Azandar has a class taunt, so we can run things that arent one hand and shield for tank builds, but he doesn't have a class damage reduction, so if we run dual wield on him we can use blade cloak for damage reduction and still have a taunt.
Yes, the amount of tedious grinding needed to level a companion, along with the tortuous inability to actually get any useful gear drops makes companions all about the grind rather than the actual enjoyment of using them when they are levelled. Rather poor gameplay design by ZOS.
Azandar is the best tank companion. I take him with me to EA, dlc normal dungeons, some base game vet dungeons, dlc world bosses for dailies etc. I have also been using him for pillar of nirn farm. He is only level 13 and still holds his ground. He is also like a father figure who asks for constant tea breaks and doesn’t like riding coz it hurts his back lol. I love it
I haven't really been playing since Blackwood came out, back for Necrom. Started a brand new Arcanist and went and got Azandar right away. He's pretty solid. Saw a website that wrote that Isobel is the best companion so far in all regards, the website did come off as a bit biased though.
I wouldn't say any of them "shine" anywhere - but their usefulness will be totally dependent on you as a player and what you enjoy playing as most (role-wise). Id consider Ember, Isobel and Sharp to be great ranged DPS. Isobel, Mirri and Bastian are great melee DPS. Isobel, Sharp, Bastian and Azandar are all good tanks. Ember, Isobel, Mirri & Sharp are all excellent healers.
Currently with the way their AI works, they have a very poor/slow response time to ground-damaging effects. So instances like the Tho'at Replicanum fight and even some simple mob stages in Endless Archive will absolutely destroy companions regardless of their role.
I honestly don’t care about being optimal with my companion I just love them walking with me and saying dialogue. If updates just added more phrases to match the new dlc’s that would be done. I’ll always use Ember though, she says some funny things.
@@steroitzz Companions have special companion gear. Even have specific traits that aren’t even the same for normal character gear. The gear is also unique to the companion wearing it, so if Ember is wearing gear. Isobel and the others won’t have that gear on. They’d need their own, but they will maintain the same gear as you swap your own characters. Their gear also only goes to purple as of right now. And purple gear with the perfect traits can get expensive, so I wouldn’t worry too much unless you’re always solo.
@@steroitzzI haven’t tried this, but because each character has to unlock them individually I just assumed they’d be entirely individual to each character, like what clothing and Mount you give them won’t transfer 🤷🏻♀️
My list: 1. Mirris Range Bow (my first love), 2. Ember "Ohhhhh Shinny" Lightning, 3. Isobel Tanky Lesbos (yeah, she is!), 4. Sharpo Shield/Sword Badass Lizzard, 5. As.s.andar healer (my gosh why he cannot keep mouth close), 5. Bastian The Tanky Incel Monk. (I want to take him to a brothel, my gosh the poor is virgin for sure)
Interesting that I didn't hear you once mention the Telvanni Efficiency crafted set coming with Necrom that reduces companion cooldowns by 50%, unless I missed it mentioned. This is extremely beneficial for players who run companions in all content and it can mean the difference between your companion living or dying. Also, Bastian should be in all Vigorous gear with Quickened jewelry and weapons because his Drake's Blood scales off max health... I see your guide suggests Bolstered. On PTS, I've run Bastian with TE set in the gear I just mentioned and he never died once, even to more difficult world bosses. I initially tried all Quickened gear but he died, but as suggested on the forums, I tried Vigorous armor and it worked amazingly well. However, also worth noting... if you're running the TE set, be sure to check their skill cooldowns, because they will continuously cast DoT's or HoT's basically resetting them over and over. So either mix in some other gear traits or just don't run any HoT's or DoT's, which is how I run my DPS companions. With Mirri, my healer, I have her in all Light powered gear, so her healing is maxed, and with TE, it makes cooldowns extremely short- but not to the point it's resetting the HoT's.
Thank you! Sharp is my go to for damage, but Azandar is my go to for healing! I am trying to solo Tho’at in the EA with Sharp, but I’m going to try with Azandar’s heals tonight. I can get her to below half, but I’m struggling after that. 😓
I would really like to know if the companion’s armor traits and weights would change in your builds if your character is using a set of Telvanni Efficiency? I especially would like to know if you would switch out the companions with Quickened traits for something else?
I have always loved having companions and any RPG‘s. I am looking into getting the Telvanni Efficiency for myself. Are there any necklaces or rings that would also boost companions directly?
What I will say is that these are definitely helpful for increasing their power BUT the glaring problem here is that companions will never be considered "powerful" and its become extremely evident ever since Endless Archive was released. They spend more time role playing as a carpet than they do performing any sort of useful action. They need a number of buffs to health and damage, they need to be immune to ground AOE damaging effects due to poor AI optimization, and their tanking is frankly laughable (could definitely benefit from an inherent AOE taunt). Year after year we've gotten new companions and no updates to the system itself. Hopefully this changes next year after all classes are covered - just missing Necromancer now.
