Your active Companion

valkos

Hi guys

I've been using the basic companions since I started playing, so it's time to use some AD for some rank 8 binding stones and a decent companion.

I'm not super rich so I wondered which Companion you have out when tanking?, I'll only be able to get one so it's gotta count.

zebular

I only ever use an Ioun Stone of Allure on my Paladins (and most characters for that matter). Many people do like combat companions, I prefer augments. Most of my characters use either the Allure or Might Ioun Stones or the Cat. My most played ones have them upgraded a quality or two.

valkos

Hi Zeb

Thanks for that, I hadn't considered the stones, do the stats from the stones transfer in the same way as combat ines?. I've been reading that getting the stats transferred from a Companion is a huge boost to a player.

aaramis75

I use an Ioun stone on my OP too, although that's mostly because my OP is an alt; my main uses bonding runestones.

Valkos - the difference is that an augment grants you 100% of the companion's stats.
A combat companion, on the other hand, with bonding runestones can transfer anywhere from 60% of the companion stats, all the way up to 285%. So, depending on the level of the runestone, this can be better, or worse, than a straight augment. But at maximum rank, clearly the 285% is much better than 100%.

If I were to steal my main's bonding runestones, and use an active companion, I'd be somewhat torn. Energon could be tempting for the AP refill, which OPs make very good use of.
Other alternatives are the Sellsword / Mercenary, or Rust Monster (for debuffing an enemy's defenses); Fire or Air archons (pure dps); or Dread Warrior (for aggro).

zebular

Aaramis pretty much summed up why some prefer active companions with high level bondings. I use high level eldritch to boost my augments given stats. If you go augment, look for augments with defense slots to put in high level eldritch stones. I play a lot, and I mean a lot of characters, so it's easier for me to manage my augments as they all have at least access to a free Might stone from the claims agent. As well, with augments, I pretty much know that no matter what, I'll have the constant stat bonus and not have to worry about loosing it should the companion die during combat or become debuffed (augments don't die and aren't subject to debuffs), especially in delves and group content. Plus, the less mobiles I see on my screen, the better for me.

sundance777

I am running the lillend on my OP, it is imo about the best budget companion in the game, 3 offense slots, 3 rings slot and at least on Xbox you can find the lillend at purple for like 50K ad or less.

The con artist is another interesting choice, 3 ring slots again with 2 offense slots and one defense slot and the active bonus is nice, you do however need to upgrade it a few time for AD or the companion tokens...

armadeonx

A point of note for pallies - if you use an augment you can miss out on a serious amount of power (~50k). This is because not only do high level bondings triple the stats received from your companion, it also feeds back the power you share with your companion - which is also multiplied.

For instance, when soloing in areas with a decent fight I will go from a standing 22k power to ~95k. When I get all of my r11 radiants to r12 this will go higher (up to 10% of HP returned as power in combat). This means when running T2/T3 dungeons I generate a lot of temp health and that means better survivability.

An augment means that if you have a static 30k power and 200k HP, in combat you'll go to 50k power. That's a serious dent in stats.

armadeonx

On topic I currently use a fire archon but I'm thinking about switching to a melee one - I may start trialling my Energon.

dupeks

One thing to note in favor of augments -> combat companions can't transfer max HP stat, but augment can. Since OPs have easy ways of stacking to DR cap (95% when taking into account the 15% ArPen some baddies have), and HP offers more power from the class feature, stacking HP on your augment can be a nice bump.

However, you shouldn't ignore what armadeonx said about aura gifts feeding back through bonding stones. A fully bonded high-geared pally can easily self-buff over 100k power consistently, and give a fat slice to any nearby party members and their pets too. And remember that power affects wep enchant scaling and certain insignia bonuses (shepherd's devo for move + party defense, artificer's for self-utility, magistrate's can be solid and helps keep aggro, etc.). That said, in order to get there you're facing a pretty hefty investment into bonding stones.

trzebiat

I highly recommend Con Artist, it's 300k AD to unlock debuff and 3 ring slots give much more flexibility than any other slots even if you don't include UD and SKT rings. Plus it's easier to unlock lvl 25 Jewelcrafting to make personalized rings than couple other professions to make personalized sword knots, icons, talismans etc. Defense slot is not that bad, and eventually can be good for small defense boost once you switch to 3 legendary double offense rings.

