Last updated: 2026-07-10.
For Echoes of Aincrad partners, the best First Floor choice depends on your difficulty: pick Argo for Story or Normal Mode, and pick Iori for Hard, Very Hard, or Death Mode. Argo helps you explore and deal extra damage, while Iori’s healing support is more valuable when survival is harder.
Spoiler warning: Partner unlocks can reveal characters you may not have met yet.
Quick answer
| Difficulty | Best partner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Story Mode | Argo | Strong exploration utility and added damage |
| Normal Mode | Argo | Analyze helps find enemies and treasure chests through walls |
| Hard Mode | Iori | Healing Circle helps keep your health topped off |
| Very Hard Mode | Iori | Healing support helps conserve recovery items |
| Death Mode | Iori | Safer choice when mistakes are more punishing |
Best Echoes of Aincrad partners for the First Floor
After the Prologue, you begin the First Floor of Aincrad properly. At that point, you have three partners to choose from, but only two are specifically recommended in the available guide information: Argo and Iori.
The third First Floor partner is not listed in the provided reference material, so this guide does not rank or describe them.
Argo: best for Story and Normal Mode
Argo is the best partner for Story and Normal difficulty.
Her main value comes from Analyze, a partner skill that affects a large area and highlights:
- Enemies
- Treasure chests
- Objects through walls
That makes Argo especially useful when entering a new region for the first time, before you have map markers filled in. If you like clearing areas thoroughly and do not want to miss chests, Argo is the most useful early pick.
Analyze also provides added damage while active, giving Argo combat value on top of exploration utility.
Argo’s other listed skill, Twin Moon, is described as a reliable source of damage.
Pick Argo if you want to:
- Explore new areas more efficiently
- Spot enemies and chests through walls
- Avoid missing treasure
- Get extra damage from Analyze
- Play comfortably on Story or Normal difficulty
Iori: best for Hard, Very Hard, and Death Mode
Iori is the best partner for Hard, Very Hard, and Death Mode.
Iori’s key partner skill is Healing Circle, which helps restore your health during and between fights. That makes Iori the stronger defensive option when enemies hit harder or when failure is more dangerous.
The biggest benefit is resource conservation. By using Healing Circle to top off your health, you can save important recovery items like:
- Potions
- Healing Crystals
That is especially useful in harder modes, where wasting consumables can make later fights more stressful.
Pick Iori if you want to:
- Survive more reliably on higher difficulty
- Heal during or between battles
- Save Potions and Healing Crystals
- Play with Death Mode enabled
- Prioritize safety over exploration utility
Argo vs. Iori: which should you choose?
If you are unsure, use your difficulty setting as the deciding factor.
| Partner | Best for | Main strength | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argo | Story, Normal | Exploration and added damage | Finding enemies and treasure chests in new areas |
| Iori | Hard, Very Hard, Death Mode | Healing support | Staying alive and conserving healing items |
In simple terms:
- Choose Argo if you are exploring and want convenience.
- Choose Iori if you are struggling to stay alive.
Common mistakes
Picking only for damage
Damage matters, but partner utility can be more important. Argo’s Analyze helps you explore, while Iori’s Healing Circle can reduce item pressure in difficult modes.
Ignoring difficulty level
The best partner changes based on difficulty. Argo is recommended for easier modes, while Iori is recommended for harder modes and Death Mode.
Burning through healing items too early
If you are on Hard, Very Hard, or Death Mode, Iori can help you conserve Potions and Healing Crystals by topping off your health outside of emergencies.
FAQ
Who is the best partner in Echoes of Aincrad?
For the First Floor, Argo is best for Story and Normal Mode, while Iori is best for Hard, Very Hard, and Death Mode.
What does Argo do?
Argo has Analyze, which highlights enemies and treasure chests through walls in a large area. Analyze also gives added damage while active. Her other listed skill, Twin Moon, provides reliable damage.
What does Iori do?
Iori has Healing Circle, a partner skill that helps restore health during and between battles.
How many partners are available on the First Floor?
After the Prologue, there are three partners to choose from on the First Floor. Only Argo and Iori are described in the available reference material.
Is Iori better than Argo?
Not always. Iori is better for harder difficulties because of Healing Circle. Argo is better for Story and Normal Mode because Analyze helps with exploration and damage.
Update note
Details can change after updates. If a code, price, event, stock item, ability, schedule, or feature behaves differently, treat the newest official or in-context source as the current version.