In my rather limited experience - for a tank you look at Bastian or Isobel. Bastian has insane class damage reductions and heals (Draconic blood, Basalt barrier, Kindle), and Isobel also looks like having very good survivability, but I haven't leveled her up enough yet. Sadly both are quite annoying (their voicelines), especially Bastian. Also remember to un-summon him before you start stealing or assassinating people.
I love how nerf cryers whine and cry about HA builds yet all videos show everyone using HA builds. Im so glad zos listens to whiners and cryers and ride givers. Play how THEY want not how YOU want.
Everything you need to know about Companions in ESO is HERE! www.hacktheminotaur.com/eso-companions
Hack will you be joining us for Diablo 4, perhaps ...making builds and guides ?
Azandar has a class taunt, so we can run things that arent one hand and shield for tank builds, but he doesn't have a class damage reduction, so if we run dual wield on him we can use blade cloak for damage reduction and still have a taunt.
I haven't even gotten Ember and Isobel completely leveled yet.
Right I'm pretty close like 18 for each
Yes, the amount of tedious grinding needed to level a companion, along with the tortuous inability to actually get any useful gear drops makes companions all about the grind rather than the actual enjoyment of using them when they are levelled. Rather poor gameplay design by ZOS.
Same lol I’ve been playing every chapter as soon as they drop and I still don’t have any of the four companions at max level lol
They should make it so when u use an exp scroll boost they’ll also get double the exp.
@@queenC6969they actually do 😅
Azandar is the best tank companion. I take him with me to EA, dlc normal dungeons, some base game vet dungeons, dlc world bosses for dailies etc. I have also been using him for pillar of nirn farm. He is only level 13 and still holds his ground. He is also like a father figure who asks for constant tea breaks and doesn’t like riding coz it hurts his back lol. I love it
I don't have yet a companion in ESO but I still enjoy your content. Keep up the good stuff
This is my first time using a companion because i wandered across the quest for the argonian and really liked his storyline lol
I have been happy with Sharp as DPS for my healer arcanist. We can get through pretty much anything together.
I haven't really been playing since Blackwood came out, back for Necrom. Started a brand new Arcanist and went and got Azandar right away.
He's pretty solid.
Saw a website that wrote that Isobel is the best companion so far in all regards, the website did come off as a bit biased though.
Hey Hack, can you make a video on all the companions on where they shine and where you shouldn't use them?
This is a really good content idea! Yes please do this...
I wouldn't say any of them "shine" anywhere - but their usefulness will be totally dependent on you as a player and what you enjoy playing as most (role-wise). Id consider Ember, Isobel and Sharp to be great ranged DPS. Isobel, Mirri and Bastian are great melee DPS. Isobel, Sharp, Bastian and Azandar are all good tanks. Ember, Isobel, Mirri & Sharp are all excellent healers.
Currently with the way their AI works, they have a very poor/slow response time to ground-damaging effects. So instances like the Tho'at Replicanum fight and even some simple mob stages in Endless Archive will absolutely destroy companions regardless of their role.
I honestly don’t care about being optimal with my companion I just love them walking with me and saying dialogue. If updates just added more phrases to match the new dlc’s that would be done. I’ll always use Ember though, she says some funny things.
"Oooooh, shiny..." 😀
Dumb question: if I equip my companion, does he have the same gear for all my Characters if summoned?
@@steroitzz Companions have special companion gear. Even have specific traits that aren’t even the same for normal character gear.
The gear is also unique to the companion wearing it, so if Ember is wearing gear. Isobel and the others won’t have that gear on. They’d need their own, but they will maintain the same gear as you swap your own characters.
Their gear also only goes to purple as of right now. And purple gear with the perfect traits can get expensive, so I wouldn’t worry too much unless you’re always solo.
@@steroitzzI haven’t tried this, but because each character has to unlock them individually I just assumed they’d be entirely individual to each character, like what clothing and Mount you give them won’t transfer 🤷🏻♀️
@@LINCARD1000 🤑🤑🤑
They need to make it easier to get gear for companions, as far as im aware its completely random and thats no fun at all.
Boss drop more
My list: 1. Mirris Range Bow (my first love), 2. Ember "Ohhhhh Shinny" Lightning, 3. Isobel Tanky Lesbos (yeah, she is!), 4. Sharpo Shield/Sword Badass Lizzard, 5. As.s.andar healer (my gosh why he cannot keep mouth close), 5. Bastian The Tanky Incel Monk. (I want to take him to a brothel, my gosh the poor is virgin for sure)
What do you think about Sharp vs Mirri for bow build? Is sharp better with swor/melee?
