Best Avowed Companions, Ranked by Helpfulness

In Avowed, the Companions not only enrich the narrative and dialogue but also play crucial roles in gameplay mechanics, from unlocking new paths to enhancing combat effectiveness. Here's a detailed ranking of all the Companions in Avowed, from least to most effective:

4. Marius

During my journey through Avowed, I found Marius (depicted on the right in the image above) to be less synergistic with my preferred playstyle. While he offers some utility in early-game exploration by helping find items and plants, his combat capabilities are quickly overshadowed by other Companions. Here's a breakdown of Marius' abilities and their upgrades:

• Blinding Roots: Roots enemies in place for 8 seconds, with upgrades to stun, trap multiple enemies, and inflict Bleed Accumulation.
• Heart Seeker: Fires a piercing shot that always hits the target, with upgrades to hit multiple enemies, increase damage to low-health targets, and reduce cooldown.
• Shadow Step: Vanishes and reappears to slash an enemy, repeatable up to three times, with upgrades to kill stunned enemies instantly, deal more damage to low-health foes, and target up to six enemies.
• Wounding Shots: Attacks cause Bleed Accumulation, with upgrades to reduce enemy damage reduction, slow hit enemies, and lower enemy damage.

Marius' abilities are niche, primarily focused on controlling and weakening enemies, which can be beneficial against certain foes, especially if your Envoy is melee-focused. However, his overall impact on the journey through the Living Lands is limited.

3. Giatta

Giatta, an Animancer, excels in support roles, using magic to heal, shield, and buff the party. While not the strongest in direct damage, her utility in protecting the Envoy and party's health is invaluable, particularly during intense encounters like boss fights. Here are Giatta's abilities:

• Purification: Heals allies by 25% of their maximum Health, with upgrades to increase healing, interrupt and knock back enemies, and boost damage reduction.
• Barrier: Grants temporary health to allies for 20 seconds, with upgrades to enhance the shield, heal enemies upon expiration, and protect Giatta from melee attacks.
• Acceleration: Boosts allies' move and attack speed for 15 seconds, with upgrades to add damage reduction, extend duration, and reduce ability cooldowns.
• Reconstruction: Heals allies with attacks, with upgrades to focus on low-health allies, grant temporary health, and revive incapacitated allies upon killing an enemy.

Giatta's ability to power Essence Generators also unlocks new areas, making her a valuable asset, especially for Envoys using Wizard builds.

2. Kai

Kai, the first Companion you meet in Avowed, remains a reliable ally throughout the game. As a tank, he can absorb damage and deal significant blows without much need for player intervention. Here are Kai's abilities:

• Fire and Ire: Fires from his Blunderbuss to stun and taunt an enemy, with upgrades to ignite, increase stun, and reduce cooldown.
• Unbending Defense: Regenerates health and increases damage reduction, with upgrades to further reduce damage, enhance regeneration, and unleash a damaging shockwave.
• Leap of Daring: Stuns and taunts nearby enemies upon landing, with upgrades to expand the area of effect, gain temporary health, and increase attack damage.
• Second Wind: Revives himself with 50% health, with upgrades to increase health restoration, boost attack speed, and reset ability cooldowns.

Kai's versatility in handling both single targets and crowds, combined with his self-revival ability, makes him an essential combat partner requiring minimal micromanagement. He can also clear obstacles like spider webs and roots, opening new paths.

1. Yatzli

Yatzli, a powerful Wizard, brings high-damage attacks and excellent crowd control to the party. Her abilities make her akin to air support in the fantasy setting of the Living Lands. Here are Yatzli's abilities:

• Essence Explosion: Explodes upon hitting an enemy, with upgrades to increase blast size, inflict fire accumulation, and reduce cooldown.
• Minoletta’s Missile Battery: Fires enemy-seeking arcane missiles, with upgrades to enhance fire rate, range, and add shock accumulation.
• Arduos Delay of Motion: Slows an enemy for 10 seconds, with upgrades to intensify slowing, create an area effect, and inflict frost accumulation.
• Blast: Causes a small area of effect upon hitting enemies, with upgrades to deal explosive damage, break blocks, destroy walls, shatter frozen enemies, increase stun, and apply status effects.

Yatzli's powerful abilities and her capacity to clear obstacles make her an invaluable addition to your team, despite being the last Companion you recruit in Avowed.

Avowed is set to release on PC and Xbox on February 18.