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How to Find and Use Highly Rated Followers in Skyrim for Every Playstyle
In Skyrim, you are typically limited to one humanoid NPC follower and one creature follower (such as a dog or an Anniversary Edition pet) at any given time. However, you can temporarily exceed this limit by keeping "Quest Followers" active—NPCs who follow you until a specific objective is completed. By strategically delaying quest turn-ins, you can effectively lead a small squad of companions across the province.
As of late 2026, the community's understanding of Skyrim's companion system has reached a peak of technical precision. Whether you are playing the original 2011 release, the Special Edition, or the content-rich Anniversary Edition, followers remain a cornerstone of the experience. They serve as more than just pack mules; they are tactical assets that can fundamentally change how you approach the game's highest difficulties.
How the Follower System Works in Skyrim
Recruiting a companion is often the first major milestone for a new Dragonborn. The system is divided into several categories based on how the NPC is recruited and their legal status within the game world. Understanding these nuances is essential for keeping your allies alive and maximizing their utility.
How to Recruit Different Types of Companions
Recruitment generally falls into three primary categories, according to the Official UESP documentation :
- Mercenaries (Hirelings): These are found in taverns across Skyrim. For a flat fee of 500 gold, they will follow you indefinitely. They are often highly competent in combat and scale well with the player.
- Housecarls: Upon becoming a Thane of a hold, the Jarl will assign you a Housecarl (like Lydia or Jordis the Sword-Maiden). These are loyal warriors who also act as stewards for your properties.
- Faction Followers: Completing questlines for groups like the Companions, the College of Winterhold, or the Dark Brotherhood unlocks specialized followers with unique skill sets.
Image source: TheGamer
Understanding the Difference Between Protected and Essential Status
A common misconception involves the mortality of followers. Most followers, including the famous Lydia, are Protected . This means that when their health reaches zero, they enter a "bleed-out" state where enemies stop attacking them. However, if the player accidentally hits them with a stray arrow or spell during this state, they will die permanently.
In contrast, Essential followers cannot die under any circumstances. They will simply take a knee for a few seconds and then get back into the fight. If you tend to use large area-of-effect spells like Fireball, choosing an Essential follower is a wise strategic move. Notable Essential followers include Mjoll the Lioness, Serana, and Cicero.
How Follower Leveling and Level Caps Work
Most followers in the vanilla game have a level cap, typically stopping at level 30 or 50. This means that as you reach level 80+, some early-game followers may begin to feel fragile. However, several NPCs were updated in later patches to have no level cap at all, meaning they will continue to grow in strength alongside the Dragonborn forever.
According to Fandom Wiki data , the "No-Cap" exceptions include J'zargo, Frea, Durak, Celann, Ingjard, and the Dark Brotherhood Initiates. These characters are widely regarded as the strongest late-game options due to their infinite scaling.
Who Are the Top Rated Followers in Skyrim?
Choosing a companion often depends on your current level and combat needs. While many NPCs are viable, a few stand out for their unique abilities, high level caps, or Essential status. The following table compares some of the most popular choices in the current meta.
| Name | Level Cap | Style | Status | Recruitment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serana | 50 | Necromancy/Magic | Essential | Dawnguard Questline |
| J'zargo | None | Destruction Magic | Protected | College of Winterhold |
| Frea | None | Dual-Wield/Restoration | Essential | Dragonborn DLC |
| Mjoll the Lioness | 40 | Heavy Armor/Two-Handed | Essential | Riften (Grimsever Quest) |
| Cicero | 50 | Sneak/One-Handed | Essential | Dark Brotherhood |
Why Serana and Frea Dominate the Late Game
Serana is frequently cited as a top-tier choice because of her advanced AI and unique necromancy spells. She can resurrect fallen enemies to fight for you, effectively turning a 2-person party into a 3-person squad. Furthermore, her Essential status makes her a reliable tank even when facing Elder Dragons.
Frea, found in the Dragonborn DLC, is equally impressive. She is one of the few followers who can dual-wield weapons effectively and has access to high-level Restoration spells to keep herself in the fight. Because she has no level cap, she remains a powerhouse even when the player reaches level 100 and beyond.
Image source: ScreenRant
How to Maximize Follower Damage on Legendary Difficulty
For players seeking the ultimate challenge, Legendary difficulty presents a unique mathematical hurdle. On this setting, the player deals only 0.25x damage and takes 3x damage. However, a little-known "loophole" makes followers significantly more effective than the player in these conditions.
The Legendary Difficulty Loophole Explained
Because of this scaling, many veteran players adopt a "Commander" playstyle on Legendary. Instead of trying to be the primary damage dealer, the player focuses on Illusion spells (to buff the follower), Restoration (to heal them), and Alteration (to provide crowd control). By letting an Essential follower like Mjoll or Frea take the lead, you can clear rooms that would be impossible to handle alone.
Top Rated Tank Followers to Draw Aggro
If you are playing a fragile Mage or Archer on high difficulty, you need a "Meat Shield." Followers with high Heavy Armor and Block skills are ideal for this. Vilkas from the Companions and Stenvar (a mercenary in Windhelm) are excellent choices. They possess high health pools and aggressive AI that prioritizes getting in the face of enemies, allowing you to stay at a safe distance.
Top Rated Follower Synergies for Your Character Build
The "best" follower is often the one that covers your character's weaknesses. A balanced party is much more effective than two characters trying to do the same thing.
