In Avowed, the Companions not only enrich the game's narrative but also play crucial roles in enhancing your gameplay experience. From opening new pathways to excelling in combat, each Companion brings unique abilities to the table. Here's a ranking of all the Avowed Companions, from least to most effective, based on their practical utility.

4. Marius

In my time with Avowed, I found Marius to be less compatible with my play style. While his passive abilities aid in early-game exploration by helping to find items and plants, he quickly becomes outclassed by other Companions. Marius's combat capabilities are limited, making him less valuable for the majority of the journey through the Living Lands.

Abilities and Upgrades:

• Blinding Roots: Roots enemies in place for 8 seconds, with upgrades to stun, affect multiple enemies, and cause Bleed Accumulation.
• Heart Seeker: A piercing shot that hits its target regardless of obstacles, with upgrades to hit multiple enemies, increase damage to low-health targets, and reduce cooldown.
• Shadow Step: Vanishes and reappears to slash enemies, with upgrades to kill stunned enemies, deal more damage to low-health targets, and affect more enemies.
• Wounding Shots: Causes Bleed Accumulation, with upgrades to reduce enemy damage reduction, slow enemies, and decrease enemy damage.

Marius's abilities are niche, focusing on slowing and weakening enemies, which can be useful against melee-focused foes but lack the versatility needed for a well-rounded party.

3. Giatta

Giatta, a support-focused Animancer, excels in healing, shielding, and buffing your party. While not the best for direct damage, her utility shines in critical situations, particularly during Avowed's boss fights.

Abilities and Upgrades:

• Purification: Heals allies by 25% of their max Health, with upgrades to increase healing, interrupt enemies, and boost damage reduction.
• Barrier: Grants temporary health for 20 seconds, with upgrades to enhance the shield, heal enemies upon expiration, and protect Giatta from melee attacks.
• Acceleration: Boosts move and attack speed for 15 seconds, with upgrades to add damage reduction, extend duration, and reduce ability cooldowns.
• Reconstruction: Heals allies slightly with attacks, with upgrades to focus on critically injured allies, grant temporary health, and revive incapacitated allies upon enemy kills.

Giatta's ability to power Essence Generators also unlocks new areas, making her a valuable asset for late-game exploration. She pairs well with Wizard-focused Envoys, enhancing magic-based strategies.

2. Kai

As the first Companion you meet in Avowed, Kai remains a reliable ally throughout your journey. His tank-like build and effective damage output make him an excellent choice for combat without requiring much player intervention.

Abilities and Upgrades:

• Fire and Ire: Fires a stun-inducing shot from his Blunderbuss, with upgrades to ignite targets, increase stun, and reduce cooldown.
• Unbending Defense: Regenerates health and increases damage reduction, with upgrades to further reduce damage, boost regeneration, and damage nearby enemies upon expiration.
• Leap of Daring: Stuns and taunts enemies with a powerful leap, with upgrades to increase its area of effect, gain temporary health, and boost attack damage.
• Second Wind: Revives himself with 50% health, with upgrades to increase revival health, enhance attack speed, and reset ability cooldowns.

Kai's versatility in dealing with both single targets and crowds, combined with his self-revival ability, makes him a highly effective combat partner. He can also clear obstacles like spider webs and roots, providing access to new areas.

1. Yatzli

Yatzli, a powerful Wizard, offers both high-damage attacks and excellent crowd control, making her an indispensable asset in Avowed. Her abilities are akin to having air support in the fantasy world of the Living Lands.

Abilities and Upgrades:

• Essence Explosion: Explodes on impact, with upgrades to increase the blast radius, add fire accumulation, and reduce cooldown.
• Minoletta's Missile Battery: Fires a volley of arcane missiles, with upgrades to increase fire rate, extend range, and add shock accumulation.
• Arduos Delay of Motion: Slows enemies for 10 seconds, with upgrades to intensify the slow, affect multiple enemies, and add frost accumulation.
• Blast: Causes an area of effect burst on hit, with upgrades to break blocks, destroy walls, shatter frozen enemies, increase stun, and inflict status effects.

Yatzli's powerful abilities match her fierce personality, and her capacity to clear obstacles further enhances her utility. Although she joins your party later in the game, her contributions make her an essential Companion for the remainder of your adventure.

Avowed is set to release on PC and Xbox on February 18, promising a rich and engaging experience with these diverse Companions by your side.