TL;DR
- Azandar al-Cybiades is the top-tier choice for his balanced offensive and defensive capabilities
- Bastian Hallix excels as a defensive specialist while Sharp-as-Night offers hybrid support
- Companions perform best as tanks or healers, not as primary damage dealers
- The Telvanni Efficiency set significantly enhances companion performance
- Avoid complex mechanics that companions cannot handle to prevent unnecessary deaths
The Elder Scrolls Online’s Update 40 brought forth the Infinite Archive, a challenging PvE activity previously called Endless Archive. This rogue-inspired duo arena presents randomly generated enemy waves and boss encounters that test your strategic planning. You can tackle this content solo, with another player, or accompanied by an AI Companion. The unpredictable nature of these encounters makes balancing offensive pressure with defensive sustainability crucial for long-term success.
Currently, ESO features six distinct Companions, each providing unique buffs, debuffs, and combat utilities. However, their damage output as primary DPS falls short of player capabilities. Therefore, configuring your Companion as a Tank, Healer, or hybrid support role yields the most effective results for Archive progression.
While Companions demonstrate competent aggro management and healing abilities, they struggle with intricate boss mechanics and widespread area-of-effect attacks. They frequently perish when facing complex encounter patterns or when bosses deploy AoE damage at their position. Despite these limitations, they provide valuable assistance during your Archive advancement attempts.
When venturing into the Archive with a Companion, consider adopting a solo-optimized build configuration. Additionally, equipping the Telvanni Efficiency set, obtainable through gold purchases or personal crafting, offers substantial benefits. This specialized gear reduces active Companion ability cooldowns and decreases your own skill costs when your Companion falls in combat.
S-Tier: Azandar al-Cybiades
Azandar represents the premier selection for Infinite Archive due to his exceptional versatility across offensive and defensive domains. He delivers Minor Maim to reduce enemy damage, applies both Minor and Major Vulnerability for increased damage taken, provides protective shields, offers area healing and resource recovery, grants Minor Berserk for damage amplification, and even includes a fear ability for crowd control management. His diverse skill arsenal enables support for virtually any playstyle or build configuration.
With Azandar supporting your efforts, anticipate receiving comprehensive assistance through efficient healing and shielding while simultaneously benefiting from damage enhancement via Berserk and Vulnerability effects.
A-Tier: Bastian Hallix
Bastian serves as another excellent Archive option, focusing more heavily on defensive priorities. He provides Off Balance status, defensive Shields, healing capabilities, and can augment your damage output while controlling enemies through his specialized skills. If you require a support-tank hybrid capable of both sustaining your health and amplifying your offensive potential, Bastian deserves serious consideration.
A-Tier: Sharp-as-Night
Sharp delivers a balanced combination of defensive and offensive utilities similar to Azandar, complemented by substantial healing prowess. With Sharp, you gain access to Minor Vulnerability, defensive enhancements, potent healing, and crowd control capabilities.
Sharp functions as an outstanding support Companion providing healing and crowd control through frost-based damage skills. His flexibility allows him to strengthen your defenses while increasing your damage via the Vulnerability debuff.
B-Tier: Isobel Veloise
Isobel represents another adaptable Companion specializing in healing and defensive operations. She offers Off Balance, powerful area healing effects, and damage amplification. Isobel serves as an ideal selection if you prefer a resilient Companion capable of surviving against most adversary types. Her AoE abilities will help maintain your survival, while her offensive capabilities can inflict considerable damage on opponents.
B-Tier: Mirri Elendis and Ember
Mirri and Ember deliver comparable supportive functions. Mirri possesses the Off Balance skill, reliable healing capacities, and a fear ability for crowd control purposes. Conversely, Ember provides Shield protection, competent healing, and crowd control utilities. Both Companions perform similarly within Archive gameplay contexts. Their healing proves sufficient for survival maintenance, and they provide effective crowd control options.
Mirri additionally supplies the Off Balance debuff that enhances damage, while Ember safeguards you with protective Shields.
When selecting your Archive Companion, strategic considerations extend beyond simple tier rankings. For optimal performance, focus on these advanced tactics:
Companion Positioning Management: Actively reposition your Companion during complex mechanics. They tend to stand in harmful AoE effects, so manual relocation can prevent unnecessary deaths.
Skill Rotation Optimization: Program your Companion’s skill bar to prioritize essential abilities. Place crucial healing or shielding skills in first positions to ensure they activate during critical moments.
Gear Synchronization: Coordinate your Companion’s equipment with your own build requirements. Defensive sets work best for tank-oriented Companions, while healing-focused sets enhance support capabilities.
Resource Management: Monitor your Companion’s performance during extended sessions. Their effectiveness may diminish during marathon runs, requiring strategic resting points.
Mechanical Awareness: Learn which boss mechanics your Companion cannot handle and prepare to compensate personally for these limitations.
Common mistakes include overestimating Companion durability during complex phases and neglecting to manually reposition them away from danger zones. Advanced players should master the timing for dismissing and resummoning Companions during particularly dangerous mechanics.
For players seeking comprehensive ESO guidance, our Complete Guide offers extensive strategic insights.
Time investment for mastering Companion mechanics typically requires 5-10 Archive runs to understand their behavioral patterns and limitations thoroughly.
Action Checklist
- Select Azandar for balanced offense/defense or Bastian for pure defensive focus
- Configure Companion as Tank or Healer role, never as primary DPS
- Acquire Telvanni Efficiency set through purchase or crafting
- Practice manual Companion repositioning during AoE-heavy encounters
- Study boss mechanics that Companions cannot handle and develop personal counter-strategies
- Optimize Companion skill rotation by placing crucial abilities in first positions
No reproduction without permission:OnLineGames Guides » Which Companion to Use for the Endless Archive of ESO Expert companion tier list and strategies for mastering ESO's Infinite Archive challenges
