Which SAO characters can I recruit as partners?

Based on the June 2026 story trailer, four classic SAO characters are recruitable as partners: Asuna (rapier), Silica (dagger with Pina), Agil (battle axe), and Lisbeth (mace). These join the original 7 companions for a total of 11 partners.

Companions·Updated August 2026

AI Partners Guide

Q: Can I recruit Asuna in Echoes of Aincrad?

Yes! Asuna is confirmed as a recruitable partner in the June 2026 story trailer. She fights with her signature rapier and brings her iconic agility to the party as a high-speed precision attacker.

Q: How do I get Asuna in Echoes of Aincrad?

Asuna is a story-unlocked recruitable partner. Progress the main story until the classic SAO cast joins the Aincrad cast, then complete her recruitment beat to add her to your partner roster. Open the Partner menu to assign her to your active party — she fights with her signature rapier and works best alongside rapier or speed builds. She unlocks through story progression, not a separate purchase or DLC.

Meet your AI companions — your party members — in Aincrad. Each partner offers unique combat support, from healing to information gathering to frontline aggression. The June 2026 story trailer also revealed classic SAO characters — Asuna, Silica, Agil, and Lisbeth — as recruitable partners, expanding the total roster to 11 companions.

Echoes of Aincrad companions standing together before a large enemy — Companion systems
From Iori and Argo to Asuna, Silica, Agil, and Lisbeth — the partner roster has grown to 11 companions for your Aincrad journey.

Iori

Balanced Partner

Your primary AI companion with balanced combat stats. Supports in both offensive and defensive situations with adaptable tactics.

Strengths

VersatileGood synergy with any buildAdaptable AI

Best Weapons

One-Handed SwordSpear

Argo

Information Broker

The Rat returns with a wealth of battlefield intel. Highlights enemy weak points, reveals hidden paths, and boosts drop rates for the party.

Strengths

Weak point detectionLoot boostMap reveal

Best Weapons

DaggerBow

Wyzeman

Magic Support

Mysterious caster who provides ranged magical support. Can debuff enemies and provide utility in exploration.

Strengths

Ranged spellsEnemy debuffsCrowd control

Best Weapons

BowShield

Zash

Offensive Vanguard

Aggressive frontline fighter who draws enemy aggression. Creates openings for the player to exploit with high-damage combos.

Strengths

Aggro managementAggressive combosOpening creation

Best Weapons

GreatswordBattle Axe

Saayu

Healing Support

Dedicated healer who keeps the party alive during extended expeditions. Essential for Death Game Mode and boss encounters.

Strengths

HealingStatus cleanseSurvival support

Best Weapons

RapierMace

Stina

Speed Specialist

Lightning-fast skirmisher who darts in and out of combat. Excels at hit-and-run tactics and applying status effects rapidly.

Strengths

Speed attacksStatus effectsFlanking

Best Weapons

RapierDagger

Musoh

Defense Expert

Stoic guardian who excels at defense and guarding. Provides defensive buffs and can shield the player from heavy damage.

Strengths

Defense buffsDamage mitigationGuard support

Best Weapons

ShieldMace

Asuna

Recruitable Partner

The legendary vice-commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath joins your journey as a recruitable partner. Revealed in the June 2026 story trailer, Asuna fights alongside the protagonist with her signature rapier, bringing her iconic agility and decisive strikes to the party. A fan-favourite from the Sword Art Online series, her recruitment marks a significant connection between the game's original story and established SAO canon. Asuna excels at high-speed precision attacks and can coordinate devastating combination skills with the player.

Strengths

Rapier speedPrecision strikesHigh combo synergyFan-favourite character

Best Weapons

Rapier

Silica

Recruitable Partner

The Beast Tamer of the SAO series makes her appearance as a recruitable partner in Echoes of Aincrad. Confirmed in the June 2026 story trailer, Silica brings her signature dagger combat style and her beloved familiar Pina for support. Her light-footed combat approach and healing companionship from Pina make her a versatile addition to any party composition.

