The power to accept AI-controlled companions has been a nice feature in many of the Elder Scrolls games. They not merely assistance to stave off loneliness in the sometimes bleak and cold world of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim but also carry the burdens of traveling alongside the player, both figuratively and literally.

Skyrim is a diverse state with many adventurers seeking knowledge, power, and riches. In their search, some may align themselves with the Dragonborn, although not all followers are fabricated equal. Some lack the necessary qualities to exist genuinely useful, acting as baggage. Others, yet, can be stalwart shields, deadly damage-dealers, or supportive healers. Which NPCs are the all-time followers in Skyrim that players should seek out?

Updated on November 18, 2021, by Reyadh Rahaman: Knowing the strongest skills of one's allies can be useful, equally this information would be helpful for traveling and in combat. For case, if the Dragonborn is a mage with powerful spells and lilliputian armor, having a burly follower would exist best. Conversely, if the player is a stalwart warrior, then having a supportive ally that knows healing spells can come in handy. The possibilities are as numerous equally the number of builds one can put together in Skyrim.

10 Armored Troll

non-human ally that the player can hire in fort dawnguard.

For a price, players who have the Dawnguard DLC can hire an armored troll, or armored frost troll, as a follower from Fort Dawnguard after a certain office of the DLC questline has been completed. These brutes may non be capable of conversation, sneaking, or interacting with humanoid NPCs, just they sure do pack a punch in gainsay.

Ordinarily, facing off confronting a troll is tiresome due to their great wellness regeneration, but now players can take that very same trait on their side through a unmerciful companion reinforced with armor on height of their already resilient hide.

Armored Troll's Best Skills

The Armored Troll does non have skills like a humanoid grapheme, still, they pack a mean set of basic melee attacks--equally i would expect from a troll. Their armor as well makes them pretty tanky and able to go along their fierce rampage.

9 Brelyna Maryon

mage in the college of winterhold in her room.

This mage can be found in the College of Winterhold and players will gain the potential to recruit her as an ally after they assist her with a magickal experiment. Unlike a few other spell-slingers that the Dragonborn can ally with in the game, Brelyna can do more than than just fire off Destruction spells.

She will oft initiate combat by casting the Oakflesh Alteration spell to buff her defense before going about zapping and burning attackers. She can besides summon atronachs, which can be cracking to further have the heat off of the role player too equally increase the damage directed at enemies.

Brelyna Maryon'southward All-time Skills

This mage has high Alteration, Destruction, and Conjuration skills. However, none of her weapon-based attacks volition be useful. Thankfully, she can manage her magicka puddle well enough and then that this isn't much of an outcome unless an enemy gets correct upward in her face up and prevents her from casting spells.

8 Marcurio

magical mercenary in the winking skeever.

Found in Riften's The Winking Skeever bar, Marcurio is a mercenary that players can hire for a scrap of coin. However, he's not the sword and shield kind; he's a mage and comes with a surprising repertoire of spells. For offense, he favors lightning-based spells, which make him a great marry for when one wants to accept down enemy mages, as lightning magick saps the foes magicka bars.

In addition, Marcurio has multiple Restoration spells, like Close Wounds and Fast Healing for increased longevity, and, furthermore, he too knows Turn Undead, which he will prioritize casting confronting Draugr and other lifeless adversaries for great crowd control.

Marcurio'due south Best Skills

The magical mercenary comes with solid Alteration, Destruction, and Restoration skills. As such, he'll exist some other ally that tin can be helpful at mid and long-range just tin struggle if foes get besides close. His healing spells are particularly versatile and universally useful.

7 Aela The Huntress

Aela can also be met in the Companions guild. After the player proves themself during the events of the Companions questline, she tin go a follower. With her expert archery, Aela tin be a neat ally if ranged harm is needed.

Aela can even teach the Dragonborn things almost using a bow until Archery level 75. She as well has relatively high skill in Light Armor, so if the player gives her some, she tin make great apply of it.

Aela The Huntress' Best Skills

Although she'south known best for her superb Archery skill, her other best ones are Light Armor and Sneak, however, her One-Handed and Spoken language skills are not far behind. This makes Aela a very versatile companion who tin can be useful at whatever range--and for any player build. Furthermore, having peachy Sneak is convenient for players who demand to use stealth.

6 Barbas

Barbas appearing in Skyrim

At first glance, Barbas just looks similar a cute canis familiaris, and he is! Only he is also a separated function of the Daerdric Prince Clavicus Vile. He can be encountered near Falkreath on the road, where the player can interact with him and start a Daedric questline.

Barbas will then begin to accompany the actor and will practice then on all adventures until a certain stage in his Daedric questline is passed. Although, if the Dragonborn does non continue with this questline correct away, they tin take Barbas with them on all adventures. This Daedric dog is neat considering he cannot exist killed and does a surprising amount of damage.

