Can You Change Your Spouse’s Clothes in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, you can change your spouse’s clothes in Skyrim, but the process and the permanence of the change depends on whether your spouse is also a follower. If your spouse is a follower, you can equip them with new armor or clothing. However, there are nuances and limitations to this, which we’ll explore in detail. Prepare to delve into the world of Skyrim fashion, marriage, and the intricacies of follower inventory management.
Spouse as a Follower: A Fashionista’s Dream (Mostly)
If your spouse is also one of your trusty companions, you’re in luck! Getting them to wear different attire is relatively straightforward, though it might require a little bit of in-game finesse:
- Access Their Inventory: Talk to your spouse, and you should have the option to trade items. This opens their inventory screen.
- Give Them the New Threads: Transfer the armor or clothing you want them to wear into their inventory.
- The Equipping Algorithm: Your spouse will automatically equip any armor or clothing that is better than what they are currently wearing, based on armor rating and other stats. Remember, this is the key.
- Exploiting the System: If you want them to wear something specific that they are not automatically equipping, you can temporarily manipulate the system. If you are on PC, you can use console commands to remove the old gear, give them the new armor, then use console commands to give them the old armor back.
The easiest way is to remove one piece of their default equipment. Give them the item you want them to wear, and they will generally equip it.
Limitations and Considerations
- Armor Class Preferences: Some followers, including potential spouses, have a preference for specific armor types (light armor, heavy armor, etc.). Lydia, for example, favors heavy armor. So, if you’re trying to get her into some snazzy light armor, you’ll need to make it significantly better than her default steel set.
- Default Outfit Persistence: Even if you equip them with something else, followers, at times, tend to revert back to their default outfits when you enter new zones or leave the cell.
- Stats Matter Most: Your spouse won’t equip an item simply because it looks good. The item must offer superior protection or other stat boosts compared to their current gear.
- Enchantments Help: Enchanting a piece of clothing or armor can make it “better” in the eyes of your spouse, even if its base stats are lower. Fortify Smithing enchantments can be used to improve the base stats of the gear.
- Pickpocketing Perk: With the ‘Perfect Touch’ perk in the pickpocket skill tree, you can steal your spouse’s default clothing, which makes it easier to get them to equip something else.
- Steward Outfits: Stewards will temporarily wear the clothes you give them, but upon leaving and re-entering the cell, they will revert back to their default outfit.
Spouse as a Homebody: Limited Fashion Control
If your spouse isn’t a follower and mostly stays at home running a shop, your options for changing their clothes are severely limited. Here’s what you can expect:
- Gift-Giving Menu: You can give your spouse gifts through the dialogue option. This can be armor, weapons, or other items.
- Armor Equipped (Sometimes): If you give them armor, they might wear it, but this is less reliable than with a follower spouse.
- No Inventory Access: You cannot access their inventory directly. This means you can’t remove their default clothing or force them to equip specific items.
- Reversion Likely: Even if they do equip new armor, there’s a high chance they’ll revert to their default outfit after you leave the cell or after a certain amount of in-game time.
Essentially, changing a non-follower spouse’s clothing is a gamble. It might work temporarily, but it’s unlikely to be a permanent change.
The Console Command Route (PC Only)
If you’re playing on PC, you can use console commands to exert complete control over your spouse’s wardrobe. This method bypasses all the limitations mentioned above.
- Open the Console: Press the
~key (tilde) to open the console. - Target Your Spouse: Click on your spouse with the console open. Their reference ID will appear on the screen.
- Remove Their Clothing: Use the
removeallitemscommand, followed by their reference ID. This will strip them naked, so be prepared! - Add New Clothing: Use the
additemcommand, followed by the item ID and the quantity (usually 1). For example:additem 00013938 1(adds a set of iron armor). - Close the Console: Press the
~key again to close the console.
This method gives you complete control, but it can feel a bit like cheating and might disrupt the game’s intended experience. Use it at your own discretion.
A Note on Mods
The Skyrim modding community is vast and creative. There are numerous mods available that enhance or completely overhaul the marriage and follower systems. These mods can offer more robust options for managing your spouse’s appearance, including:
- Outfit Management Mods: These mods allow you to create and assign outfits to your followers, including your spouse.
