ESO Companion Roles Tank Healer DPS Explained

 

ESO Companion Unlocks Gear and Skill Rotations

Companions changed how many players experience Elder Scrolls Online. They let solo players tackle veteran content, let small groups cover missing roles, and provide a persistent, customizable ally that grows with you. This guide explains everything you need to know to choose, build, and master companions as tank, healer, or DPS. You’ll get role templates, stat priorities, gear guidance, rapport strategies, advanced tuning, and real‑world tactics for open‑world and permitted instanced content. Read this as a practical manual: apply the templates, update gear as you progress, and rotate companions to unlock storylines and rewards.

How companions fit into ESO gameplay

Companions are recruitable NPC allies with their own skill lines, equipment slots, and progression. They are not player characters; they are AI‑driven partners that can be tuned through gear and skills. Companions are most valuable in open‑world PvE, solo veteran dungeons where allowed, and in group content that permits them. They are typically disabled in competitive PvP and many high‑end trials. Use companions to fill gaps in survivability, damage, or crowd control, and to reduce downtime while leveling.

Companions scale with item level and companion gear. That means their effectiveness depends heavily on the quality of the gear you equip them with and the traits on that gear. Rapport is a separate progression track that unlocks personal quests, cosmetics, and sometimes additional rewards. Treat companions as long‑term investments: rotate them, complete their quests, and keep their gear current.

Companion fundamentals and terminology

Companions have three broad roles: tank, healer, and DPS. Each role emphasizes different stats and behaviors. Companion gear is distinct from player gear and includes armor, weapons, and accessories designed for companions. Traits on companion gear alter their behavior and effectiveness. Rapport is a relationship metric that grows as you use a companion and complete their personal content. Companion skills include passives, actives, and an Ultimate; these are slotted similarly to player skill bars but are tuned for companion AI.

When planning a companion, think in terms of role fit: what does your player character lack? If you die frequently, a healer companion will reduce downtime. If you play ranged and need space, a tank companion will hold aggro. If you want faster clears, a DPS companion will shorten fights. The best companion choice is the one that complements your weaknesses.

Choosing a role: decision framework

Pick a role based on content, your build, and your goals. For open‑world leveling, DPS companions speed progress. For veteran solo dungeons, healer companions increase survivability. For world bosses with many adds, tank companions can hold aggro and let you focus on mechanics. If you play with a group, choose a companion that fills a missing role or amplifies the group’s strengths. Always consider rapport and personal quests: rotating companions to complete their stories yields long‑term benefits.

Tank companion deep dive

A tank companion’s job is to draw enemy attention, mitigate damage, and control crowds so you can operate safely. Tanks are especially useful for fragile ranged builds and for solo players who prefer to kite while the companion holds aggro.

Stat priorities and gear Tanks prioritize health and armor. Traits that reduce incoming damage or increase resistances are essential. Stamina is useful for certain taunt or mitigation abilities, but health and armor are the baseline. Equip heavy companion armor and accessories that boost survivability. Companion shields or two‑handed weapons with defensive traits can be effective depending on the companion’s skill set.

Skill selection and behavior Choose taunts, damage reduction passives, and self‑heals. Crowd control abilities such as stuns and roots help manage packs. An Ultimate that provides mass mitigation or an area taunt is ideal. Set the companion’s behavior to aggressive when you want them to pull, or defensive when you want them to hold position and soak.

Tactics Let the tank companion engage first to pull packs while you position for AoE. Use the companion to peel for you: when adds target you, move behind the companion or use defensive cooldowns while the companion holds aggro. In solo play, a tank companion enables kiting and ranged DPS strategies. In group content where companions are allowed, a tank companion can off‑tank adds so the group can focus on priority targets.

Example tank template Stats: Health > Armor > Stamina. Gear: Heavy companion armor with defensive traits. Skills: Taunt; damage reduction; self‑heal; AoE control. Ultimate: Mass mitigation or area taunt.

Healer companion deep dive

Healer companions focus on keeping you alive with heals over time, burst heals, and cleansing or mitigation buffs. They are the best choice for solo players tackling veteran content or for builds that lack self‑healing.

