How the New Companions Work in ESO: Blackwood

The Elder Scrolls Online’s Blackwood Chapter, the latest in the game’s thrilling, year-long “Gates of Oblivion” event, is finally out. With the expansion, comes a companion system being rolled out into the MMORPG for the first time. Equipped with their own gear, skills, and dialogue, these AI companions even come with their own rapport system. With this, comes another layer of impact towards your in-game decisions. Although they’re not “sworn to carry your burdens”, you’ll have an armour-clad pal for combat (except PvP), conversation, and exploring the glorious world of Tamriel.

Unlocked by completing Blackwood zone quests, companions can be taken with you for dungeons and trials, but not arenas. If, for example, you’re taking on a dungeon with two other human players, each can have one AI companion with them – making for a total of six and ultimately bolstering your team. This feature is a game-changer for solo players too, as companions can essentially substitute for real-life teammates. If you’re taking on a multiplayer quest that’s simply too much for one on their own, your companion can be simply summoned and dismissed as needed for the task at hand. They won’t be the heaviest hitters, mind you. At most, a high-end companion could deliver 9-10k DPS at most. Nevertheless, when you’re in a pinch and need an extra tank, healer, or to quickly fill in the spot of the disconnected player, these companions will be essential in The Elder Scrolls Online.

Who are the Companions?

To start with, ESO Blackwood has available two possible companions. Firstly, there’s Bastion, an Imperial with skills similar to those of a Dragon Knight, who’s also trained as a mage. Although most comfortable wielding a staff, he’s also formidable with a sword and shield. Bastion can be found outside Deep Square Hollow in Southern Blackwood, who’ll eventually be unlocked as a follower after you complete his quest.

Secondly, there’s Mirri Elendis: a dark elf with a skill arsenal respective to those of a Nightblade. She’s proficient in using both the bow and twin daggers. Mirri can be found in Northern Blackwood at the Volpinas Doom Vault, before also unlocking her as a follower by completing her respective quest.

When unlocked, a companion will start at level 1, and will level up overtime through gaining XP by killing enemies, up to the max of 20. They’re also account-based, meaning no matter how many characters you have, Bastion and Mirri will be available to all as soon as you unlock them once. Although, you can repeat their starting quests using other characters, whenever you’d like. Moreover, you’ll probably want to do this with other characters anyway if you intend to keep progressing these companions’ personal storylines.

Skills and Gear

In terms of skills, a Companion’s proficiency with ESO talents are improved in the same manner as your character’s: equipping them with a weapon, using said weapon for a kill, and gaining XP towards levelling up that. Skills will have their own special requirements and cooldowns, so you’ll want to factor those into your play style.

Gear and equipment, though, is where your character and companion will differ slightly. With drops of companion-specific gear being made available, these will equip to your AI friends themselves, so you won’t need to worry about hanging onto those. Be that as it may, the caveat for having their own inventory slots for particular gear, means you sadly can’t use them as “inventory mules”. Nonetheless, companion gear does drop with new traits to optimise their prowess in battle e.g. cooldown reduction, regeneration, increased damage. Pros and cons.

Interestingly, each comes with their own Rapport System gauge with personal likes and dislikes, such as those you’ll have seen with their Skyrim counterparts. For example, whilst the kinder Bastion will hate it if you start to go on a pickpocketing spree, the in-game HUD will tell you that Mirri’s all for you stealing people’s possessions. Adding some more flavour to interactions with your character, how you act in ESO will ripple out into affecting your relationships with companions. The Rapport System will judge these budding friendships, which can unlock new quests each offering peculiar perks and rewards, offering more into the companion’s backstory as an extra in their storyline.If the way you play The Elder Scrolls Online would naturally throw your companions the wrong way, you needn’t be concerned about losing them. Even if their disposition with you drops to the lowest possible level, they’ll still remain unlocked. You may have to cope with them dealing occasional disdain for you until your relationship improves, and un-summoning themselves (you can re-summon immediately), but Bastion and Mirri will fight by your side whether they like it or not.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood chapter is out now, available to purchase via Steam or through other options found through the ESO website.

Play Like a Thane with the ESO HERO Gaming Chair

You may not have a real-life Imperial or Dark Elf by your side, but Overclockers UK can provide you with a companion that’s even better: The noblechairs HERO Gaming Chair – The Elder Scrolls Online Special Edition. Bringing together the ergonomic features of the noblechairs HERO range, along with a black-gold design that’s iconic to Tamriel, you’ll learn what it means to be in stylish comfort as you quest across the long. Learn more at our blog, or add it straight to your basket on the pre-order page via the button below!

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