Followers | Listings TES V: Skyrim Guide
Last update: 11 December 2019
This page of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim World Atlas includes the list of companions. You will learn where each potential companion is, and how to recruit him or her. In addition, we describe possible temporary allies that can help in certain moments of the game.
Basic information
Your followers can be divided into four categories:
1) Normal followers - This group consists of people that after joining the team remain as its members for good and the only way to leave them is by ordering them to go away. People from this group can be given simple orders and they can also can receive items from the main character. More information on this group can be found below.
2) Temporary allies - This group consists of people that join the team for a limited period of time. This mostly occurs when completing quests and in these cases you can count on having an additional ally until the quest has ended (without being given a chance to ask that person to join the main character to take part in future journeys).
3) Animals - Dogs and horses are in this category. Horses don't take part in any battles and the only exception to that rule is a horse named Shadowmere (more information on that animal can be found in the Hints chapter). As for the dogs, they act in a similar way to normal follower, so they follow the main character wherever he goes and they take full part in battles. It's worth knowing that they're counted separately, so by adding a dog to your team you don't have to send away the human follower.
4) Allies summoned or resurrected using magic - This group consists mostly of atronachs and dremora summoned to the battlefield with the help of certain spells, however you can also add the undead to your team thanks to necromancy. The number and the strength of magical followers depends entirely on the main character and what spells he used, however it's worth knowing that you can have more than one ally and that some of the magical creatures you've summoned can remain on the battlefield for good.
I strongly recommend that you always work on improving the strength of your team and that you always try to have as many followers as possible. This is very important especially if you're playing as a thief and as a mage and can't handle yourself on your own. Having allies can make the game easier, because they often distract enemies from the main character.
As I've already mentioned, normal companions follow the main character wherever he goes and you can have a limited control over them. This is achieved by initiating a conversation with an ally and choosing a dialogue option from the list (screen above). Notice that you can order your follower to remain where they are, to do something (you must point the person to a place or to an object) and to take some of the carried equipment from you. The last element is very important, because you can use your followers to carry your things. Furthermore, your followers will automatically use all the items they receive based on their specializations. For example, if your ally is an archer and you give him a good ranged weapon, then he should automatically make an exchange for his current weapon.
You can send away a follower at any time by choosing the last dialogue option from the list. It usually doesn't mean that you won't see that person ever again, because a follower should return to the location where you've first met and this means you will be allowed to ask that person to join the team again in the future. There are a few exceptions to that rule and it's typically about hired mercenaries, because you're paying for their services and they don't join the team as volunteers. I would recommend switching followers from time to time, so that they're best suited for your current style of play. For example, if you want to play as an offensive warrior you should add a defensive mage to your team so that he can heal you and cast protection spells.
Remember that your followers aren't immortal. Once a follower has suffered severe injuries he should kneel down (screen above) and in most cases this results in opponents switching their attention to you (instead of dealing a final blow to get rid of your ally). Your follower should return to full health once the battle has ended, however you can also try healing him when you're still fighting enemy units. Watch out for your own attacks, because they can kill your follower (the same goes with using offensive area spells).
List of followers
Important - Make sure to consult the World Maps chapter of this guide for additional help with finding the locations where potential team members are stationed (you must first find the map of the correct sector and then the number mentioned in the text). Additional hints on how to convince someone to join you (for example - how to complete the companion's quests) can be found in the quest chapters of this guide.