- Marriage Overhaul Mods: These mods expand the marriage system, adding new dialogue options, quests, and customization features.
- Appearance Customization Mods: These mods provide tools for changing your spouse’s appearance, including their face, hair, and body.
If you’re serious about customizing your spouse’s wardrobe, exploring the modding scene is highly recommended. Just remember to download mods from reputable sources and follow the installation instructions carefully.
Changing your spouse’s clothes in Skyrim is possible but more complex than first appears. It requires understanding the follower system, armor mechanics, and, sometimes, exploiting glitches or resorting to console commands. If you’re not happy with your spouse’s default look, experiment with different armor and clothing options, and don’t be afraid to try unconventional methods.
For those interested in the intersection of gaming and education, you may find the work done at the Games Learning Society quite relevant. Consider visiting GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I divorce my spouse in Skyrim if I don’t like their outfit?
Sadly, no. There’s no formal divorce mechanic in vanilla Skyrim. The only way to “end” a marriage is through… permanent separation. A grim solution to a sartorial problem. You could also use console commands to reset the relationship, but that’s a more technical fix.
2. Will my spouse wear anything I give them, regardless of its stats?
No. Your spouse will generally only equip armor or clothing that is statistically better than what they’re already wearing. Stats like armor rating are the primary factor.
3. How do I make sure my spouse equips the armor I want them to wear?
The best way is to ensure the armor you want them to wear has better stats (armor rating, enchantments, etc.) than their current gear. You might need to improve the armor at a blacksmithing forge or enchant it to make it more appealing.
4. Can I change my steward’s outfit in Skyrim?
You can temporarily change your steward’s outfit by giving them new armor or clothing. However, they will revert to their default outfit when you leave the cell (the area they are in) and return. It’s a temporary change, not a permanent one.
5. What happens if my spouse dies while wearing different armor?
If your spouse dies, they will remain wearing whatever armor they had equipped at the time of their death. You can loot their body and recover the armor.
6. Can I make my spouse wear clothing instead of armor?
Yes, you can. But, the clothing must be better than what they are wearing, or you can exploit the system mentioned earlier (take one piece of their armor so the clothing is better). Enchanting clothing can make it preferable.
7. Does my spouse’s race affect what kind of armor they prefer?
Not directly. Armor preference is determined by the follower’s class and combat style, not their race. Lydia, regardless of your race, will always prefer heavy armor because she is a warrior-type follower.
8. Can I give my spouse enchanted clothing?
Absolutely! In fact, giving your spouse enchanted clothing is a great way to get them to wear it. Enchantments can make an otherwise unremarkable piece of clothing more appealing than a suit of armor.
9. Do mods affect my spouse’s clothing?
Yes, many mods can affect your spouse’s clothing, either by changing their default outfit, adding new clothing options, or providing more control over their wardrobe. Always check mod descriptions for compatibility information.
10. Can I make my spouse wear a wedding dress all the time?
In short, no. You cannot get your spouse to wear the wedding dress all the time. Because the wedding dress doesn’t offer any combat protection, your spouse will not wear the wedding dress.
11. Can I have multiple spouses in Skyrim?
Unfortunately, no. You are limited to one spouse at a time in Skyrim. Even if your spouse dies, you can’t remarry in the unmodded version of the game.
12. My spouse is a merchant. Will changing their clothes affect their shop?
No, changing your spouse’s clothes will not affect their shop. They will continue to buy and sell the same goods regardless of what they’re wearing.
13. What are the benefits of marrying a specific spouse in Skyrim?
The benefits of marrying a specific spouse vary. Some spouses have unique skills or abilities that can be helpful. All spouses provide a daily income, a home-cooked meal once a day, and the “Lover’s Comfort” bonus (faster skill learning when sleeping near them).
14. Can I use console commands to give my spouse unique items?
Yes, you can use console commands to give your spouse any item in the game, including unique items that are not normally obtainable. This is a powerful way to customize their appearance.
15. Will my spouse ever comment on their new clothes?
Sadly, no. Spouses in Skyrim are generally silent about their wardrobe choices. Don’t expect any compliments on your impeccable fashion sense. You’ll have to be content with admiring their new look in silence.