Skip to Content

Best Followers in Skyrim Ranked List

Best Followers in Skyrim Ranked List

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you can recruit NPCs to follow you while exploring. Followers will perform tasks, carry equipment, and fight by your side, whether you unlock them by completing quests or paying for their services. 

There are a total of 71 creatures and NPCs available as followers in Skyrim. In Skyrim Anniversary Edition, the number of followers available for recruiting increases to 86.

Based on attributes, fighting style, and other benefits, who’s the best follower in Skyrim?

There are only 5 followers that will continue to level up with the player: J’zargo, Celann, Durak, Ingjard, and Frea. J’zargo from the College of Winterhold offers the best advantages to the player in Skyrim in fighting style and attributes.

The Khajit NPC is the only follower from this list who continues increasing all three attributes with each level. In addition to this, J’zargo is flagged with a moral value of 0, meaning that they’re willing to perform any crime under the Dragonborn’s command.

However, if the player has installed the Unofficial Skyrim Patch, Frea will offer better stats since J’zargo will cap at level 30 like the rest of the College of Winterhold followers. Frea is available as a follower after the Dragonborn DLC’s main questline is complete.

Skyrim Battle

Who is the Best Follower in Skyrim?

In this article, we’ve chosen the 10 best followers in Skyrim based on their fighting style, level scaling, and additional perks boosting their skills.

FollowerFighting StyleMaximum LevelPerks
J’zargoMageSame as playerNone
FreaOne-HandedSame as playerCritical Shot (rank 1)
Custom Fit
Dual Flurry (rank 2) Fighting Stance
Hack and Slash (rank 2)
Mage Armor (rank 2)
Magic Resistance (rank 2)
Recovery (rank 1)
Regeneration
Savage Strike
SeranaVampire50Augmented Frost (rank 1)
Bladesman (rank 1) Custom Fit
Fighting Stance
Hack and Slash (rank 1)
Magic Resistance (rank 1)
Necromancy
Teldryn SeroOne-Handed60Adept DestructionAgile Defender (rank 3)
Armsman (rank 3)
Atromancy
Augmented Flames (rank 1)
Bladesman (rank 1)
Custom Fit
Fighting Stance
CiceroOne-Handed50None
DurakArcherySame as playerCritical Shot (rank 1)
Custom Fit
Extra Damage 1.5
Fighting Stance
Hack and Slash
CelannOne-HandedSame as playerBladesman (rank 1)
Champion’s Stance
Custom Fit
Extra Damage 1.5
Fighting Stance
Hack and Slash
IngjardTwo-HandedSame as playerNone
IlliaMage50None
FarkasOne-Handed50None

10. Farkas

Farkas is a member of The Companions in Whiterun, available after the Dragonborn completes the faction’s questline. His health and stamina will scale with the player, but he can reach a maximum level of 50.

He prioritizes One-Handed weapons and, given his position as a member of the Companions’ inner circle, he can also turn into a werewolf.

Farkas can also offer Master training in Heavy Armor.

9. Illia

Illia is found in the Darklight Tower, located southwest of Riften, where you must complete the Repentance quest to unlock her as a follower.

As a mage, Illia relies on Destruction spells as a primary skill, however, the player can still equip her with one-handed weapons and shields. Her leveling maxes out at 50.

8. Ingjard

Ingjard is added to the game as part of the Dawnguard DLC, specializing in Two-Handed and Heavy Armor.

She will be available as a follower while completing the Prophet quest when siding with the Dawngard, and can also become your personal steward for any of your homesteads.

Unlike the other Dawnguard followers available, Ingjard doesn’t have additional perks.

7. Celann

Celann is part of the Dawnguard DLC and prioritizes Heavy Armor and ranged weapons. He will also attack with One-Handed weapons in close combat.

His Health and Stamina will continue to scale with the player, and like other followers from the Dawnguard, he has perks that boost his main skills.

6. Durak

Durak is an NPC found in Fort Dawnguard that prioritizes Archery during fights and specializes in Light Armor, Block, and One-Handed.

Durak has 5 fighting perks that boost his Archery and One-Handed skills, and his Health and Stamina attributes will scale with the player’s level.

5. Cicero

Cicero prioritizes one-handed weapons and light armor as part of their bandit build. He specializes in One-Handed, Sneak, Archery, and Light Armor.

The player encounters Cicero during the Dark Brotherhood questline, where they will eventually have to decide on whether to spare his life or kill him during The Cure for Madness quest. He can also serve as a steward for the Dragonborn.