Strengths

Dagger agilityPina healing supportMobilityVersatile support

Best Weapons

Dagger

Agil

Recruitable Partner

The reliable axe-wielding merchant from the SAO series is confirmed as a recruitable partner in Echoes of Aincrad, as shown in the June 2026 story trailer. Agil brings his massive battle axe and steady, dependable combat style to the party as a heavy-hitting frontline presence. His experience as a merchant may also provide unique benefits during exploration and resource gathering.

Strengths

Heavy axe damageFrontline durabilityResource utilitySteady presence

Best Weapons

Battle AxeGreatsword

Lisbeth

Recruitable Partner

The renowned blacksmith of Aincrad joins the protagonist as a recruitable partner in Echoes of Aincrad, as revealed in the June 2026 story trailer. Beyond her unmatched weapon crafting expertise, Lisbeth fights with a mace and demonstrates surprising combat capability. Her dual role as crafter and combatant makes her a unique partner who can support the party both in town and on the battlefield.

Strengths

Mace combatWeapon craftingDual role utilityNPC crafting connections

Best Weapons

Mace

Partner Synergy Tips

·Iori + Any Build — Iori is the most versatile partner. Works well with any weapon and build.

·Argo + Bow/Dagger — Argo's weak point detection pairs perfectly with precision weapons.

·Saayu + Death Game Mode — Saayu's healing is essential for survival in Death Game Mode.

·Zash + Greatsword/Axe — Zash draws aggro while you charge heavy attacks.

·Asuna + Rapier — Asuna's rapier mastery and high-speed precision complement your own rapier build for devastating dual-blade combos.

·Agil + Battle Axe — Agil's heavy axe strikes stagger enemies, creating openings for your charged attacks.

·Lisbeth + Mace — Lisbeth's mace combat pairs well with blunt weapon builds, and her crafting expertise keeps your gear upgraded.

How to Recruit Asuna (Step by Step)

Asuna is one of the most-requested partners, and she is a recruitable companion. She joins your roster through story progression rather than a purchase or DLC, so anyone who plays the main campaign can add her to the party.

1Progress the main story. Asuna becomes available during the story arc that brings the classic SAO cast into Aincrad — keep advancing the campaign to reach her recruitment beat.
2Complete her recruitment event. Finish the story beat that unlocks Asuna, and she is added to your partner list automatically.
3Assign her in the Partner menu. Open the Partner menu and set Asuna as an active companion for your next quest.
4Build around her rapier. Asuna fights with her signature rapier and shines alongside rapier or speed builds — see the weapon guide for synergy tips.

Asuna is a story-unlocked partner — no pre-order tier or DLC is required to recruit her.

Companion FAQs

How many AI partners are in Echoes of Aincrad?

Echoes of Aincrad features 11 confirmed partners: 7 originals (Iori, Argo, Wyzeman, Zash, Saayu, Stina, Musoh) plus 4 classic SAO characters (Asuna, Silica, Agil, Lisbeth). Each has a unique role and combat style.

Who are the party members in Echoes of Aincrad?

Your party members — also called companions — are the 11 recruitable allies: Iori, Argo, Wyzeman, Zash, Saayu, Stina, and Musoh, plus Asuna, Silica, Agil, and Lisbeth. Each brings a unique role, from healing to frontline aggression.

Can I recruit Asuna in Echoes of Aincrad?

Yes! Asuna is confirmed as a recruitable partner. She fights with her signature rapier and brings high-speed precision to the party.

How do I get Asuna in Echoes of Aincrad?

Asuna is a story-unlocked partner — progress the main story until the classic SAO cast joins Aincrad, complete her recruitment beat, then assign her in the Partner menu. She fights with a rapier and works best with rapier or speed builds. No pre-order tier or DLC is required.

Pair partners with the right weapon

Each companion synergizes with specific weapon types — see the full breakdown.

Weapon Guide Weapon Tier List