ESO Companion Rapport measures how much an ally approves of your character’s actions. Each companion has different likes and dislikes, and higher rapport unlocks personal stories and progress towards keepsake achievements. It is separate from the ally’s combat level, gear or experience, so fighting more enemies will not automatically make your companion like you.
The fastest way to build companion rapport is to combine suitable daily quests with smaller approved interactions. Not every companion approves of the same activities, and many actions have cooldowns. Pick routines that your chosen ally actually likes, rather than repeatedly triggering a single interaction that has stopped awarding points.
How ESO Companion Rapport works
Open the Companion Menu to see the relationship bar and current standing. Approval improves when a recognised positive activity occurs while that companion is active. Disliked behaviour lowers it. Relationship tiers include Friendly, Close and Allied, with particular personal quests becoming available when you satisfy the ally’s requirements.
Companion rapport belongs to the character interacting with that ally. If an alternate character has recruited the same companion, check that character’s own progress rather than expecting an identical bar. A new conversation prompt often signals that another personal story quest is ready.
Best daily quests for ESO Companion Rapport
| Companion | Daily quest to complete | Rapport reward |
|---|---|---|
| Bastian Hallix | Mages Guild daily from Alvur Baren | +125 |
| Mirri Elendis | Fighters Guild daily from Cardea Gallus | +125 |
| Ember | Mages Guild daily, High Isle delve daily, or Thieves Guild heist | +125 for a qualifying completion |
| Isobel Veloise | Bolgrul’s Undaunted delve daily or High Isle world-boss daily | +125 for a qualifying completion |
These are specific high-value daily activities for the four original Blackwood and High Isle companions. Summon the appropriate companion before handing in the quest. Several major approvals have cooldowns, and Ember and Isobel generally won’t receive the same +125 bonus again immediately from that daily. Other companions have their own preferred activities, so don’t assume one of these dailies works for Sharp-as-Night, Azandar, Tanlorin or Zerith-var.
Companion likes and dislikes explained
Bastian generally prefers helpful and honourable actions, while some criminal acts upset him. Mirri has sensitivities about specific insects and disturbing the dead. Ember often responds well to adventurous or magical activities. Isobel tends to favour honourable behaviour. Sharp-as-Night, Azandar, Tanlorin and Zerith-var have their own distinct tastes.
Start by learning the likes of the companion you’re using, rather than trying to follow a single daily-quest route for all eight. Some positive interactions are small and restricted by cooldowns, while certain major daily quests have a greater effect. Watch what changes in the Companion Menu to work out your routine.
How to avoid losing approval
If you’re going to steal, attack innocents or interact with something your companion dislikes, dismiss them before the activity and summon them again afterwards. Removing the companion after a negative notification has already appeared won’t reverse it. Some characters object to actions another ally accepts, so change companions when your daily routine changes.
Low companion rapport is not the same as losing the account entitlement. If a relationship falls, you can rebuild it with approved tasks and repeatable dailies. A companion may still be useful in combat at lower approval, although their personal storyline won’t advance until the needed relationship requirement is met.
ESO Companion Rapport – What higher companion rapport unlocks
Friendly, Close and Allied standing are associated with personal quest progression on different companions. Completing their stories and other achievement requirements can lead to a keepsake tied to that ally. Merely reaching a standing threshold may not be sufficient if a quest or achievement remains unfinished.
Zerith-var’s questline continues after A Moonlit Shadow, for example, while Tanlorin has their own personal story following The Garland Ring. Check the companion’s achievement and quest journal when you reach another tier rather than assuming the system has stopped tracking approval.
ESO Companion Rapport – Fastest daily companion rapport routine
Choose one ally for the session, complete a preferred daily, and do ordinary adventuring without triggering known dislikes. Keep an eye on new personal conversations and take the next quest when it appears. If you want to develop several allies, rotate them for the activities each one likes instead of keeping the same companion for everything.
To improve companion rapport efficiently, combine the daily approval activity with normal levelling or guild progression where possible. But remember that kill-based companion XP, guild ranks and rapport are three separate systems, with different triggers and rewards.
Why rapport does not increase
Make sure the correct companion was active when the action occurred, that you actually completed the daily rather than simply accepting it, and that the activity’s cooldown has elapsed. If the bar isn’t moving, try an approved action on another day. Don’t assume every kill or quest completion awards relationship points.
All eight recruitment quests appear in our ESO companion locations guide. Once an ally is recruited, building companion rapport is most useful when done alongside the actual story and role you want that character to play.
Related ESO Companion Rapport Guides
Official source: ESO’s Companions system guide.
