Top 15 Best Followers in Skyrim (Ranked)

The world of Skyrim is immense and it will leave every gamer awestruck. It’s a game that gives you plenty of options so you can do pretty much anything you wish during your adventures.

But let’s face it, it can be a little bit boring running around on your own no matter what. These followers can be real saviors while questing in difficult areas and they can help you out with their unique abilities.

Each follower has their own unique perks, the way they talk or how they behave on your travels. Basically anyone can find a perfect companion in Skyrim that will make this game even more interesting. So let’s have a look at our top choices!

15. Brelyna Maryon

We are staring this list off with Brelyna Maryon who is an apprentice at the College of Winterhold.

A powerful mystic that can be very useful while fighting low-level foes, Berlyna mostly keeps to herself. You can ask her to be your follower once you help her out with an experiment which is a part of Brelyna’s Practice quest.

A Dragonborn can also marry Brelyna if they are equipped with Amulet of Mara.

Keep in mind that she is a part of the questline at the College of Winterhold so you will most certainly bump into her once you arrive there.

Brelyna uses fire spells such as Flames and Firebolt during fights. She can significantly damage foes, but she doesn’t have much HP so be careful when attacking the more powerful enemies.

Also she is definitely not a melee type. You can equip her with a weapon but Brelyna will still attack with spells.

14. Barbas

If you’re a dog person Barbas is the follower for you.

Barbas is a supernatural creature which is currently taking the form of a dog. You can find him by the road near Falkreath.

Barbas is fun but also very useful because his bite is strong enough to kill weaker enemies right away. Don’t be worried about Barbas dying in the middle of the fight either, because he has a couple of tricks up his sleeve for healing.

When he takes plenty of damage Barbas will run away from the fight, hide somewhere until the health bar is full, and then return by your side in no time.

This is a huge advantage because your companion simply can’t die.

Unfortunately, he is not subtle and will run around so sneaking up on the enemies is a big no-no while Barbas is your follower.

But there is one surprising thing: even though he is a loud-mouth and barks constantly, the enemies will not be alarmed by this. Go figure!

13. Ingjard

Sometimes having a warrior as your follower can be quite useful. Ingjard is most certainly that.

She is a fearless Nord fighter that comes with plenty of perks such as an affinity for heavy armor and two-handed weapons.

You can find Ingjard at Fort Dawnguard but you cannot recruit her as a follower right away. Instead you have to complete the quest called Prophet and then return back to her.

One good thing: she is not afraid of the vampires unlike other guards at the fort. So if you are a vamp Ingjard is the only one who will communicate with you.

Even though she can deal some serious damage to enemies, Ingjard might be a bit slow since she is wielding heavy weapons that take a lot of strength.

This makes her quite vulnerable when fighting against agile and quick foes because they will use her lack of speed to their advantage. Considering that she is a Nord, Ingjard doesn’t mind the cold weather, and she is 50% resistant to frost which can certainly come in handy during your travels.

Ingjard will not break laws for you since her morality is high so don’t try to make her commit any crimes either.

12. Teldryn Sero

The first thing you will notice about Teldryn is his unique armor.

Teldryn Sero is a mercenary who can become your follower for 500 gold. You can find him hanging out at the Retching Netch inn in Raven Rock.

It seems like he loves his armor as well because even if you equip him with a better item, Teldryn will continue wearing his Chitin helmet that protects his entire face. He is a skilled assassin who prefers Elven weapons.

Teldryn is a versatile fighter and will use both one-handed weapons and spells.

He will switch between close contact fighting and casting spells throughout a typical fight. If injured, Teldryn can quickly heal himself which is great if you are in serious trouble.

He can also conjure a Flame Atronach that will make him switch to Destruction magic immediately.

Teldryn is an intriguing character who will keep the small talk going as you travel. He had his share of adventures and will gladly tell you all about them. Even if you decide to dismiss him, you can hire him again any time and often for free.

11. Annekke Crag-Jumper

If you are a thief or a warrior, Anneke Crag-Jumper is an amazing range follower that can complete your play style.

She is a Nord archer that adores adventures so Annekke will gladly join forces with you. You can find her in Darkwater Crossing.

Annekke can become your follower when you complete Kill the Bandit Leader quest. But I need to mention that sometimes you might be required to talk to her several times before she actually offers you this quest(what a pain!).

Her combat skills are good, and Annekke prefers to wear light armor so she’s fast.

She is a beast with a bow and arrow as well as one-handed weapons. Of course, there has to be a weakness and Annekke has hers: she is not so great at sneaking around.

But Annekke’s amazing spirit and willingness to embark with you on many adventures should be enough to consider her as your follower. She is talkative but definitely not boring. Annekke genuinely wants more excitement in her life and that is always refreshing.

