The first time I watched a shrine float out of reach, I remember the sting: no dash, no climb, only a long swim back to town. You know that small panic—when every shortcut feels locked. It felt like watching a door slam in my face.
I’ve spent hours cataloging what each companion does in DragonSword: Awakening, and I’ll walk you through the exact moves that turn those moments into options. I’ll tell you where to claim them, which ones change travel from chore to style, and the little mechanical details most guides skip. You’ll leave knowing exactly which familiars to chase first.
How to unlock all familiars in DragonSword: Awakening
A friend of mine missed an entire island because they lacked an Underwater Dash. That kind of regret is exactly why these companions matter.
There are 29 familiars available right now—11 are DLC-only and one comes with the Deluxe Pack. They fall into eight types: Insect, Squirrel, Cat, Bird, Sky Wolf, Direwolf, Gryphon, and Dragon. Each type grants a traversal skill (glide, climb, underwater dash, charged jump, etc.) and stacking type-passives when you own multiples of the same type. Most are claimed through the Familiar Codex after you meet the conditions listed below.
| Familiar | Type | How to unlock | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robust Stag Beetle | Insect | Automatically unlocked during Chapter 01. | None |
| Fierce Rhinoceros Beetle | Insect | For 100 Adventure’s Emblems at the Familiar Codex. | None |
| Cowardly Firefly | Insect | By mining 300 times. | None |
| Red Ladybug | Insect | By clearing 40 Puzzles. | None |
| Cotton Flying Squirrel | Squirrel | DLC-exclusive. | Climbing Jump |
| Acorn Flying Squirrel | Squirrel | By defeating 100 squirrels. | Climbing Jump |
| Viola Flying Squirrel | Squirrel | DLC-exclusive. | Climbing Jump |
| Marple Flying Squirrel | Squirrel | By being promoted to Intermediate Mercenary Corps. | Climbing Jump |
| Orchid Wing Cat | Cat | DLC-exclusive. | Swin Dash |
| Mist Wing Cat | Cat | By crafting 100 equipment pieces. | Swin Dash |
| Shadow Wing Cat | Cat | By opening 300 Treasure Chests. | Swin Dash |
| Dawn Wing Cat | Cat | By being promoted to Advanced Mercenary Corps. | Swin Dash |
| Refreshing Canary | Bird | By completing 20 Mini-Games. | Air Dash |
| Timid Hummingbird | Bird | DLC-exclusive. | Air Dash |
| Diligent Sparrow | Bird | By collecting 150 Bird Eggs. | Air Dash |
| Bright Crowtit | Bird | By being promoted to Novice Mercenary Corps. | Air Dash |
| Frosty Sky Wolf | Sky Wolf | DLC-exclusive. | Underwater Dash |
| Sandstorm Sky Wolf | Sky Wolf | For 300K Gold at the Familiar Codex. | Underwater Dash |
| Gale Sky Wolf | Sky Wolf | DLC-exclusive. | Underwater Dash |
| Snowstorm Sky Wolf | Sky Wolf | By completing The Captain’s Scheme quest. | Underwater Dash |
| Stormy Direwolf | Direwolf | By being promoted to Veteran Mercenary Corps. | Boost Jump |
| Abyssal Direwolf | Direwolf. | DLC-exclusive. | Boost Jump |
| Flame Spirit Fox | Direwolf | DLC-exclusive. | Boost Jump |
| War Direwolf | Direwolf | DLC-exclusive. | Boost Jump |
| Guardian Gryphon | Gryphon | By defeating World Bosses 30 times. | Charged Jump |
| Holy Knightage Griffon | Gryphon | DLC-exclusive. | Charged Jump |
| Exploration Squad Griffon | Gryphon | DLC-exclusive. | Charged Jump |
| Knightage Griffon | Gryphon | By being promoted to Elite Mercenary Corps. | Charged Jump |
| Brave Baby Dragon | Dragon | Deluxe Pack-exclusive. | Air Free Dash |
Most familiars grant passive effects when you hold multiples of one type—two Direwolves unlock the team-wide Boost Jump, for example. The Baby Dragon is the one exception to the passive rule: it only provides its own Air Free Dash.
How do I get all familiars in DragonSword: Awakening?
Answer: systematically. Use the Familiar Codex as your checklist and track the Mercenary Corps promotions (Novice → Intermediate → Advanced → Veteran → Elite). Some come automatically (Chapter 01 gives you the Robust Stag Beetle). Others need gameplay milestones: crafting 100 items, opening 300 chests, defeating 30 world bosses, or collecting 150 Bird Eggs. DLC and the Deluxe Pack add a chunk of options if you play on Steam, Nintendo Switch, or PlayStation—so if you’re on those platforms, check their store pages before you grind.
Which familiars help with exploration?
Answer: favor the traversal kits. Birds give Air Dash, Sky Wolves provide Underwater Dash, Squirrels give Climbing Jump, and Direwolves supply Boost Jump. Think of a squad as a Swiss Army knife for movement—one well-chosen pair solves far more routes than a haphazard collection.
Are any familiars DLC-only?
Answer: yes. Eleven familiars require DLC and the Brave Baby Dragon comes with the Deluxe Pack. DLC names appear in the table above; if you don’t want to spend on extra content, plan around the base-game options (Sandstorm Sky Wolf and several corps-promo familiars are obtainable without paid content). If you do buy DLC on Steam or the eShop, check prices in your region—they’re listed in USD on the storefronts but make sure the EUR equivalent on the platform matches what you expect.
Tools I use when tracking these: the Familiar Codex in-game, community spreadsheets on Google Sheets, and forums on Reddit and Moyens I/O for tip swaps. If you want precise routing for one achievement—say, the 300 chests grind—open a tracker in Google Sheets and sync it with screenshots; it saves time and prevents duplicate runs.
I’ll update this guide when new familiars or paid packs appear. Which first familiar changed the way you play, and are you team Bird or team Direwolf?