What are the best builds for companions?

[Boeroer]

 

i really wish companions either had all their unique specializations or would allow for sub-classes..... unique specializations are just more interesting and aloths split personality could make for a great one...

 

Guess you're in a for a surprise then...

 

Critic/Reviewer?

[Boeroer]

 

A second-row Helwalker/Troubadour with +10 MIG and +10 INT (Duality) through Dance of Death does decent damage with 3 (partially) stacked phrases of Dragon Thrashed. It's still not jawdropping but an additional invocation here and there with 30 MIG/30 INT is quite the show... And of course you have to watch out like heck because of the +50% damage you'll receive.

I'm not sure what all equipment is available in the beta to test this, but does the INT/CON from Duality stack with items?  Cause that would push me back in the direction of monk/skald (though maybe not Shattered Pillar, cause they'd only get max +5 INT, correct?) since with +10 INT I could reasonably reach 30 int to be able to maintain 2 phrases all the time.

 

Stats are capped at 35 in Deadfire. So maybe at some point the +10 INT bonus could be "overkill" - but I don't know.

 

I believe Duality stacks with items - stat bonuses from abilities stacked with stat bonuses from items in PoE and I have no reason to believe that that was changed. So with a Shattered Pillar you could also reach 30 MIG at some point I guess - but way later.

 

Shattered Pillars have less "problems" gaining wounds though - so with a ranged Helwalker you might reach 10 wounds at some point, but a ranged Shattered Pillar can generate 5 wounds a lot quicker. So maybe in average they will be the same in term of "active" wounds? I can't say, just a thought. With a Shattered Pillar you could also use Duality for CON and Crucible of Suffering's Upgrade for +5 INT (doesn't go down when you spend wounds).

 

However, the +10 MIG/+10 INT combo is pretty unbeatable when it comes to DoT effects/spells like Dragon Thrashed. I'm also thinking about Shining Beacon or Plague of Insects or whatever good DoT there is that grows with MIG and INT.

[Urthor]

 

 

i really wish companions either had all their unique specializations or would allow for sub-classes..... unique specializations are just more interesting and aloths split personality could make for a great one...

 

Guess you're in a for a surprise then...

 

Critic/Reviewer?

 

 

It's already public knowledge that Pallegina and all the other companions have their own subclass no?  They just only get to choose between 3 combinations, not all of them according to the other thread

Edited May 3, 2018 by Urthor

[Boeroer]

It's was confirmed that Edér and Aloth don't have any subclass.

[Guest]

It's was confirmed that Edér and Aloth don't have any subclass.

Can you not subclass them when you multiclass them?

[TheMetaphysician]

 

It's was confirmed that Edér and Aloth don't have any subclass.

Can you not subclass them when you multiclass them?

 

 

Nope. I'm hoping I can use the console's "Add Ability" command to add a subclass -- it seems to show up on the character sheet as a passive ability, so I'm hoping that's all there is to it. I've asked on a few threads if anyone has tried doing that (since I don't have the beta), but haven't gotten a reply.

[Guest]

 

 

It's was confirmed that Edér and Aloth don't have any subclass.

Can you not subclass them when you multiclass them?

Nope. I'm hoping I can use the console's "Add Ability" command to add a subclass -- it seems to show up on the character sheet as a passive ability, so I'm hoping that's all there is to it. I've asked on a few threads if anyone has tried doing that (since I don't have the beta), but haven't gotten a reply.

That sucks

[SaruNi]

 

 

It's was confirmed that Edér and Aloth don't have any subclass.

Can you not subclass them when you multiclass them?

 

 

Nope. I'm hoping I can use the console's "Add Ability" command to add a subclass -- it seems to show up on the character sheet as a passive ability, so I'm hoping that's all there is to it. I've asked on a few threads if anyone has tried doing that (since I don't have the beta), but haven't gotten a reply.

 

 

Seems to work. There's typically a generic "ability" for the subclass, but you have to add other subclass abilities separately. For example "Assassin" is an "ability" that applies the subclass penalty, but the "Assassinate" ability has to be added separately. 

 

Incidentally, addability appears to have two main functional limits:

- Resource type. Each class has its own type of resource (for example, Zeal for Paladins) that its active abilities require. So while you can add an active ability from another class, you won't be able to use it.

- Spells/powers/invocations are organized on the action bar by level, and anything higher than allowed by character level can't be cast (so you can use addability to gain higher level spells, but won't be able to cast them until you're high enough level). But this doesn't apply to non-caster abilities (rogue/paladin/fighter/monk/barbarian/ranger) or iirc to chants.

