Top Avowed Companions Ranked by Utility

In Avowed, Companions are not just for narrative depth and dialogue; they offer practical advantages that can significantly impact gameplay. From unlocking new paths to excelling in combat, here's a ranking of the Companions from least to most effective.

4. Marius

During my playthrough of Avowed, I found Marius to be the least synergistic with my preferred playstyle. While his passive abilities are beneficial for early-game exploration, helping to locate items and plants, he quickly becomes outclassed by other Companions. In combat, Marius lacks the necessary punch. Here's a breakdown of his abilities and their upgrades:

• Blinding Roots: Roots enemies in place for 8 seconds, upgradable to stun, trap multiple enemies, and deal Bleed Accumulation.
• Heart Seeker: A piercing shot that always hits the target, upgradable to hit two enemies, deal increased damage to low-health enemies, and reduce cooldown.
• Shadow Step: Vanishes and reappears to slash enemies, upgradable to kill stunned enemies instantly, deal more damage to low-health enemies, and strike up to six enemies.
• Wounding Shots: Attacks cause Bleed Accumulation, upgradable to reduce enemy damage reduction, slow enemies, and further reduce enemy damage.

Marius' abilities focus on controlling and weakening enemies, which can be useful against melee foes with low health. However, his niche utility limits his overall effectiveness, making him less ideal for the bulk of your journey through the Living Lands.

3. Giatta

Giatta, an Animancer, is primarily a support character who uses magic to heal, shield, and buff the party. Although not the strongest in terms of damage, her abilities offer crucial support, particularly during intense encounters like boss fights. Here are Giatta's abilities in Avowed:

• Purification: Heals allies by 25% of their maximum Health, upgradable to heal up to 50%, interrupt enemies, and increase damage reduction.
• Barrier: Grants temporary health for 20 seconds, upgradable to increase health, heal enemies upon expiration, and protect Giatta from melee attacks.
• Acceleration: Boosts move and attack speed for 15 seconds, upgradable to reduce damage, extend duration, and lower cooldowns.
• Reconstruction: Attacks heal allies slightly, upgradable to heal low-health allies more, grant temporary health, and revive incapacitated allies upon killing an enemy.

Giatta also has the unique ability to power Essence Generators, unlocking new areas and loot in the late game. Her support-focused abilities make her an excellent choice for Envoys using Wizard builds.

2. Kai

Kai, the first Companion you encounter, remains useful throughout your entire playthrough. As a tank, he can take and deal damage effectively with minimal player input. Here are Kai's abilities and their upgrades:

• Fire and Ire: Fires from his Blunderbuss, dealing high stun and taunting enemies, upgradable to ignite targets, increase stun, and reduce cooldown.
• Unbending Defense: Regenerates health and increases damage reduction, upgradable to reduce damage further, increase health regeneration, and unleash a shockwave.
• Leap of Daring: Crashes down to stun and taunt nearby enemies, upgradable to increase area of effect, gain temporary health, and boost attack damage.
• Second Wind: Revives himself, restoring 50% health, upgradable to increase health restoration, boost attack speed, and reset cooldowns.

Kai's versatility makes him effective against both single high-health enemies and crowds. His self-revival ability reduces the need for micromanagement, and his fire can clear obstacles like spider webs and roots, opening new areas.

1. Yatzli

Yatzli, a Wizard, is renowned for her powerful and versatile attacks, offering both high damage and excellent crowd control. In the Living Lands, she's akin to having air support. Here are her abilities and upgrades:

• Essence Explosion: Explodes on impact, releasing essence and damage, upgradable to increase blast radius, deal fire accumulation, and reduce cooldown.
• Minoletta’s Missile Battery: Fires enemy-seeking arcane missiles, upgradable to increase fire rate and range, and deal shock accumulation.
• Arduos Delay of Motion: Slows enemies for 10 seconds, upgradable to intensify slowing, create an area effect, and deal frost accumulation.
• Blast: Attacks burst into an area effect, upgradable to deal explosive damage, break blocks, destroy walls, and inflict status effects.

Yatzli's powerful abilities complement her fierce personality, making her a formidable ally. She can also clear obstacles to access new areas. Although the last to join your party, Yatzli is an invaluable asset for the remainder of your journey in Avowed.

Avowed releases on PC and Xbox on February 18.