FOLLOWER'S NAME | FOLLOWER'S AREA OF EXPERTISE | LOCATION | RECRUTATION REQUIREMENTS |
Adelaisa Vendicci | none | East Empire Company Warehouse (1; 34) | You can ask Adelaisa to join you after completing Rise in the East side quest. |
Aela the Huntress | warrior (archer)
| Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) | Aela is a member of the Companions and you can ask her to join you after completing all primary quests of the warrior's guild. |
Ahtar | warrior (two-handed weapon) | Solitude - Dour Castle (1; 24) | You can ask Ahtar to join you after completing his mini-quest. He usually stays in Dour Castle, but you can also find him in other areas of Solitude. |
Annekke Crag-Jumper | warrior (archer) | Darkwater Crossing (4; 30) | You can ask Annekke to join you after completing her mini-quest. |
Aranea Ienith | mage (destruction school) | Shrine of Azura (3; 12) | You can ask Aranea to join you after completing The Black Star daedric quest, but only if you've decided to deliver her the artifact. |
Argis the Bulwark | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Markarth (6; 08) | Argis is automatically assigned as your servant once you are named the thane of Markarth (completing jarl's quest/quests, completing at least five side quests for the civilians living in Markarth, buying a house in Markarth). |
Athis | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) | Athis is a member of the Companions and you can ask him to join you after completing all primary quests of the warrior's guild. |
Belrand | warrior / mage | Solitude - The Winking Skeever (1; 24) | Belrand is a mercenary and you can hire him by paying 500 gold coins for his services. |
Benor | warrior (two-handed weapon) | Morthal (1; 49) | You can ask Benor to join you after completing his mini-quest. If you're visiting the town at night, then you'll most likely find him in the Moorside Inn. |
Borgakh the Steel Heart | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Mor Khazgur (1; 27) | You can ask Borgakh to join you after completing his mini-quest. |
Brelyna Maryon | mage (alteration school) | College of Winterhold (3; 05) | Brelyna is a mage living in the College of Winterhold and you can ask her to join you after completing her personal quest - Miscellaneous: Brelyna's Practice. |
Calder | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Windhelm (3; 26) | Calder is automatically assigned as your servant once you are named the thane of Windhelm (completing jarl's quest/quests, completing at least five side quests for the civilians living in Windhelm, buying a house in Windhelm). |
Cicero | thief (one-handed weapon) | Dawnstar Sanctuary (2; 05) | Cicero is a member of the Dark Brotherhood and you can ask him to join you after completing all primary quests of this organization. It's possible ONLY if you didn't kill him while completing The Cure for Madness Dark Brotherhood quest. |
Cosnach | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Markarth - Silver-Blood Inn (6; 08) | You can ask Cosnach to join you after completing his mini-quest. He usually stays in the inn, but you can also find him in other areas of Markarth. |
Dark Brotherhood Initiate | thief (one-handed weapon) | Dawnstar Sanctuary (2; 05) | Initiates are members of the Dark Brotherhood and you can ask them to join you after completing all primary quests of this organization. |
Derkeethus | warrior (archer) | Darkwater Pass (4; 39) | You can ask Derkeethusto join you after you set him free. If you don't do it right away, then he'll be waiting for you in Darkwater Crossing (4; 30). |
Eola | mage (destruction school) | Reachcliff Cave (6; 35) | You can ask Eola to join you after completing The Taste of Death daedric quest, but only if you've decided to leave her alive along with the rest of the cannibals. |
Erandur | mage (conjuration school) | Nightcaller Temple (2; 07)
| You can ask Erandur to join you after completing Waking Nightmare daedric quest. |
Erik the Slayer | warrior (two-handed weapon) | Rorikstead - Frostfruit Inn (6; 26) | Erik is a mercenary and you can hire him by paying 500 gold coins for his services. It becomes possible after completing his mini-quest. |
Faendal | warrior (archer) | Riverwood (8; 03) | You can ask Faendal to join you after completing his mini-quest. |
Farkas | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) | Farkas is a member of the Companions and you can ask him to join you after completing all primary quests of the warrior's guild. |
Ghorbash the Iron Hand | warrior (archer) | Dushnikh Yal (6; 34) | You can ask Ghorbash to join you after completing his mini-quest. |
