Barbas: Your Immortal Canine Companion in Skyrim – A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, you absolutely can keep Barbas as a companion in Skyrim! But, there’s a significant catch: you must never complete the Daedric quest “A Daedra’s Best Friend”. This means leaving the quest perpetually active in your journal. It might sound strange, but for many players, the benefits of having a practically immortal, if somewhat annoying, dog far outweigh the reward of the quest itself. Let’s dive into the details.
The Appeal of a Perpetual Pup: Barbas as a Follower
Barbas, the canine manifestation of a Daedric Prince’s personality, is a unique companion unlike any other in Skyrim. He’s tied to the quest given by Clavicus Vile, the Daedric Prince of Wishes, located at Haemar’s Shame. Upon initiating the quest, Barbas joins you to help reunite with his master. The trick to keeping him lies in simply not reuniting them permanently.
The Mechanics of Barbas’ Companionship
Barbas operates differently than standard followers. Here’s what you need to know:
- Immortality: Barbas is essential for the quest, making him practically unkillable. He can take a beating and will simply kneel when his health is depleted, getting back up shortly after. This makes him incredibly useful in combat.
- No Inventory: Sadly, Barbas can’t carry your burdens. He’s not a pack mule; he’s a battle buddy (albeit a chatty one).
- Simultaneous Followers: The best part? Barbas is classified as an animal follower. This means you can have him in addition to a regular humanoid follower. Double the muscle!
- Limited Control: You can’t issue commands to Barbas like you would to Lydia or other followers. He charges headfirst into battle, barking and biting with reckless abandon.
- Incessant Barking: This is the main downside. Barbas never stops barking. Stealth is pretty much out the window, and your eardrums might suffer. Some players find this charming; others find it maddening.
The Strategy: How to Keep Barbas Indefinitely
The method is straightforward: start the quest “A Daedra’s Best Friend” and never finish it.
- Find Clavicus Vile: Head to Haemar’s Shame, a cave southeast of Helgen. You’ll likely encounter vampires. Fight your way through to find a shrine of Clavicus Vile with Barbas standing nearby.
- Speak to Clavicus Vile: Initiate the quest by talking to the statue of Clavicus Vile. Barbas will then join you on your journey.
- Complete the Preliminary Steps: Follow the quest markers until you reach the final decision point: reuniting Barbas with Clavicus Vile, either by killing him with the Rueful Axe or allowing him to return.
- Stop! Do Not Proceed!: This is the critical step. Once you’ve reached the point where you can complete the quest, do not do so. Simply ignore the objective.
- Enjoy Your Doggo: Barbas is now your permanent, unkillable, barking companion.
The Consequences: Weighing the Pros and Cons
Keeping Barbas has its advantages and disadvantages. Consider these carefully:
Pros:
- Unkillable Companion: This is a huge advantage, especially on higher difficulty levels. Barbas can draw enemy fire and distract powerful foes.
- Simultaneous Follower: Having Barbas alongside a traditional follower provides significant combat support.
- Unique Dialogue: Barbas has unique dialogue lines and occasionally comments on your surroundings.
- Early Game Power Boost: Gaining an immortal companion early in the game can make a significant difference in survivability.
Cons:
- No Completion of “A Daedra’s Best Friend”: This means you won’t receive either the Masque of Clavicus Vile or the Rueful Axe. The Masque is a unique Daedric artifact, and you need it for the Oblivion Walker achievement.
- Constant Barking: As mentioned earlier, this can be extremely irritating. There’s no way to silence Barbas.
- Blocking Doorways: Barbas, like many followers, has a tendency to block doorways and narrow passages.
- Breaks Stealth: Stealth builds are essentially unplayable with Barbas tagging along. He’ll charge into battle, alerting every enemy in the vicinity.
- Potential for Bugs: While rare, leaving a quest incomplete can sometimes lead to unforeseen bugs later in the game.
The Moral Quandary: Is it Right to Keep Barbas?