Edited May 3, 2018 by SaruNi

[Yosharian]

No, you can't use any subclasses with certain NPCs like Eder.

 

I will pray to the multiclass gods to not fk my party up end game xD right now im leaning towards:

 

PC Pala/chanter (tank/dragon slash)

Pallegina, same

Xothi priest/monk (wanna check those both special classes out)

Tekehu druid/chanter (wanna check those out aswell =D)

Maia Rua ranger/rogue (seems like a good combo)

 

I am abit afraid i won´t have enuff damage...but hope dragon trash is as good as on PoE 1 & that immolate is back.

 

Dragon Thrash is not very good in Deadfire apparently

Edited May 3, 2018 by Yosharian

[The Sharmat]

I heard a rumor that Pallegina has the Brotherhood of the Five Suns abilities even if she's a Kind Wayfarer. Anyone have a source on that?

[TheMetaphysician]

 

 

 

It's was confirmed that Edér and Aloth don't have any subclass.

Can you not subclass them when you multiclass them?

 

 

Nope. I'm hoping I can use the console's "Add Ability" command to add a subclass -- it seems to show up on the character sheet as a passive ability, so I'm hoping that's all there is to it. I've asked on a few threads if anyone has tried doing that (since I don't have the beta), but haven't gotten a reply.

 

 

Seems to work. There's typically a generic "ability" for the subclass, but you have to add other subclass abilities separately. For example "Assassin" is an "ability" that applies the subclass penalty, but the "Assassinate" ability has to be added separately. 

 

Incidentally, addability appears to have two main functional limits:

- Resource type. Each class has its own type of resource (for example, Zeal for Paladins) that its active abilities require. So while you can add an active ability from another class, you won't be able to use it.

- Spells/powers/invocations are organized on the action bar by level, and anything higher than allowed by character level can't be cast (so you can use addability to gain higher level spells, but won't be able to cast them until you're high enough level). But this doesn't apply to non-caster abilities (rogue/paladin/fighter/monk/barbarian/ranger) or iirc to chants.

 

 

Thanks so much for doing that! That's good to know about the extra abilities. That'll be harder for some subclasses than others, I imagine. Applying a druid subclass will involve adding the bonus spell for each level, for example. The main use I want it for is to give Pallegina the skald subclass, and there don't seem to be any extra abilities that define the skald subclass.

 

Any ideas about what you'd have to do to add Devoted to a straight fighter (like Eder)? Is there any ability beside the core Devoted passive that would be necessary?

[TheDogProfessor]

Kind of off topic:

 

I'm going to be running Eder as a Fighter/Rogue. He always struck me a bit of a dirty fighter (plus in PoE he started with focus in thug weapons, iirc.)

[Boeroer]

If I could I would make Edér a Fighter/Streetfighter. But yes, for me Fighter/Rogue fits better than just Fighter - and Rogue only somehow also doesn't feel right. But maybe just beause I'm used to his implementation as a Fighter in PoE.

 

Maybe this time I will build him in a more tankish manner for a change and give him Arterial Strike. Pull the annoying rushers in with Into the Fray, hit them with an Arterial Strike and they won't want to go anywhere.

[Camonge]

Quick question about companions, multiclass and respec'ing:

 

Suppose I build Xoti as Contemplative (priest + monk). If it does not work greatly, can I respec her as a full Priest? We don't know much about her subclasses yet, but I do not believe long casting + taking wounds make a great combo.

[HAWmaro]

I don't think you can respec level 1 choices(classe choice, devoted weapon choice, shapeshift choice etc...) Am gonna make xoti a pure priest, a contemplative sounds meh for the reasons you mentioned.

Edited May 4, 2018 by HAWmaro

[The Sharmat]

Kind of off topic:

 

I'm going to be running Eder as a Fighter/Rogue. He always struck me a bit of a dirty fighter (plus in PoE he started with focus in thug weapons, iirc.)

Edér was originally introduced as Edair the rogue in the original kickstarter, even. He got changed to fighter later in development.

[Voss]

Quick question about companions, multiclass and respec'ing:

 

Suppose I build Xoti as Contemplative (priest + monk). If it does not work greatly, can I respec her as a full Priest? We don't know much about her subclasses yet, but I do not believe long casting + taking wounds make a great combo.

 

Nope.  Class decisions (for companions or main character) can't be changed.  There is a big warning and everything.

[anathanielh]

 

Kind of off topic:

 

I'm going to be running Eder as a Fighter/Rogue. He always struck me a bit of a dirty fighter (plus in PoE he started with focus in thug weapons, iirc.)

Edér was originally introduced as Edair the rogue in the original kickstarter, even. He got changed to fighter later in development.