Cicero will only scale up to level 50 as a follower.

4. Teldryn Sero

Teldryn Sero prioritizes One-Handed and Destruction spells for battle, and he has 8 perks boosting his fighting skills. The player can find him in the Retching Netch in Raven Rock and hire him for 500 gold.

Like J’zargo, Teldryn Sero will perform any crime as a follower. However, his attributes don’t scale as the player levels up, and his maximum level caps at 60.

Skyrim Serana Dialogue Options
Skyrim Serana Dialogue Options

3. Serana

Serana is arguably a highly popular follower in Skyrim due to her powerful fighting skills as a vampire, being able to scale with the player until level 50. Aside from using the vampire-exclusive skills, Serana resurrects corpses for a battle to fight for her and the Dragonborn.

The player can choose Serana as their follower after the Dawnguard questline, although the game will have her follow you through specific quests.

2. Frea

Frea is available through the Dragonborn DLC where you’ll first encounter her in The Temple of Miraak once you’ve triggered the main quest in Solstheim. Compared to other NPCs, she has perks that improve her fighting abilities, but her attributes won’t scale as the player levels up.

In addition to this, Frea won’t commit any crimes as a follower.

Frea will also have unique dialogues with some situations and environments and will become a forced follower during The Temple of Miraak quest.

1. J’zargo

J’zargo is arguably the best follower in Skyrim due to his strong fighting skills, willingness to perform crimes, and how easy it is for the Dragonborn to unlock him as a follower.

J’zargo is a mage found in the College of Winterhold who prioritizes Destruction spells for combat and can wear Light Armor gear if the player leaves it in its inventory. He prioritizes shock spells and can summon wards for self-defense.

The Dragonborn must enroll with the College of Winterhold and complete J’zargo’s Experiment quest to unlock him as a follower. In contrast to other followers, all three attributes will continue to increase as the player levels up.

If the player has installed the Unofficial Skyrim Patch, J’zargo will have a maximum level of 30.

Who Is the Most Interesting Follower in Skyrim?

Serana and Frea offer the most interesting dialogue options and interactions for the player, since they’re essential NPCs to the Dawnguard and Dragonborn DLC questline, respectively. This means that they will become forced followers of the player in specific quests.

After these main storylines are complete, Serana and Frea can become followers of the player. 

Who Is the Best Mage Follower in Skyrim?

J’zargo is one of the best mage followers in Skyrim given how he’s able to continue leveling up alongside the player and uses shock Destruction spells, decreasing the target’s Stamina.

Another strong option is Illia, who uses frost Destruction spells, causing significant area damage to enemies, although her usefulness can be reduced after level 50 due to her level cap. 

Who Is the Best Tank Follower in Skyrim?

Celann prioritizes Heavy Armor and will level up alongside the player, so it’s advisable to equip him with stronger gear in order to increase his resistance in combat.

Vilkas and Farkas are two followers in the Companions that will also prioritize Heavy Armor, but both have a maximum level of 50.

Illia Follower Skyrim
Illia Follower Skyrim

Who Is the Best Trainer Follower in Skyrim?

The following list includes all candidate followers who can also offer skill training. These NPCs will still require payments for their training services, but the player can look into their inventory and take back the gold. 

NameLocationTraining
Aela the HuntressJorrvaskr, WhiterunExpert Archery
AthisJorrvaskr, WhiterunExpert One-Handed
FaendalRiverwoodCommon Archery
FarkasJorrvaskr, WhiterunMaster Heavy Armor
Njada StonearmJorrvaskr, WhiterunExpert Block
Talvas FathryonSolstheimMaster Conjuration
VilkasJorrvaskr, WhiterunMaster Two-Handed

All Skyrim Followers

We’ve listed all followers in Skyrim whose maximum level is at least 30. The list won’t include all new followers added by the Anniversary Update and also excludes creatures that can function as followers. 