Beyond gameplay mechanics, there’s a moral dimension to consider. Clavicus Vile wants Barbas back. Are you right to deny him? Some argue that reuniting Barbas with Vile is beneficial for the world, leading to a more balanced distribution of power and less chaos from the Daedric Prince. Others argue that keeping Barbas is harmless and simply a clever use of game mechanics. The choice is yours, Dragonborn.
Alternate Strategies: Getting the Best of Both Worlds (Almost)
If you’re torn between keeping Barbas and completing the quest, consider these options:
- Temporary Companionship: Enjoy Barbas’ company for a while, then complete the quest when you’re ready to move on. You can always reload a previous save if you regret your decision.
- Modifications: Numerous mods exist that alter Barbas’ behavior, such as reducing his barking or making him quieter. However, mods can sometimes introduce instability into your game, so use them with caution.
- New Character: Start a new character and keep Barbas with that one! This allows you to experience the game with Barbas without sacrificing the quest completion on your main character.
The decision of whether or not to keep Barbas is a personal one. Weigh the pros and cons carefully, consider your playstyle, and decide what’s most important to you in your Skyrim experience. Whether he’s a temporary ally or a permanent fixture, Barbas is undoubtedly one of the most memorable companions in the game.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Barbas
H3 1. Does Barbas count as a follower?
Yes and no. He’s not a true follower in the traditional sense. He doesn’t have an inventory, and you can’t give him commands. However, he occupies the “animal follower” slot, allowing you to have him in addition to a regular humanoid follower.
H3 2. How do you keep Barbas as a follower in Skyrim?
Simply initiate the quest “A Daedra’s Best Friend” and never complete it. Stop before the final decision point of reuniting Barbas with Clavicus Vile.
H3 3. Should I get rid of Barbas?
That depends on your playstyle. If the constant barking annoys you, or if you want to complete the quest and acquire the Masque of Clavicus Vile, then yes, you should get rid of him by finishing the quest.
H3 4. What happens if you let Barbas live?
If you let Barbas live, you get the Masque of Clavicus Vile. If you complete the quest but before using the axe on him, you get to keep Barbas for as long as you don’t kill him in the quest.
H3 5. Is the axe worth killing Barbas?
Most players agree that the Rueful Axe is not worth killing Barbas for. It’s a relatively weak weapon, and you need the Masque of Clavicus Vile for the Oblivion Walker achievement.
H3 6. What do I do if I lost Barbas?
Barbas usually sticks close, but if you somehow lose him, try waiting or sleeping for a few days. He should eventually reappear near you. If not, return to Haemar’s Shame, where you first met him.
H3 7. What breed of dog is Barbas?
Barbas doesn’t have a specific breed, but he resembles a shaggy dog, often compared to an Irish Wolfhound or a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
H3 8. Should I let Barbas live?
From a pure gameplay perspective, letting Barbas live (and thus completing the quest for the Masque) is generally considered the better choice. From a role-playing perspective, it’s up to you to decide what your character would do.
H3 9. Can you keep a stray dog in Skyrim?
Yes, you can recruit certain stray dogs as followers, such as Meeko. These dogs occupy the animal follower slot, just like Barbas.
H3 10. How many pet followers can you have in Skyrim?
Generally, you can have one humanoid follower and one animal follower at a time. Keeping Barbas as described in the main article adds to that follower number.
H3 11. How do I stop Barbas from barking?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to stop Barbas from barking in the unmodded game. His constant barking is a common complaint among players. Mods may provide a solution, however.
H3 12. Is Barbas a Daedra?
Yes, Barbas is a Daedra. Specifically, he is a shapeshifting Daedra and a part of Clavicus Vile himself.
H3 13. Can you make Barbas wait?
No, you cannot make Barbas wait like you can with regular followers. You can only tell him to leave permanently by finishing the quest.
H3 14. Can you get the axe without killing Barbas?
No, you cannot obtain the Rueful Axe without proceeding in the main questline.
H3 15. Can you sneak with Barbas?
No. Barbas is absolute kryptonite to the stealth play style.