Pillars of Eternity – Companions – a guide for your deranged party members

Éder (2) – The Fragmented Tank

 
 
Éder is a cool companion banter wise and he’s the only one that can fill up the role of main tank (Kana absolutely can’t… don’t argue). The issue is… tanks are boring, they can only witstand damage and after that their job is done and you get stuck with a passerby amidst the battlefield. With that in mind I created a build that is a tank for the first 15 seconds of offences and after that he can do glorious damage. The Weapon of Choice: Resolution a fitting name for Éder… also there is one more equipment vital for this build, Cloak of the Tireless Defender, since the idea of this build is to witstand damage for 15-20 seconds this cloak works wonders with the fighter passive Constant Recovery… oh and also, use a buckler you don’t have the need for a big shield, just if you are facing a boss. 
 
Level 2: 
Weapon and Shiled Style 
Wonderful bonus for the early game 
 
Level 3: 
Disciplined Barrage 
For the early game precisely because of this abilitie the fighter is one of the best dps 
 
Level 4: 
Weapon Focus: Ruffian 
More accuracy, and I enjoy accuracy 
 
Level 5: 
Vigorous Defence 
Now your fighter is imortal for the first 20 seconds, just pop this abilitie in the beginning of the fight – where the enemies will charge you with all sorts of offences. 
 
Level 6: 
Superior Deflection 
Deflection is the best bonus for the tank role, yes CON is only the second best, in fact you can create a tank with 3 CON and 19 RES and he’ll be a fine tank 
 
Level 7: 
Armored Grace 
Éder’s armour is absolutely perfect and you should keep it for the entirety of the game, so by grabbing this skill Éder will attack like he’s using a cloth armour, amazing 
 
Level 8: 
Savage Attack / Vulnerable Attack / Body Control 
For the more dps approach: PotD difficult I would use Vulnerable Attack for the others Savage Attack 
For the defence approach: Body Control 
 
Level 9: 
Into The Fray 
Now… this abilitie is brilliant, an interrupt and great damage done in an instant, I don’t know why other guides don’t mention this, yes… the pull hardly works but if you use this only for interrupts it’s amazing 
 
Level 10: 
Rapid Recovery 
Part of our little strategem, more recovery for the early fight 
 
Level 11: 
Confident Aim 
Confidence is important guys 
 
Level 12: 
Apprentice’s Sneak Attack 
You’ll see this abilitie in every single build guide honestly, it’s just too perfect 
 
Level 13: 
Unbending 
Now our fighter is invencible for the first 20 seconds of the fight, only dragons can kill him and some monks in the DLC… 
 
Level 14: 
What you didn’t pick at level 8 
 
Level 15: 
Weapon Specialization 
More accuracy 
 
Level 16: 
Weapon Mastery 
More damage 
 
 
 

Kana (1) – The Giant Helper

 
 
Kana is my favourite companion, his stats are simply wonderful (only losing to Sagani) and he has a jubilous personality not to mention he’s one of the few companions that have an unique dialogue for some places, you can actually ask him if he knows about the vicinity! 
Since PotD is rather difficult this build is a hybrid between Summoner, DPS and controler, too much? Not for the Chanter class! The weapon of choice is: Borresaine it’s expensive but it’s worth every penny. 
 
Level 2: 
Weapon Focus: Adventurer 
By now you guys know that I like accuracy 
 
Invocation-> But Reny Daret’s Ghost, He Would not Rest 
Life saver for the early game 
 
Level 3: 
Come, Come Soft Winds of Death 
Keep in mind that you need to stay a bit close to your enemies for this to do damage 
 
 
 
Leve 4: 
Marksman 
Yes 
 
Invocation-> White Worms Writhed in the Bellies of the Dead 
Brilliant damage, just keep in mind to use this in the mid or end of the battle 
 
Level 5: 
Sure Handed Ila Nocked Her Arrows with Speed 
The chant that makes Kana a good dps, more speed for your shots, Sagani will also benefit 
 
 
 
Level 6: 
Penetrating Shot 
Quite important at this stage of the game 
 
Invocation-> At the Sound of His Voice, the Killers Froze Stiff 
After this you’ll have a hard time ordering Kana to do anything else other than scream this invocation 
 
Level 7: 
Dull the Edge, Blunt the Point 
To be honest you will never use other chant just Sure Handed Ila and another level 1 chant, so these are just random picks from now on 
 
Level 8: 
Apprentice’s Sneak Attack 
Damage 
 
Invocation-> My Son, Do you See your Sisters Across the Moor? 
Important for the PotD difficult, if you want you can pick something else 
 
Level 9: 
Punch your keyboard, pick up the key that flew away, choose the chant with the same initial letter repeat the process if necessary 
 
Level 10: 
Secrets of Rime 
You can lash your Borresaine to do Ice damage, but this talent is for your next level 
 
Invocation-> Oh, But Knock Not on the Door of Urdel and Gurdel 
And there you have it! The best skill in the game, summon two Ogres to aid you in battle 
 
Level 11: 
Repeat level 9 
 
Level 12: 
Outlander’s Frenzy 
Make your Bow do more dps! 
 
Invocation-> Seven Nights She Waited While the White Winds Wept 
You’ll shot your adversary until you get 5 chants, use to summon the two big boys, then when you get another 5 chants you’ll cast this and do tremendous damage. Perfcetion 
 
Level 13: 
Repeat level 9 
 
Level 14: 
Bloody Slaughter 
Borresaine stun with crits this talent make you crit more enemies with low health, simple choice 
 
Invocation-> Rise Again, Rise Again, Scions of Adon 
It can save you from reloading the save after a half wipe 
You’ll never use this, but it’s a good buff, so why not? 
 