Stat priorities and gear Prioritize magicka and magicka recovery, plus traits that boost healing potency. Light or medium companion armor with magicka traits is typical. Accessories that increase magicka or healing output are high value. Healing companions benefit from traits that enhance restorative effects and reduce magicka costs.

Skill selection and behavior Slot HoTs, area heals, and single‑target emergency heals. A defensive buff or cleanse is a strong secondary option. Choose an Ultimate that provides a large heal or a protective field. Set behavior to supportive so the companion prioritizes healing over aggressive actions.

Tactics Keep HoTs rolling while you manage threat and damage. Use the companion as a safety net: when you get low, the companion’s burst heal buys time to reposition or finish the fight. Healer companions are especially valuable for solo dungeon runs and world bosses where mechanics punish mistakes. They also pair well with melee DPS players who need to stay in close range.

Example healer template Stats: Magicka > Magicka Recovery > Healing Potency. Gear: Light/medium companion armor with magicka traits. Skills: HoTs; burst heal; cleanse; defensive buff. Ultimate: Large heal or protective field.

DPS companion deep dive

DPS companions increase your damage output, speed up trash clears, and help finish fights faster. They are the simplest to use and often the most flexible for general adventuring.

Stat priorities and gear Maximize weapon or magicka damage depending on the companion’s damage type, plus crit and penetration. Damage traits on weapons and accessories are crucial. Companion weapons and accessories that boost damage will have the largest impact on DPS performance.

Skill selection and behavior Slot high‑damage single‑target and AoE abilities. Include a self‑sustain or defensive passive so the companion survives long enough to contribute. Ultimate should be a high‑damage nuke or a damage‑over‑time effect. Set behavior to aggressive to maximize damage output.

Tactics Use DPS companions to burst down priority targets while you control adds. Pair a DPS companion with a player healer for sustained high‑damage runs. For solo players, DPS companions reduce grind time and make world content faster. They are also excellent for farming and clearing public dungeons.

Example DPS template Stats: Weapon/Magicka Damage > Crit > Penetration. Gear: Companion weapons and accessories that boost damage. Skills: High single‑target; AoE; self‑sustain. Ultimate: High‑damage nuke.

Companion gear and itemization explained

Companion gear is a separate pool from player gear. It includes armor, weapons, and accessories specifically for companions. Companion items do not follow the same crafting or upgrade rules as player gear: they cannot be researched or improved via player crafting in the same way, and they often drop from monsters only when a companion is active. Higher quality companion gear (Fine, Superior, Epic) significantly increases companion stats and unlocks trait benefits that define role behavior.

Item level matters. Higher‑level companion gear raises base stats and makes companions more durable or damaging. Traits are role‑defining: defensive traits for tanks, magicka traits for healers, and damage traits for DPS. Accessories matter: rings and necklaces for companions can shift priorities and provide meaningful stat boosts.

Keep companion gear updated as you progress through zones and DLCs. Companion power scales with item level, so outdated gear will make even a well‑skilled companion feel weak.

Rapport and companion progression

Rapport is a relationship metric that increases when you perform actions the companion approves of—completing their quests, using them in content they like, and generally interacting with them. High rapport unlocks personal quests, cosmetic options, and sometimes additional dialogue or rewards. Negative actions can lower rapport. Rapport is not just cosmetic: it unlocks content and can be required to access companion storylines.

To raise rapport efficiently, complete the companion’s personal questline first, then use them in daily or repeatable content they approve of. Rotating companions to finish their storylines accelerates rapport gains. Avoid actions companions dislike while you’re trying to raise rapport.

Role switching and multi‑companion strategies

You can change a companion’s role by swapping their gear and skills. This flexibility lets you adapt to different content without permanently committing to one role. For example, switch a companion from DPS to healer for a tough solo dungeon, then back to DPS for farming.

Collect multiple companions to cover different roles. Owning a tank, healer, and DPS companion gives you options and lets you rotate rapport and personal quests. Use the companion that best complements your current build and the content you’re tackling.

