Summary
Salutors are the demonic spirits associated with a Thaumaturge and grant them supernatural powers of manipulation, which can be used in both combat and dialogue. Wiktor is not the only Thaumaturge able to use them, and will often have to battle against other Thaumaturges, or unwitting victims who carry a Flaw, to release them from it and transfer its power to himself. This is known as forming a “bond” with the Salutor, a process which will also often require Wiktor to visit his friend, Rasputin, to fully integrate.
Most Salutors will be acquired aspart of the main story, but some of them are missable, or optional, depending on in-game choices. It is not necessary to collect all Salutors to complete the main story, but it does provide a significant advantage in combat to have them all at Wiktor’s disposal. Each Salutor is also part of a category of Focus Dimensions, which are part of the Salutors' skill tree, enabling better abilities as well as new in-game dialogue options and approaches to completing quests.
8Upyr
A Well-Balanced Salutor For The Early Game
Upyr is a skeletal spirit who wields a cane and saber and is the first spirit Wiktor encountered when he was still a child. As a result, the bond with Upyr is strongest (following the events of the prologue) and he is a reliable companion throughout the game.
In terms of Upyr’s abilities, he is useful at first, but once more Salutors have been acquired, they will quicklysurpass his abilitiesin terms of damage output and unique abilities. Upyr’s best skills areEerie Intoxication, which acts to both heal Wiktor while dealing damage to opponents andNot of this World, which does the same but to a much higher degree and requires enemies to be in aSufferingstate before it is enacted.
7Bukavac
A Damage-Heavy Salutor With A Range Of Powerful Attacks
Bukavac is a more monstrous and intimidating figure players will encounter during “Shadows of Sins Past.” This demonic entity, shackled in broken chains and adorned with a garb that speaks to a form of transfiguration curse, this horned, limbed, creature excels at frightening opponents before unleashing massive amounts of damage with its brutal attacks.
TheHowlskill, while coming at a slight cost, is a very quick way to cast enemies into a Suffering state, which will then make all subsequent attacks and abilities much more effective. Bukavac’s Howl is one of the quickest ways to cast enemies into this state, while theBloody Weddingattack will cause multiplied damage depending on the number of enemies in the Suffering state.
6Lelek
A Disruptive Salutor Who Assists Rather Than Destroys
Lelek is a bird-like entityacquired during Wiktor’s drunken escapadeswith the street rat, Abaurycy. Lelek’s skill set primarily centers around the disruption of Focus, and few other Salutors can do this quite so well. While lacking in damage, this can be extremely useful when combined with the attacks and abilities of both Wiktor and other damage-heavy Salutors.
Lelek’s best skill isMournful Tones, which transfers all active effects (such as bleeding or poisoning) from Wiktor onto a chosen opponent. This can be hugely advantageous, especially in the latter stages of combat when these penalties have accumulated.
5Veles
A Very Useful Salutor Across Multiple Areas
Veles is one of the most useful Salutors players will find in the game, as it has many diverse abilities that can be used to both Wiktor’s advantage and his opponents' detriment. Acquired during the brilliant mission, “The Reptilian Bash,” in which Wiktor attends a high-society soiree, players will be able to choose whether or not to steal the Salutor from Madame Samira, who is also seeking it.
Veles’Venemous Smileability can be used to disrupt enemy attacks, canceling their turn and giving Wiktor more time to plan his next move, while theSlippery Betability can heal Wiktor at a cost of health points later in the fight. TheGood-Luck Kissis one of the most devastating abilities in the game, with a 50% chance to triple its 15 damage - an instantly fatal amount for the vast majority of enemies in the game.
4Djinn
A Powerful Salutor But With Small Penalties To Each Action
Djinn is a desert spirit, primarily using fire and flames as weaponry, but also possessing several useful abilities that can help Wiktor in several ways. The downside of Djinn is that almost all of its abilities come at some form of cost to Wiktor, whether minor or major penalties, so players should consider this before deploying any of its devastating attacks.
One of Djinn’s more useful abilities, especially in the later stages of the game, is theLifelong Debtattack. While only dealing 2 damage to enemies, it can heal Wiktor up to 24 Health Points, which can make a huge difference when faced with multiple opponents, and being cast in a single turn makes it much faster than other Salutor healing skills.
3Morana
A Difficult Salutor To Acquire With A Range Of Good Skills
Morana is one of themore difficult Salutors to acquire, as players will have to complete both “The Art of Dying” and “Horses In The Sky” side quests in Powisle District. This follows a story centered around a murderer and can be triggered by investigating the police, painter, and body near the waterside in Powisle.
Morana’s strengths lie in her ability to both deteriorate enemies' focus, as well as unleash devastating attacks against them.Pestilent Breathwill not only reduce enemy Focus, it will also cause them to abandon their currently planned action, which can be life-saving if deployed in the right moments.
2Krampus
An Optional Salutor With Some Great Abilities
Krampus is a towering, antlered goat demon with arguably the most menacing appearance in the game. This Salutor is also missable if players rush through the main story, and can only be acquired by completing the side quest “A Rod For The Hero” in Port Praga.
TheDevil’s Pactability is useful as it allows Wiktor to trade Focus for Health Points. Though he will then receive larger penalties to Focus, it can keep him in the fight during desperate situations. Additionally,Deadly Schnappsis a brutal finisher that will cause all remaining enemies damage depending on how much Focus they have lost.
1Golem
By Far The Most Powerful Salutor In The Game
Golem is an interesting Salutor, initially sent to kill Wiktor as part of an old Jewish curse, it can then be tamed and either acquired by Wiktor himself or handed over to Ariel Rofe, a fellow Thaumaturgein the city. This can have major implications for the outcome of the game’s story, but it is the only time in which players will get the option to acquire it.
Golem possesses, unsurprisingly, many of the game’s most powerful attacks, though they often come at the cost of being slower than other Salutors.Afarwill inflict double damage if the enemy’s focus is anything less than full, whileMetis a slower attack but unleashed between 70-80 damage, which should be enough to flatline just about any opponent in the game in a single hit.
