Grouping and sidekicks

[Terra Blade]

So since I work nights and generally am up in the middle of the night, I was delighted to see the Astrub Knight as a free sidekick. My question is: after a failed crypt run outside the starter city, can sidekicks be as good as players for those who might have trouble finding groups in the wee hours?

Also, are there a lot of free sidekicks to be found?

[Shindria]

I'm only level 58 or so on my highest character so far, but I've found the sidekicks to be totally invaluable =) I'm pretty anti social, and am usually playing the game while doing housework, or cooking dinner or one of two million other things, so I don't group up with people, and so far I haven't really had a problem 'cos the sidekicks have my back =)

As far as I've been able to gather, the only free one is the Knight, but he kicks much butt! And all the paid ones are available for free trial for one week (a different one every week pops up as freebie) Any equipment you give them while they are on their free trial stays on them I think until next time their free trial week rolls around =)

Don't forget that you can equip them - took me a week or so before I realised that, so I wasn't getting the most out of them =)

[Obi Wan MDB]

Sidekicks are generally good. However, you have to ask yourself: Do you have what it takes to equip more than one character?

There is only one free permanent sidekick, and that is Astrub Knight. The others are only on free rotation, which is only as an introduction tool/trial and not intended as permanent companion, unless you buy them. One exception is Treecherose, which is event exclusive I believe. As far as I know, if you levelled a free week sidekick and you buy them later, they will retain the level.

In general, there are two types of sidekick: Damage dealers, and support. Shadow, Astrub Knight and Beelzebub are strictly DDs. Trank,Lumino,Proto,Skale are strictly support. Krobax, Tree, and Krosmo are somewhat hybrid and unique in their role.

DD sidekick are only as good as much as you gear them. This hold true for all sidekick of course, but support sidekick has a little bit leeway since they amplify players power rather than bringing your own. Some sidekick mirrors in-game classes too, in a minor way.

Later in the game you will be doing dungeon a lot. Generally ppl will rather bring actual player than a sidekick, because for most part, ppl just give their sidekick leftovers rather than actual gearing and updated. The only exception would probably be Lumino (because heals), Trank (to some extent) and recently Krosmo (because he`s a good hybrid class that can switch between DD and support/heal). If you bring a sidekick (esp DD ones) you better make sure he`s as good as an actual player would.

Another reason why `another player` is preferable is also because the costs of gearing quite ramps up later in the game. Gearing ONLY yourself is much easier than trying to gear two(or three if you go double sidekick). And also key costs for dungeon runs.

For some players. they prefer to multibox with another account. For those who can't, they use sidekick that mirrors their desired class. Some sidekick has synergy with certain class, much like class combos would be.

Also, as a final note : Astrub Knight, is in no way inferior to other DD sidekicks. When it comes to straight out toe to toe single target spanking, he`s really good at it. His only weakness is aoe option and group utility, but he trades it for the best raw dmg tool among the sidekicks.

[Jade Succubus]

The type of sidekick varies. There's a rotation of free sidekicks as well. So you can ALWAYS have a party of three running (you & two sidekicks). I've found this game is suprisingly friendly to solo players despite the initial impression. Level 43 though, so it might be different later.

[Nitroglycerin]

I'm 52 and still soloing. Just started leveling up my Knight and current weekly sidekick and finding them invaluable. And you can level them up pretty quickly running some easier dungeons, plus kit them up from the drops from them too

[TJgalon]

I think one of the best part about a sidekick, is that you get the loot, they collect, so you have a slightly better chance at loot drop.

[Articulate Llama]

2 things to remember, after lvl 100 you will not be soloing, or 3 manning with sidekicks, any dungeon content until you are max levelish.

That leave normal world mobs for leveling and while it will get you some xp, when you need 60m a level and your xp is coming in 600k at a time its a long grind with a lot of resists and new mechanics to deal with on mobs.

Im not saying sidekicks are not viable at higher levels, just saying you wont be taking them into dungeons offten at all, the xp outside of dungeons just doesnt cut it for leveling after 110ish. So while they rae good when your friends arent around and you just want some trickle xp, they will not be welcome in group dungeons with others (expecially the knight lol) and you will not be using them to solo hard content until you are max level.

They are very handy for those lower levels though.

[Nitroglycerin]

Well i didn't expect to use my sidekicks forever. they are handy for level around level 50 dungs though