Advanced tuning and synergy with player builds

Companions have simplified AI but can be tuned via skill choices and gear. Use companion debuffs (for example, penetration or damage reduction debuffs) to amplify your own damage windows. Time your ultimates to coincide with companion damage bursts for faster kills. For healers, maintain HoTs and reserve burst heals for emergencies. For tanks, open with taunts and cycle mitigation.

Pairing examples: A ranged DPS player benefits from a tank companion to hold aggro while the player snipe. A melee DPS player benefits from a healer companion to extend melee windows. A player healer benefits from a DPS companion to speed boss kills and reduce pressure on the healer.

Micro‑management tips: When a fight starts, let the companion engage first if you want them to pull. If you need the companion to hold, position yourself so the companion remains between you and the enemy. Use your own crowd control to complement companion control abilities. If a companion is being overwhelmed, reposition or use defensive cooldowns to buy time.

Practical scenarios and recommended companion choices

Solo leveling: DPS companion for speed; healer if you die often. World bosses: DPS companion to shorten fights; tank if the boss spawns many adds. Veteran solo dungeons: Healer companion for sustain; tank if you prefer kiting. Group content (non‑trial): Use companions to fill missing roles when groups are short.

For each scenario, update companion gear to the highest item level you can obtain and slot skills that match the role. Rapport and personal quests will make companions more useful over time, so rotate them to unlock rewards.

Comparison and stat tables

Comparison table to help choose a role quickly:

Role	Primary Stat	Best Use Case	Tradeoff
Tank	Health; Armor	Holding aggro; protecting fragile players	Lower damage
Healer	Magicka; Recovery	Solo veteran runs; survivability	Lower damage output
DPS	Weapon/Magicka Damage; Crit	Speeding clears; world bosses	Less survivability

Quick stat reference for role tuning:

Role	Top Stat 1	Top Stat 2	Useful Secondary
Tank	Health	Armor	Stamina
Healer	Magicka	Magicka Recovery	Healing Potency
DPS	Weapon/Magicka Damage	Crit	Penetration

These tables are a compact way to compare roles and prioritize upgrades. Use them as a checklist when you equip companion gear.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

A frequent mistake is leaving companion gear outdated. Fix this by checking companion equipment whenever you upgrade your own gear. Another mistake is using a DPS companion when you need survivability; match the companion role to the content. Ignoring rapport prevents you from unlocking companion storylines and rewards; complete personal quests and use companions frequently to raise rapport.

Avoid over‑reliance on companions in content where they are restricted. Trials and competitive PvP often disable companions; plan accordingly and practice content without them if you intend to run trials.

Minimal setup checklist

Equip role‑appropriate companion gear. Prioritize primary stats for the chosen role. Slot role‑defining skills and an appropriate Ultimate. Keep rapport high by using companions and completing their quests. Update gear as you progress through DLCs and zones.

Frequently asked questions

Can companions die? Companions can be downed and will recover; they do not permanently die. Poor rapport or certain zone restrictions can temporarily prevent summoning.

Do companions share loot or experience? Companions do not take player loot. They gain experience and rapport through combat and activities but do not claim player drops.

How many companions can I own and summon? You can collect multiple companions but only summon one at a time. Collecting more companions gives you options and access to different role specializations.

Will companions work in trials and veteran content? Many high‑end instanced activities restrict companions. They are most useful in solo, group‑friendly open‑world content and some dungeons where allowed. Check zone rules before relying on them for trials.

How do I raise rapport quickly? Complete companion personal quests and use them in content they approve of. Rotating companions and finishing their storylines is the fastest route to higher rapport.

Can I change a companion’s role mid‑game? Yes. Swap their gear and skills to change roles. Re‑equip accordingly to match the role’s stat priorities.

Closing recommendations and next steps

Start with one companion that fills your biggest gap—survivability or damage. Use the role templates above to equip and skill them, keep their gear updated, and raise rapport by completing personal quests. Rotate companions to unlock their stories and to collect role‑specific rewards. If you want, I can now produce three ready‑to‑copy companion builds (tank, healer, DPS) for a specific companion you name, including exact skill bars, gear slot suggestions, and rotation notes.

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