Currently I'm using Con Artist with 2x Greater Krig and 1x Greater Dod, Air and Earth Archons, Energon and Siege Master. Keeping Chicken, Rust Monster and Sylph as backup.

rubytrue

trzebiat#2067 said:

I highly recommend Con Artist, it's 300k AD to unlock debuff and 3 ring slots give much more flexibility than any other slots even if you don't include UD and SKT rings. Plus it's easier to unlock lvl 25 Jewelcrafting to make personalized rings than couple other professions to make personalized sword knots, icons, talismans etc. Defense slot is not that bad, and eventually can be good for small defense boost once you switch to 3 legendary double offense rings.



Currently I'm using Con Artist with 2x Greater Krig and 1x Greater Dod, Air and Earth Archons, Energon and Siege Master. Keeping Chicken, Rust Monster and Sylph as backup.

I plan on using the Con Artist as well once I get my Bondng stones. They also provide a 10% damage resistance debuff to enemies meaning more damage for both you and your team. And that debuff stacks with other Con Artists, SellSwords and Dancing Blades.

aaramis75

armadeonx said:

A point of note for pallies - if you use an augment you can miss out on a serious amount of power (~50k). This is because not only do high level bondings triple the stats received from your companion, it also feeds back the power you share with your companion - which is also multiplied.

For instance, when soloing in areas with a decent fight I will go from a standing 22k power to ~95k. When I get all of my r11 radiants to r12 this will go higher (up to 10% of HP returned as power in combat). This means when running T2/T3 dungeons I generate a lot of temp health and that means better survivability.

An augment means that if you have a static 30k power and 200k HP, in combat you'll go to 50k power. That's a serious dent in stats.

Absolutely, for sure.
If the cost of levelling up bondings weren't so bloody expensive, I'd love to have a set on my OP.

And I'd lend my HR's bondings to my OP, but I'm afraid of getting too used to having 100+k power, and then having an HR without bondings

I must say, though, with the upcoming Loadouts, having both a healing and a tanking OP is very, very tempting to main.

valkos

Hi guys

That's great information as always. I was looking into the companions you mentioned and still some of them are out of my price range. I did see the con artist for 1k AD on the auction house, is this the same con artist you've mentioned?, I like the idea of 10%, so using this and bane a boss would take 40% more dmg, sounds good to me. I didn't understand though the reference to that costing 300k though, could you explain that please?

rubytrue

valkos said:

Hi guys



That's great information as always. I was looking into the companions you mentioned and still some of them are out of my price range. I did see the con artist for 1k AD on the auction house, is this the same con artist you've mentioned?, I like the idea of 10%, so using this and bane a boss would take 40% more dmg, sounds good to me. I didn't understand though the reference to that costing 300k though, could you explain that please?

You have to level up the Con Artist to level 30 in order to unlock the power that grants the 10% debuff. It is 50K AD to upgrade from white to green, and another 250K to upgrade from green to blue (gets you to level 30).

You don't have to buy them from the AH; they are 2 gold in the Emporium.

valkos

Hi

Ok I understand now, thanks for replying.

zeplin055

If I ever get a Harper bard I am dropping my legendary con-artist for him.

dragonsbane3

IMO the best companion set up is
#1 active = debuffer, I use the Sellsword for 10% defense debuff
#2 Energon - for the HP of course
#3 Chicken - for the 10% damage debuff
#4 Rust Monster - for the 15% damage debuff
#5 Will-O-Wisp - for control res - a tank that is actively tanking is not effective at all

Swap out #5 for a Bard if you are lucky or rich

wizardlvl80

GF here but dancing shield is nice and has 20% debuff.

mcgwarface

4k Oathbound Pally here. Went augment for a long time. Bottom of paingiver boards always. Now I use a legendary fire archon w r12 bondings. (Also Air, Earth, Owlbear and Energon---switch out w rust monster or con artist for debuff)

I sit at 175k hps (will be at 200k soon) , 29k power, 6k Armor Pen , 21k def and 6k deflect (74% resistance) when idle.

In combat I constantly hit 100 - 120k Power (without teammate buffs) now and am #1-3 in Paingiver Damage Dealt and #1 in Taking Damage on scoreboards (w PUGs only) or normal T2s. (Unless some 4k DPSrs show up then they crush me in DPS lol)

If Im doing CN or harder I focus more on aggro, buffing and debuffing to keep people alive and less on my personal dps.(I also change companions to bullete, seige master and shadow demon) Yay for loadouts coming!

Huge difference between that augment and an active companion proccing