4 best story companions for ship combat only?

[Lampros]

I use custom companions, but it seems like you need at least 4 more story companions for ship combat. If so, then what would be your ideal 4 strongest (assume you won't control them)?

[Ivanfyodorovich]

Xoti casts Dire Blessing on damn near the whole boat every boarding fight. If nothing else, it saves you that cast. 

[Lampros]

22 minutes ago, Ivanfyodorovich said:

Xoti casts Dire Blessing on damn near the whole boat every boarding fight. If nothing else, it saves you that cast. 

I agree! She's a bit squishy, but I guess I can remedy that by giving her more tanky items.

[Ivanfyodorovich]

I've left her with the small shield and sickle. Heavy armor is great. Her default armor is mail, if I'm remembering right. I don't think you can make her use a shield modal ability, but you can tweak her AI and it *should* follow the new AI. At least, that was my experience with Aloth in the last run. That said, I didn't add a custom routine, I just put a new spell in the list for the existing logic. 

[Lampros]

41 minutes ago, Ivanfyodorovich said:

I've left her with the small shield and sickle. Heavy armor is great. Her default armor is mail, if I'm remembering right. I don't think you can make her use a shield modal ability, but you can tweak her AI and it *should* follow the new AI. At least, that was my experience with Aloth in the last run. That said, I didn't add a custom routine, I just put a new spell in the list for the existing logic. 

I play turn-based; so it will all depend on the level-ups I take and equipment I give her. But I will definitely give her heavy armor.