Companions are one of the most overlooked systems in Sword x Staff, but they quietly account for a huge chunk of your combat power once you understand how their stat unlocks work. Unlike gear, Companions follow a fixed, predictable pattern which means there's a correct order to upgrade them, regardless of how much you spend.
This guide breaks down the exact stat law behind Companion leveling, the class-matching priorities for Knight, Sorcerer, Duelist, and Sage, and the upgrade order that applies whether you're grinding for free or gearing up as a heavy spender.
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The Golden Rule: Match Companions to Your Class
Every class in Sword x Staff scales differently, so the Companions worth prioritizing depend entirely on which class you're playing. Match your Companion upgrades to your class's core stats rather than spreading resources evenly.
Class | Priority Stats | Why |
Knight | Block › Crit Rate | Knights scale hardest on Block, which is difficult to reach through gear alone |
Sorcerer | Crit Rate › Accuracy | Sorcerer's class trait already grants Accuracy, so Crit Rate is the real damage bottleneck |
Duelist | Crit Rate › Accuracy | Same logic as Sorcerer - Duelist's innate Crit Rate compounds well with more from Companions |
Sage | Accuracy › Crit Rate (DPS/DoT) or Healing Boost (Healer) | Sage's trait already covers base attributes, so the pick depends on your build |
Tap the exclamation mark icon on any Companion's profile in-game to confirm its exact stat spread before committing upgrade materials.
The Stat Law: L20, L50, L70, L100
Companion stats unlock at four fixed breakpoints, and the pattern repeats rather than introducing new stats every level.
Level 20 - First stat unlock. A DMG Boost here marks an offensive Companion; DMG Reduce marks a defensive one.
Level 50 - Offensive Companions grant Crit Rate or Accuracy; defensive Companions grant Block, Crit Resist, or Healing Boost.
Level 60 - Cosmetic skin unlock only. No stat change.
Level 70 - Repeats the Level 20 stat (DMG Boost or DMG Reduce, stacked again).
Level 100 - Repeats the Level 50 stat. Healing Boost only ever appears at Level 100 - a Healer Sage build won't see it any earlier.
Knowing this pattern lets you identify a Companion's long-term value just from its Level 20 stat, without needing to level it further first.
Universal Upgrade Order (F2P and Whales Alike)
The upgrade order doesn't change based on spending - it only determines how quickly you get through each phase. Following this order avoids wasting materials on Companions that won't pay off.
Bring every Companion to Level 20 first. This is the floor that unlocks each Companion's first stat grant. A fourth Companion hitting L20 is more valuable than pushing your main from L50 to L70.
Push class-matching Companions to Level 50. Once the L20 floor is covered across your roster, focus resources on Companions whose L50 stat lines up with your class.
Repeat toward Level 70 for your active roster to stack the second offensive or defensive tier.
Repeat toward Level 100, especially for Healer Sage builds, since Healing Boost only unlocks at this stage.
Push a Companion to Level 60 only if you specifically want its cosmetic skin - it offers no combat benefit and can wait outside the main order.
Gifting and Common Mistakes
Companions have gift preferences that speed up their bonding track. Giving the wrong gift wastes a consumable that could've gone to a higher-priority Companion.
Check preferences via the exclamation mark before gifting.
Stockpile gift types a Companion favors if they drop frequently.
Gift in the same priority order as leveling: L20 floor first, then class-matching Companions.
Mistakes to avoid:
Rushing one Companion to Level 100 while others sit below Level 20.
Leveling offensive Companions on a Knight, or defensive ones on a DPS class.
Expecting Healing Boost before Level 100 on a healer-focused Companion.
Gifting without checking preferences first.
Choosing Companions by Your Class
Since your class also determines your broader build (Duelist and Knight from the Sword path; Sorcerer and Sage from the Staff path), it's worth pairing your Companion priorities with your class promotion plan. Duelist and Sorcerer players benefit most from stacking Crit Rate early, while Knight and support-focused Sage players should hold out for Block and Healing Boost respectively, even if that means a slower Companion payoff in the early game.
Conclusion
Sword x Staff's Companion system rewards patience over guesswork: bring your whole roster to Level 20, match class stats at Level 50, then repeat the cycle toward Level 100. This order stays the same whether you're free-to-play or a full spender - it just determines your pace. For players looking to speed up that climb, LootBar offers a fast, secure way to manage your account resources, and you can top up Sword x Staff directly through LootBar whenever you're ready to accelerate your progress.