Interesting that I didn't hear you once mention the Telvanni Efficiency crafted set coming with Necrom that reduces companion cooldowns by 50%, unless I missed it mentioned. This is extremely beneficial for players who run companions in all content and it can mean the difference between your companion living or dying. Also, Bastian should be in all Vigorous gear with Quickened jewelry and weapons because his Drake's Blood scales off max health... I see your guide suggests Bolstered. On PTS, I've run Bastian with TE set in the gear I just mentioned and he never died once, even to more difficult world bosses. I initially tried all Quickened gear but he died, but as suggested on the forums, I tried Vigorous armor and it worked amazingly well.
However, also worth noting... if you're running the TE set, be sure to check their skill cooldowns, because they will continuously cast DoT's or HoT's basically resetting them over and over. So either mix in some other gear traits or just don't run any HoT's or DoT's, which is how I run my DPS companions. With Mirri, my healer, I have her in all Light powered gear, so her healing is maxed, and with TE, it makes cooldowns extremely short- but not to the point it's resetting the HoT's.
11:20 Hack spends like a minute talking about it.
Thank you! Sharp is my go to for damage, but Azandar is my go to for healing! I am trying to solo Tho’at in the EA with Sharp, but I’m going to try with Azandar’s heals tonight. I can get her to below half, but I’m struggling after that. 😓
Great video, thanks!
Hi everyone and thanks 4 great video👍💖😂
I would really like to know if the companion’s armor traits and weights would change in your builds if your character is using a set of Telvanni Efficiency? I especially would like to know if you would switch out the companions with Quickened traits for something else?
Where did you get all that gear from for your companions? Amazing gear!!
I have always loved having companions and any RPG‘s. I am looking into getting the Telvanni Efficiency for myself. Are there any necklaces or rings that would also boost companions directly?
so im gonna need this Companion build for 2 men endless dungeon. actually i havent played eso with companion until now
Would a Warden PC go well with Sharp as night? Seems like a cool combo
Yes definitely
Mines a mix with penetration and crit gear. Heals and hits and shields.
Very cool video, a shame companion AI is broken and they move INTO damage aoe and die the first 5 seconds in combat
😥😥
Do u have a video showing we’re they located at I can’t seem to fine the quest
Ember for everything because she’s fine if I murder someone and steal their stuff 😂
What I will say is that these are definitely helpful for increasing their power BUT the glaring problem here is that companions will never be considered "powerful" and its become extremely evident ever since Endless Archive was released. They spend more time role playing as a carpet than they do performing any sort of useful action. They need a number of buffs to health and damage, they need to be immune to ground AOE damaging effects due to poor AI optimization, and their tanking is frankly laughable (could definitely benefit from an inherent AOE taunt). Year after year we've gotten new companions and no updates to the system itself. Hopefully this changes next year after all classes are covered - just missing Necromancer now.
I feel like Isobel is still the best companion. As a tank, she has an insane amount of survivability which is really all you want from a companion.
Concur, Isobel W/ SnB; a taunt, a couple of shield skills, a couple of heals & everything rolled 2 Vigorous.
She dies in any hard content tho. Lol Too bad you can't use them effectively to solo the vet dlc dungeons easier. Lol
@@MangyPLyea. I don’t know why ppl say is the best
Do companions follow you into public dungeons?
Yes
It's only going to cost me millions on eso to build it ty hack 😢
So who better for tanking Isabel azandar , or bastion
Isobel is still the goat. She is an all rounder and yet she does better than any other companions in any role you put her in.
Which is better for tank azander or bastion?
In my rather limited experience - for a tank you look at Bastian or Isobel. Bastian has insane class damage reductions and heals (Draconic blood, Basalt barrier, Kindle), and Isobel also looks like having very good survivability, but I haven't leveled her up enough yet.
Sadly both are quite annoying (their voicelines), especially Bastian. Also remember to un-summon him before you start stealing or assassinating people.
"im a scholar damn it!"
I want to know who is the best dps companion
Isobel
How I get it
So soothing trait is trash for healing companions
bastion has 2 taunts so um azandar is not unique in that area
I love how nerf cryers whine and cry about HA builds yet all videos show everyone using HA builds. Im so glad zos listens to whiners and cryers and ride givers. Play how THEY want not how YOU want.
Are u dumb? If everyone Shows ha builds, shows that they too strong lmao
He’s wrong about this. Sharp is clearly established as the 2nd best companion in the meta after Isobel and Azandar is dead last with Bastion.
Lol. Who even uses companions? 😂
Who would you say makes the best healer companion?