Level 15: 
With all Your Strength Slay the Beast 
This is the only exception for your chants, you may actually use this! Against Dragons only 
 
Level 16: 
Mental Fortress 
Keep Kana at your side of the battle 
 
Invocation -> Anything 
Sadly you’ll never use this 
 
 
 

Sagani (1) – The Stunning Hoonter

 
 
Sagani is the best companion in the game – stats wise -, but the hunter is not the best class in the game, especially in the PotD difficult, you see… Ituumak (Sagani’s pet companion) can do a tremendous amount of damage but he will keep getting knocked out in battles specially after level 11-12 when micro management gets rather difficult, so I decided to make a control/dps build. This build will follow the Great White Hunter from nerdcommando’s guide but with some differences and after level 11 it will be mostly my build. The Weapon of Choice is the fantastic: Persistence. 
 
Level 2: 
Resilient Companion 
So that your ravenous fox don’t get killed in matter of seconds 
 
Level 3: 
Vicious Aim 
nerdcommando made a really good case to use guns in the early-mid game and he explained really well why he made that choice I’ve tested and it works, it just works 
 
Level 4: 
Gunner 
 
Level 5: 
Stalkers’ Link 
Amazing little skill, but keep your angry fox around Sagani 
 
Level 6: 
Penetrating Shot 
Again, nerdcommando can explain this better than me 
 
Level 7: 
Heal Companion 
Personal choice, your pet keeps getting knocked out cold in PotD so I selected this brilliant abilitie and it was a good move, now my pet can survive all skirmishes and almost survive battles 
 
Level 8: 
Weapon’s Focus: Ruffian 
Because Sagani has amazing stats we can delay this accuracy boost 
 
Level 9: 
Predator’s Sense 
Ituumak best damage boost, in order to activate this you need to put a dot on your adversary, just use Wounding Shot and because Sagani has a good amount of INT it will proc even more, now you will see your angry fox doing 60+ damage 
 
Level 10: 
Apprentice’s Sneak Attack 
Damage multiplier! 
 
Level 11: 
Respec! And go Weapon Focus: Peasant > Predator’s Sense (now with Persistence it will proc in almost all hits) > Penetrating Shot > Defensive Bond > Apprentice’s Sneak Attack > Driving Flight > Resilient Companion > Stalkers’ Link > Marksman 
Stunning Shots 
Your bread and butter, stun 1/3 of the enemy party with each shot 
 
Level 12: 
Vicious Companion 
Boost your pet damage 
 
Level 13: 
Twinned Arrows 
Now you can stun 2/3 of the enemy party with each shot 
 
Level 14: 
Strengthned Bond 
More defence when your pet is around you 
 
Level 15: 
Heal Companion 
So many abilities are tied to your fluffy fox so keep him alive 
 
Level 16: 
Bloody Slaughter / Outlander’s Frenzy 
Both choices are fine and will boost your damage, if you are more of the RP type you can go with Bloody Slaughter because Sagani screaming like an angry maniac is not part of her personality 
 
 
 

Pallegina (3) – Soldier of Fire

 
 
Sure… Pallegina don’t have the best stats in the world but she has one of the best classes in the game, the Paladin. 
The Paladin’s abilities has such a tremendous assault power that they hardly need stats and since a numerous amount of such abilities are fire based I’ve decided to create a build englobing this idea. 
The most important aspect of this build is it’s weapon of choice, the Belt of the Royal Deadfire Cannoneer or the Forgemaster’s Gloves – until you don’t have enough money for the belt -, it’s, essentialy, a Great Sword made out of fire and keep a Pike with fire lash at your side if you encounter an fire proof adversary, the Tall Grass is a good choice when you have the money. 
 
Level 2: 
Weapon’s Focus: Soldier 
Pallegina’s stats are not good but at least she has a good amount of PER but I still enjoy more accuracy! 
 
Level 3: 
Lay on Hands 
Literal life saver at this stage of the game 
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Level 4: 
Two Handed Style 
Glorious damage 
 
Level 5: 
Sworn Enemy 
This little abilitie will be your boss killer or the enemy that is giving you trouble killer 
 
Level 6: 
Wrath of Five Suns 
Adds damage to Sworn Enemy, perfection 
 
Level 7: 
Zealous Focus 
You must hit to make damage 
 
Level 8: 
Scion of Flame 
Damage modifier to any fire damage that you produce including your fire sword, brilliant 
 
Level 9: 
Inspiring Triumph 
Since it’s a damage dealer build you should K.O. a large amount of opponents thus this abilitie makes sense 
 
Level 10: 
Intense Flames 
 
Level 11: 
Healing Chain 
Even being a dps this abilitie is so good that you can afford the trouble to cast 
 
Level 12: 
Savage Attack 
Damage bonus 
 
Level 13: 
Sacred Immolation 
Your panic button. Are you surrounded by opponents? Press this button and watch they melt, literally 
 
Level 14: 
Bloody Slaughter / Mental Fortress / Body Control 
The first one if you want more dps the others if you want defence 
 
Level 15: 
Righteous Soul 
After all this trouble just imagin if your enemy can just charm you 
 
 
 

About Armour

By reading this guide you will notice that my companions lack armour and this is intended, dps suffer a lot because of armour so I tend to keep it at a minimum, ranged characters use normal cloths and front liners use padded armour or even less! The only exception is the main tank, you can put they in Plate armour but Éder don’t need one because of his armour and it’s glorious effect. 
 

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