Beyond their compelling stories and engaging dialogue, *Avowed*'s Companions offer invaluable practical support. From navigating tricky pathways to delivering devastating blows in combat, each Companion brings unique strengths to the table. Here's a ranking of every *Avowed* Companion, from least to most helpful.
4. Marius
In my *Avowed* playthrough, Marius proved to be a less-than-ideal fit for my playstyle. While his passive abilities aid early exploration by helping locate items and plants, he quickly falls behind as other Companions join your party. His combat effectiveness is limited. Here's a breakdown of his abilities and upgrades:
Blinding Roots: Roots enemies for 8 seconds. Upgrades include stunning enemies, trapping multiple targets, and inflicting Bleed Accumulation.
Heart Seeker: A piercing shot that always hits, regardless of obstacles. Upgrades include hitting two enemies, increased damage to low-health enemies, and reduced cooldown.
Shadow Step: Marius vanishes and reappears near an enemy for a slashing attack (up to three times). Upgrades include instant kills against stunned enemies, increased damage to low-health enemies, and striking up to six enemies.
Wounding Shots: Marius' attacks inflict Bleed Accumulation. Upgrades reduce enemy damage reduction, slow enemies, and further reduce enemy damage.
Marius' abilities primarily focus on crowd control and weakening enemies. While effective against certain enemy types, particularly when combined with a melee-focused Envoy, his overall power isn't sufficient for most encounters across the Living Lands.
3. Giatta
Giatta, a support-focused Animancer, excels at healing, shielding, and buffing the party. While not a damage dealer, her utility is invaluable. Her protective abilities are a significant asset during challenging encounters, such as boss fights. Here are her abilities:
Purification: Heals allies for 25% of their maximum health. Upgrades increase healing to 50%, interrupt and knock back enemies, and increase ally damage reduction.
Barrier: Grants allies a temporary health shield. Upgrades increase shield strength, heal enemies upon barrier expiration, and protect Giatta from melee attacks.
Acceleration: Increases ally movement and attack speed. Upgrades add damage reduction, extend duration, and reduce ability cooldowns.
Reconstruction: Giatta's attacks passively heal allies. Upgrades increase healing for low-health allies, grant temporary health at maximum health, and revive incapacitated allies upon enemy kills.
Giatta also activates Essence Generators, unlocking otherwise inaccessible areas and late-game loot. While not the strongest in combat, she synergizes exceptionally well with magic-focused Envoy builds.
2. Kai
Despite being an early recruit, Kai remains a valuable Companion throughout *Avowed*. This tank deals substantial damage with minimal player intervention. His abilities are detailed below:
Fire and Ire: Kai's blunderbuss attack stuns and taunts a single enemy. Upgrades include igniting the target, increased stun, and reduced cooldown.
Unbending Defense: Regenerates health and increases damage reduction. Upgrades increase damage reduction, enhance health regeneration, and unleash a damaging shockwave.
Leap of Daring: Kai slams down, stunning and taunting nearby enemies. Upgrades increase area of effect, grant temporary health per hit, and increase attack damage per hit.
Second Wind: Kai revives himself, restoring health. Upgrades increase health restoration, grant temporary attack speed, and reset ability cooldowns.
Kai's abilities excel against both single, high-health enemies and groups. His self-revival makes him exceptionally reliable, requiring minimal micromanagement. He can also use fire to clear obstacles like spiderwebs and roots.
1. Yatzli
Yatzli, a powerful Wizard, delivers high-damage attacks and exceptional crowd control. She's the closest thing to air support in the Living Lands. Here are her abilities:
Essence Explosion: Arcane explosion dealing damage. Upgrades increase blast radius, inflict fire accumulation, and reduce cooldown.
Minoletta’s Missile Battery: A volley of homing missiles. Upgrades increase fire rate, range, and inflict shock accumulation.
Arduos Delay of Motion: Slows an enemy. Upgrades intensify slowing, create an area-of-effect slow, and inflict frost accumulation.
Blast: Yatzli's attacks create a small area-of-effect explosion. Upgrades increase explosive damage to break blocks and shatter frozen enemies, increasing stun chance and inflicting status effects.
Yatzli’s potent abilities and obstacle-clearing capabilities make her an invaluable Companion, even though she's recruited last. She's a worthy addition to your party for the remainder of your journey.
*Avowed releases on PC and Xbox on February 18.*
