Companions have always been an important part of the Dragon Age series, and The Veilguard is no different. There are 7 special characters you will encounter at different points in the game that you can recruit to become your Companions:
Each has their own stats, abilities, equipment, and backstory. They also have their own set of mechanics you will need to learn in order to use and level them.
In this guide, we will go over the mechanics of recruiting and using Companions, as well as take a look at each party member individually.
How to Recruit Companions
Each Companion will be found at a different point in the game. In order to recruit them, certain conditions will need to be met — this could include things like dialogue choices and specific quests completed. Once they’ve officially joined you, you’re free to add them to your party!
Where to Find Your Companions
Once you have recruited a Companion, a new section of the Lighthouse will open up just for them. In most cases, they will be in their own room, occasionally having conversations or quests for you to deepen your bond. However, they will occasionally wander around to other areas of your base, even sometimes going into another Companion’s room.
A map of The Lighthouse showing where every Companion’s room is
How to Change Party Members
There are two ways you can choose your party and change which Companions join you in battle:
Interacting with the Eluvian in the Lighthouse
Interacting with Fast Travel points
When you interact with either one to change your party, you will be taken to a menu with all of your party members, showing all of your Companions and what abilities they currently have equipped. From here, you can choose the two characters you want to join you.
Something to keep in mind is that during certain sections of the story, you will be forced to bring a certain Companion with you, or one will be unavailable to join you.
Leveling & Gearing Your Companions
Each Companion has their own level, and the primary way to level them up will be to complete their individual quests. These quests will deepen their bond with Rook, as well as grant them experience. Additionally, they can gain experience through unique dialogue or from making certain decisions involving them.
Your Companions will have four slots that they can use for equipment:
Main Hand Weapon
Off-Hand Weapon or Keepsake
Armor
Trinkets
Just like your own gear, these pieces can be upgraded and enchanted at the Caretaker’s Workshop.
Gameplay & Skills
You can only have two Companions in your party at any given time. As each character has their own set of abilities, you will want to find characters that will best compliment your own Class’s strength, or make up for its weaknesses.
All of your Companions will start with 2 abilities, and have 3 more unlock when they reach level 2. All of these will have different effects and can help you or hinder enemies in various ways.
Each companion will have 1 Primer ability that will apply a debuff
Each companion will have 1 Detonator ability that will activate if the enemy has a certain debuff
You can only equip 3 of these abilities to use at a time
They can be swapped at any time outside of combat
When an ability is used, all of that character’s 3 abilities will go on cooldown. The length of the cooldown depends on the ability used.
It’s worth noting that, unlike in the other Dragon Age games, you cannot directly control your Companions. However, you can still command them to use their abilities, so you can ensure that they will combo with your own abilities properly. On top of this, you can specify which enemy you want your Companions to focus on.
Every time Companions gain a level, they will gain 2 skill points, which can then be used to enhance their abilities in various ways. These Skill Points are assigned on the Companions’ Skill Trees and can be refunded as normal.
On top of their combat abilities, your teammates can help you navigate the world. Every Companion has a unique ability or two that will pop up when you’re near specific objects — this will allow them to interact, move, or even make objects appear, opening new paths for you. Thanks to the Lyrium Dagger, they don’t even have to be in the active party to use these abilities!
All Companions
Below, we will give a summary of each of the 7 Companions you can recruit, including their gameplay style, abilities, and Faction.
Abilities: Icebreaker, Replenish, Blizzard, Time Slow, Glacial Pace
Applies: Weakened
Detonates: Sundered
Obtained: During the quest The End of the Beginning
Being a Mage that specializes in Ice, Neve is great for slowing enemies down and crowd control. The best way she could do this is with her Time Slow ability, which, as the name implies, slows down time for all enemies — this can be a huge help in both offensive and defensive situations. She can even help with healing a bit with her Replenish.
She can use the move Hunch to draw out ghosts from the Fade, in order for them to give you hints or directions. Additionally, she can use Unbind Wards or Frost Binding to bring down enchanted barriers.
Neve can be recruited very early into the game, during the quest The End of the Beginning. During it, you will get an objective to ‘Find Neve Gallus’. Once you’ve found her and completed the objective, she will join you!
