But most Gungeoneers prefer to go it alone in their quest for the gun that can kill the past. Well, except for the Hunter. That dog is adorable. Still, companions join your campaign all the time down in this maze of bullets, and even the other Gungeoneers will forge relationships in the heat of battle. All kinds of passive items can summon reinforcements that’ll help you face the dangers of the Gungeon. Moreover, they’ll fulfill the deep desire for companionship your character hides behind a tough exterior. Let’s match you up with the perfect companion.
10. Chicken Flute
Fans of The Legend of Zelda will recognize the Chicken Flute as none other than the Fairy Ocarina from Ocarina of Time (1998) – and it doesn’t end there. Upon picking up the ocarina, a single chicken will start following the player, blocking shots and occasionally dealing contact damage. After receiving enough damage it’ll summon a horde of feathery friends to terrorize all enemies in the room – much like Cuccos would when attacked by Link. This B-tier item has excellent synergy with The Scrambler, doubling its damage potential by doubling its enemy-seeking pellets and increasing shot size. Unlock by: Clearing The Bullet’s past.
9. Baby Good Mimic
Mimics are a harsh reality of RPGs that can turn a moment of triumph into an untimely death in no time – but they’re not all bad. For one reason or another, this minuscule mimic has mistaken you for its mother. And it’ll do its best to keep you safe. This includes blocking bullets and shooting in random directions when hit. What makes this B-tier companion genuinely shine is its ability to transform into a copy of any other sidekick you may have. This can really make a difference with powerful companions like Ser Junkan and the Super Space Turtle.
8. Owl
So you were hurriedly heading down to Platform 9 ¾ but lost your way and wound up in the Gungeon? Don’t worry! Hedwi – I mean, the Owl is here to help. This S-tier item won’t bring you any correspondence. But it’ll gladly shoot pellets at your enemies and protect you with short-range blanks. It also has impressive synergies with a ton of powerful weapons, most of which have something to do with the world of magic. These include the Dungeon Eagle, the Bundle of Wands, and the Witch Pistol. Unlock by: Winning 10 wagers with the Gunsling King.
7. Super Space Turtle
Easily the most adorable companion in the entire game is the Super Space Turtle, a tiny cosmonaut with an even smaller gun. This hero from space is proactive about clearing rooms and will hunt down your enemies rather than just follow you around. While pretty powerful by itself, this B-tier companion can synergize with the Yellow Chamber and become jammed. This increases our turtle’s damage and makes its shots piercing. Unlock by: Defeating the Blobulord.
6. Turtle Problem
If the Super Space Turtle helps you reach the Forge and slay the dragon, you’ll unlock one of my all-time favorite C-tier items – the Turtle Problem. Pick it up and you’ll notice a friendly turtle approach – the regular, non-super space kind. Every time you clear a room, you’ll have another one join you for the rest of the floor. The turtles are passive and barely manage to keep up with the player, but their shells can take a beating. Once you have a big enough army it’s like having a walking shield that follows you around. Unlock by: Beating the High Dragun with the Super Space Turtle companion.
5. Baby Good Shelleton
Shelletons are some of the most fearsome enemies in the Gungeon. They’re also among the tallest! But even they had a time when they were adorable tiny baby skeletons. The Baby Good Shelleton is an S-tier companion that attacks your enemies with a green version of the Shelleton’s laser beam. It deals incredible damage and has pretty good reach. This grave lad gets even better if you’re carrying the Shellegun or Shelleton Key.
4. R2G2
If you’re looking for a companion who’ll take the fight to your enemies and sway the tide of battle, R2G2 is the way to go. This Gunmech Robot will follow you until it detects enemies, which it immediately tries to eliminate with powerful projectile barrages. It can even fly over pits to reach far-away foes, making it especially useful against Fuselier and the High Dragun. As was probably evident for most of you, this S-tier companion is a cute reference to one of the most beloved robots in sci-fi: R2D2 from the Star Wars saga. Unlock by: Repairing the elevator to the Black Powder Mine.
3. Pig
At first, this pig doesn’t look like much. In fact it’s kind of shifty. And since it does nothing but follow you around and (accidentally) block bullets, you can’t help but mistrust its intentions. As it turns out, this Pig only needs a little push to tap into its inner courage. If it sees its master about to die, it’ll jump in front of incoming damage and save their lives. Witnessing such a selfless act fills you with determination not to let their death be in vain – which translates into a full health bar and a chance to keep on fighting. This A-tier item is already good enough to warrant a high spot. Still, significant synergies with The Scrambler, the Elephant Gun, the Ring of Miserly Protection, and others take it to the next level. Unlock by: Completing the hunt for three The Beholsters.
2. Clown Mask
If you’ve ever played the fantastic bank heist simulator Payday 2 (2013), you’ll recognize the Clown Mask and the helpers it summons. This B-tier item was part of a cross-promotional event between Enter the Gungeon and Payday 2 where several allegoric items were added to the game. These include the Clown Mask, the Loot Bag, and the Drill. By itself, the mask will summon a character from Payday 2 to defend you against your enemies, but each new promotional item you get adds a new companion. Eventually, you’ll have a whole squad that can stun enemies, shoot at them with shotguns, and protect you with blanks. Unlock by: Stealing the mask from the shop.
1. Ser Junkan
Leading the pack we have everyone’s favorite consolation prize – Ser Junkan, an epic companion who’s all about recycling and upcycling. Ser Junkan may be a C-tier item, but don’t underestimate him. This dirty paper bag won’t deal much damage at first. But keep giving him Junk from destroyed chests and he’ll slowly put together the equipment he needs to look like a real knight. The more Junk, the more powerful Ser Junkan becomes, until dealing pretty massive damage and acquiring abilities like resurrecting the player upon death. He can also pilot a bad-ass mecha if you’re lucky enough to find Gold Junk. Unlock by: Defeating a boss after upgrading Ser Junkan to +3.