NameFighting StyleLocationRequirementsOther notes
Aela the HuntressArcheryJorrvaskr, WhiterunComplete the Companion’s questlineMarriage candidate

Steward candidate

Expert Archery trainer
AhtarTwo-HandedSolitude
Annekke Crag-JumperArcheryDarkwater CrossingSteward candidate
Aranea IenithMageShrine of Azura, WinterholdComplete The Black Star in her favor
Argis the BulwarkOne-HandedMarkarthBecome Thane of the ReachMarriage candidate
BelrandSpellswordWinking Skeever, SolitudeHire for 500 goldMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
BenorTwo-HandedMorthalWin a brawl against himMarriage candidate
Borgakh the Steel HeartOne-HandedMor Khazgur StrongholdPay her dowry or pass a Speech checkMarriage candidate
Brelyna MaryonMageCollege of WinterholdEnroll in the College of Winterhold

Complete the quest Brelyna’s Practice
Marriage candidate

Steward candidate
CalderOne-HandedWindhelmBecome Thane of EastmarchMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
CelannOne-HandedFort Dawnguard, Dawnguard DLCSide with the Dawnguard

Complete the Prophet quest
Steward candidate
CiceroOne-HandedDark Brotherhood SanctuaryComplete the Dark Brotherhood’s quest line

Spare his life during The Cure for Madness quest
CosnachOne-HandedMarkarthGive him a drink or win a brawl against himMarriage candidate
DerkeethusArcheryDarkwater PassComplete Extracting an Argonian questMarriage candidate
DurakArcheryFort Dawnguard, Dawnguard DLCSide with the Dawnguard

Complete the Prophet quest
Steward candidate
EolaMageHall of the Dead, MarkarthComplete The Taste of Death questSteward candidate
ErandurMageDawnstarComplete Waking Nightmare in his favor
Erik the SlayerTwo-HandedRoriksteadHire for 500 goldSteward candidate
FaendalArcheryRiverwoodComplete A Lovely Letter in his favorSteward candidate

Common Archery trainer.
FarkasOne-HandedJorrvaskr in WhiterunComplete the Companion’s quest lineMarriage candidate

Steward candidate

Master Heavy Armor trainer
FreaOne-HandedSkaal Village, Solstheim from Dragonborn DLCComplete Dragonborn’s DLC main quest line

Pass Speech check
Will join as a follower in several Dragonborn DLC quests
Ghorbash the Iron HandArcheryDushnikh Yal StrongholdPass Spell checkMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
GolldirOne-HandedHillgrund’s Tomb, WindhelmComplete Ancestral Worship questSteward candidate
GregorOne-HandedDawnstarBecome Thane of the PaleMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
IlliaMageDarklight Tower, RiftenComplete Repentance questSteward candidate
IngjardTwo-HandedFort Dawnguard, Dawnguard DLCSide with the Dawnguard

Complete the Prophet quest
Steward candidate
IonaOne-HandedRiftenBecome Thane of the RiftMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
J’zargoMageCollege of WinterholdEnroll in the College of Winterhold

Complete the quest J’zargo’s Experiment
JenassaArcheryDrunken Huntsman, WhiterunHire for 500 goldMarriage candidate
Jordis the Sword-MaidenOne-HandedSolitudeBecome Thane of HaafingarMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
KharjoOne-HandedAhkari’s Khajiit caravanComplete Amulet of the Moon quest
LobArcheryLargashbur StrongholdComplete The Cursed Tribe questSteward candidate
LydiaOne-HandedWhiterunComplete Dragon Rising questMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
MarcurioMageThe Bee and Barb, RiftenHire for 500 goldMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
Mjoll the LionessTwo-HandedRiftenComplete Grimsever’s Return questMarriage candidate
OgolOne-HandedLargashbur StrongholdComplete The Cursed Tribe questSteward candidate
OnmundMageCollege of WinterholdEnroll in the College of Winterhold

Complete the quest Onmund’s Request
Marriage candidate

Steward candidate
Ralis SedarysOne-HandedKolbjorn Barrow, Solstheim from Dragonborn DLCComplete Unearthed quest
RayyaOne-HandedFalkreathBecome Thane of HaafingarMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
SeranaVampireStart the Prophet questWill join as a follower in several Dawnguard DLC quests
StenvarTwo-HandedWindhelmHire for 500 goldMarriage candidate
Teldryn SeroOne-HandedRaven Rock, Solstheim from Dragonborn DLCHire for 500 gold
UgorArcheryLargashbur StrongholdComplete The Cursed Tribe quest
Uthgerd the UnbrokenOne-HandedThe Bannered Mare, WhiterunWin a brawl against herMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
ValdimarSpellswordMorthalBecome Thane of HaafingarMarriage candidate

Steward candidate
VilkasTwo-HandedJorrvaskr, WhiterunComplete the Companion’s quest lineMarriage candidate

Steward candidate

Master Two-handed trainer
VorstagOne-HandedSilver-Blood Inn, MarkarthHire for 500 goldMarriage candidate
Dialogue Option Skyrim Follower-1
Dialogue Option Skyrim Follower-1

See more: