflicts Bleed (upgrade to reduce enemy damage reduction, slow enemies, reduce enemy damage).
3. Giatta
Giatta, a support-focused Animancer, excels at healing, shielding, and buffing the party. While not a damage dealer, her abilities are invaluable in challenging encounters. Her protective capabilities are particularly beneficial during boss fights. Furthermore, Giatta's ability to activate Essence Generators opens up late-game areas and loot. She synergizes exceptionally well with magic-focused Envoy builds.
Abilities & Upgrades:
- Purification: Heals allies (upgrade to increased healing, enemy interrupt/knockback, increased ally damage reduction).
- Barrier: Grants allies temporary health (upgrade to increased temporary health, healing on barrier expiration, self-protection/knockback).
- Acceleration: Increases ally movement and attack speed (upgrade to damage reduction, extended duration, ability cooldown reduction).
- Reconstruction: Heals allies with attacks (upgrade to increased healing for low-health allies, temporary health at max health, revive on enemy kill).
2. Kai
Kai, an early recruit, remains helpful throughout the game. This tank deals significant damage and requires minimal player intervention. His self-revival makes him exceptionally reliable. His abilities are effective against both single strong enemies and groups, offering both damage and crowd control. He can even use fire to clear environmental obstacles.
Abilities & Upgrades:
- Fire and Ire: Blunderbuss attack with stun and taunt (upgrade to ignite, increased stun, reduced cooldown).
- Unbending Defense: Health regeneration and damage reduction (upgrade to increased damage reduction, increased regeneration, shockwave on expiration).
- Leap of Daring: Area-of-effect stun and taunt (upgrade to increased area, temporary health per hit, bonus attack damage per hit).
- Second Wind: Self-revival (upgrade to increased health restoration, attack speed burst, ability cooldown reset).
1. Yatzli
Yatzli, a powerful Wizard, offers high damage and excellent crowd control. Her abilities provide effective area-of-effect attacks and environmental interaction. Despite being recruited late, she's a valuable asset for the remainder of the game.
Abilities & Upgrades:
- Essence Explosion: Explosive arcane damage (upgrade to larger blast, fire accumulation, reduced cooldown).
- Minoletta’s Missile Battery: Volley of homing missiles (upgrade to increased fire rate, range, shock accumulation).
- Arduos Delay of Motion: Slows enemies (upgrade to increased slow, area-of-effect, frost accumulation).
- Blast: Area-of-effect damage on hit (upgrade to explosive damage for breaking blocks/walls, shattering frozen enemies, increased stun, status effect chance).
Avowed releases on PC and Xbox on February 18.
