You're standing on the deck of the Defiant, staring at a map of the Deadfire Archipelago, and you've got a problem. It’s not the giant titan Eothas trampling across the ocean floor. It’s the people standing behind you. Choosing your crew from the available Pillars of Eternity 2 companions is arguably harder than any boss fight in the game because, honestly, some of these people just don't get along.
Obsidian Entertainment didn't just give us stat blocks with voices. They gave us a walking powder keg of religious trauma, political baggage, and messy personal lives. If you bring the wrong combination of personalities into a major city like Neketaka, you aren't just looking at a sub-optimal combat build. You’re looking at a full-blown argument that might end with someone walking off your ship forever.
The Core Seven: More Than Just Meat Shields
Let’s get the basics out of the way. You have seven primary companions. These are the "full" ones—the ones with deep questlines, romance options, and opinions on everything you do.
Edér is back, obviously. He’s the weary soul of the party, still trying to reconcile his faith with a god who literally stepped on his house. In Deadfire, he’s your reliable front-liner, but his role is deeper than just soaking up damage. He represents the average person caught in the crossfire of divine nonsense. If you’re playing a Chanter or a Cipher, you need him to keep the heat off you. He’s simple. He likes animals. He’s probably the most "human" person in the game.
Then there’s Xoti. She’s... a lot. A priestess of Gaun with a lantern full of souls and a personality that swings between infectious optimism and creepy death-obsession. Her relationship with Edér is fascinating because they represent two different eras of Eothas-worship. If you’re looking for a healer, she’s your go-to, but be warned: her personal quest is heavily influenced by how you encourage her to "harvest" souls. It can get dark. Fast.
The Conflict of Interest
Pallegina and Maia Rua are where the politics get messy. This is a huge part of the Pillars of Eternity 2 companions experience. Pallegina represents the Vailian Trading Company (VTC). Maia is the sister of Kana from the first game and works for the Royal Deadfire Company (RDC).
These two factions hate each other. Like, "we will literally go to war over this spice trade" hate each other.
If you try to play both sides, you’re going to have a bad time. Maia is perhaps the best ranged DPS in the game thanks to her Ishiza (the bird is the real MVP), but she is a soldier through and through. If you act against the Rauataian empire, she’s gone. Pallegina is even more rigid. She’s a Paladin of the Five Suns, and her loyalty is to the Republics, not you. Bringing them both along is a recipe for constant bickering, which is great for drama but stressful if you just want to find Eothas.
Sidekicks: The "Light" Companions
Sometimes you don't want the drama. Sometimes you just want a cool pirate or a weird construct to help you hit things. That’s where sidekicks come in. They have unique personalities and voice acting, but they don't have the "approval" system or romance options.
- Serafen: Technically a full companion, but he feels like the bridge between the two worlds. He’s a Cipher/Barbarian (Witch) pirate. He’s hilarious, vulgar, and gives you a direct line to the Principi sen Patrena faction.
- Konstanten: You find him in a bathhouse. He’s a mid-life crisis in a leather tunic. He’s a great Chanter or Barbarian, and honestly, he’s just happy to be included.
- Rekke: He fell out of the sky. Literally. He speaks a language nobody understands at first. He’s a fantastic fighter because he has high base stats, making him a "blank slate" for your party needs.
- Ydwin: The fan favorite. She’s a Pale Elf cipher/rogue who is obsessed with animancy. Fans campaigned to make her a full companion, but even as a sidekick, she’s cooler than most main characters in other RPGs.
The Secret Sauce: Multi-classing Your Crew
One thing Obsidian got incredibly right with the Pillars of Eternity 2 companions is flexibility. When you recruit someone, the game asks how you want to build them. This is a one-time choice that fundamentally changes your playthrough.
Take Aloth. The grumpy wizard from the first game returns, but now he can be a Battlemage (Wizard/Fighter) or a Spellblade (Wizard/Rogue). If you make him a pure Wizard, he’s a glass cannon. But as a Battlemage? He can stand in the thick of it with a summoned spirit lance and actually survive.
This flexibility means you aren't forced to take a specific character just because you need a "thief" or a "healer." You can make Tekēhu—the narcissistic but lovable Godlike—a pure Druid or a Theurge (Druid/Chanter). His unique "Watershaper" subclass is broken in the best way possible. His spells don't hurt your allies. In a game where friendly fire is a constant threat on higher difficulties, Tekēhu is basically a cheat code.
