ESO Companions Guide
Companions are NPCs allies you can customize, level up, and gear just like your own character. They can act as tanks, healers, or damage dealers, depending on how you build them. In this ESO companions guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know — how to unlock each companion, which gear traits to use, how to build them for combat, and how to raise rapport — so you can make the most of the system and bring real backup into any fight.
Who Are Companions in ESO?
Companions in The Elder Scrolls Online are customizable combat allies — NPCs that fight, heal, tank, and explore alongside you. Introduced with the Blackwood Chapter and expanded in later content, companions add flexibility to solo play, help tackle harder content, and offer progression systems of their own.
Unlike pets or summons, companions have skill bars, class-like abilities, gear slots, and even personality-driven rapport mechanics.
How to Get Companion ESO
Unlocking companions in The Elder Scrolls Online depends on the specific chapter or content they were introduced in. Most companions are tied to zone storylines or specific quests, while some require a Crown Store purchase or ESO Plus membership.
There are currently 8 unique companions in ESO, each with class skills, personalities, and preferred combat roles like DPS, healer, or tank. Some are unlocked through chapter quests, others via the Crown Store. Here’s a full breakdown of how to get each companion in ESO, including their locations and requirements.
Mirri Elendis
Quest: Competition and Contracts
Location: Doomvault Vulpinaz (Blackwood)
Requirement: Blackwood Chapter
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Bastian Hallix
Quest: Shattered and Scattered
Location: Deepscorn Hollow (Blackwood)
Requirement: Blackwood Chapter
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Ember
Quest: Tower Full of Trouble
Location: Near Tor Draioch (High Isle)
Requirement: High Isle Chapter
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Isobel Veloise
Quest: Tournament of the Heart
Location: Castle Navire (High Isle)
Requirement: High Isle Chapter
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Azandar Al-Cybiades
Quest: The Fateweaver Key
Location: Cipher’s Midden (Apocrypha)
Requirement: Necrom Chapter
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Sharp-As-Night
Quest: The Double Edge
Location: South of Necrom
Requirement: Necrom Chapter
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Zerith-var
Purchase from Crown Store
Location: Moonmont (Reaper’s March)
Requirement: Crowns / ESO+
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Tanlorin
Purchase from Crown Store
Location: Outside Vulkhel Guard (Auridon)
Requirement: Crowns / ESO+
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Once unlocked, companions are available account-wide on all characters. For players who prefer skipping the questing step or just want quicker access, using an ESO Companions Unlock service can be a convenient way to add a specific companion to your roster without delay.
How to Start a Companion Quest
To unlock a companion via quest, simply go to the right zone and find the quest marker associated with their introductory mission. After completing it, the companion will be added to your collections and can be summoned through the “Allies” tab in your collections menu.
Crown Store Companions
Zerith-var and Tanlorin are not tied to any specific DLC story — instead, you can unlock them directly by purchasing them from the Crown Store (individually or as a bundle). They often go on sale during events or can be accessed via ESO Plus for free. Alternatively, players looking to save time can use an ESO Companions Unlock service to instantly add them to their account without needing to wait for in-game events or promotions.
How Companions Work in ESO
Once unlocked, companions in The Elder Scrolls Online become loyal, customizable combat allies. They level up alongside you, gain new skills, and can fill various roles like DPS, tank, or healer — depending on how you build them. Let’s break down the core mechanics behind the ESO companion system.
ESO Companions Basics
Combat Role:
Each companion can be tailored into a damage dealer, tank, or support — their effectiveness depends on gear, skills, and cooldowns.
Skill Slots: Companions have 5 active skills + 1 Ultimate, unlocked as they level up:
- Slot 3 unlocks at level 2
- Slot 4 unlocks at level 7
- Slot 5 unlocks at level 12
- Ultimate slot at level 20
Companions operate on a priority system.
They try to use skills in order, depending on what’s off cooldown and the situation around them.
Combat Performance:
- Companions aren't meant to replace players but can be a huge help in solo play.
- A well-geared companion can deal 3,000–5,000 DPS, taunt enemies, heal allies, or support you with buffs and shields.
- Their damage and healing scale with their companion-specific gear, not your character’s stats.
Skill Lines and Builds
ESO Companions have access to:
- Class-based skill trees (unique to each companion)
- Weapon skill lines: Sword & Board, Bow, Dual Wield, Staves, Two-Handed
- Armor skill lines: Light, Medium, Heavy (based on what they wear)
- Guild skill lines: Fighters, Mages, Undaunted (must be leveled via dailies)
Tip: Equip at least 5 pieces of the same armor type to unlock that armor’s skill line for the companion.
