How do the companion passive abilities work?

Saucy_Jack · April 2023

So I've had Mirri at max rapport for a while, but I FINALLY maxed her level out today, and got her little trinket thingy for her passive. But how does it work? Does it mean that her passive is always active, even if I have a different (or no) companion out? Or does it just mean that alts can take advantage of her passive even if her rapport/level isn't leveled up on them?

Vevvev · April 2023

Yes, the passive is always active and cannot be turned off no matter what. Once you have the trinket you have the passive.

Treeshka · April 2023

Those passives are sort of not passives but rather an Account Upgrade so they are always on.

Saucy_Jack · April 2023

So even if I have NO companion out on ANY toon, the passive will still proc?

Nestor · April 2023

I am getting Treasure Bags from Chests I am unlocking on a character who has never done the Companion thing.

virtus753 · April 2023

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

So even if I have NO companion out on ANY toon, the passive will still proc?

Yep!

And that also means extra potions will drop on all characters from Bastian's passive, as well as pickpocketing tables having Ember's hidden wallets in them, for better or worse, once you unlock those on any character. (Her wallet replaces a stolen item rather than dropping in addition to it.)

JavaRen · April 2023

My experience suggests the hidden wallet is in addition to other items, not instead.

virtus753 · April 2023

JavaRen wrote: »

My experience suggests the hidden wallet is in addition to other items, not instead.

That is not my experience or those of others in this thread:

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/607167/embers-companion-perk

I will try to find time to do testing that I can record, though.

ETA: It seems it will also be an issue with Sharp's passive:

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/631902/when-will-we-be-able-to-turn-off-the-permanent-passive-skill-of-companions#latest

Necrotech_Master · April 2023

virtus753 wrote: »

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

So even if I have NO companion out on ANY toon, the passive will still proc?

Yep!

And that also means extra potions will drop on all characters from Bastian's passive, as well as pickpocketing tables having Ember's hidden wallets in them, for better or worse, once you unlock those on any character. (Her wallet replaces a stolen item rather than dropping in addition to it.)

it does not replace a stolen item, it basically allows an extra 4th pickpocket attempt on the target

sometimes ive done 3 pickpockets and noticed it gave me the option for a 4th pick, sometimes i got the wallet on the 2nd pick and it still let me pick 2 more times

to the OP you get these passives normally having the companion active, but getting the keepsake makes it permanent even if the companion is not active (so if your in say a group content you can still get bastions potions, or mirris chest bags)

for me personally im all for free extra bonuses even if i dont actually use the items much lol

virtus753 · April 2023

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

So even if I have NO companion out on ANY toon, the passive will still proc?

Yep!

And that also means extra potions will drop on all characters from Bastian's passive, as well as pickpocketing tables having Ember's hidden wallets in them, for better or worse, once you unlock those on any character. (Her wallet replaces a stolen item rather than dropping in addition to it.)

it does not replace a stolen item, it basically allows an extra 4th pickpocket attempt on the target

sometimes ive done 3 pickpockets and noticed it gave me the option for a 4th pick, sometimes i got the wallet on the 2nd pick and it still let me pick 2 more times

There are some areas and NPCs that will regularly allow you to pick more than three items - the most I've gotten is seven - even without Ember's passive, so I do not see getting a fourth item as indisputable proof that Ember's passive is in addition to rather than in place of.

Necrotech_Master · April 2023

virtus753 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

So even if I have NO companion out on ANY toon, the passive will still proc?

Yep!

And that also means extra potions will drop on all characters from Bastian's passive, as well as pickpocketing tables having Ember's hidden wallets in them, for better or worse, once you unlock those on any character. (Her wallet replaces a stolen item rather than dropping in addition to it.)

it does not replace a stolen item, it basically allows an extra 4th pickpocket attempt on the target

sometimes ive done 3 pickpockets and noticed it gave me the option for a 4th pick, sometimes i got the wallet on the 2nd pick and it still let me pick 2 more times

There are some areas and NPCs that will regularly allow you to pick more than three items - the most I've gotten is seven - even without Ember's passive, so I do not see getting a fourth item as indisputable proof that Ember's passive is in addition to rather than in place of.

what areas would those be? lol

ive literally never been able to pick npcs more than 3 times since the justice system released, even with all of the passives in legerdemain and thieves guild (at least until i started occasionally seeing 4th picks with embers passive)

virtus753 · April 2023

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

So even if I have NO companion out on ANY toon, the passive will still proc?

