Are Horses Worth It in Skyrim? A Veteran Adventurer’s Perspective

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Yes, horses are generally worth it in Skyrim, especially as you progress beyond the early game and start engaging in more exploration and questing. While the initial cost can seem daunting, the benefits of significantly increased travel speed and carry capacity, particularly for non-fast travel scenarios, far outweigh the investment. However, the “worth” factor depends on your playstyle and priorities. Let’s delve into why and when a horse becomes your best friend (or your worst enemy) in the harsh lands of Skyrim.

The Pros and Cons of Equestrian Travel

Before you gallop off into the sunset with your hard-earned gold, let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages of owning a horse in Skyrim.

Advantages

• Speed: This is the most obvious benefit. Horses offer a significantly faster movement speed than your character’s walking or running speed. This drastically reduces travel time across Skyrim’s vast and diverse landscape.
• Stamina Management: While sprinting is faster than a horse’s normal gait, you’ll quickly deplete your stamina. Horses don’t suffer from stamina depletion, allowing for sustained travel at a decent pace.
• Carry Capacity: Horses effectively increase your carry capacity. Overencumbered? Mount your trusty steed, and suddenly you’re mobile again. This is especially valuable for loot-heavy dungeons and quests.
• Terrain Traversal: Horses can navigate challenging terrain more easily than on foot. They can climb steep hills and swim across bodies of water, opening up new exploration opportunities.
• Immersion: Let’s face it, riding a horse just feels more immersive. It adds a layer of realism to your adventuring experience, especially when roleplaying a knightly or nomadic character.
• The Cool Factor: Okay, this is subjective, but there’s something undeniably cool about riding into a town on horseback, ready to take on the next quest.

Disadvantages

• Cost: The initial investment of 1000 gold (or more for special horses) can be steep in the early game when resources are scarce.
• Combat Limitations: You can’t attack while mounted with melee weapons. You can only use bows, spells, or shouts. This makes mounted combat less versatile than on foot combat.
• AI Issues: Horses aren’t the smartest creatures. They can get stuck on terrain, charge into enemies recklessly, and generally act in ways that will frustrate you.
• Vulnerability: Your horse can be attacked and killed. While essential horses exist (like Shadowmere and Arvak), losing your beloved steed can be a setback.
• Dismount Time: The dismount animation can be slow, leaving you vulnerable to attack in close-quarters situations.
• Indoor Restrictions: You can’t bring your horse indoors (obviously), which can be inconvenient when exploring dungeons or entering buildings.
• Crime Reporting (!): Believe it or not, horses can report your crimes. If you steal something while mounted, the horse might just snitch on you to the guards!

When is a Horse Worth It?

• Mid-Game Onward: Once you’ve accumulated a decent amount of gold and have a reliable source of income, purchasing a horse becomes a much more viable option.
• Exploration Focused Playthrough: If you enjoy exploring the vast world of Skyrim and uncovering its secrets, a horse is an invaluable tool for covering large distances quickly.
• Heavy Armor Users: The speed and stamina benefits of a horse are particularly useful for characters who wear heavy armor, which significantly reduces movement speed and stamina regeneration.
• Roleplaying a Mounted Character: If you’re roleplaying a knight, ranger, or any other character who would realistically travel by horseback, then a horse is essential for immersion.
• Completing Lengthy Questlines: Questlines that require frequent travel between distant locations are made much easier with the aid of a horse.

The Elite Steeds: Shadowmere and Arvak

While most horses in Skyrim share similar stats (with minor aesthetic differences), two horses stand out as superior: Shadowmere and Arvak.

• Shadowmere: Obtained during the Dark Brotherhood questline, Shadowmere is a black horse with significantly higher health and stamina than standard horses. He’s also more resilient in combat and will respawn if killed. Many consider Shadowmere to be the only horse worth having.
• Arvak: Acquired by finding Arvak’s skull in the Soul Cairn during the Dawnguard DLC, Arvak is a skeletal horse that can be summoned at will. This eliminates the risk of losing your horse or having it killed, making him incredibly convenient.

Early Game Alternatives

If you can’t afford a horse in the early game, there are alternative ways to improve your travel speed:

• Focus on Stamina: Invest skill points and enchantments into increasing your stamina and stamina regeneration. This will allow you to sprint for longer periods.
• The Steed Stone: Located west of Solitude, the Steed Stone grants you an additional 100 carry weight and eliminates the weight penalty for wearing armor.
• Fast Travel: Utilize the fast travel system to quickly travel between discovered locations.
• Join the Thieves Guild: Certain quests within the Thieves Guild questline will make the fast travel mechanic more beneficial.

FAQs: Your Burning Horse-Related Questions Answered

1. Is a horse actually faster in Skyrim?

Yes, a horse’s normal movement speed is faster than your character’s running speed, though less than sprinting. Horses also don’t run out of stamina, allowing for sustained travel.

2. What is the best horse to buy in Skyrim?

For most situations, Shadowmere and Arvak are the best horses due to their superior stats and unique abilities (respawning and summoning, respectively). Other horses are primarily aesthetic choices.

3. What happens to the horses you tame in Skyrim?

Tamed wild horses function like any other purchased horse. You can name them, saddle them, and even equip them with horse armor (if you have the Creation Club addon).

4. Can you keep all the tamed horses in Skyrim?

Yes, you can own multiple horses. The last horse you rode will accompany you, while other owned horses will return to the stable where they were purchased.

5. How do I call my horse in Skyrim? (Whistle summon)

There’s no default whistle summon in the base game. However, the Arvak horse can be summoned at any time using the relevant spell. Mods exist to add whistling functionality for other horses.

6. What happens if you buy two horses in Skyrim? Can you have 2 horses in Skyrim?

Yes, you can buy multiple horses. However, only the last horse you rode will actively follow you. Previous horses will return to their respective stables.

7. Will my horse wander off in Skyrim?

Owned horses generally stay where you leave them, unless they’re being attacked. In that case, they may wander off trying to defend themselves.

8. Are Skyrim horses predators?

This is a humorous misconception! No, Skyrim horses are not predators. The game’s AI can sometimes lead to odd behaviors, but they are not actively hunting other creatures.

9. What is the benefit of a horse in Skyrim?

The main benefits are faster travel, increased carry capacity, and improved terrain traversal. Special horses like Shadowmere offer additional advantages.

10. What is the rarest horse in Skyrim?

Arvak is the most unique horse because he can be summoned from the Soul Cairn.

11. Is the unicorn better than Shadowmere?

The Unicorn from the Anniversary Edition creation is a formidable steed, but many still consider Shadowmere superior due to its resilience and role in the Dark Brotherhood questline.

12. Can horses swim in Skyrim?

Yes, horses can swim. They will automatically begin swimming when entering deep water while mounted.

13. Is riding a horse faster than walking in Skyrim?

Yes, riding a horse is significantly faster than walking. While sprinting is faster, it depletes stamina quickly.

14. Does your horse teleport with you in Skyrim?

No, typically the horse does not teleport with you unless you are using mods. The horse will meet you outside of locations. The Arvak horse can be summoned at any time, as well.

15. Does horse armor actually help in Skyrim?

Yes, horse armor (available through the Creation Club) provides a temporary health boost to your horse, increasing its survivability.

The Final Verdict

While the initial cost can be prohibitive in the early game, a horse is a worthwhile investment in Skyrim. The increased travel speed, carry capacity, and overall convenience make exploring the vast and dangerous world of Skyrim much more enjoyable. Whether you choose a standard steed, a fearsome shadow horse, or a spectral skeletal mount, a horse will undoubtedly become a valuable companion on your adventures. Just don’t let them report your crimes!

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