Golldir | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Hillgrund's Tomb (4; 10) | You can ask Golldir to join you after completing Ancestral Worship side quest. |
Illia | mage (destruction school) | Darklight Tower (9; 21) | You can ask Illia to join you after completing Repentance side quest. |
Iona | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Riften (9; 13) | Iona is automatically assigned as your servant once you are named the thane of Riften (completing Riften's jarl quests, completing at least five side quests for the civilians living in Riften, buying a house in Riften). |
J'zargo | mage (destruction school) | College of Winterhold (3; 05) | J'zargo is a mage living in the College of Winterhold and you can ask him to join you after completing his personal quest - J'zargo's Experiment. |
Jenassa | thief (archer) | Whiterun - The Drunken Huntsman (5; 31) | Jenassa is a mercenary and you can hire her by paying 500 gold coins for her services. |
Jordis the Sword-Maiden | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Solitude (1; 24) | Jordin is automatically assigned as your servant once you are named the thane of Solitude (completing jarl's quest, completing at least five side quests for the civilians living in Solitude, buying a house in Solitude). |
Kharjo | warrior (one-handed weapon) | - | Kharjo is travelling with one of the khajiit caravans and you can ask him to join you after completing his mini-quest. |
Lob | warrior (archer) | Largashbur (9; 20) | You can ask Lob to join you after completing The Cursed Tribe daedric quest. |
Lydia | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Whiterun (5; 31) | Lydia is automatically assigned as your servant once you are named the thane of Whiterun. This occurs automatically at the end of Dragon Rising main quest. |
Marcurio | mage (destruction school) | Riften - The Bee and Barb (9; 13) | Marcurio is a mercenary and you can hire him by paying 500 gold coins for his services. |
Meeko | dog | Meeko's Shack (1; 45) | You can find Meeko on a small path near the hut and you must follow it to the shack. Initiate a "conversation" with the dog to have it join your team. |
Mjoll the Lioness | warrior (two-handed weapon) | Riften - The Bee and Barb (9; 13) | You can ask Mjoll to join you after completing his mini-quest. He usually stays in the inn, but you can also find him in other areas of Riften. |
Njada Stonearm | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) | Njada is a member of the Companions and you can ask her to join you after completing all primary quests of the warrior's guild. |
Ogol | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Largashbur (9; 20) | You can ask Ogol to join you after completing The Cursed Tribe daedric quest. |
Onmund | mage (destruction school) | College of Winterhold (3; 05) | Onmund is a mage living in the College of Winterhold and you can ask him to join you after completing his personal quest - Onmund's Request. |
Ria | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) | Ria is a member of the Companions and you can ask her to join you after completing all primary quests of the warrior's guild. |
Roggi Knot-Beard | - | Kynesgrove (4; 19) | You can ask Roggi to join you after completing his mini-quest. |
Stenvar | warrior (two-handed weapon) | Windhelm - Candlehearth Hall (3; 26) | Stenvar is a mercenary and you can hire him by paying 500 gold coins for his services. |
Stray Dog | dog | - | You can encounter a stray dog while exploring Skyrim. Initiate a "conversation" with the dog to have it join your team. |
Sven | - | Riverwood (8; 03) | You can ask Sven to join you after completing his mini-quest. |
Torvar | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) | Torvar is a member of the Companions and you can ask him to join you after completing all primary quests of the warrior's guild. |
Ugor | warrior (archer) | Largashbur (9; 20) | You can ask Ugor to join you after completing The Cursed Tribe daedric quest. |
Uthgerd the Unbroken | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Whiterun - The Bannered Mare (5; 31) | You can ask Uthgerd to join you after completing her mini-quest. She usually stays in the inn, but you can also find her in other areas of Whiterun. |
Vigilance | dog | Markarth Stables (6; 09) | You can purchase this dog from Banning for 500 gold coins. |
Vilkas | warrior (two-handed weapon) | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) | Vilkas is a member of the Companions and you can ask him to join you after completing all primary quests of the warrior's guild. |
Vorstag | warrior (one-handed weapon) | Markarth - Silver-Blood Inn (6; 08) | Vorstag is a mercenary and you can hire him by paying 500 gold coins for his services. |