Everything you need to know about each of Avowed’s four companions including how they work, what makes each companion unique, recommended ability upgrades, when you should bring them, training sessions, and what their Premium Edition alternate appearances look like.
Table of contents
How companions work in Avowed
You’ll recruit 4 different companions over the course of the game and can bring 2 along as you explore The Living Lands. Each will aid you in combat in different ways, though all gain skill points at the same time as you, so it doesn’t matter which you bring or for how long.
Point Allocation
By level 30, you’ll have 8 points you can allocate to unlock and upgrade each companion’s 3 abilities and 1 passive effect. That’s enough to unlock each ability/passive and upgrade each one once with a single point left over.
Unlike with your own skill trees, you can choose whichever upgrade you want so long as you have the base ability/passive unlocked.
Some upgrades are better than others, but I strongly recommend unlocking all abilities and passives before upgrading anything. I have included 6 recommended points for each companions ability/passive effect upgrades denoted by the 
icon.
Since Companions don’t use their abilities nearly as often as they should, I recommend focusing on upgrading their Passive and then abilities that are strong enough to be worth diving into the Radial Menu to activate manually.
Group Composition
Expanding your team’s capabilities is typically better than improving existing ones, and I think it’s valuable to emphasize what makes each companion uinque. In a similar vein, I also recommend bringing along companions that cover for your own weaknesses.
For example, if you’re playing as a Ranger or Wizard, Kai will be invaluable at drawing enemy fire. However, he’s far less useful if you’re playing as a Fighter because you already have strong survivability and the capacity to Taunt.
Story Impact
Keep in mind that certain companions are more relevant to the story in specific regions of The Living Lands, so if you care about the story, you won’t be able to follow this advise very closely. Still, all will react to major story beats when you talk to them back at camp.
Despite possible fervent disagreement, you can’t lose any of your companions unless you make a specific choice to support the Steel Garrote at the very end of the game. Making this choice will grant you the achievement “Everyone Disliked That”.
Training Arc
Each companion has a little training dialogue option that appears after you’ve progressed far enough in the story and exhausted all other dialogue options with that companion up to that point.
The training sessions give you a permanent +2 Points towards 1-2 Attributes, either +1 to 2 Attributes or +2 to 1 Attribute, so completing all training sessions nets you +8 Attribute Points (and the Training Arc achievement).
The Attributes improveable by each Companion match their character traits and you can choose which Attributes you want to enhance.
Since it’s valuable to have 5 points of every Attribute and you can respec the rest of your points whenever you want, I strongly recommend always choosing the option where the companion picks what to teach you, or teach you a little bit of everything.
Kai
Kai
Kai is an agreeable blue male aumaua who joins your party in Dawnshore and the only companion who functions as a tank. His special ability allows him to burn flammable objects like cobwebs and some brambles.
Combat Abilities and Upgrades
Kai’s abilities are most reminiscent of the Fighter tree. They force enemies to attack him and increase his survivability, allowing him to survive all that extra attention.
Fire and Ire
Fire and IreDuration: 10s
Cooldown: 40s
Kai fires a powerful shot from his blunderbuss, dealing high Stun to a single enemy and Taunting them for 10s.
Extra Powder
Fire and Ire Ignites the target.
Pure Lead
Greatly increases the amount of Stun dealt by Fire and Ire.
Quick Reload
Reduces the cooldown of Fire and Ire by 50% (20s).
Unbending Defense
Unbending DefenseDuration: 30s
Cooldown: 75s
Kai steels his mind to regenerate Health and increase his Damage Reduction by 25%
Iron Will
Unbending Defense now increases his Damage Reduction by 50% (up from 25%).
Indomitable Spirit
Increases the Health regenerated by Unbending Defense.
Retaliation
When Unbending Defense ends, it unleashes a shockwave that damages nearby enemies.
Leap of Daring
Leap of DaringDuration: 25s
Cooldown: 60s
With a mighty leap, Kai crashes down upon the enemy, Stunning and Taunting all nearby enemies.
Leap of Pride
Doubles the area of effect of Leap of Daring.
Leap of Faith
Kai gains Temporary Health proportional to the number of enemies hit by Leap of Daring.
Leap of Conviction
Kai temporarily gains bonus Attack Damage proportional to the number of enemies hit by Leap of Daring.
Second Wind
Second WindCooldown: 120s
When Kai’s Health is reduced to 0, he revives himself by restorying 50% of his maximum Health.
Soothing Wind
Increases the amount of Health restored by Second Wind to 75% of Kai’s maximum Health (up from 50%).
Rallying Wind:
Kai gains a temporary burst of Attack Speed when Second Wind activates.
Refreshing Wind
All of Kai’s ability cooldowns are reset when Second Wind activates.