Barbas' All-time Skills

This immortal dog has no true skills, like to the Armored Troll, yet, Barbas is great at a few things. Firstly, he'due south an irreplaceable tank and an additional companion that can follow the actor around, essentially meaning that 1 can have a party of 4 divide entities (not counting summonable allies). With Barbas, the role player can potentially bring with them an actual companion equally well as a canis familiaris, somewhat turning Skyrim into a political party-based RPG.

5 Mjoll The Lioness

The mighty Mjoll can be met in Riften. If the player talks to her, they can learn of her missing sword. To become her equally a follower, the Dragonborn must observe Mjoll'south bract in the Dwemer ruins of Mzinchaleft and return it to her. She volition exist grateful enough to tag along on adventures if her company is requested.

Since Mjoll is too classified as an essential graphic symbol, she cannot be killed by normal means, making her a peachy tank. Her Heavy Armor and Two-Handed Weapon skills are high enough to make her useful in a fight if equipped properly.

Mjoll The Lioness' All-time Skills

Equally i would expect, Mjoll'south best skills are Heavy Armor and Two-Handed, though her Block and Archery are bully either. Additionally, even if her One-Handed skill isn't very loftier, information technology'due south certainly useable. This ways that she may try to equip 1-Handed weapons from her inventory instead of Two-Handed ones, even if the damage output of the Two-Handed weapon is higher. Every bit such, players should avoid having Mjoll hang onto Ane-Handed weapons.

4 J'zargo

The Khajiit mage from the College of Winterhold is 1 of the virtually colorful characters in Skyrim. His comical questline and his dialogue with the Dragonborn brand him one of the most memorable followers in Skyrim .

J'zargo is besides skilled in the usage of many spells, specially Destruction ones. He can bargain out decent magickal damage as well as heal the player if needed, making him a versatile and effective follower.

J'zargo'south Best Skills

No one will be surprised to learn that J'zargo's best skill is Destruction, however, he'due south actually got decent levels in all of the other schools of magic too. His Restoration, Amending, Illusion, and Conjuration are high-level plenty for J'zargo to utilise spells from all of them to decent result. Some of the more interesting spells that everyone'due south favorite Khajiit mage knows are Paralyze (Alteration) and Soul Trap (Agreeableness).

iii Cicero

The infamous jester from the Night Brotherhood can be recruited equally a follower if he is spared following the Dark Brotherhood questline'southward conclusion. Cicero has excellent Archery, Sneak, and One-Handed skills, along with proficiencies which brand him a decent follower if one needs to do some stealth.

Unfortunately, Cicero dances awkwardly on occasion to the discomfort of many players. His strange jokes also could make one grow weary of his company, so the jester's presence is very much an acquired sense of taste.

Cicero'due south Best Skills

Of course the mortiferous assassin Cicero has very high-level Sneak and 1-Handed skills, although, his Archery and Light Armor are most as high. Strangely, although his Alteration skill isn't high enough to exist noteworthy in combat, it'southward college than the residue of his unused skills. Perchance this jester has some hidden tricks up his sleeves in the form of less-used spells.

2 Serana

the campire indoors with hands on hips.

Easily the strongest out of Skyrim's humanoid followers, Serana possesses high levels in the Devastation, Conjuration, One-Handed, and Light Armor skills, making her very offensively versatile. Since she is a vampire, she also has access to spells unique to this sub-race, like the Vampiric Bleed spell, which she seems to enjoy using frequently.

Yet, Serana'southward greatest combat power is the exceptional necromancy skills that permit her to resurrect corpses to fight for her and the Dragonborn. She's practiced plenty in this surface area to even enhance higher-level bodies than other followers skilled in Conjuration.

Serana's Best Skills

Sneak is definitely Serana's highest-level skill, although her One-Handed and Light Armor skills are not far behind. A petty scrap lower is her Conjuration skill, though this is still far higher than her others. Serana'due south Destruction and Alteration skills are moderately leveled but are negligible compared to her height ones.

1 Flame Thrall

flame atronach in skyrim

Flame atronachs can exist fought at diverse points around the northern province and are often difficult foes who constantly unleash gouts of flame. They can besides exist summoned temporarily with Conjuration spells, though one, in particular, stands to a higher place the residue.

Flame Thrall is a Primary Conjuration spell that permanently summons a stronger version of the usual flame atronachs. This ways that this fiery marry will only disappear if it is banished by its master or is killed in combat. Since Flame Atronachs can exist resummoned, they are potentially the best follower in Skyrim if someone needs high amounts of fire impairment and a technically unkillable living torch.

Flame Thrall'south All-time Skills

As a summonable marry, the Flame Thrall does not have skills. However, they heavily utilize the Flame Cloak, Firebolt, and Flames spells, which are all from the Destruction school of magic.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is bachelor on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Serial X, and Xbox Series S.

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