Top Avowed Companions Ranked by Utility

In Avowed, the Companions are not only integral to the story and dialogue but also serve vital practical roles, enhancing gameplay through combat support and environmental interaction. Here's a ranking of the Companions from least to most effective:

4. Marius

In my experience with Avowed, Marius didn't mesh well with my play style. His passive abilities are beneficial for early-game exploration, aiding in locating items and plants. However, he quickly becomes outclassed as other Companions join your team. Marius's combat prowess is limited, making him less valuable in the long run. Here’s a rundown of Marius’s abilities and their upgrades:

• Blinding Roots: Roots enemies in place for 8 seconds, with upgrades to stun, trap multiple enemies, and cause Bleed Accumulation.
• Heart Seeker: A piercing shot that always hits its target, with upgrades to hit two enemies, deal more damage to enemies below 50% health, and reduce cooldown by 33%.
• Shadow Step: Marius vanishes and reappears to slash enemies with his daggers, up to three times. Upgrades allow for instant kills on stunned enemies, increased damage to low-health enemies, and up to six strikes.
• Wounding Shots: His attacks cause Bleed Accumulation, with upgrades to reduce enemy damage reduction, slow enemies, and further reduce enemy damage.

Marius's abilities focus on controlling and weakening enemies, which can be useful in specific scenarios, particularly against melee-focused enemies with low health. However, his niche abilities make him less versatile for the broader journey across the Living Lands.

3. Giatta

Giatta, a support-focused Animancer, leverages magic to heal, shield, and buff your party. While she may not excel in direct damage, her utility in protecting the Envoy and maintaining party health is invaluable, especially during intense encounters like boss fights. Here are Giatta’s abilities in Avowed:

• Purification: Heals allies by 25% of their maximum Health, with upgrades to increase healing up to 50%, interrupt and knock back enemies, and boost ally damage reduction.
• Barrier: Provides a temporary health shield for 20 seconds, with upgrades to enhance the shield, heal enemies when it dissipates, and prevent Giatta from being hit while knocking back attackers.
• Acceleration: Boosts ally move and attack speed for 15 seconds, with upgrades to provide damage reduction, extend the duration, and reduce ability cooldowns.
• Reconstruction: Her attacks heal allies, with upgrades to increase healing for those below 20% health, grant temporary health at maximum, and revive incapacitated allies upon killing an enemy.

Giatta also has the unique ability to power Essence Generators, unlocking access to late-game loot areas. Her support capabilities make her an excellent choice for Envoys with Wizard builds focused on magic.

2. Kai

Kai, the first Companion you meet in Avowed, remains a valuable asset throughout your adventure. His tank-like durability and damage output require minimal player management. Here are Kai’s abilities and their upgrades:

• Fire and Ire: Fires from his Blunderbuss to stun and taunt a single enemy, with upgrades to ignite targets, increase stun, and reduce cooldown.
• Unbending Defense: Regenerates health and increases damage reduction, with upgrades to further reduce incoming damage, enhance health regeneration, and release a damaging shockwave.
• Leap of Daring: Stuns and taunts nearby enemies upon landing, with upgrades to expand the area of effect, gain temporary health per enemy hit, and increase attack damage.
• Second Wind: Revives himself with 50% health, upgradable to 75% health, increase attack speed, and reset all ability cooldowns.

Kai’s abilities are versatile, effective against both single targets and crowds, and his self-revive feature makes him a reliable combat partner. Additionally, he can use fire to clear certain obstacles, enhancing exploration.

1. Yatzli

Yatzli, a Wizard with powerful fiery attacks, excels in dealing high damage and crowd control. In the Living Lands, she serves as your personal air support. Here are Yatzli’s abilities and their upgrades:

• Essence Explosion: Causes an arcane explosion upon hitting an enemy, with upgrades for a larger blast, fire accumulation, and reduced cooldown.
• Minoletta’s Missile Battery: Fires a volley of arcane missiles that seek enemies, with upgrades to increase fire rate, range, and add shock accumulation.
• Arduos Delay of Motion: Slows enemies for 10 seconds, with upgrades to intensify the slow, create an area effect, and cause frost accumulation.
• Blast: Her attacks create a small area of effect, with upgrades to deal explosive damage, break blocks, destroy walls, shatter frozen enemies, increase stun, and occasionally inflict Frozen, Ignited, or Shocked status.

Yatzli’s powerful abilities align perfectly with her fierce personality. She also aids in clearing obstacles, making her invaluable for exploration. Despite being the last Companion you recruit in Avowed, she's a game-changer for the remainder of your journey.

Avowed will be available on PC and Xbox starting February 18.