Summary
The ability to have AI-controlled companions has been a nice feature in many of theElder Scrollsgames. They not only help to stave off loneliness in the sometimes bleak and cold world ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimbut also carry the burdens of traveling alongside the player, both figuratively and literally.Skyrimis a diverse land with many adventurers seeking knowledge, power, and riches. In their search, some mayalign themselves with the Dragonborn, although not all followers are made equal.
Some followers lack the necessary qualities to be genuinely useful, acting as baggage. Others, however, can be stalwart shields, deadly damage dealers, or supportive healers. The question of which NPCs are thebest followers inSkyrimthat players should seek out can be hard to answer, especially with players having their own subjective preferences. However, for the most part, players should be in good hands if they choose certain companions who boast diverse skill sets and can tackle most battles without breaking into too much of a sweat.
Updated August 05, 2025, by Hamza Haq:One of the most straightforward ways to make the Skyrim experience easier is by recruiting followers to not only fight in battles but also act as makeshift mules to accompany the Dragonborn wherever they go. That said, followers without an engaging personality and good dialogue are hard to stomach as permanent companions. This is the stick by which most players measure followers in Skyrim, and that hasn’t changed over the years.
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For a price, players who have theDawnguardDLC can hire an armored troll or armored frost troll as a follower from Fort Dawnguard after a certain part of the DLC questline has been completed. These brutes may not be capable of conversation, sneaking, or interacting with humanoid NPCs, but they sure do pack a punch in combat.
Usually, facing off against a troll is tedious due to their great health regeneration. Witha troll for a companion, however, players can have that very same trait on their side through a bestial companion reinforced with armor on top of an already resilient hide.
Armored Troll’s Best Skills
The Armored Troll does not have skills like a humanoid character; however, they pack a mean set of basic melee attacks - as one would expect from a troll. Their armor also makes them pretty tanky and able to continue their fierce rampage.
Class
Sorcerer
The College of Winterhold makes for a fun area to get lost in, even if players don’t need to be all that adept at casting magic to be accepted by this school. Regardless, players can bond with their fellow students here and embark on some fun adventures as they slowly uncover the corruption at work.
There are many students that players can team up with, exploring the world to their heart’s content with these companions in tow. One such character is Onmund, who is indebted to the player after they recover their amulet for this student.
Onmund’s Best Skills
Onmund specializes in Destruction magic of the lightning variety, making him a useful asset against enemies that are weak against this element. He prefers to keep his range, making him the perfect partner for the Dragonborn while they get up close and personal with their enemies.
Ranger
A follower who can be recruited in Whiterun, Jenassa is a mysterious and bloodthirsty character. The Dragonborn is almost compelled to have one eye on her at all times if they choose to take her on as a follower.
While not an outright warrior, Jenassa is still pretty effective in battle. She specializes in moredextrous and lightweight equipmentwhile fighting, making her quite rogue-ish in her approach to combat.
Jenassa’s Best Skills
Jenassa’s skills are well-developed when it comes toArchery, Light Armor, One-Handed, Block, and Sneak. She can use light armor to great effect and dance around enemies with her attacks.
Thief
Faendal is likely the very first follower players will encounter inSkyrimbut he is by no means a slouch. A Bosmer Archer, Faendal can be recruited by completing the quest"A Lovely Letter,“which involves the love triangle between him, Camilla, and Sven. Which side players choose in this conflict doesn’t really matter as far as Faendal as a follower is concerned because he will choose to offer his services to the Dragonborn regardless of the outcome.
Faendal is a bow-wielder first and foremost and shines when allowed to keep his distance from the enemy and snipe from afar. He is most useful in forests and other open-world combat encounters but struggles inside dungeons because he can rarely get a good angle to consistently keep firing arrows. He is at his best in the early game but holds his own up till level 30, where he starts to fall off.
Faendal’s Best Skills
Archeryis by far Faendal’s best skill and is what allows him to remain competitive with other followers up til the mid-game. Despite how early he can be recruited, giving him powerful bows like Auriel’s Bow and Nightingale Bow means he can always serve as long-range support for the Dragonborn. He is also decently proficient inSneakandLight Armor.
Warrior
Ahtar is one of the most intimidating NPCs inSkyrimplayers can encounter during their travels. This executioner is cold-blooded, and it’s only fitting that the quest he gives players involves hunting down a bandit leader who escaped his grasp. Players will have to track down and kill Captain Hargar to gain Ahtar’s approval.
Following this, players can recruit one of thebest followers inSkyrimto aid them during their travels. This Redguard hits like a truck, as one would expect from a warrior race that loves to use large weapons to bring down their foes in style.
