Navigating the mystical landscapes of Avowed requires more than just combat prowess and a sharp sword. As players venture through the Living Lands in 2025, one companion has proven particularly indispensable: Yatzli. Her unique abilities and tactical insights have become crucial for those seeking to complete the main storyline without frustrating roadblocks.
The Yatzli Conundrum
Players across forums have been discussing what many now call the "Yatzli situation" - a critical gameplay element that highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of Avowed's companion system. Yatzli stands out among the four available companions for one specific reason: she's the only character who can reveal illusions, a skill that the player character cannot replicate through any means.
"Her 'Special' ability to reveal illusions is the only special ability that the player character has no equivalent of," notes one player in a popular gaming forum. This creates an interesting strategic dilemma - while you might prefer to travel with other companions for narrative reasons or combat synergy, Yatzli's unique skill makes her almost mandatory for thorough exploration.
The Infamous Bug and Its Resolution
Early adopters of Avowed experienced a particularly frustrating bug involving our essential companion. Many players reported that Yatzli would become unresponsive in Thirdborn when they needed to speak with her to progress the main quest "A Path to the Garden."
One frustrated player shared their experience: "Unfortunately Yatzli became bugged when I had to talk to her in Terza to start the garden main quest. She warps to various locations in the city and she is never interactable."
This issue was significant enough that Obsidian's support team had to investigate and implement a fix in a subsequent patch. The problem highlights how central Yatzli is to progression - when she's not functioning correctly, the entire game experience can grind to a halt.
Avowed avowed yatzli advice: Companion Strategy
For those still navigating the Living Lands in 2025, here's some practical advice regarding Yatzli and companion management:
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Keep Yatzli in your party when exploring new areas - You never know when you'll encounter an illusion that conceals valuable loot or progression paths.
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Balance your team composition - While Yatzli's illusion detection is unique, consider your combat needs as well. Many players find that pairing Yatzli with Giatta (the healer) creates a strong support foundation.
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Don't forget about swapping - If you prefer traveling with other companions like Kai or Marius, remember you can always return to previously visited locations with Yatzli to reveal any illusions you might have missed.
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Save frequently - As with any RPG, maintaining multiple save files can save you from potential bugs or missed opportunities.
Companion Balance Considerations
The necessity of Yatzli's unique ability has sparked discussions about companion balance in Avowed. As one player put it, "All of them are interesting characters, and the narrative encourages you to frequently swap them out. But in practice, two of the companions play suboptimally, especially in late game."
This sentiment echoes across the gaming community, with many feeling that while Kai and Marius offer interesting narrative perspectives, they're mechanically outshined by Giatta's healing and Yatzli's illusion detection.
Some players have suggested that future updates could address this imbalance by either:
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Providing the player character with a way to detect illusions
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Adding more unique and equally valuable abilities to other companions
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Reducing the importance of illusion detection in critical paths
The Broader Companion Experience
Beyond the mechanical aspects, Yatzli's character represents the complex worldbuilding of the Living Lands. Her perspective often contrasts with more traditional Aedyran viewpoints, offering players insight into the region's unique culture and values.
While some players have criticized certain companion interactions as feeling forced or one-dimensional, others appreciate how characters like Yatzli provide different perspectives on the game's moral choices.
"What this game desperately needed was someone from Adeyr to be a companion to provide a different perspective to the four locals," commented one player, highlighting how the companion system shapes the narrative experience.
Looking Forward
As Obsidian continues to support Avowed in 2025, the community remains hopeful that companion balance will receive attention in future updates. Whether through mechanical adjustments or expanded dialogue options, there's potential to enhance what is already a compelling, if occasionally frustrating, companion system.
For now, the Avowed avowed yatzli advice remains clear: keep her close, use her unique talents wisely, and appreciate the narrative depth she brings to your journey through the Living Lands - just be ready to swap her out when you need Giatta's healing in a tough boss fight!
The Living Lands await, and with the right companions by your side, even the most challenging illusions can't stand in your way.
The above analysis is based on reports from OpenCritic, a leading platform for aggregating game reviews and scores. OpenCritic's summaries of Avowed highlight how companion mechanics, especially unique abilities like Yatzli's illusion detection, have influenced both critical reception and player strategy, with reviewers noting the impact of these features on overall gameplay satisfaction.