Skyrim followers guide - How to get followers and where to find them
Become a Skyrim influencer
Skyrim followers are a lifesaver, often literally, but they take a fair bit of effort to recruit.
It’s more than worth the trouble, though. Followers aid you in battle, carry extra equipment, fill soul gems, and even marry you, in some cases. Others have unique quests associated with them that warrant the detour even without the extra benefits followers offer.
Skyrim followers - How to get followers in Skyrim
Skyrim divides followers into two types, NPC humanoid or creature followers, though each category has subsets of its own. Some humanoid followers join you after completing a quest, while others are mercenaries and only tag along if you shell out enough coin.
In general, you can only have on humanoid follower and one creature follower. It’s not clear just yet whether Skyrim Anniversary Edition
Skyrim followers - Faction followers
These belong to Skyrim’s various dominant groups, including The Circle and the Dark Brotherhood. Each has a quest you need to complete first, and, obviously, if you want to recruit them, you need to spare the follower in question should the option to kill them or side against them ever arise.
| Name | Max Level | Class | Location | Recruitment | Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brelyna Maryon | 30 | Mage | Hall of Attainment | Complete Brelyna's Practice quest | Yes |
| Onmund | 30 | Sorcerer | Hall of Attainment | Complete Onmund's Request quest | Yes |
| J'Zargo | N/A | Sorcerer | Hall of Attainment | Complete J'Zargo's Experiment quest | No |
| Athis | 25 | One-handed Warrior | Jorrvaskr | Complete Glory of the Dead | Yes |
| Aela the Huntress | 50 | Ranger | Jorrvaskr | Complete Glory of the Dead | Yes |
| Ria | 25 | One-handed Warrior | Jorrvaskr | Complete Glory of the Dead | Yes |
| Farkas | 50 | Blacksmith | Jorrvaskr | Complete Glory of the Dead | Yes |
| Njada Stonearm | 25 | Warrior | Jorrvaskr | Complete Glory of the Dead | Yes |
| Torvar | 25 | One-handed Warrior | Jorrvaskr | Complete Glory of the Dead | Yes |
| Vilkas | 50 | Two-handed Warrior | Jorrvaskr | Complete Glory of the Dead | Yes |
| Cicero | 50 | Assassin | Dawnstar Sanctuary | Complete all Dark Brotherhood quests | No |
| Ingjard | N/A | Two-handed Warrior | Fort Dawnguard | Complete A New Order | No |
| Agmaer | 25 | Bandit | Fort Dawnguard | Complete A New Order | No |
| Celann | N/A | One-handed Warrior | Fort Dawnguard | Complete A New Order | No |
| Beleval | 25 | Bandit | Fort Dawnguard | Complete A New Order | No |
| Durak | N/A | Ranger | Fort Dawnguard | Complete A New Order | No |
Skyrim followers - Housecarls
You’ll earn these followers after becoming thane in their respective region. Almost all of them are Nord Warriors, but the benefit is they have no moral qualms about committing crimes.
| Name | Max Level | Class | Location | Recruitment | Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordis the Sword-Maiden | N/A | Nord | Proudspire Manor | Become Thane of Haafingar | Yes |
| Argis the Bullwark | N/A | Nord | Vindrel Hall | Become Thane of Markarth | Yes |
| Calder | N/A | Nord | Hjerim, Windhelm | Become Thane of Eastmarch | Yes |
| Iona | N/A | Nord | Honeyside, Riften | Become Thane of the Rift | Yes |
| Lydia | N/A | Nord | Breezeholm | Become Thane of Whiterun | Yes |
| Valdimar | N/A | Nord | Highmoon Hall | Become Thane of Hjaalmarch | Yes |
| Rayya | N/A | Redguard | Jarl's Longhouse | Become Thane of Falkwreath | Yes |
Skyrim followers - Quest followers
Completing the quests associated with each of these characters unlocks the option to recruit them as followers, assuming they're still alive.
