Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader – How To Recruit All Companions

TL;DR

  • Recruit all 10 companions by Act 3 completion with strategic timing
  • Early companions join automatically during prologue missions
  • Mid-game recruits require specific story progression and dialogue choices
  • Late-game companions often need reputation management and faction alignment
  • Custom mercenaries available through High Factotum Janris Danrok


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Your Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader allies serve as critical strategic assets rather than mere narrative decoration. These battle-hardened individuals provide specialized capabilities that can dramatically alter combat outcomes and diplomatic encounters. This comprehensive guide details the acquisition process for every available companion throughout your campaign.

The game features exactly 10 recruitable story companions, with all becoming accessible before Act 3 concludes. For optimal party configuration, consult our best companions/companion tier list guide, while those seeking deeper relationships should reference our companion romance documentation. The former assists in determining ideal squad compositions, whereas the latter explores romantic narrative possibilities beyond standard alliances.

Additionally, players can commission custom companions (designated as hirelings or mercenaries) by conversing with High Factotum Janris Danrok on your voidship. Select the “bolster my retinue with skilled fighters” dialogue option to access this feature. Important disclosure: this Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader companion recruitment guide contains spoilers regarding character appearances and story developments.

Abelard
  • Location: Prologue – Voidship
  • Homeworld: Death World
  • Abelard functions as the Rogue Trader’s Seneschal and represents your initial companion acquisition during the campaign. His inclusion is unavoidable since he participates in tutorial sequences. We recommend developing him into a resilient front-line tank capable of absorbing significant enemy aggression. His Death World origin provides natural durability bonuses, making him ideal for holding choke points and protecting more vulnerable party members.

    Idira
  • Location: Prologue – Voidship
  • Homeworld: Death World
  • Origin: Sanctioned Psyker
  • Idira joins shortly after Abelard, bringing potent psychic abilities to your roster. As a Sanctioned Psyker, she can manipulate the warp to devastating effect, though this carries inherent risks. Position her strategically to maximize her area-of-effect capabilities while minimizing exposure to return fire.

    Sister Argenta

    Sister Argenta represents the Adepta Sororitas, offering exceptional ranged firepower and unwavering faith-based abilities. She typically becomes available during early Chapter 1 missions through scripted encounters. Her bolter proficiency makes her ideal for eliminating heavily armored targets.

    Cassia

    Cassia, a Navigator from a prestigious dynasty, provides unique support capabilities through her warp navigation talents. Recruitment occurs naturally through main story progression in Act 1. Her abilities can manipulate battlefield positioning and provide crucial buffs to your squad.

    Pasqal

    Pasqal hails from the Adeptus Mechanicus, bringing technological expertise and systematic combat approaches. You’ll encounter him during exploration sequences where his technical knowledge becomes essential for progression.

    Heinrix

    Heinrix Van Calox serves as an agent of the Inquisition, offering balanced combat skills and investigative capabilities. His recruitment involves specific dialogue choices that demonstrate loyalty to Imperial authority.

    Jae

    Jae Heydari introduces rogue elements to your party, specializing in subterfuge and unconventional tactics. Her acquisition requires careful reputation management and typically occurs during Act 2’s later segments. She excels at disabling enemies through trickery rather than direct confrontation.

    Yrliet

    Yrliet represents the Aeldari race, offering exceptional mobility and precision strikes. Recruitment demands diplomatic finesse and often involves choosing alliance over aggression when encountering her people.

    Ulfar

    Ulfar of the Space Wolves Chapter brings overwhelming melee power and Astartes durability. You’ll need to complete specific quest chains that demonstrate worthiness to earn his allegiance.

    Marazhai

    Marazhai introduces Dark Eldar combat philosophies, specializing in cruel efficiency and psychological warfare. His recruitment presents moral dilemmas and typically occurs near Act 3’s conclusion.

    Optimizing companion acquisition requires understanding narrative pacing and faction relationships. Prioritize main story progression during early chapters to unlock recruitment opportunities naturally. Avoid excessive side content exploration before securing key companions, as some have limited availability windows.

    Common Recruitment Mistakes: Many players miss companions by advancing too quickly through dialogue sequences or making uniformly aggressive choices. Always explore conversation trees thoroughly and consider how your decisions align with each character’s values and affiliations.

    Party Composition Planning: Consider balancing your squad with complementary roles. A typical effective composition includes one tank (Abelard), one healer/support (Cassia), two damage dealers (Argenta, Pasqal), and one flexible specialist. Custom mercenaries can fill gaps in your roster but lack the narrative depth of story companions.

    Timeline Management: Most companions become available within specific act boundaries. Early-game recruits join during prologue, mid-game during Acts 1-2, and late-game during Act 3. Plan your playthrough to ensure you don’t miss time-sensitive recruitment opportunities.

    Action Checklist

    • Secure Abelard and Idira during prologue tutorial sequences
    • Progress through Acts 1-2 main story to recruit Argenta, Cassia, Pasqal, and Heinrix
    • Complete faction-specific quests in Act 3 to recruit Jae, Yrliet, Ulfar, and Marazhai
    • Visit High Factotum Janris Danrok for custom mercenary options
    • Balance party composition with complementary roles and abilities

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