Why Relationships Actually Matter
In most RPGs, you just give gifts to people until they like you. In Deadfire, the companions talk to each other. They have opinions on each other’s opinions.
If Xoti says something super religious and Pallegina (who hates organized religion) is in the party, Pallegina will lose "reputation" with Xoti. If this drops too low, they will start snapping at each other during exploration. It’s not just flavor text. It affects their morale and can lead to scripted events where you have to mediate or pick a side.
It feels real. It’s messy. You’ve got Serafen trying to flirt with everyone while Aloth is having an existential crisis about the Leaden Key. You’ve got Maia trying to be a "cool professional" while her bird poops on the deck. It’s a workplace drama set on a pirate ship.
Building the "Perfect" Party
There is no "best" team, but there are definitely synergies you should look for.
If you’re playing on Path of the Damned (PotD) difficulty, you need a dedicated tank. Edér is the obvious choice, but a Paladin/Fighter multiclass Pallegina can be just as sturdy while providing better buffs.
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For healing, Tekēhu and Xoti are your main options. Xoti is better for targeted, burst healing and buffs. Tekēhu is better for "set it and forget it" over-time healing and incredible crowd control.
If you want pure damage, Maia Rua is unmatched. Give her a good arquebus, and she will delete enemies from across the screen before they even reach your frontline. Just remember that she will absolutely judge you if you help the locals instead of the RDC.
The Problem With Aloth
I need to be honest about Aloth. He’s a fan favorite, but in Deadfire, his personality can be grating. He’s hiding a lot, he’s stressed, and he’s often at odds with the more "free-spirited" characters. From a gameplay perspective, pure Wizards take a while to come online. If you take him, stick with it until he gets those high-level grimoires. Once he’s casting Wilting Wind or Meteor Shower, you’ll forget all about his brooding.
Navigating the End-Game Splits
As you get closer to the end of the game, the faction war comes to a head. This is the "loyalty mission" on steroids.
You will eventually have to pick a side: the VTC, the RDC, the Principi (pirates), or the Huana (the locals). Or, you can go it alone.
This choice will alienate people. If you side with the VTC, Maia might leave. If you side with the RDC, Pallegina will definitely leave. If you side with the pirates, the "good" characters will look at you with pure disgust.
This is what makes the Pillars of Eternity 2 companions so much better than the ones in the first game. They have lines they won't cross. They aren't your servants; they are people with agendas. It forces you to actually think about the political ramifications of your choices, rather than just clicking the "good guy" dialogue option.
Practical Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re starting a new save or jumping back in after a long break, here’s how to handle your crew effectively.
First, don't rush the recruitment. You can pick up Edér, Xoti, and Aloth very early. Take your time to talk to them on the ship. The "Ship Management" screen has a little icon for conversations—use it. A lot of the best writing is tucked away in these optional campfires.
Second, specialize your sidekicks. Since they don't have complex relationship webs, they are perfect for filling gaps in your party for specific high-difficulty bounties. Need more interruption? Grab Rekke. Need more debuffs? Fassina is an underrated Wizard/Druid (Sorcerer) who can shut down entire groups of enemies.
Third, watch the "Disposition" tags. When you hover over a dialogue choice, you’ll see icons like "Aggressive," "Diplomatic," or "Shady." Your companions react to these. If you want to keep Pallegina happy, avoid being "Shady." If you want Maia to like you, be "Aggressive" and "Pro-Rauatai."
Ultimately, the Deadfire is a lonely place if you’re just sailing with a crew of generic mercenaries. The companions are the lens through which you see the world. They provide the context for the conflict. Whether you're helping Edér find a long-lost flame or helping Serafen deal with a slave trader, these missions are the heartbeat of the game.
Don't just look at the stats. Look at the people. Even the ones who annoy you—looking at you, Durance (wait, wrong game, but the sentiment holds for Aloth)—are there to challenge your perspective as the Watcher.
Stop worrying about the perfect build for five minutes. Put the people in your party who make the story interesting. The game is balanced well enough that you can win with almost any combination on standard difficulty. The real "optimal" way to play is to see the sparks fly when you put a religious zealot and a cynical scientist in the same boat.
Go check your reputation screen right now. If everyone loves you, you’re probably being too boring. Pick a side, start an argument, and see who stays on the boat when the storms start. That’s the real Pillars of Eternity 2 experience.