ESO Companion System: Everything You Need to Know

The Elder Scrolls Online revolutionized solo gameplay with the introduction of the Companion system in the Blackwood Chapter during June 2021. This innovative feature enables players to recruit specialized NPC allies through targeted quest completion, providing crucial assistance when facing formidable opponents. For adventurers still developing their characters, these AI partners prove invaluable for acquiring ESO gold and rare items from content that would otherwise prove overwhelming. ArzyeL Gaming‘s comprehensive video demonstrates the complete process of unlocking Companions, equipping them with optimal gear, and leveraging their unique abilities during combat encounters.

Companions represent sophisticated NPC allies designed to support you throughout your adventures. These AI partners can accompany you virtually anywhere within Tamriel, with the sole exception of player-versus-player zones. Currently, four distinct Companions await discovery, each requiring completion of specific introductory missions before joining your cause.

Blackwood Companions: Bastian (left) and Mirri (right)

High Isle Companions: Ember (left) and Isobel (right)

Bastian Hallix: This male Imperial warrior awaits recruitment within Deepscorn Hollow, located along Blackwood’s southwestern coastline. His straightforward combat style makes him ideal for players preferring direct confrontation tactics.

Mirri Elendis: A female Dark Elf scout positioned at Doomvault Vulpinaz in northern Blackwood. Her agility-based approach complements stealth-oriented playstyles perfectly.

Isobel Veloise: As a female Breton Templar from the High Isle expansion, locate her near Castle Navire west of Confalon Bay, High Isle’s capital city.

Ember: This female Khajiit Sorcerer Companion also originates from High Isle. Find her positioned near Tor Draioch in eastern High Isle.

Companion quest locations

After successfully completing companion recruitment quests, access your allies through the Collections Menu under the Allies Tab. Engaging them in conversation reveals their personal menu systems and dialogue trees. Each companion possesses distinct preferences and aversions that influence your interactions. Through continued engagement, you’ll uncover their backstories and eventually unlock specialized companion background missions.

Within each companion’s interface, you’ll discover comprehensive information covering their equipment configurations, skill selections, cosmetic options, and the crucial rapport mechanics. Rapport quantifies each companion’s affinity toward you, directly impacting their willingness to assist. Performing actions they favor gradually builds rapport, while engaging in behaviors they dislike diminishes it. Should rapport levels drop excessively, companions may voluntarily dismiss themselves and temporarily refuse summons until your relationship improves.

Pro Tip: Each companion maintains unique rapport triggers. Bastian appreciates alchemy and honorable combat, while Mirri favors exploration and hunting. Understanding these preferences prevents accidental rapport loss during routine activities.

Companions initiate their journey at level 1, progressing alongside you through shared experience gain until reaching maximum level 20. They operate with a single skill bar, yet offer diverse skill line options for customization. As they advance, additional skill slots and abilities become available for strategic deployment.

Multiple skill line categories enable comprehensive companion specialization. Weapon proficiencies, armor mastery, guild affiliations, and racial abilities collectively facilitate the creation of uniquely tailored companion builds.

• Class Skill Lines: Progress automatically with companion combat level advancement

• Weapon Skill Lines: Develop through combat based on currently equipped weapon types

• Armor Skill Lines: Advance through combat determined by equipped armor weight categories

• Guild Skill Lines: Improve by accomplishing daily quests linked to specific guild organizations

• Racial Skill Lines: Become accessible immediately upon companion acquisition

Companion combat behavior follows a sophisticated skill priority and cooldown management system. They systematically attempt to execute each ability sequentially from first to last position on their skill bar, then reset the cycle once all skills complete their cooldown periods.

Your companions actively engage hostile targets, providing healing support, applying beneficial buffs, and dealing damage according to their assigned skill configurations. They demonstrate advanced combat awareness by attempting to block incoming attacks or executing roll dodges to evade damage. Should they fall in battle, you possess the ability to resurrect them similarly to player characters. Even without manual resurrection, companions automatically revive once combat concludes.

Advanced Strategy: Position high-priority skills like healing or crowd control at the beginning of their skill bar, as companions prioritize these abilities first during combat sequences.

Companions utilize specialized gear systems completely separate from player equipment. Their armor encompasses Light, Medium, and Heavy varieties, with quality tiers extending up to Epic (purple) classification. This equipment primarily drops from defeated enemies, though acquisition rates remain notably lower than standard player gear. Managing companion inventory presents additional considerations, as their equipment occupies separate storage space.

Companion gear features eight distinctive traits designed specifically for AI ally optimization:

• Aggressive: Enhances Companion Damage Output per equipped piece

• Augmented: Extends duration of all Companion Buffs and Debuffs per equipped piece

• Bolstered: Reduces Companion Damage Received per equipped piece

• Focused: Boosts Companion Critical Strike Chance per equipped piece

• Prolific: Accelerates Companion Ultimate Generation per equipped piece

• Quickened: Shortens Companion Ability Cooldowns per equipped piece

• Shattering: Increases Companion Armor Penetration per equipped piece

• Soothing: Amplifies Companion Healing Effectiveness per equipped piece

• Vigorous: Raises Companion Maximum Health pool per equipped piece

Companions’ Cosmetics

Personalize your companions using your collected costumes and designate one of your mounts for their use during travels. Headgear customization remains restricted, with helmet displays disabled by default across all companion types.

Companions demonstrate remarkable versatility by adapting to any combat role – Damage Dealer, Tank, or Healer/Buffer hybrid – determined by your selected skills and equipment configurations.

These AI allies represent excellent additions for solo adventurers, though their effectiveness diminishes in extremely challenging group content. Direct companion control becomes available through existing Pet Commands (Y + mouse Lclick), allowing precise targeting during engagements.

Pro Tip: For inventory-constrained players, prioritize companion gear with multiple trait types rather than carrying complete sets for every possible build configuration.

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