10. Erandur

Erandur might not be the life of every party, but he is an expert at spell casting and will be a loyal follower to a Dragonborn.

He is a Dunmer healer and you can find him in the Windpeak Inn which is in Dawnstar.

He used to belong to a cult but those days are behind him now. Erandur still thinks about it though and will often mention his friends that are now gone.

If you want to make Erandur your follower simply complete Waking Nightmare quest and that’s it. Easy!

As a healer, he primarily attacks from afar wielding both Flames and Firebolt spells. However Erandur is not a stranger to close combat, and he is quite useful as a melee too.

He prefers to use a mace when fighting face-to-face. On the other hand, players who are looking for a fully developed follower who will engage with them and the surroundings might find that Erandur is not the perfect fit for them.

He is rarely funny and mostly talks about death, but he makes up for his gloomy talk in the combat department.

9. Aela the Huntress

Aela the Huntress is certainly a rare breed.

She is a Nord werewolf that refuses to get cured of lycanthropy even though it is an option for her. This member of The Companions can be found in Jorrvaskr.

She is an amazing archer that can be of great help if you prefer to play melee. Aela wears light armor and sometimes uses one-handed weapons, depending on the situation.

It is important to mention that her sneaking skills are extraordinary. However she is not the best tank out there and doesn’t know what to do with a shield.

Since she is a thief herself, Aela will allow you to be completely immoral. She doesn’t mind if you steal or murder people.

Don’t order her to break any laws though because she will refuse the order on the spot. If you want this rebellious werewolf as your follower you need to complete the main questline for The Companions.

You may also marry Aela the Huntress which will enable you to acquire the same armor she wears so you two can match. How cute!

8. Farkas

Being a lycanthropic Nord and a highly skilled warrior certainly makes anyone a very valuable follower, and Farkas is exactly that.

He belongs to The Companions and is actually a member of The Circle, together with other experienced fighters.

Farkas spends his days in Jorrvaskr which is located in the Wind District of Whiterun. Considering that he is a relentless warrior, every Dragonborn should be happy to go on adventures with this guy.

If you want him to be your companion you need to complete the main quests offered to you by The Companions.

Farkas is very honorable and will not tolerate you doing anything unethical while he is your follower. He wears heavy armor and prefers one-handed weapons. However if you are looking for a chatty companion, Farkas might not be the best choice.

He doesn’t talk a lot and seems like a bore sometimes. You might also be disappointed to discover that Frakas does not turn into a werewolf as often once you recruit him to be your follower. Which is a darn dirty shame.

7. Mjoll the Lioness

Mjoll the Lioness is a very colorful character and you will quickly grow to like her.

She has her heart in the right place and does her best to be as just as possible. Once you meet her you will notice that she hates the Thieves Guild and the Black-Briar family.

Above all Mojll is an adventurer, and she has traveled a lot. She loves talking about the things she encountered while on the road and you will hear plenty of interesting stories if you choose Mjoll as your follower.

Mjoll hangs out with Aerin in Riften near the Bee and Barb Inn, and at Aerin’s place so this is where you will find her.

She can become your follower once you find her sword Grimsever. The Lioness will fight with a bow and her sword so she can be helpful even when facing more powerful foes.

Mjoll is great as a tank since she cannot be killed, but remember that she can pause mid-fight to get her health up.

Don’t worry though because Mjoll will resume her role quickly and continue to tank through any number of enemies. You can also make Mjoll your wife, but she will come with a package deal – Aerin. Two for one, as they say.

So make sure your home has plenty of space because Aerin will be staying there as well.

6. Argis the Bulwark

Stoic and strong, Argis the Bulwark is a true Nord who is both a fun companion and a fierce warrior that will go with you on many adventures.

You will bump into him in Vlindrel Hall which is located in Markarth. He can be your housecarl if you become the Thane of Markarth.

Considering Argis’ abilities, it is not surprising that he prefers heavy armor and one-handed weapons.

Argis the Bulwark can take on any enemy in the game and will be a true protective housecarl to your character.

Additionally you can also marry Arigs the Bulwark if you want a tough companion with amazing looks.

Keep in mind that you need to wear the Amulet of Mara and speak with Argis. Only then will you unlock the marriage option. Even though he might not be a fully developed character that can interact with his surroundings like some other followers, Argis still has amazing dialogue and he will keep you entertained throughout the game.

Although I need to point out that Argis the Bulwark treats you as a close friend and if he loses his life during your travels, you will receive a small inheritance from that.

5. Eola

Eola is one of the most disturbing characters you will meet in Skyrim because she is actually a leader of a cannibalistic cult residing in Reachcliff Cave.

