In June of 2021, with the release of Update 30, ZeniMax Online Studios introduced the Companion System in The Elder Scrolls Online. This system allows players to be accompanied by NPCs who can fulfill roles such as tank, damage dealer (DPS), or healer, offering new opportunities for both solo and group gameplay.
The companions are particularly useful for players looking to tackle tougher enemies, providing valuable assistance without requiring other players to join. Newer players can benefit from having a companion to take on more challenging content, and experienced players can fill gaps in their groups if someone is missing. For example, if a group of three players is heading into a four-player dungeon, they can summon a companion to make the group complete. However, companions are not suited for handling complex mechanics, so while they can be useful, they may not be the ideal replacement for human players in high-level content.
It’s important to note that companions cannot be summoned while in combat, though they can be unsummoned while the player is fighting. Additionally, companions cannot be summoned in certain situations, such as during PvP instances, single-player arenas, or housing instances. They will also be temporarily invisible in certain circumstances, such as when the player is swimming or in areas where the character cannot interact directly with them.
As of now, players cannot romance companions, though there are still other ways to interact with them and build relationships.
Players also have the ability to adjust how often companions react by modifying the settings under the “Companion Reaction” menu in the game’s options. If a companion falls in battle, they can be revived using a soul gem, or they will automatically recover after combat, though they may experience fatigue from being downed.
Who are the Companions
The Blackwood Chapter, released with Update 30, introduced two companions for players to recruit and travel with.
Bastian Hallix, an Imperial male companion, carries the personality of a noble knight. He values justice and dislikes any actions that are illegal. Bastian excels at crafting, which benefits the player by improving the potions they find. Potions looted from chests or enemies have a 30% chance to be enhanced through Bastian’s crafting ability, Bastian’s Insight.
Mirri Elendis, a female Dunmer companion, has a strong aversion to boats and is uncomfortable with acts of violence, particularly when the player kills NPCs. However, she loves when the player uncovers treasure, and having her as a companion increases the chances of finding extra loot in Treasure Chests and while exploring the Overland.
Acquiring a Companion
To recruit a companion, players must own the Blackwood Chapter. Once they’ve obtained it, companions can be unlocked by completing quests within the Blackwood zone. Afterward, companions will begin to follow the player and can be accessed through the Collections menu or quickslotted into the player’s inventory for easy summoning. They can be found under the “Allies” section of the menu.
It’s important to note that players cannot have multiple Allies or Assistants active at the same time, meaning you can’t have a companion and a banker active simultaneously.
Leveling Companions
Companions level up similarly to players, but with a slight difference: they receive only 25% of the experience the player gains. For example, if the player earns 100 experience, the companion will gain 25 experience. This ensures that the player gets full experience rewards, while the companion still benefits from leveling. This bonus only applies to experience gained through combat, but any experience-boosting effects (such as holiday bonuses or consumable items) will indirectly benefit the companion as well.
To level up companions’ guild skills, such as the Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, or Undaunted, players must complete the associated daily quests. Simply collecting books for the Mages Guild or similar activities will not level the companion’s skills. The companion needs to be active and participating in these quests for them to gain experience.
Companion progress is account-wide, meaning that when a companion reaches a specific combat level on one character, that progress is shared across the account. As companions level up, their health, power, and abilities improve. New ability bar slots unlock, and at level 20, companions gain an Ultimate ability.
Companion Rapport
Rapport is the term used to describe the relationship between a player and their companion. Each companion has unique preferences, and the player’s actions will affect their rapport with that companion. If the player engages in actions the companion disapproves of, their rapport will decrease. On the other hand, taking actions that align with the companion’s values will increase rapport.
Rapport is important because it affects how the companion interacts with the player. If the rapport is too low, the companion may refuse to stay summoned, unsummoning themselves temporarily. While rapport doesn’t affect the companion’s skills or abilities directly, it can impact how effectively they engage with the player.
Building rapport with a companion involves completing quests, leveling up, or performing various in-game actions that align with the companion’s preferences. The rapport starts at a neutral level, but as it increases, companions may reveal more personal details about themselves and ask for help with specific side quests.
Players can monitor their companion’s rapport in real time, and both positive and negative changes are displayed in the loot stream. However, there are limits to how often rapport can be adjusted through these interactions.
Companion Menu
The Companion Menu provides a comprehensive overview of the companion’s progress and allows the player to manage their companion’s abilities and equipment. The first section of the menu shows the companion’s combat level and whether they are wearing an outfit. The companion’s ability bar, which consists of five skills and an Ultimate ability, is also accessible here. These abilities become more powerful as the companion’s combat level increases.
In the menu, players can also see the companion’s rapport, which gives a snapshot of their relationship. From this interface, players can also equip their companions with gear that is stored in the player’s inventory. Equipment that the companion can use must be carried by the player, and companions are limited to using one weapon set since they only have one ability bar.
Companion Rewards
Each companion has two personal side quests that become available once the player has built sufficient rapport with them. Completing the second quest rewards the player with a houseguest collectible of that companion, allowing the companion to be placed and used similarly to other houseguests in player homes. Additionally, completing any side quest for a companion grants a significant rapport boost.
By completing certain meta-achievements tied to each companion, players can unlock keepsake collectibles, which grant non-combat perks that apply even when the companion is not active. These rewards can be found in the Upgrades section of the Collections menu.
Companion Skills and Equipment
Interacting with a companion is easy: players can initiate a conversation with them to access the Companion Menu. This menu includes all available skill lines, starting with the three Class skill lines, followed by the Weapon and Armor skill lines. To unlock these skill lines, the player must equip the corresponding gear. The Guild skill lines are also available, and like the player’s guild skills, they are leveled up by completing specific solo daily quests.
Companions do not have Champion Points, but they do have access to racial traits and equipment that provide various bonuses. Companion gear can be found in the world, purchased from vendors, or acquired from bosses, but cannot be crafted by players. The equipment can be traded and sold on the market.
Companion gear can have different traits, such as increasing damage output, enhancing healing, improving critical strike chances, or reducing cooldowns. These traits can be equipped to tailor the companion’s performance to the player’s playstyle.
Companion Customization
Customization options for companions allow players to modify their appearance and outfits. Players can choose whether the companion wears an outfit or remains in their current gear. If the player owns costumes or outfits, they can apply these to their companion through the Collectibles menu. To customize the companion’s outfit, players must visit an Outfit Station, where they can choose between customizing their own outfit or the companion’s.
At the Outfit Station, players can also change the companion’s mount, further personalizing their appearance. This customization process works similarly to how players change their own outfits, with the added benefit of allowing the companion to be equipped with a personalized style.