Appearances
If you have the Premium Edition of Avowed, you can change the appearance of Kai at the Main Camp Tent to the right of the Adra Waystone.
When should you bring Kai along?
You should bring Kai along while exploring Shatterscarp. He synergizes strongly with Wizards, Rangers, and Garrus Stans.
Kai’s Training Session
Kai’s Training Session can trigger in Dawnshore after you’ve exhausted his dialogue and progressed far enough in the story. His training can improve your Constitution and/or Might.
| Stats | Dialogue Option |
|---|---|
| +2 Constitution | You can withstand a lot of damage. I want to know how you stay on your feet. |
| +2 Might | You put a lot of power into your attacks. I want to learn how to hit harder with mine. |
| +1 Constitution +1 Might | Teach me a little bit of everything. I’m a fast learner. |
Marius
Marius
Marius is a male Pargrunen dwarf and rugged individualist, basically a lil’ Ron Swanson. He joins your party in Dawnshore. His focus is dealing damage to individual targets, but he also applies a lot of control. His special ability highlights all loot in the vicinity.
Combat Abilities and Upgrades
Marius’ abilities are most reminiscent of the Ranger tree and allow him to deal damage over time and finish off enemies with low HP. He can also apply several debuffing effects.
Binding Roots
Binding RootsDuration: 8s
Cooldown: 20s
Marius uses his wilderness lore to Root an enemy in place for 8s.
Constricting Roots
Binding Roots deals Stun to trapped enemies.
Grasping Roots
Binding Roots traps multiple enemies in a small area of effect.
Thorny Roots
Binding Roots deals Bleed Accumulation to trapped enemies.
Heart Seeker
Heart SeekerCooldown: 60s
Marius takes aim and fires a piercing shot that always hits its mark, passing through any obstacles in its path.
Twinned Shot
After hitting the original enemy, Heart Seeker also hits the next closest enemy.
Sharpshooter
Increases the amount of damage dealt by Heart Seeker to enemies who have less than 50% Health remaining.
Quick Draw
Reduces the cooldown for Heart Seeker by 33% (20s).
Shadow Step
Shadow StepCooldown: 60s
Marius vanishes into a cloud of smoke, then reappears near an enemy and slashes them with his daggers. He repeats this up to 3 times.
Assassinate
Shadow Step instantly defeats most Stunned enemies.
Devastating Blow
Increases the amount of damage dealt by Shadow Steap in proportion to the enemy’s missing Health.
Shadow Mastery
Marius vanishes and strikes enemies up to 6 times (up from 3).
Wounding Shots
Wounding ShotsMarius’ attacks deal Bleed Accumulation.
Exposing Shots
Marius’ attacks reduce enemy Damage Reduction.
Impeding Shots
Marius’ attacks slow any hit enemies
Maiming Shots
Marius attacks reduce enemy Damage.
Appearances
If you have the Premium Edition of Avowed, you can change the appearance of Marius at the Main Camp Tent to the right of the Adra Waystone.
When should you bring Marius along?
You should bring Marius along while exploring Galawain’s Tusks and strongly consider bringing him if you’re playing a Wizard or Fighter.
Marius’ Training Session
Marius’ Training Session is the final one you’ll unlock as it requires traveling to Galawain’s Tusks. His training improves your Dexterity and/or Constitution.
As your tracker and guide throughout the Living Lands, unlocking his training requires that you discuss each region, and likely also complete his Companion Quest in the Tusks, “Chorus of the Lost”.
If you’ve done all that and the dialogue option isn’t popping up, try going back through the regions in chronological order and exhausting all the “Tell me about [region]” questions.
| Stats | Dialogue Option |
|---|---|
| +2 Dexterity | Tell me how to be quicker, quieter, and more agile. |
| +2 Constitution | Show me how to survive conditions that would cripple the unprepared. |
| +1 Dexterity +1 Constitution | I trust your instincts. How about a little of everything. |
Giatta
Giatta
Giatta is a particularly talented human female animancer who joins your party in Emerald Stair and the only companion who can function as a healer. Her special ability allows her to electrify specific devices that typically unlock doors.
Combat Abilities and Upgrades
Giatta’s abilities heal the entire party and reduce the damage everyone takes. Her abilities do not take after any skill tree.
Purification
PurificationCooldown: 60s
Giatta calls forth an invigorating wave of energy that heals allies for 25% of their maximum Health.
Boosted Essence
Purification heals allies for 50% of their maximum Health (up from 25%).
Essence Pressure
Enemies within the range of Purification are interrupted and knocked back.
Essence Shielding
Increases Damage Reduction of allies by 20% for 15s.
Barrier
BarrierDuration: 20s
Cooldown: 75s
Giatta grants all allies a shield that provides Temporary Health for 20s.
Greater Barrier
Increases the amount of Temporary Health granted by Barrier.
