When it comes to MMORPGs, The Elder Scrolls Online is one of the biggest around today. Since the game's rocky launch in 2014, ZeniMax Online Studios has continued to improve and expand its online world. Each year, the MMO receives a huge expansion of content that opens up new regions, classes, and gameplays elements. Following last year's Greymoor chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online will see the Blackwood chapter expansion as part of the year-long The Gates of Oblivion storyline.
As Bethesda self-declares The Elder Scrolls Online to be the most popular multi-platform MMO, new features are on their way this year for the game. One of the most anticipated features coming in the Blackwood expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online is the introduction of Companions to the player character. Any player who has played other Elder Scrolls games like Oblivion or Skyrim will be familiar with the concept of followers, and it seems a similar system is being implemented into the MMO to improve the experience for players. There has already been plenty of information revealed about how this new Companions System will work, so here is all the information to know before the launch of Blackwood.
How The Elder Scrolls Online's Companions Function
At a base level, Companions are non-playable characters that can follow players all around ESO's expansive map and help out in various ways. Similar to followers in Oblivion and Skyrim, these Companions will also aid the player in combat. Companions aren't meant to fully replace an actual secondary player, but they are pretty close. The main benefit of the new system is to allow players to engage with multiplayer content in an easier way, without having to rely on finding another player all the time.
To unlock the Companions System in ESO, players will have to complete one of two quests in the Blackwood chapter to get a certain unique Companion. The Companions available at launch are Bastion Hallix, an Imperial battlemage who is a bit socially awkward, and Mirri Elendis, a Dark Elf with a penchant for treasure hunting. Any unlocked Companion will be available in the Collections menu under the "Allies" category. Players can summon these allies almost anywhere in Tamriel, but there are some notable exceptions. While ESO's Companions can be used in most game scenarios, including dungeons and trials, they aren't allowed in arenas or PvP areas. Further, real players will always take priority over a Companion in areas that have player caps.
The Companion System being introduced in The Elder Scrolls Online Gates of Oblivion storyline this year is pretty expansive, and thankfully isn't as simple as just having a "combat pet." Companions are real characters, each with their own backstories and personalities. These characters can be leveled up, and have access to different gear slots and skill trees. Companion skill lines range from classes to weapons to guilds, and will generally have three active abilities in each.
Another main feature with Companions is the rapport level. While a player's rapport with a Companion will start at cordial, the player's actions could sway the relationship in a positive or negative way. For example, a more upstanding Companion may frown upon a player pickpocketing someone, and the rapport with that Companion will go down. This isn't a mechanic to ignore, either. If players have bad rapport with a Companion, they can "unsummon" themselves, or refuse to be summoned at all for periods of time. Players will also need a good rapport with a Companion to unlock unique personal quests for them, too.
The Elder Scrolls Online's Companions Are Customizable
To go in line with the player's ability to customize their characters in unique ways, players can expect any Companions in ESO to be customizable as well. In one way, player can change the appearance of each Companion. These characters can be assigned certain outfits or costumes to wear, and mounts to ride based off what the player already has available.
The other way Companions are customizable is through combat-focused areas. Like mentioned before, Companions will have different skill lines, each with their own active abilities. If the player wants their Companion to focus more on healing, for example, they can equip certain skills to facilitate that. Certain Companion behaviors can also be assigned "priority" amounts, and players can also command the Companion to focus on certain enemies over others.
Each Companion will also have several gear slots to change and upgrade, distinct from the regular gear that players can equip. Basic Companion Gear can be purchased from certain vendors when players want to change the Companion's combat role early on. Better qualities of Companion Gear can be earned from monster drops or when defeating bosses, and can often come with unique traits. A trait like "Soothing" on gear will increase healing done, while another trait like "Vigorous" will increase the Companion's maximum health. Between customizing a Companion's appearance, skills, and gear, players will really be able to make their new allies unique.
After knowing how Companions in Elder Scrolls Online will function, and knowing that there are different ways to adapt them, players can think of the best ways to incorporate Companions into their playstyle. When using Companions, players should think of the best way it could compliment their current character and role. If players mainly run a damage dealer, then the Companion could be given a tanky build to take attention away, or a healer to keep the player alive. For support-focused characters, making the Companion the one that deals damage could help make up for a healer's lower damage.
This Companion System could definitely be a help to newer ESO player that might make mistakes, too. Since a Companion almost functions as a second player, it could help players get through early-game content a lot quicker, and could help keep player alive in hectic fights. Though it isn't just a plight for lower-leveled characters, sometimes dungeons or trials will have a player quit or disconnect. Using a Companion could easily fill in the gap and help the group complete those areas without having to wait for someone new to show up, or stress about being down a whole player. Players might need some time to get accustomed to controlling their Companions in battle, but should definitely learn the controls well to best utilize the Companion.
While some players may not want to use Companions at all, they can be a great benefit for people who may not have friends to play with all the time. Going into Blackwood, players can expect the new Companions System to be a worthwhile mechanic that helps improve the quality of life of the game, especially since it seems to be a deeply thought-out system from ZeniMax Online. Players new and old will be able to use Companions to be a bit more independent when they want to be. Soon enough, player will be able to enjoy all of the Oblivion content that Elder Scrolls Online is bringing people's way. Hopefully, many will consider bringing a Companion along on their adventures.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood launches June 1 for PC, Stadia; June 8 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.