Belonging to the Breton race, Eola is a very capable fighter that will switch between using magicka and melee.

She can be very practical in numerous situations, especially because she can sneak up on an enemy. Eola can also resurrect the dead and use them in combat which certainly gives you an advantage.

Eola prefers light armor and one-handed weapons so keep that in mind if you want her as your follower.

Recruiting her is very straight-forward. All you need to do is clean the Reachcliff Cave and once you are done, you will be asked to join Eola’s cannibalistic cult and that’s it.

Remember to dismiss Eola inside the Reachcliff Cave once your adventures are done because she will automatically resume her cult leader position.

If you decide to dismiss her outside of the cave, she will be in danger. And you don’t want that for your friend, do you? I mean, she’s a cannibal but still…

There is a possibility that she can get eaten by animals because she takes long walks through the woods so just make sure you leave her in a safe place.

4. Jenassa

Jenassa is one of the first followers you will come across during your adventures in Skyrim.

She is a mercenary and you can find her in the Drunken Huntsman tavern in Whiterun.

If you want this skilled archer by your side you can recruit her by paying 500 gold. As previously mentioned, Jenassa is brilliant with a bow and arrow. She can wear both heavy and light armor.

However, if you recruit her you will notice that she prefers to be in light armor. Jenassa can also wield two weapons at the same time which is quite practical. She also picks up arrows along the way and all types are useful for her. This is one of the best abilities she comes with!

Jenassa can use a variety of weapons including bows, one-handed weapons, and shields. She truly is a capable follower that will help level up your character from the very beginning.

She’s also a ferocious fighter that can attack nearly anyone you encounter in the game. However she has no magical powers. Additionally you may even marry Jenassa if you want!

If you decide to do so, she can continue being your follower as well as your spouse. Once Jenassa becomes your wife she will open up her own shop and give 100 gold each day.

3. Cicero

Cicero is both annoying and incredibly interesting. So if you are looking for a follower who will provide some of the most bizarre and entertaining dialogues in Skyrim which keep the game fresh, Cicero should be your travel companion.

Cicero is dressed as a jester which is already promising. And he clearly suffers from some type of mental disorder, but I guess it’s the funny kind? I guess it’s quite understandable since he is also the keeper of the Night Mother, which is a corpse in a coffin. The Night Mother is in charge of the contracts made by the Dark Brotherhood so this guy has every reason to be a bit disturbed.

If you still want to take Cicero to be your follower, you are in for a treat.

A Dragonborn can do so by sparing his life. After that you can recruit him once you complete the Hail Sithis! quest.

Cicero will be located at the exit of the Dawnstar Sanctuary. He is a dangerous killer that can cast spells and wield one-handed weapons. It is worth mentioning that his cute jester outfit which looks fitting every time he starts dancing has no protective traits so you will need to equip Cicero with armor as soon as you can.

2. J’Zargo

J’Zargo is without a doubt a highly ranked follower. He is a Khajiit who is currently an apprentice at the College of Winterhold.

Considering that he is very arrogant but eager to learn, J’Zargo is well on his way to becoming an outstanding mage.

However he is still aware of the fact that there are plenty of things he has to master. That is more than evident if we take a look at the way he constantly competes with the fellow students at the College of Winterhold. So really, having J’Zargo at your side is very valuable.

So how can you join up with him? The process is quite simple. Just find J’Zargo at the College of Winterhold. Then you need to complete the questline he gives you. If you are wondering what made J’Zargo so high up the list, there are several reasons.

First of all, J’Zargo has the most health of all followers in the game. Secondly he is proficient in illusion magics, restoration, and destruction.

On the other hand, tanks might not appreciate J’Zargo’s talents because he might not inflict a lot of damage to enemies which could be a dealbreaker.

1. Serana

It shouldn’t be surprising that a pureblood vampire is topping this list.

Serana is an outstanding follower that will keep you both safe and entertained. As one of the last of her kind, Serana will often talk about weather during your travels which is somehow endearing.

As a true vampire she will cover her head with a hood to protect her face if you two are outside. The process of recruiting Serana is easy: just bump into her in the game. Considering the fact that she is a central figure in several questlines (such as Awakening where you will meet Serana in Dimhollow Crypt) it shouldn’t be too complicated.

One of the advantages of choosing Serana is her necromancy power.

She is capable of raising the dead and making them join the fight on your side.

She is prone to using spells in combat but once Serana is out of mana, she turns into a melee warrior.

The spells Serana casts will differ depending on your level so she will transform alongside you. Also, Serana is skilled in sneaking and does it better than the majority of followers in Skyrim. A great pick all around.