| Name | Max Level | Class | Location | Recruitment | Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaisa Vendicci | 25 | Citizen | East Empire Company | Complete Rise in the East | No |
| Annekke Crag-Jumper | 30 | Ranger | Darkwater Crossing | Complete Kill the Bandit Leader in Radiant | No |
| Aranea Ienith | 30 | Mage | Shrine of Azura | Complete the Black Star quest and side with Aranea | No |
| Eola | 30 | Nightblade | Hall of the Dead in Markarth | Aid Eola in The Taste of Death | No |
| Faendal | 30 | Thief | Riverwood | Help Faendal in the Lovely Letter quest | No |
| Golldir | 30 | One-handed Warrior | Hillgrund's Tomb | Help Golldir in Ancestral Worship | No |
| Illia | 40 | Mage | Darklight Tower | Help Illia in Repentance | No |
| Kharjo | 30 | Warrior | Ahkari's Khajiit Caravan | Find his amulet | No |
| Lob | 30 | One-handed Warrior | Largashbur | Complete The Cursed Tribe Daedric quest | No |
| Ogol | 30 | One-handed Warrior | Largashbur | Complete The Cursed Tribe Daedric quest | No |
| Ralis Sedarys | 60 | One-handed Rogue | Kolbjorn Barrow | Complete Unearthed, and let him live | No |
| Roggi Knot-Beard | 20 | Miner | Kynesgrove | Find his ancestral shield | Yes |
| Sven | 20 | Bard | Riverwood | Aid Sven in Lovely Letter | No |
| Ugor | 30 | Ranger | Largashbur | Complete The Cursed Tribe Daedric quest | No |
| Talvas Fathryon | 25 | Conjurer | Tel Mithryn | Complete From the Ashes | No |
| Ahtar | 30 | Two-handed Warrior | Castle Dour | Complete the Kill the Bandit Leader quest | No |
| Frea | N/A | One-handed Warrior | Skaal Village | Complete Fate of the Skaal | No |
| Mjoll the Lioness | 40 | Two-handed Warrior | Riften | Retrieve Grimsever for her | Yes |
| Serana | 50 | Vampire | Fort Dawnguard, Castle Volkihar | Complete Kindred Judgment | No |
| Erandur | 50 | Priest | Windpeak Inn | Let him live in Waking Nightmare | No |
Skyrim followers - Mercenary followers
Each mercenary follower charges 500 gold to recruit, but they stay with you until they die. Some are even marriage candidates.
| Name | Max Level | Class | Location | Recruitment | Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belrand | 40 | Spellsword | The Winking Skeever (Solitude) | Hire | Yes |
| Erik the Slayer | 40 | Barbarian | Frostfruit Inn (Rorikstead) | Hire | No |
| Jenassa | 40 | Ranger | The Drunken Hunstman (Whiterun) | Hire | Yes |
| Marcurio | 40 | Mage | Bee and Barb (Riften) | Hire | Yes |
| Stenvar | 40 | Two-handed Warrior | Candlehearth Hall (Windhelm) | Hire | Yes |
| Teldryn Sero | 40 | Spellsword | The Retching Netch (Raven Rock) | Hire | No |
| Vorstag | 40 | One-handed Warrior | Silver Blood Inn (Markarth) | Hire | Yes |
Skyrim followers - Other followers
Recruiting this next batch is a bit more difficult, since they each have a unique requirement.
| Name | Max Level | Class | Location | Recruitment | Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benor | 30 | Two-handed Warrior | Morthal | Defeat Benor in a brawl | Yes |
| Borgakh the Steel Heart | 30 | One-handed Warrior | Mor Khazgur | Pay her dowry | Yes |
| Cosnach | 30 | One-handed Warrior | Silver Blood Inn | Give him a drink or win in a brawl | Yes |
| Derkeethus | 30 | Ranger | Darkwater Pass | Rescue him | Yes |
| Ghorbash the Iron Hand | 30 | Ranger | Dushnikh Yal | Ask him to travel with you | Yes |
| Uthgerd the Unbroken | 30 | One-handed Warrior | The Bannered Mare (Whiterun) | Win in a Brawl | Yes |
Skyrim followers - Creature followers
These friendly critters follow you into battle, but they can’t carry equipment.
| Name | Type | Location | Recruitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armored Troll | Troll | Fort Dawnguard | Complete A New Order and pay 500 gold |
| Bran | Armored Dog | Fort Dawnguard | Complete A New Order |
| CuSith | Death Hound | Castle Volkihar | Complete The Bloodstone Chalice |
| Garmr | Death Hound | Castle Volkihar | Complete The Bloodstone Chalice |
| Meeko | Dog | Meeko's Shack (south of Solitude Sawmill) | N/A |
| Riekling | Riekling | Thirsk Mead Hall | Complete The Chief of Thirsk Mead Hall |
| Sceolang | Armored War Dog | Fort Dawnguard | Complete A New Order |
| Steadfast Dwarven Sphere | Dwarven Sphere | Kagrumez | During The Kagrumez Gauntlet |
| Steadfast Dwarven Spider | Dwarven Spider | Kagrumez | During The Kagrumez Gauntlet |
| Stray Dog | Dog | Often found with hunters | N/A |
| Vigilance | Dog | Markarth Stables | Acquire for 500 Gold |
A trusty companion is the perfect addition to one of the best Skyrim builds.
Or for more help, here's our full list of Skyrim guides.