ESO Companions Tier List
ESO companions help with solo fights, exploration, and group activities, but the best ally depends on the job you need filled. A tank should stay alive and hold enemies away from you; a healer should cover incoming damage; a damage companion should keep attacking without constantly falling over. This tier list compares the eight available companions by practical role coverage rather than treating one damage number as a universal answer.
Companion abilities, gear traits, and your own character's build all affect the result. A companion who is excellent with a tank setup may look ordinary in damage gear. The rankings below are broad recommendations. For a specific build, start with the role table and then choose the companion whose skills complement what your character already does.
How the companion tiers work
- S tier: Flexible allies with particularly strong tank, healing, or group-support tools.
- A tier: Effective picks with a clearer specialty, including damage-focused setups.
- B tier: Usable companions whose strongest builds tend to be more situational.
These are editorial groupings, not a claim that a B-tier companion cannot help you finish content. Different ESO guide writers rank the same allies differently because they weigh combat, account perks, rapport, and equipment in different ways. This page focuses on combat roles and dependable support; personal preference and a companion's story can be good reasons to choose differently.
ESO companion tier list
| Tier | Companions | Best reason to use them |
|---|---|---|
| S | Azandar al-Cybiades, Isobel Veloise, Sharp-as-Night, Zerith-var | Strong tank, healing, or flexible support options. |
| A | Tanlorin, Ember | Damage-oriented partners who can also be built for other roles. |
| B | Mirri Elendis, Bastian Hallix | Useful with a focused setup or when you prefer their story and perk. |
Azandar and Isobel are especially useful when your own build needs an ally to hold enemies. Sharp-as-Night offers healing and ranged damage setups, while Zerith-var brings self-sustain and support. Tanlorin's Soul Magic and Dragonknight-style abilities make them a strong damage option, though they are less convincing as a general-purpose tank. Ember, Mirri, and Bastian still have viable builds; being outside S tier is not a ban on using them.
For the broader game category, see ESO boosting services.
Best ESO companions by role
Tank: Isobel, Azandar, or Zerith-var
Isobel is a dependable tank choice because her Templar-like kit provides mitigation and recovery. Azandar can also tank well and has a class taunt, which gives his equipment choices some flexibility. Zerith-var is a strong alternative for melee tanking, especially when built around his self-healing and survivability. Give a tank companion appropriate defensive equipment and a taunt; a damage-only setup will not behave like a reliable front line.
Isobel is a good first recommendation for players who mainly want an ally to hold a boss while they attack. Azandar may be better when you also want his support tools. Zerith-var suits players who value his melee sustain and debuffs. Which one survives best can change with the encounter and your build, so test the companion in the content you actually play.
Healer: Sharp-as-Night, Isobel, or Azandar
Sharp-as-Night's Warden-style skills can support steady healing. Isobel has an effective burst heal and is useful when you need recovery after a sudden hit. Azandar combines healing with group support, including recovery effects. None of these allies is automatically the best healer in every setup: ability selection, cooldown traits, positioning, and the damage pattern all matter.
A healer companion is especially useful for a solo player whose own build already deals enough damage but needs more staying power. If your character has strong self-healing, a tank or damage companion may provide more value. Make sure the selected abilities are healing abilities; simply equipping a healing weapon does not turn an offensive bar into a complete healer setup.
The existing ESO Companions Unlock service page covers companion unlocks.
Damage: Tanlorin, Sharp-as-Night, or Ember
Tanlorin is a strong pick if you want a companion built mainly for damage. Their kit mixes Dragonknight-style and Soul Magic abilities. Sharp-as-Night can perform well as ranged damage with a bow, while Ember offers a different offensive style. Companion damage remains a supporting contribution rather than a substitute for the player, so survival and uptime should matter when comparing builds.
Choose a damage companion when your character can already survive comfortably. If fights end with the companion repeatedly knocked out, give them better defensive coverage or consider a tank or healer instead. Gear traits such as Quickened can change how often useful abilities are available, which is another reason two players may report different results with the same companion.
Solo support: choose what your build lacks
For a fragile damage character, Isobel or Azandar can draw attention away from you. If you are durable but need recovery, Sharp-as-Night is a practical healing choice. For a player who already tanks and heals, Tanlorin or another damage-oriented partner can speed up routine fights. The right choice follows your role, not a single overall winner.
Unlocks and setup
The original companions come from their associated chapters and recruitment quests. Zerith-var and Tanlorin are obtained through the Crown Store or ESO Plus access, then recruited through their quests. Check which content is available on your account before building a plan around a specific ally. Once recruited, set their combat role, choose the abilities that support it, and adjust gear traits to fit the job.
Azandar, Sharp-as-Night, Isobel, and Zerith-var are strong starting points for tanking or healing; Tanlorin is a useful damage choice. Every companion can still be adapted. The goal is to cover a weakness in your own build and keep that ally active through the fight.
FAQ
Tanlorin is a strong damage-focused pick, while Sharp-as-Night can also work well as ranged damage with a bow. Companion damage is modest compared with a player build, so choose the one whose skills and positioning suit your content.
Isobel and Azandar are reliable tank choices. Isobel is valued for mitigation and recovery; Azandar adds a class taunt and group utility. Zerith-var can also make a durable melee tank when built for survivability.
Sharp-as-Night, Isobel, and Azandar can all support a healer setup. Sharp has Warden-style healing, Isobel brings a useful burst heal, and Azandar offers healing with group support. Gear and ability choices determine the result.
Isobel is a comfortable all-round choice for solo play, while Azandar and Zerith-var offer other strong support and tank options. Choose a companion who fills the role your character lacks.