Yep!

And that also means extra potions will drop on all characters from Bastian's passive, as well as pickpocketing tables having Ember's hidden wallets in them, for better or worse, once you unlock those on any character. (Her wallet replaces a stolen item rather than dropping in addition to it.)

it does not replace a stolen item, it basically allows an extra 4th pickpocket attempt on the target

sometimes ive done 3 pickpockets and noticed it gave me the option for a 4th pick, sometimes i got the wallet on the 2nd pick and it still let me pick 2 more times

There are some areas and NPCs that will regularly allow you to pick more than three items - the most I've gotten is seven - even without Ember's passive, so I do not see getting a fourth item as indisputable proof that Ember's passive is in addition to rather than in place of.

what areas would those be? lol

ive literally never been able to pick npcs more than 3 times since the justice system released, even with all of the passives in legerdemain and thieves guild (at least until i started occasionally seeing 4th picks with embers passive)

All of Vvardenfell, in my experience. I have gotten at least four actual items in addition to up to three mats from the same NPC without resetting them. It’s definitely reproducible for the two just outside of the penthouse home in the cantons and with the NPCs at Tel Vos. I have no idea how the game calculates when to stop allowing more pulls, since it’s not every time, but it is not uncommon that they give more than three items.

phaneub17_ESO · April 2023

Don't get Bastian pots unlocked. The major buff effect does not activate so its no different than regular mob drop pots except they vendor for less. It's another 3 inventory slots loss.

Necrotech_Master · April 2023

virtus753 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

So even if I have NO companion out on ANY toon, the passive will still proc?

Yep!

And that also means extra potions will drop on all characters from Bastian's passive, as well as pickpocketing tables having Ember's hidden wallets in them, for better or worse, once you unlock those on any character. (Her wallet replaces a stolen item rather than dropping in addition to it.)

it does not replace a stolen item, it basically allows an extra 4th pickpocket attempt on the target

sometimes ive done 3 pickpockets and noticed it gave me the option for a 4th pick, sometimes i got the wallet on the 2nd pick and it still let me pick 2 more times

There are some areas and NPCs that will regularly allow you to pick more than three items - the most I've gotten is seven - even without Ember's passive, so I do not see getting a fourth item as indisputable proof that Ember's passive is in addition to rather than in place of.

what areas would those be? lol

ive literally never been able to pick npcs more than 3 times since the justice system released, even with all of the passives in legerdemain and thieves guild (at least until i started occasionally seeing 4th picks with embers passive)

All of Vvardenfell, in my experience. I have gotten at least four actual items in addition to up to three mats from the same NPC without resetting them. It’s definitely reproducible for the two just outside of the penthouse home in the cantons and with the NPCs at Tel Vos. I have no idea how the game calculates when to stop allowing more pulls, since it’s not every time, but it is not uncommon that they give more than three items.

interesting, i havent done much pickpocketing in vvardenfell, but when i remember doing some i still would never get more than 3 picks per npc before it stopped letting me pick them (the last time i tried doing picking was many years ago lol)

Carcamongus · April 2023

Mirri gives a bag of goodies (most often vendor garbage) from chests, Bastian gives useless potions, Ember gives a wallet of gold and Isobel a bag from WBs with more useful items, such as repair kits and occasionally nice furnishings (I got purple tapestries from it). I found Isobel's to be the best passive and wish they'd add some better stuff to Mirri's bags. Considering the amount of effort that goes in unlocking the companions' passives, one would expect them to be a little better.

Necrotech_Master · April 2023

Carcamongus wrote: »

Mirri gives a bag of goodies (most often vendor garbage) from chests, Bastian gives useless potions, Ember gives a wallet of gold and Isobel a bag from WBs with more useful items, such as repair kits and occasionally nice furnishings (I got purple tapestries from it). I found Isobel's to be the best passive and wish they'd add some better stuff to Mirri's bags. Considering the amount of effort that goes in unlocking the companions' passives, one would expect them to be a little better.

i think the new companions, one of them has the passive for increasing chance of trophy fish and reduced reel in time while fishing which i think could be very useful

i dont know if i read what the other new companions passive is yet