Rapport System
Companions have personal preferences. Your actions (stealing, helping NPCs, using certain pets, etc.) affect your rapport — a hidden meter ranging from hatred to admiration.
- High rapport unlocks personal quests and deeper interaction.
- Low rapport may cause your companion to leave temporarily.
- Each companion has unique likes/dislikes — which we’ll cover later in this guide.
ESO Companions Gear & Traits Explained
Your companion in ESO won’t carry their weight unless they’ve got the gear to match. Companions use their own exclusive equipment system with unique rules, traits, and gear drops.
How Companion Gear Works
- Companion gear is different from player gear:
- No levels, no upgrades, no enchantments.
- Can’t be deconstructed, crafted, or researched.
- No styles — gear appearance adapts to the companion’s look.
- Types of equipment:
- Armor (Light, Medium, Heavy)
- Weapons (one-hand, two-hand, ranged, staff)
- Accessories (necklace, rings)
- Basic gear (White quality) can be bought from NPC merchants.
- Fine to Epic gear drops from:
- World and delve bosses
- Public dungeons
- Events (Dolmens, Harrowstorms, Oblivion Portals)
- Group dungeon and trial bosses
- Best all-rounders: Isobel and Mirri are flexible and easy to build for solo or hybrid roles. Great picks for beginners.
- Best healer companions: Ember and Sharp-as-Night shine with strong healing skills and utility.
- Best tanks: Bastian and Azandar are ideal for absorbing damage and holding aggro in tough fights.
- Best for story or synergy: Zerith-var and Tanlorin offer unique abilities and lore-driven quests, perfect for players looking for something different.
- Costumes: Any costume you own can be applied to a companion. Simply speak with your companion, open the dialogue menu, and choose the “Outfit” or “Costume” option from the top-right Collectibles tab.
- Mounts: You can assign a mount to your companion from the Collectibles window. They’ll appear on that mount when following you in the open world.
- Outfits (via Outfit Stations): For full customization, head to an Outfit Station in the open world (not player housing), activate your companion, and switch to their profile. You can change armor visuals and dye colors just like with your character.
- 09.04.2025 - ESO Companions Guide published.
Gear only drops if your companion is summoned at the time of the kill.
ESO Companions Gear Traits
Companion gear comes with 9 unique traits. These modify how your companion fights, heals, or survives. The trait is the most important part of any piece of companion gear. Here’s breakdown of how companion gear works and what traits are worth using.
Quickened is considered the best all-round trait — reduces ability cooldowns and boosts companion performance in all roles.
ESO Best Companions & Builds
Companions can fill three main roles: DPS, Tank, and Healer. Each one has unique skills and build potential, and your setup should match your playstyle. Below you’ll find the most effective ESO companion builds for 2025, including skill lines, gear traits, and suggested roles.
Choosing the Best Companion ESO
With 8 unique options, picking the best companion ESO depends on your build and playstyle. Each companion has their own skill trees, strengths, and personality — so it’s worth testing a few. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:
Try different builds and gear traits to find which ESO companion best fits your group setup or solo adventure.
ESO Companion Customization
Companions in The Elder Scrolls Online can also be styled to fit your taste. While you can’t equip them with player armor sets or skins, companions support a wide range of collectible cosmetics to personalize their look.
This system gives you a fun way to personalize your companion’s look and make them stand out while adventuring.
Conclusion
Mastering the companion system in The Elder Scrolls Online adds serious depth to your solo and group gameplay. The ESO companions list includes a variety of personalities and combat styles, allowing you to match your playstyle or even fill gaps in your build. If you're trying to fast-track your progress while focusing on building rapport or experimenting with different companion roles, using a reliable ESO boosting service can help you handle the grind-heavy parts such as farming gear or clearing dungeons without burning out.
FAQ
To unlock companions, you need to complete their specific introductory quest found in certain zones like Blackwood, High Isle, or Necrom. Some companions are tied to DLC chapters, while others can be purchased directly through the Crown Store. Check each companion’s zone or shop listing for exact steps.
The best companion in ESO depends on your needs. Isobel and Mirri are excellent for all-around use, Bastian shines as a tank, and Ember or Sharp-as-Night make strong healers. If you want unique utility or story flavor, Zerith-var and Tanlorin are great picks.
Yes. Companions gain XP through combat and quests while active. As they level up, they unlock additional skill slots, including their Ultimate. Keeping a companion active ensures consistent progress.
You can unlock all available companions, but you can only have one active companion at a time. You can freely swap between them via the Companion Menu depending on the situation or your group needs.