Medic Shielding
When Barrier ends, allies are healed in proportion to the amount of Temporary Health remaining.
Impenetrable
While Barrier is active, Giatta cannot be hit and knocks back melee attackers.
Acceleration
AccelerationDuration: 15s
Cooldown: 80s
Giatta increases the Move Speed and Attack Speed of all allies for 15s.
Evade Attacks
Accelerated allies now also gain 15% Damage Reduction.
Extended Acceleration
Increases the duration of Acceleration by 10s.
Time Shift
Any abilities activated while Acceleration is active will have their cooldowns reduced by 50%.
Reconstruction
ReconstructionGiatta’s attacks heal all allies by a small amount.
Critical Restore
Reconstruction increases the healing granted to allies who have less than 20% Health remaining.
Overcharge
Reconstruction grants Temporary Health to allies who are already at maximum Health.
Revitalize
Giata revives Incapacitated allies when she defeats an enemy.
Appearances
If you have the Premium Edition of Avowed, you can change the appearance of Giatta at the Main Camp Tent to the right of the Adra Waystone.
When should you bring Giatta?
You should bring Giatta along while exploring the Emerald Stair or are contending with the Steel Garrote. She pairs best with Wizards and Rangers.
Giatta’s Training Session
You can unlock Giatta’s Training Session in Shatterscarp after exhausting her dialogue and progressing far enough in the story. Her training improves your Intellect and/or Resolve.
| Stats | Dialogue Option |
|---|---|
| +2 Intellect | Tell me how an animancer sharpens their mind to decipher the spiritual world. |
| +2 Resolve | I want to learn about how you stand up for yourself with an ironclad will. |
| +1 Intellect +1 Resolve | Whatever you want to teach me. I leave it in your hands. |
Yatzli
Yatzli
Yatzli is an peppy academic female orlan mage who specializes in dealing damage with explosive magic. Her special ability allows her to dispell illusions that block paths and treasures, something the Envoy cannot do.
Combat Abilities and Upgrades
Yatzli’s abilities are most reminiscent of the Wizard tree, though only one of her spells learnable by the Envoy (Minoletta’s Missile Battery = Missile Salvo). In contrast to Marius, Yatzli’s damage is more area of effect-based (AoE) rather than single-target. She trades in control for optional Elemental Accumulation.
Essence Explosion
Essence ExplosionCooldown: 60s
Yatzli invokes a strange arcane power that explodes upon hitting an enemy, releasing a burst of Essence and Explosive Damage.
Concentrated Essence
Increases the blast radius of Essence Explosion.
Fire Aspect
Essence Explosion deals Fire Accumulation.
Scrappy Casting
Reduces the cooldown for Essence explosion by 33% (20s.
Minoletta’s Missile Battery
Minoletta’s Missile BatteryDuration: 5s
Cooldown: 60s
Yatzli conjures a volley of arcane missiles that seek out nearby enemies.
Speedy Salvo
Increases the rate of fire for missiles from Minoletta’s Missile Battery.
Horizon Strike
Increases the maximum range of missiles from Minoletta’s Missile Battery.
Shock Aspect
Missiles from Minoletta’s Missile Battery deal Shock Accumulation.
Arduous Delay of Motion
Arduous Delay of MotionDuration: 10s
Cooldown: 40s
Yatzli manipulates the arcane energy around an enemy, slowing them for 10s.
Energy Sap
Increases the intensity of the slowing effect.
Exhausting Field
Arduous Delay of Motion is now applied to all enemies near the primary target.
Frost Aspect
Arduous Delay of Motion causes periodic Frost Accumulation.
Blast
BlastYatzli’s attacks burst into a small area of effect when they hit an enemy.
Explosive Blast
Blast now deals Explosive Damage, enabling it to break enemy Blocks, destroy walls, and shatter Frozen enemies.
Force Blast
Increases the Stun dealt by Blast.
Affliction Blast
Blast has a 5% chance to inflict Frozen, Ignited, or Shocked.
Appearances
If you have the Premium Edition of Avowed, you can change the appearance of Yatzli at the Main Camp Tent to the right of the Adra Waystone.
When should you bring Yatzli?
You have strong incentives to bring Yatzli for the remainder of the game after unlocking her as a companion both due to story relevance and her special ability. She complements Fighters and Rangers the best.
Yatzli’s Training Session
You can unlock Yatzli’s Training Session in Shatterscarp after exhausting her dialogue and progressing far enough in the story. Her training boosts your Intellect and/or Perception.
| Stats | Dialogue Option |
|---|---|
| +2 Intellect | Let’s sharpen our wits. |
| +2 Perception | You always see the traps before I do – can you show me what to look for? |
| +1 Intellect +1 Perception | Whatever you want to teach me, I’m ready to learn! |