Ahtar’s Best Skills
This executioner specializes inHeavy Armor, Two-handed, Archery,andBlock. This makes Ahtar a great tank to absorb damage, especially if the Dragonborn loves to use ranged attacks to incapacitate their opposition.
Mage
Darklight Tower is a unique area that players can encounter during their travels. This fort has many hagravens, making it a tough place for low-level Dragonborn to explore. However, doing so is worthwhile since players will encounter one of thebest followers inSkyrimif they want a mage to accompany them during their travels.
The quest that players must complete to recruit Illia is pretty dark. Her mother wants to sacrifice a human and become a hagraven, which doesn’t sit right with her daughter. So, she asks for a favor and tasks the Dragonborn with killing her, which can be pretty harrowing. Still, going through this ordeal is worthwhile for players who want to enjoy the services of Illia as a follower.
Illia’s Best Skills
Illia is a master of theDestruction, Restoration, Alteration,andConjurationspell trees. This makes her a great mage and is a perfect companion for a Dragonborn who loves jumping into the action with their melee build.
Dawnguardis a great piece of DLC that adds a ton of fun content toSkyrim. The eponymous factionfights against the vampiresthat are swarming the land and will happily help the player if they choose to fight against the vampires, too.
One of the members of the Dawnguard who can become the Dragonborn’s follower is Ingjard. Surprisingly enough, she’ll still accompany the player even if they happen to be a vampire themselves.
Ingjard’s Best Skills
Ingjard is a warrior who has all the major bases covered. She excels inHeavy Armor, Two-Handed, Block, and Archery, making her a strong asset in any combat situation.
Orc Warrior
Owing to their small population in the Nordic lands ofSkyrim, there are very few Orc followers in the game, and Borgakh the Steel Heart is among the most memorable. Found in the Orc Stronghold of Mor Khazgur, the Dragonborn will find her just about to be sent off to be married to an Orc from another tribe.
Who her future spouse will be is up to the Chieftain to decide, and she will have no say in it. To recruit her as a follower, players will have to pay off her dowry to the Chieftain and ask her to accompany them instead, which she will happily do.
Borgakh the Steel Heart’s Best Skills
Like most Orcs, Borgakh is a fearsome warrior, wielding aswordandshieldas her primary armaments. She likes to stay up close and personal with enemies and can easily serve as a tank if the need arises. Surprisingly, she is also an adept hand atSneaking, which allows her to accompany the Dragonborn even on stealth missions without raising a ruckus.
Warrior Shaman
Solstheim opens up a whole new cast of followers to recruit for the Dragonborn, and Frea is one of the better options. She is a Skaal Shaman tasked with upholding the traditions of the Skaal people, a Nordic society that worships the All-Maker.
With Miraak infecting the minds of the residents of Skaal Village, Frea can be recruited only after Miraak is finally brought low and her people are freed of his influence once and for all. Best of all, she is one of the few followers in the game who does not have a level cap and can keep increasing her battle prowess alongside the Dragonborn as long as she keeps gaining experience.
Frea’s Best Skills
Frea is a brawler, first and foremost, preferring to wield dual axes in both her hands to dish out damage. She can wear bothHeavyandLight Armorand is equally proficient in both. Due to her aggressive AI, she likes to be accompanied by active party members who can take advantage of the mayhem she creates in a fight.
Elemental Mage
Aranea Ienith is a devout priestess of Azura, who players will encounter for the first time at the infamous Shrine of Azura. Recruiting her as a follower is contingent on which choice players make during the side quest “The Black Star.” Only if they opt to go the ‘good’ route andchoose the Azura’s Starartifact instead of ‘The Black Star’ will Arane agree to become a follower to aid them in battle.
Since this quest is typically undertaken quite late into the game because of how far it is from the starting location, players may find themselves over-leveled by the time they manage to fulfill the requirements to recruit Aranea. Her level matches the player’s when she becomes a follower, but she can only go up to level 30, making her only suitable in the mid-game. That said, Aranea is one of the strongest destruction mages in the game, with the ability to summon Flame and Frost Atronachs on top of that. She can be a huge help if recruited at the right time.
Aranea Ienith’s Best Skills
Aranea is a pure mage character. She is most proficient inDestructionandConjuration, with a minor mastery inAlterationandRestorationas well. She has access to Fast Healing, which she can use to self-heal quite efficiently, and Stoneflesh, which boosts her armor rating. She’s fond of summoning Flame Atronachs at the start of a battle and remaining at range to throw elemental spells from a distance.
