If you just completed “On Blighted/Deadly Wings” questline that forces you to choose between either helping Treviso or Minrathous, you might be surprised to find that one of your companions (Neve or Lucanis, in particular) is now Hardened. The game will explain that this happens from them witnessing their city under the blighted dragon attack, and it comes with some noticeable mechanical effects, especially if you planned on bringing either of the two with you in the future.
In this guide we will go over the effects (both positive and negative), how you can plan around them, and then note a couple of differences between the two Hardened companions.
Hardened Effect
The companion you do not assist in the quest (Neve or Lucanis) becomesHardened:
They will no longer use supportive abilities (their healing skill tree). The skill points spent there will be refunded.
Damaging abilities are more effective (specifically, all of the Damage vs. Barrier passive skills for both, and also Cooldown duration for Neve only)
Relationship progress is slower
And, another notable exception (unless it gets patched in the future): you are free to still pursue your Romance with Neve, but Lucanis “no longer has time for a romance with you”.
This effect will not go away later in the game.
Let’s explore each of these in turn, starting with the locked Ability trees and boosted Skills.
Neve‘s Healing ability tree is no longer available, but all of her Damage vs. Barrier and Cooldown duration Passives for other Abilities get buffed (the game doesn’t specify by how much).
The streets of Minrathous and well beyond require an abundance of caution. Neve always comes prepared, ready to instantly restore your health.
Neve‘s entire Healing skill tree, the Soothing Potion, is locked for the rest of the game. If you previously invested skill points into it, they will be refunded.
Icebreaker Ability — Passives Boosted
There are no changes to Icebreaker (Deals Cold damage, Detonates Sundered, Fires 6 projectiles at targets), but two of its Passives get boosted:
Chill Out Companion Passive Skill
Damage vs. Barrier: +50%
Early Winter Companion Passive Skill
Cooldown duration: -15%
Blizzard Ability — Passives Boosted
There are no changes to Blizzard (Deals Cold damage, Deals damage each second to all enemies in the area of effect), but two of its Passives get boosted:
Brittle Companion Passive Skill
Damage vs. Barrier: +50%
Numb Companion Passive Skill
Cooldown duration: -15%
Glacial Pace Ability — Passives Boosted
There are no changes to Glacial Pace (Deals Cold damage, Applies Weakened, Stops enemies in their tracks), but two of its Passives get boosted:
Just like with Neve, Lucanis‘s Healing ability tree is no longer available, but all of his Damage vs. Barrier Passives for other Abilities get buffed (the game doesn’t specify by how much).
Note that Lucanis gets less Passives boosted with Hardened, compared to Neve.
A Talon is ready for anything and never without a potent concoction on hand. Lucanis tosses a restorative tincture to you, granting Rejuvenation.
Lucanis‘s entire Healing skill tree, the Soothing Potion, is locked for the rest of the game. If you previously invested skill points into it, they will be refunded.
Abominate Ability — Passive Boosted
There are no changes to Abominate (Deals Necrotic damage, Deals high Barrier damage and applies Knocked Down to enemies in the area), but one of its Passives deeper into the tree is boosted:
Schism Companion Passive Skill
Damage vs. Barrier: +50%
Eviscerate Ability — Passive Boosted
There are no changes to Eviscerate (Detonates Overwhelm, Deals Necrotic damage, and Deals bonus damage at half health or less), but one of its Passives deeper into the tree is boosted:
Mage Bane Companion Passive Skill
Damage vs. Barrier: +50%
Debilitate Ability — Passive Boosted
There are no changes to Debilitate (Applies Sundered, Deals Necrotic damage, and Deals high Stagger), but one of its Passives deeper into the tree is boosted:
Barrier Buster Companion Passive Skill
Damage vs. Barrier: +50%
Feel free to use our Skill Tree Calculator to locate these skills and plan around them!
Hardened Romance & Companion Experience
The companion you do not assist will become unavailable until you recruit the rest of the Companions by progressing further into the story.
Even when they return, they will remain Hardened, and your relationship progress with them will be slower overall. Don’t worry, though — even without the extra effort you are still likely to reach bond level 8-9 with them by the end of the game, so you won’t miss out on any content.
That being said, there is one notable difference when it comes to Romance:
Yes, you are seeing this right: you will even get a notification that Lucanis “no longer has time for a romance with you”, which is not the case with Neve, whose Romance storyline barely sees any changes at all (you will not miss out on any content).
It is possible that either of these gets patched in the future updates, but for right now this is an important distinction to keep in mind if you wanted to try out the Romance storyline with Lucanis. Note that he will still attempt to pursue his NPC romance with Neve later on regardless, if you aren’t romantically involved with her.
If you want the full list of effects besides those affecting your two Companions, including some missable items, you should check out our Treviso vs. Minrathous guide!
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Mila Grish
Dedicated contributor at EIP Gaming and a part-time collector of books she will never have time to actually read. Jumps on the newest releases just as quickly as on the uncovered dusty collections from the basement. For her, shiny graphics can never be an excuse to not have a polished player experience or an immersive story.
Hardened. The game will explain that this happens from them witnessing their city under the blighted dragon attack, and it comes with some noticeable mechanical effects, especially if you planned on bringing either of the two with you in the future.
Replenish Ability — 
Locked
Icebreaker Ability — Passives Boosted
Cold damage, Detonates 
Sundered, Fires 6 projectiles at targets), but two of its Passives get boosted:
Blizzard Ability — Passives Boosted
Glacial Pace Ability — Passives Boosted
Weakened, Stops enemies in their tracks), but two of its Passives get boosted:
Soothing Potion Ability — 
Abominate Ability — Passive Boosted
Necrotic damage, Deals high Barrier damage and applies Knocked Down to enemies in the area), but one of its Passives deeper into the tree is boosted:
Eviscerate Ability — Passive Boosted
Overwhelm, Deals 
Debilitate Ability — Passive Boosted
You can still pursue Romance with Hardened 
You cannot pursue Romance with Hardened 