Abilities: Seismic Shot, Adrenaline Rush, Heavy Draw, Soothing Potion, Shred
Applies: Sundered
Detonates: Overwhelmed
Obtained: During the quest The End of the Beginning
Making her return from Dragon Age: Inquisition, Harding is a primarily physical fighter who specializes in debilitating your enemies. She can deal high Stagger damage, disrupt enemies, and lower their defense. On top of this, she can enhance your own damage with her Adrenaline Rush.
She can use either Eternal Hymn or Stone Song in order to move various objects in the world, either moving them out of the way, or creating a new ledge to climb on.
Like Neve, you can find Harding during the quest The End of the Beginning. Shortly after finding Neve, you will find Lace as well. By the end of this quest, she will become a permanent member of the team!
Abilities: Enfeebling Shot, Time Slow, Galvanized Tear, Replenish, Fade Bolts
Applies: Weakened
Detonates: Sundered
Obtained: During the quest In Entropy’s Grasp
Bellara is a Mage that focuses on electric magic — she can keep enemies grouped together, allowing you to utilize area attacks better. Her Galvanized Tear will group enemies together while dealing damage, while Time Slow and Fade Bolts can keep enemies from moving much.
While exploring, she can tinker with various artifacts that are found. This can help in various ways, from taking down barriers to creating a new path.
Bellara can be found pretty quickly after leaving The Lighthouse for the first time. This will start the quest In Entropy’s Grasp, and you will run into Bellara during it. She will permanently join your party shortly after!
While the Demon of Vyrantium is a Rogue, many of his attacks focus on dealing Necrotic damage to enemies. He can keep enemies off balance, being able to deal high damage to Barriers and knock down enemies in an area, and will be able to take out enemies at under half health quickly with his Eviscerate.
He can use Spite’s Reach when certain rifts are found while exploring. This will temporarily make Fade anomalies appear, creating new paths for you to cross over. Just keep in mind that these anomalies will only be visible for a short while, so you will want to get to the other side of your new path quickly.
Lucanis can be found during the Sea of Blood quest. Partway through this quest, you will enter a cutscene where he makes his introduction, and he will join your party shortly after!
Abilities: Heroic Strike, ‘In War, Victory’, Death From Above, Battle Cry, Assan Strike
Applies: Overwhelm
Detonates: Weakened
Obtained: During the quest A Warden’s Best Friend
Davrin is unique in that he fights with his own companion — a young griffin named Assan. He can tank for the party with the use of ‘In War, Victory’ and Battle Cry, while he can also deal high Stagger damage and knock enemies down with his other abilities, keeping the pressure high on them.
His griffon Assan can help you reach things that are normally out of your reach. With Davrin’s Griffon Strike ability, he can summon Assan to break an object or flip a switch that’s at a distance. You can also use Griffon Dig to have Assan dig up something buried in the ground.
Davrin can be found during the A Warden’s Best Friend quest. Once you’ve arrived at the Anderfels for the first time, you will quickly see a couple of cutscenes that introduce Davrin and Assan. Shortly after, he will join the party!
Abilities: Fire Breath, Dragon’s Roar, Dragonfire Strike, Fortune’s Favor, Spitfire
Applies: Overwhelm
Detonates: Weakened
Obtained: During the quest The Dragon Slayer
This draconic fighter uses their dual axes and fire to protect the team and burn down enemies. Dragon’s Roar will taunt enemies, while Fortune’s Favor will temporarily make you invulnerable. Meanwhile, Fire Breath will cause enemies to Burn.
They can use their dragon fire to help open up some paths. Ignite can be used to light up torches and make specific containers explode, while Dragon Fire can melt certain materials that are blocking your path.
Taash can be found during the quest The Dragon Slayer. Once you arrive at the Rivian Coast, you will quickly meet them. After a cutscene introducing Taash, they will join your party!
Abilities: Final Rites, Replenish, The Bell Tolls, Time Slow, Entangling Spirits
Applies: Weakened
Detonates: Sundered
Obtained: During the quest Where the Dead Must Go
Emmrich uses his Necromancy to protect innocents from the occult. Final Rites and The Bell Tolls will cause explosive Necrotic damage, while Entangling Spirits will both entangle enemies and deal a high amount of Stagger damage.
He can use Placate Michief to bring wisps out of hiding.
Emmrich can be found during the Where the Dead Must Go quest. Shortly after arriving at Necropolis Halls, you will start a cutscene that introduces him. After the scene, Emmrich will join your party!
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KainHighwind27
I'm a huge gamer who especially loves the Final Fantasy series. I will play just about any game, especially if it has anything resembling a Dragoon.
