Top Avowed Companions Ranked by Utility

In *Avowed*, Companions not only enrich the game's story and dialogue but also play critical roles in gameplay. From aiding in exploration to boosting combat effectiveness, here's a comprehensive ranking of every *Avowed* Companion from least to most useful:

4. Marius

During my time exploring *Avowed*, I found that Marius didn't quite mesh with my play style. While Marius (seen on the right in the image above) offers passive abilities that aid early-game exploration, he quickly becomes outshone by other Companions. He excels at locating items and plants during your adventures, but falls short in combat scenarios. Here’s a detailed look at Marius’ abilities and their potential upgrades:

• Blinding Roots: Roots enemies in place for 8 seconds, upgradable to stun, trap multiple enemies, and cause Bleed Accumulation.
• Heart Seeker: A piercing shot that always hits, even through obstacles. Upgrades allow it to hit two enemies, deal more damage to those below 50% health, and reduce its cooldown.
• Shadow Step: Marius disappears in smoke, reappearing to strike with daggers up to three times. Upgrades can make it lethal to stunned enemies, increase damage against low-health foes, and allow up to six strikes.
• Wounding Shots: His attacks cause Bleed Accumulation, with upgrades that can reduce enemy damage reduction, slow them, and further decrease their damage output.

Marius' abilities primarily focus on controlling and weakening enemies, which can be beneficial in specific situations, especially if your Envoy focuses on melee combat. However, his niche abilities make him less versatile for the broader journey across the Living Lands.

3. Giatta

Giatta, a support-focused Animancer, harnesses magic to heal, shield, and buff the party. Although not the strongest in terms of direct damage, her utility is invaluable, particularly during high-stress situations like boss fights in *Avowed*. Here are Giatta’s abilities:

• Purification: Heals allies by 25% of their maximum Health, with upgrades that can increase healing to 50%, interrupt and knock back enemies, and boost allies' damage reduction.
• Barrier: Grants a shield of temporary health for 20 seconds, with upgrades that can increase the shield's strength, heal enemies when it dissipates, and protect Giatta from melee attacks.
• Acceleration: Boosts allies' move and attack speed for 15 seconds, with upgrades that can add damage reduction, extend the duration, and reduce ability cooldowns.
• Reconstruction: Her attacks heal allies slightly, with upgrades that can offer more healing to those below 20% health, grant temporary health, and revive fallen allies when Giatta kills an enemy.

Giatta also powers Essence Generators, which unlock new areas and access to late-game loot. She pairs excellently with Envoys who favor Wizard builds focused on magic.

2. Kai

Kai, the first Companion you meet in *Avowed*, remains a reliable ally throughout your adventure. As a robust tank, he can handle damage effectively without much need for player intervention. Here’s a rundown of Kai’s abilities:

• Fire and Ire: Fires from his Blunderbuss to stun and taunt an enemy for 10 seconds, with upgrades that can ignite targets, increase stun, and reduce cooldowns.
• Unbending Defense: Regenerates health and increases damage reduction, with upgrades that can further reduce incoming damage, enhance health regeneration, and unleash a damaging shockwave.
• Leap of Daring: Crashes down on enemies, stunning and taunting them, with upgrades that can expand the area of effect, grant temporary health, and boost attack damage per enemy hit.
• Second Wind: Revives himself with 50% of his maximum health, with upgrades that can increase this to 75%, grant a burst of attack speed, and reset all ability cooldowns.

Kai’s abilities are versatile, effective against both single high-health enemies and crowds. His self-revive ability makes him a low-maintenance yet high-impact combat partner. Additionally, Kai can use fire to clear obstacles like spider webs and roots, aiding in exploration.

1. Yatzli

Yatzli, a powerful Wizard, brings high-damage attacks and excellent crowd control to the table, making her an invaluable asset in *Avowed*. Her abilities are akin to having air support in the fantasy realm of the Living Lands. Here’s what Yatzli can do:

• Essence Explosion: Explodes on impact, releasing essence and causing explosive damage, with upgrades that can enlarge the blast, apply fire accumulation, and reduce cooldowns.
• Minoletta’s Missile Battery: Fires a volley of enemy-seeking missiles, with upgrades that can increase fire rate, extend range, and apply shock accumulation.
• Arduos Delay of Motion: Slows enemies for 10 seconds, with upgrades that can intensify the slow, create an area effect, and apply frost accumulation.
• Blast: Causes a small area of effect burst on hit, with upgrades that can break blocks, destroy walls, shatter frozen enemies, increase stun, and have a chance to inflict Frozen, Ignited, or Shocked status.

Yatzli’s formidable abilities reflect her fierce personality, and she also aids in exploration by clearing obstacles. Although she joins you late in *Avowed*, her power and utility make her an essential companion for the remainder of your journey.

*Avowed* is set to release on PC and Xbox on February 18, offering players a chance to experience these dynamic Companions in action.