Equipping Your Skyrim Companions: Does Their Gear Really Matter?

Absolutely! A follower’s equipment in Skyrim drastically impacts their effectiveness in combat and overall survivability. While the nuances of follower AI and mechanics might seem obscure at first, understanding how their gear functions is crucial for creating a truly powerful adventuring party. Ignoring your follower’s equipment is akin to sending a knight into battle with a wooden sword – you’re severely hampering their potential!

Unveiling the Complexities of Follower Equipment

The impact of follower equipment goes beyond simply slapping on the strongest-looking armor. Several factors come into play, including:

• Armor Rating: The higher the armor rating, the more damage your follower will mitigate. However, the game mechanics don’t always prioritize what you think they should.
• Weapon Damage: Naturally, a follower wielding a Daedric sword will inflict significantly more damage than one stuck with an iron dagger.
• Enchantments: Enchanted gear can provide crucial buffs, resistances, and offensive capabilities to your companions.
• Weapon Skill: Skill level still matters even if it is capped at a certain level
• Weight: Consider the carry weight of your follower. Light armor may allow them to move quicker.
• Follower AI: This is not an equipment question but it is still important to know that followers don’t always make the best choices regarding equipment.

Maximizing Your Follower’s Potential: A Practical Guide

So, how can you ensure your follower is decked out in the best possible gear?

1. The Trade System is Your Friend: Followers will only equip items you give them if those items are better than what they currently have. The game performs a comparison based on base stats, not upgraded stats.
2. Prioritize Base Armor Rating: Followers prioritize higher base armor rating over upgraded armor. A set with a higher base value will be chosen, even if a tempered set has a higher total.
3. Weapon Choice is Key: Give your follower the best weapon you can find or craft, taking into account their preferred combat style (melee or ranged).
4. Enchantments Matter (Mostly): Enchantments on weapons and armor do affect followers. Focus on enchantments that boost damage, resistances, or other beneficial effects. However, some enchantments, like those providing extra stamina or magicka, may not function correctly on followers.
5. Choose the Right Armor Type: There’s debate over whether light or heavy armor is better for followers. Light armor allows for more mobility, while heavy armor provides greater protection. Consider your follower’s fighting style and your preferred playstyle.
6. Unique Armor Sets: Sets like Dwarven, Daedric, Orcish, Stalhrim, Ebony, and Dragon armors not only offer great protection but also make your follower visually distinct. These sets are also more difficult to find.
7. Stealth Considerations: If you prefer a stealthy approach, equip your follower with gear that improves their sneaking ability, such as muffled boots or armor with sneak enchantments. Be aware, however, that followers aren’t always the best at stealth, regardless of their gear.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

• Followers equipping anything. Followers do not typically equip random armor they find. It has to be given to them and be better than what they have.
• All enchantments work on followers. Not all enchantments function correctly on followers. Test and observe to see what works best.
• Upgrading follower armor is pointless. While followers prioritize base stats, upgrading armor still provides a significant boost to their overall protection. Just be aware they won’t necessarily choose an upgraded piece over a base-level item with a higher initial rating.
• Follower level affects equipment. The level of the follower doesn’t matter. What matters is that you give them something better than what they have.
• Best armor in the game is what they should use. Some armor is extremely heavy. Give your follower something they can move quickly in.

Essential Followers: A Strategic Advantage

Essential followers are marked as significant characters and cannot be killed, making them invaluable companions in challenging battles. Serana, Aela the Huntress, Barbas, and Cicero are all examples of essential followers who possess unique skills and abilities. Leveling up the equipment of these followers can turn them into powerhouses.

FAQs: Demystifying Follower Equipment

1. Do followers benefit from armor upgrades (tempering)?

Yes, upgraded armor works for followers. However, they won’t necessarily choose an upgraded piece of armor with a lower base armor rating over a non-upgraded piece with a higher base rating. So, focus on the base stats first, then upgrade if possible.

2. How do I give my follower better armor?

Trade items with your follower and place the desired armor in their inventory. If it’s better than what they’re currently wearing, they should equip it.

3. Are any followers essential and therefore unkillable?

Yes, several followers are essential and cannot die, such as Serana, Aela the Huntress, and Cicero.

4. Do enchantments on weapons and armor work for followers?

Generally, yes. Weapon enchantments work as expected, and armor enchantments provide benefits like increased resistances. However, enchantments that boost your own personal stats like Magicka or Stamina, don’t always transfer correctly.

5. What is the “best” armor for followers?

There’s no single “best” armor. Consider the balance between protection, weight, and your follower’s combat style. Dragonplate or Daedric armor are good choices for high protection, while light armor like Elven or Glass might be preferable for more agile followers.

6. Can I change essential follower’s equipment?

Yes, you can change the equipment of essential followers just like any other follower.

7. Do followers benefit from all armor types?

Yes, followers benefit from all armor types, but consider their skills and playstyle when making your choice. A mage follower might not benefit as much from heavy armor.

8. Who is the strongest follower in Skyrim?

Serana is often considered the strongest follower due to her diverse skill set and essential status. J’zargo is the best without level cap.

9. How do I make a follower unkillable if they aren’t essential?

While not recommended (as it can break immersion), you can use console commands (on PC) to increase their health to an absurdly high level. Use modav health 100000 and modav healrate 1000.

10. Do followers ruin stealth?

Yes, many followers can hinder stealth. Choose followers with high stealth skills or equip them with gear that improves sneaking. Some followers, like Dark Brotherhood Initiates, are naturally better at stealth.

11. Can I heal my followers?

Yes, you can heal your followers using Restoration spells. Simply cast the spell near them.

12. Does follower armor show?

Yes, follower armor will show on their character model. This is why selecting aesthetically pleasing armor sets is important for many players.

13. How do I know what equipment my follower is best suited for?

Consider their skills and combat style. A warrior will benefit from heavy armor and a powerful weapon, while a mage might prefer robes and a staff.

14. What is the rarest armor set in Skyrim?

Several armor sets are rare, including Ahzidahl’s Armor and Konahrik. Finding a complete set of any of the high-tier armors like Dragonplate or Daedric can also be challenging.

15. Do followers benefit from smithing?

Yes, if you give a follower tempered armor they will benefit from the increased stats, just like the player.

Beyond the Basics: The Art of Follower Management

Equipping your followers effectively is more than just min-maxing stats. It’s about creating a cohesive and powerful team that complements your own playstyle. Experiment with different followers, gear combinations, and strategies to discover what works best for you.

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