Echoes of Aincrad Partner Tier List — Best Allies Ranked
Ranking Echoes of Aincrad Partners
Echoes of Aincrad is single-player only — partners are AI allies you select at the Main Terminal before each quest. This tier list ranks combat partners for retail Floors 1 and 2 based on story integration, Switch and Free Mode utility, Combination Skill impact, and synergy with top weapons. Rankings will update as the community verifies Floor 2 partner kits post-launch.
Unlike weapon tiers, partner value shifts by mission type: pack-clearing favors Free Mode aggressors while boss fights reward strong Support and Combination Skills. Full mode tactics: Partner System guide.
S Tier — Iori
Iori remains S tier through Floor 1 and early Floor 2 because she is story-integrated from the prologue, fully tutorialized in Switch and Free Mode, and assumed present in demo-derived progression. Her rapid strikes complement guard-heavy weapons on the Weapon Tier List, especially sword and shield.
Patch 1.0.3 Support Item Set unlocks through her main quest "Iori's Request" — a practical reason to keep her in rotation early retail. Demo veterans importing saves retain Iori partnership state via Save Transfer.
A Tier — Argo and SAO Allies
Argo ranks A tier as the intel broker ally encountered during Floor 1 progression in official story summaries. Launch trailers showcase Asuna, Agil, and Lisbeth with distinct combat roles and Combination Skills — provisional A tier pending [community verification] of unlock timing and skill potency on Floor 2.
Asuna's fencer style suits pierce and parry-heavy player builds. Agil and Lisbeth appear in marketing as recognizable SAO faces with unique Support options. Revisit this section after Main Quest Floor 2 community mapping.
B Tier and Situational Picks
Short escort NPCs, non-combat merchants, and quest-specific allies land in B tier for combat rankings. They may matter for story or crafting loops but do not replace dedicated combat partners from the Main Terminal roster.
Situational A-tier bumps occur when a partner's Combination Skill hard-counters a boss mechanic — document these on Boss Fights as strategies emerge. Default duo archetype: Iori plus sword and shield on the Build Tier List.
Characters Overview
Retail partners include original character Iori plus SAO series faces Asuna, Agil, and Lisbeth alongside Argo the information broker. Kirito appears in story context per Bandai Namco materials; combat partner status [community verification pending].
Each partner exposes Support and Combination Skills previewable before quest departure. No dating or likability systems — partners focus on survival during the death-game introduction. Character story beats expand on Floor 2 per official FAQ.
Related Pages in This Section
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Iori top tier?
Earliest full-featured combat partner with tutorial support, story presence, and demo transfer compatibility across Floor 1.
When do Asuna and Agil join?
Launch trailers confirm them as combat allies. Exact unlock order is [community verification pending] — check Main Quest Floor 2 updates.
Is there multiplayer co-op?
No. Partner tier list ranks AI allies for solo play only.
How do I improve partner performance?
Use Switch Standby timing, assign Combination Skills to the action wheel, and keep your avatar alive. See Partner System guide.
Do partners scale with Growth Points?
Player Growth Points affect your avatar. Partner power scales through story progression and Cardinal Rank.