Can You Fight for Both Sides in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of whether you can fight for both the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a common one among players. The straightforward answer is: no, you cannot simultaneously fight for both sides in the Skyrim Civil War. The game’s narrative and quest structure are designed to have you choose one faction to align with. You’ll be committing to one side, and there’s no going back to be on good terms with both. However, the nuances of the civil war and the various gameplay mechanics create some interesting situations that players need to understand. This article will dive into these complexities, clearing up confusion and providing a thorough guide.
Choosing a Side: The Point of No Return
The Civil War questline is a significant part of Skyrim’s main story, and your choices have a substantial impact on the game world. After the game’s introductory sequence, you’ll eventually be prompted to join either the Imperial Legion in Solitude or the Stormcloaks in Windhelm. Once you make this decision and take the oath, you’re committed to that side. Attempting to join the opposing faction after this point will trigger a message indicating you’ve failed that quest line. This commitment creates a unique experience, making each playthrough different. You can, however, technically switch sides once in the middle of the questline, as will be covered further down.
The “Jagged Crown” Betrayal
While you can’t be on both sides concurrently, there’s a mechanic that allows for a temporary change of allegiance in the middle of the questline. After you’ve retrieved the Jagged Crown, a pivotal artifact, you have the option to take it to the opposing faction instead of your current one. For example, if you retrieved the crown for the Stormcloaks but then hand it over to the Imperials, you will switch sides of the war. This can be achieved through a specific dialogue, offering unique situations and a different play experience. This choice of betrayal, as such, doesn’t let you fight for both sides at once, but gives you a chance to reverse an earlier choice.
The Consequences of Switching
Switching sides through the Jagged Crown betrayal will cause you to redo the entire questline from the point of joining the new faction. Your progress with the other faction is abandoned, so make sure that is what you really want. This is not a dual-sided quest, but an alternative playthrough of the same questline for the other side. It does, however, add a layer of complexity and lets the player make a drastic change of heart mid-playthrough.
Temporary Truce, Not Dual Allegiance
It is important to note that there’s a quest called “Season Unending” in the main quest line where the Imperials and Stormcloaks agree to a temporary truce to deal with the dragon threat, Alduin. This is not being on both sides. This truce is only a means to temporarily stop the civil war to deal with the bigger problem at hand. Once Alduin is defeated, the truce ends, and the Civil War resumes, unless one faction has been eliminated. This highlights the core mechanics of the game, reinforcing that you can’t fully support both sides.
Exploring the Morality of Choices
The game subtly showcases that there’s no clear “good” or “bad” choice in the Civil War. Choosing one side will affect certain NPC interactions and the overall political landscape of Skyrim, but both sides have their moral justifications and flaws. The Imperials represent order and unity under the Empire, while the Stormcloaks fight for the self-determination of Skyrim. This moral ambiguity encourages players to consider different perspectives and playstyles in multiple playthroughs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I be friends with both Imperials and Stormcloaks?
No, once you join a faction, the camps of the opposing faction become hostile. Cities are generally not impacted by the war, but the factions themselves won’t be friendly to you if you are on the other side.
2. Does siding with one faction completely lock out quests?
Yes, after joining either side, you will be locked out of starting quests specific to the other faction in the Civil War questline.
3. Can I avoid the Civil War entirely?
You can avoid joining the war as long as you don’t engage with it. You can explore the main questline and other side quests without triggering the Civil War questline if you don’t want to be part of the conflict. However, the “Season Unending” quest will come up and forces you to engage.
4. What changes if the Stormcloaks win?
If the Stormcloaks win, Skyrim becomes more destabilized and less equipped to fend off the Aldmeri Dominion, the enemy of the Empire, if they attack. They see it as a victory for Skyrim, though. The Empire sees the Stormcloaks as weak and disorganized if they win the war.
5. What changes if the Imperials win?
If the Imperials win, Skyrim is much more stable and is part of a united front against the Dominion. The Empire views it as stability for Skyrim, while the Stormcloaks view it as oppression.
6. Can I lose the Civil War in Skyrim?
Normally, you can not lose the war for your side. Whichever side you support will always win by the end of the Civil War questline. However, certain mods can alter this mechanic.
7. What happens if I free the Stormcloak soldier in the opening?
Freeing Ralof at the beginning of the game allows you to join the Stormcloaks later and gives you access to some early leveling glitches, while avoiding an initial bounty from the Imperials.
8. Can I give Riften to the Imperials for benefits?
Yes, you can give Riften to the Imperials during the Season Unending quest for better relations with the Imperials or choose to give Dawnstar for better relations with the Stormcloaks.
9. Who is correct in the Skyrim Civil War?
There is no clear "correct" side. The Civil War is a morally grey conflict, and each side has valid arguments and drawbacks. It is designed to make players consider the consequences of their actions and their stance on such issues.
10. Does killing the emperor affect the Civil War?
No, killing the Emperor does not directly affect the outcome of the Civil War. This quest line is part of the Dark Brotherhood, and it does not have an impact on the Civil War questline except for its narrative.
11. What races would join the Stormcloaks?
Nords are the primary group for the Stormcloaks, but Bretons, Redguards, and even some Imperials can also make sense as recruits for the cause, if they believe in Skyrim’s independence.
12. Does Whiterun get repaired after the Civil War?
Yes, the cities that were affected by the civil war siege will eventually get repaired after about 24 hours of completing the questline.
13. Do the Thalmor leave if the Stormcloaks win?
No, the Thalmor remain in Skyrim, regardless of which side wins the war. However, they will become hostile to the Dragonborn if the Stormcloaks win as it signals a lack of alliance with the Empire.
14. Can I go to Solitude after joining the Stormcloaks?
Yes, there are no consequences for going into Solitude in full Stormcloak regalia. The cities generally are neutral, and it does not affect reputation with the city. Only the military camps become hostile.
15. What is the peaceful ending in Skyrim?
There is no truly peaceful ending to the Civil War. The "peace" during the **Season Unending** quest is just a temporary truce to handle Alduin and will resume once the main quest is completed, unless one side has been completely defeated.
Conclusion
While you cannot fight for both sides simultaneously in the Skyrim Civil War, the game provides several avenues for making meaningful choices that shape the narrative. The option to switch sides mid-campaign adds a dynamic layer to your choices, but your overall decision is very concrete. This forces players to make difficult choices with long-lasting consequences that shape their character and overall experience of Skyrim. Understanding this, players can navigate this crucial aspect of the game more thoughtfully, making each playthrough uniquely engaging and rewarding.