 

I think he actually went from fighter to rogue and back to fighter towards the end. I remember his Edair concept art having a sword n board.

[Takkik]

Quick question about companions, multiclass and respec'ing:

 

Suppose I build Xoti as Contemplative (priest + monk). If it does not work greatly, can I respec her as a full Priest? We don't know much about her subclasses yet, but I do not believe long casting + taking wounds make a great combo.

don't forget there is an ability, the 'dance' ability that generate wound until you're hit. So you can generate wound without be in the melee. And you have an upgrade of long pain that allow you to use your melee weapon at range and so use monk wound attacks behind team mates.

[The Sharmat]

 

Quick question about companions, multiclass and respec'ing:

 

Suppose I build Xoti as Contemplative (priest + monk). If it does not work greatly, can I respec her as a full Priest? We don't know much about her subclasses yet, but I do not believe long casting + taking wounds make a great combo.

don't forget there is an ability, the 'dance' ability that generate wound until you're hit. So you can generate wound without be in the melee. And you have an upgrade of long pain that allow you to use your melee weapon at range and so use monk wound attacks behind team mates.

 

That sounds like a great thing for a monk/wizard that deflection tanks to have.

[aeoncs]

I was wondering... can Aloth actually be made into a decent Tank even though he can't subclass into Unbroken?

[cactot]

I was wondering... can Aloth actually be made into a decent Tank even though he can't subclass into Unbroken?

Absolutely, unbroken isn't really necessary to be a good tank. Guardian stance + concelhauts parasitic quarterstaff and you should be sticky (enemies will be afraid to disengage) and durable (healing from summoned weapon, +deflection spells, spirit shield).

 

You can even use the staff modal for an extra 20 deflection, for a total of +50 with mirrored image or +70 with arcane veil.

 

If you just focus on quick casting self-buffs, rescue spells for your allies (like dimensional shift) and so forth, I would argue that he has a higher potential as a pure tank than Eder does.

[aeoncs]

 

I was wondering... can Aloth actually be made into a decent Tank even though he can't subclass into Unbroken?

Absolutely, unbroken isn't really necessary to be a good tank. Guardian stance + concelhauts parasitic quarterstaff and you should be sticky (enemies will be afraid to disengage) and durable (healing from summoned weapon, +deflection spells, spirit shield).

 

You can even use the staff modal for an extra 20 deflection, for a total of +50 with mirrored image or +70 with arcane veil.

 

If you just focus on quick casting self-buffs, rescue spells for your allies (like dimensional shift) and so forth, I would argue that he has a higher potential as a pure tank than Eder does.

 

 

That's good to hear, thanks for the sound advice. Even though I really like Eder, I'm probably going to bench him for my first playthrough.

[Thormind]

 

 

That is a pretty good idea. I'm undecided between having Maia Rua as a Geomancer or Aloth as a pure Wizard in my party. Maybe I'll do as you say.

I hope I'm missing something, but I see basically zero synergy between a ranger and a wizard. I suppose one could go for a Stalker/Wizard summoned weapons and buffs melee build, though even that is probably worse than the other melee wizard combos. But that doesn't apply to Maia anyway since she's a Gunhawk, which is presumably some kind of ranged/guns focused subclass.

 

 

 

 

 

One trick you could do:

 

Use multiclassing companions early on

 

Switch to single class companions late game

 

That is a pretty good idea. I'm undecided between having Maia Rua as a Geomancer or Aloth as a pure Wizard in my party. Maybe I'll do as you say.

 

 

Maia's annoying, because she specialises in something that seems to go actively against the best Geomancer build. She's built around guns, but it seems like the right way to build a Geomancer is as a melee specialist. Both summoned weapons and the pet scale with character level, so if you build into that aspect you're essentially getting a "full power" multiclass. Take the summoned weapons you want to use and buffs from wizard, and the pet passives from ranger. It things in melee with a wolf. Voila.

 

 

I don't care much about synergy in this case. I want Tekehu, Xoti and Serafen in my party. The last spot would ideally be a Wizard, but I like Maia, so I'm considering having her as a Geomancer.

 

My Watcher will be a Swashbuckler, but if Maia will be bad as a Geomancer, maybe I should consider being an Assassin/Wizard and make Maia a single class Gunhawk.

 

 

Maia isnt bad as a wizard. Give her the tome that add extra spell cast so she can have more per fights. With her high perception shes almost as good as Aloth for debuffing/nuking.

[Archaven]

I'm making Aloth as pure Wizard. But i seems to make him tanky as i wanted him to cast meteor shower for the PL9. As good tips?