Top Avowed Companions Ranked by Utility

In *Avowed*, Companions aren't just there for their charming dialogue and narrative depth; they bring practical utility to your adventures in the Living Lands. From unlocking new paths to enhancing your combat prowess, each Companion has unique strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a comprehensive ranking of every *Avowed* Companion, from least to most effective.

4. Marius

During my exploration of *Avowed*, I found Marius (depicted on the right in the image above) to be less synergistic with my preferred playstyle. Although Marius can be beneficial in the early stages with his passive abilities aiding in exploration, he's quickly eclipsed by other Companions. His utility in finding items and plants is helpful, but his combat prowess leaves much to be desired. 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 cause Bleed Accumulation.
• Heart Seeker: Fires a piercing shot that always hits, with upgrades to hit two enemies, deal increased damage to low-health enemies, and reduce cooldown.
• Shadow Step: Disappears in smoke to slash enemies up to three times, with upgrades to kill stunned enemies, deal more damage to low-health targets, and affect up to six enemies.
• Wounding Shots: Attacks cause Bleed Accumulation, with upgrades to reduce enemy damage reduction, slow enemies, and further decrease enemy damage.

Marius' abilities primarily focus on controlling and weakening enemies, which can be advantageous against melee-focused foes with low health. However, his niche utility limits his overall effectiveness for most of your journey through the Living Lands.

3. Giatta

Giatta, an Animancer, excels in support roles, using her magical abilities to heal, shield, and buff your party. While not the strongest in direct damage, her utility in maintaining the health and safety of your group is invaluable, particularly during intense encounters like boss fights. Here's a look at Giatta's abilities in *Avowed*:

• Purification: Heals allies by 25% of their maximum Health, with upgrades to heal up to 50%, interrupt enemies, and increase damage reduction.
• Barrier: Provides a shield of temporary health for 20 seconds, with upgrades to enhance temporary health, heal enemies upon expiration, and protect Giatta from melee attacks.
• Acceleration: Boosts ally move and attack speed for 15 seconds, with upgrades to grant damage reduction, extend duration, and reduce ability cooldowns.
• Reconstruction: Heals allies with attacks, with upgrades to heal more when allies are below 20% health, grant temporary health, and revive incapacitated allies upon killing an enemy.

Giatta's ability to power Essence Generators opens up new areas for exploration and loot. She synergizes well with Envoys who favor Wizard builds, making her a valuable asset despite her lack of direct combat strength.

2. Kai

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

• Fire and Ire: Fires from his Blunderbuss to stun and taunt an enemy, with upgrades to ignite targets, increase stun, and reduce cooldown.
• Unbending Defense: Regenerates health and increases damage reduction, with upgrades to further reduce damage, enhance health regeneration, and emit a shockwave upon expiration.
• Leap of Daring: Crashes down on an enemy to stun and taunt nearby foes, with upgrades to expand the area of effect, gain temporary health, and increase attack damage.
• Second Wind: Revives himself by restoring 50% of his health, with upgrades to restore more health, boost attack speed, and reset ability cooldowns.

Kai's versatility makes him effective against both single high-health enemies and groups, thanks to his crowd control and self-revival abilities. His fire-based attacks also help clear certain obstacles, enhancing your exploration capabilities.

1. Yatzli

Yatzli, a formidable Wizard, offers a blend of high-damage attacks and crowd control, making her an essential asset in *Avowed*. Her abilities are akin to having air support in the fantasy realm of the Living Lands. Here's a detailed list of Yatzli's abilities and their upgrades:

• Essence Explosion: Explodes upon hitting an enemy, releasing essence and explosive damage, with upgrades to increase blast radius, cause fire accumulation, and reduce cooldown.
• Minoletta’s Missile Battery: Launches a volley of arcane missiles, with upgrades to enhance fire rate, increase range, and cause shock accumulation.
• Arduos Delay of Motion: Slows an enemy for 10 seconds, with upgrades to intensify slowing effects, create an area of effect, and cause frost accumulation.
• Blast: Attacks burst into a small area of effect, with upgrades to deal explosive damage, break blocks, destroy walls, and apply status effects like Frozen, Ignited, or Shocked.

Yatzli's powerful abilities match her fierce persona, and she can clear obstacles to access new areas. Though she's the last Companion you'll recruit, her utility and combat effectiveness make her an indispensable ally for the remainder of your journey in *Avowed*.

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