The Best Companions for Mages
Mages are often "glass cannons"—high damage but low survivability. A melee-focused follower is a top-tier choice here. Look for Housecarls like Lydia or Argis the Bulwark . Their job is to stand between you and the Draugr Death Overlord while you charge up your Master-level spells. Giving them a shield with Magic Resistance enchantments will help them survive your own accidental friendly fire.
The Best Companions for Stealth and Assassins
Stealth builds require a specific type of follower. Most NPCs have a "Morality" stat that dictates whether they will commit crimes. If you are an assassin, you want a follower with a Morality of 0. Cicero and the Dark Brotherhood Initiates are perfect because they will never report you for murder or theft. Additionally, they have high Sneak skills, meaning they are less likely to trigger pressure plates or alert guards while you are crouching in the shadows.
The Best Companions for Archers and Snipers
If you are an archer, you want someone who can keep enemies at a distance. Faendal in Riverwood is a popular early-game choice, not just for his archery, but for a famous exploit. You can pay him for Archery training and then immediately trade with him to take your gold back, allowing you to reach level 50 Archery for free within the first hour of gameplay.
Anniversary Edition and Creation Club Companions
The 2021 Anniversary Edition introduced several new mechanics that expanded the follower system, most notably the "Creature" slot. These pets do not count toward your NPC limit, allowing you to travel with a human ally and a magical beast simultaneously.
How to Use the Creature Slot Effectively
The Pets of Skyrim creation adds several animals like Hilda the Goat and Skritch the Rat . While they aren't heavy hitters in combat, they offer immense utility. Hilda, for example, can carry up to 140 units of weight, effectively acting as a mobile chest. You can also "teleport" these pets to your location using a spell, making them a highly efficient way to manage loot in deep dungeons.
The Goblin Follower and Elite Creations
One of the most impactful additions is Gogh , the Goblin follower from the Goblins creation. Gogh is unique because he can summon a Storm Atronach in battle. This means that with Gogh and a standard NPC follower, you can have a four-unit party (Player + Follower + Gogh + Atronach) without using any mods. This setup provides a significant advantage in the early-to-mid game.
How to Manage Follower Inventory and Equipment
Followers have a hidden carry weight limit, but there are ways to bypass this and ensure they are always wearing the most effective gear available.
Bypassing the Carry Capacity Limit
What Gear Will Your Follower Actually Wear?
Followers follow a strict logic for equipment: they will only wear an item if its base armor rating or damage is higher than their default gear. This can be frustrating if you want them to wear "cool" but weaker armor. To fix this, you often need to enchant the gear to significantly boost its stats. Additionally, followers have infinite use of Torches and Staves , making them excellent light sources and secondary spellcasters if you give them the right tools.
What to Do When Your Follower Goes Missing or Breaks
Skyrim is a complex game, and followers frequently get stuck on terrain or disappear after a fast-travel. Fortunately, there are several reliable ways to recover them.
Fixing the Serana Hood Bug and Inventory Issues
Serana has a notorious bug where she spawns a new "invisible" hood every time she enters a sunlit area. Over time, these hoods accumulate in her inventory, taking up all her carry weight. If Serana suddenly refuses to carry even a single iron dagger, this is likely the cause. On consoles, the only way to fix this without mods is to occasionally trade with her and see if the hoods become visible, or to use the "Pick it Up" command mentioned earlier to bypass the limit entirely.
The Wabbajack Stat Reset Trick
In older versions of the game, followers would sometimes stop leveling up with the player. If you suspect your follower is too weak, you can use the Wabbajack (the Daedric artifact from Sheogorath). Save your game, then blast your follower with the Wabbajack until they transform into a chicken or rabbit. When the effect wears off and they return to human form, the game will force their stats to recalculate based on your current level.
Frequently Asked Questions
By default, you can have one humanoid NPC and one creature (like a dog or pet). However, you can increase this number by using "Quest Followers" who stay with you until their specific quest is finished. With the Anniversary Edition, you can also have multiple pets following you if they are from different "slots."
Yes, most followers level up alongside the player, but many have a "cap" where they stop growing (usually level 30 or 50). A few special followers, like J'zargo and Frea, have no level cap and will continue to get stronger as long as you do.
Cicero or the Dark Brotherhood Initiates are widely considered the best for stealth. They have high Sneak skills and a "Morality" score of 0, meaning they will commit any crime without hesitation and won't alert guards as easily as a heavy-armored Housecarl would.
Many followers are eligible for marriage if you wear the Amulet of Mara and have completed their personal quest or favor. Marriage provides benefits like a daily home-cooked meal (which boosts regeneration) and a share of the profits from their "store."
This usually happens for one of three reasons: you accidentally told them to "Wait" and forgot where they are, you started a quest that forced a specific NPC into your follower slot, or they died in combat. If they are just stuck, waiting 3 days in-game usually resets them.
Key Takeaways for Managing Skyrim Followers
- Check level caps before committing to a long-term companion; J'zargo and Frea are the strongest for high-level play.
- Utilize the "Creature" slot provided by Anniversary Edition pets to gain extra carry weight without losing your NPC ally.
- Leverage the Legendary loophole by letting your followers deal 100% damage while you focus on support and buffs.
- Use the "Command" menu to bypass carry limits by telling followers to pick items up off the ground.
- Prioritize Essential followers like Mjoll or Serana if you frequently use area-of-effect spells to avoid accidental permanent deaths.
- Apply the 3-Day Wait rule whenever a follower goes missing to force them to return to their home base.
For your next session, try recruiting Mjoll the Lioness in Riften to experience the benefits of a truly unkillable tank in your party.
