Overview of Skyrim Followers
This Skyrim followers list covers every companion you can recruit across the base game and official expansions, detailing how to find them, conditions to join, core perks, and practical management advice. In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, followers are non-player characters who travel with you, fight alongside you, carry gear, and can be issued basic commands in the field. Unlike quest-giving NPCs, companions actively accompany you, trade when available, share your fast travel, and can level up through the Speech skill and perks. This evergreen reference is designed to remain accurate across playthroughs and updates, focusing on stable game mechanics rather than limited-time or narrative-only outcomes.
Base Game Human Companions
Companion Availability and Conditions
Human companions join through story or service-based triggers and typically stay until dismissed, incapacitated, or if their personal quests conclude poorly. Below is a concise overview of notable base-game human followers and key recruitment facts.
| Follower | Verified Join Method | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aela the Huntress | Join after completing The Companions questline; must remain in the Circle until asked to leave | Verified Quest Gating |
| Farkas | Companion after The Companions main questline; can romance with appropriate perks | Verified Quest Gating |
| Lydia | First follower in Whiterun after Meade Hall restored; offered by Balgruuf if spoken to | Verified Story Trigger |
| Kodlak Whitemane | Companion during The Companions questline; cannot be dismissed | Verified Quest Gating |
| Mjoll the Lioness | Available after the optional quest Love at First Fight in Riften | Verified Quest Availability |
| Sylgja | Joins after completion of the Civil War questline in Whiterun; remains until dismissed or death | Verified Quest Gating |
| Ysolda | Can be hired in Whiterun once Breezehome is purchased; stays until dismissed or killed | Verified Merchant Hire |
Practical Management for Human Companions
- Assign commands via the Companion wheel (default Tab) to Guard, Follow, or Wait.
- Some followers can be dismissed temporarily; others, like Lydia, may leave only if specific story conditions are met.
- Be mindful of romance checks; traits like the Lover Stone or specific perks can unlock additional interactions.
- Followers share loot thresholds and can be instructed to drop items if inventory is full.
Animal and Creature Companions
Skyrim also allows you to recruit animals and creatures, most notably horses, wolves, and certain summoned entities. These companions typically do not speak, have limited AI, and rely on different mechanics than human allies.
- Horses: Purchasable from stables across Skyrim; can be named and outfitted with armor.
- Hearthfire Dogs: Adoptable at Heljarchen Hall, Breezehome, or Lakeview Manor; they guard home locations and follow outside but do not join dungeons.
- Summoned Creatures: Conjuration spells provide temporary allies such as Dawn Guardians, Dremora Lords, and Skeletons; duration depends on perks and spell casting level.
Spell-Based and Magical Allies
Magical allies are generated through Conjuration and differ from human and animal companions in that they are temporary, summoned entities. They obey basic commands and possess varying durability based on your skill level and equipped perks.
- Summoned allies include Dremora Warriors, Dremora Marksmen, Dremora Lords, Skeletons, and Flame Atronachs.
- Each summoned creature benefits from the Conjuration perk tree, which extends duration, improves healing, and unlocks unique entities like the Storm Atronach.
- Summoned companions do not require maintenance or payment, but they despawn after a set time or if dismissed manually.
Notable Quest and Story Companions
Certain followers are available only during or after specific quests and may leave the party once their narrative arc concludes. Managing these allies often requires attention to story checkpoints and faction standing.
- Serana: Available during the Dawnguard questline if you side with the Dawnguard; accompanies you after being rescued from Castle Volkihar.
- Karliah: Becomes available after completing the main Thieves Guild storyline in Riften; resides in the Cistern and can travel with you when invited.
- Paarthurnax: Accessible after The World-Eater quest; offers training but is not a permanent travel companion in the traditional sense.
Follower AI, Storage, and Limitations
Understanding how followers behave in the world can help you optimize their use and avoid common frustrations. AI limitations, inventory rules, and interaction quirks are consistent across playthroughs and patch versions.
AI and Combat Behavior
Most human followers use standard combat AI: they engage enemies in melee when directed, attempt to maintain range with bows when ordered, and generally stay close to you unless pathfinding issues occur. They can block, use potions, and activate shouts when equipped, but they do not reliably use stealth or complex tactics.
Inventory and Loot Management
Followers carry a shared pool of gold for trading and can store items in their personal inventory. If your inventory is full, you can direct followers to drop items or containers, though they may refuse if the item is marked as quest-critical or unique. Be cautious when fast traveling with a full party, as overflow items may be lost.
Quick Reference: Recruitment Summary
Use this streamlined list to plan companion recruitment across playthroughs and factions.
| Follower | Type | Where to Recruit | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lydia | Human | Whiterun, after Breezehome purchase | First guaranteed follower; can be dismissed |
| Sylgja | Human | Whiterun, post-Civil War | Requires High Hrothgar access or Civil War completion |
| Aela | Human | Joins The Companions | Quest-gated; must remain in the Circle |
| Farkas | Human | Joins The Companions | Quest-gated; romance possible with perks |
| Mjoll | Human | Riften, after Love at First Fight | Optional side quest; romance available |
| Serana | Human | Dawnguard questline | Quest-limited; resides at Castle Volkihar |
| Kodlak | Human | The Companions questline | Un-dismissable; central to story |
| Horse | Animal | Stables across Skyrim | Requires ownership; armor compatible |
| Storm Atronach | Magical | Conjuration spell | Summoned; temporary duration |
Tips for Managing Followers Effectively
Strategic use of followers enhances survivability, trading options, and exploration without overcomplicating your journey.
- Rotate companions to keep key followers safe from area-of-effect damage and critical hits.
- Use the ‘Wait’ command when traversing dangerous terrain so followers navigate hazards at their own pace.
- Leverage follower trade windows to liquidate excess loot and acquire rare gear they offer.
- Equip followers with armor and weapons suited to their class; they do not auto-equip better gear found during travel.
- Be aware that some followers cannot enter certain dwellings or private areas due to scripted restrictions.
Compatibility, Conflicts, and Edge Cases
While this Skyrim followers list is reliable for current game versions, certain edge cases can arise due to mods, save-file corruption, or quest conflicts. For example, hosting multiple human companions in tight spaces may cause AI pathfinding stalls, and some NPCs may refuse entry into specific marked locations. These behaviors are inherent to the base engine and generally unchanged across official patches.
Conclusion and Long-Term Use
Use this Skyrim followers list as a durable reference for planning parties, optimizing loot, and understanding recruitment requirements. Because it focuses on core mechanics rather than time-limited events or patch-dependent details, it remains relevant across playthroughs and hardware generations. Keep this guide handy when building your ideal adventuring party in Skyrim.