Skyrim’s Enchanted Arsenal: Do Followers Drain Your Magic?

Yes, followers in Skyrim absolutely use up the charges on enchanted weapons. Understanding this mechanic is crucial for effective adventuring with companions. You’ll need to periodically check their inventory and recharge their weapons using soul gems or provide them with new, fully charged replacements. Failing to do so will leave your follower wielding a mundane weapon, significantly reducing their combat effectiveness.

Understanding Follower Weapon Usage

The seemingly simple act of equipping a follower with an enchanted weapon opens a Pandora’s Box of considerations. From enchantment effectiveness to overall combat strategy, knowing the intricacies of how followers utilize these magical armaments is vital for maximizing their potential and your overall Skyrim experience. Let’s delve into the specifics.

Enchantment Application and Limitations

While followers benefit from enchanted items, the way enchantments function on them is not a mirror image of how they work on the Dragonborn. Certain enchantments, particularly those that directly affect the follower’s base stats like Stamina, Magicka, or Health, often don’t translate accurately. Their base stats generally remain fixed, irrespective of these enchantments.

However, enchantments that directly influence combat, such as elemental damage (fire, frost, shock), paralysis, or health absorption, are fully effective and can dramatically improve a follower’s performance. These are the enchantments you want to focus on when gearing up your companions.

Weapon Charging: A Necessary Evil

The biggest pitfall is the drain on weapon charges. Every strike with an enchanted weapon consumes a portion of its charge, and followers are indiscriminate in their usage. They will relentlessly swing away until the weapon is depleted, regardless of the enemy’s health or strategic considerations. This makes regular maintenance and recharging essential.

Failing to keep their weapons charged effectively neuters their offensive capabilities. Monitoring their inventories and supplying them with filled soul gems is therefore paramount.

Strategic Considerations

The type of enemy you are facing should influence the enchanted weapon you equip your follower with. A follower with a fire enchanted weapon will be incredibly effective against undead enemies.

Beyond enchanting weapons, consider their armor too. Armor enchantments like Fortify Health, Fortify Light Armor, and Fortify Heavy Armor are often effective on followers, boosting their survivability. Prioritize these enchantments to make your follower a robust and durable combatant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Followers and Enchanted Weapons

Here’s a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about equipping followers with enchanted weapons in Skyrim, designed to address common concerns and optimize your gameplay:

1. Do all enchantments work on followers?

   No, not all enchantments function as expected on followers. Enchantments that directly affect base stats like Health, Magicka, and Stamina often have limited or no effect. Combat-oriented enchantments such as elemental damage, paralysis, and absorb health are generally effective.

2. Does the magnitude of the enchantment matter for followers?

   Yes, the magnitude of the enchantment is directly relevant. A weapon with a stronger enchantment will generally deal more damage or have a higher chance of triggering its effect when used by a follower. This applies to things like chaos damage, absorb health, and paralyze effects.

3. Can followers use Soul Trap enchantments effectively?

   While you can equip a follower with a weapon enchanted with Soul Trap, they might not use it consistently. Often, they will revert to their default weapon, especially for ranged combat. If you specifically need souls trapped, it’s more reliable to do it yourself.

4. Do followers benefit from elemental resistance enchantments on armor?

   Yes, followers greatly benefit from elemental resistance enchantments on armor. Equipping them with gear that provides resistance to fire, frost, and shock can significantly improve their survivability against dragons and mages.

5. What are the best enchantments for follower weapons?

   The best enchantments for follower weapons are those that directly contribute to damage and control, such as:

   • Absorb Health: Drains health from enemies and adds it to the follower.
   • Chaos Damage: Deals random elemental damage, maximizing effectiveness against various enemy types.
   • Paralyze: Temporarily incapacitates enemies, providing a tactical advantage.

6. Does follower armor choice matter?

   Yes. The game dictates armor choices based on base armor ratings. Upgrading an armor improves the rating and makes it more likely to be chosen.

7. How do I know when a follower’s weapon is out of charges?

   The easiest way is to regularly check their inventory. Open the follower’s inventory, select the enchanted weapon, and observe the remaining charges. Replenish with soul gems as needed.

8. What happens if I give a follower multiple enchanted weapons?

   Followers will typically choose the weapon with the highest base damage or the one they are most proficient with. However, you can influence their choice by removing other weapons from their inventory.

9. Do set bonuses work with followers?

   No, set bonuses do not work with followers. Your follower will still be able to take advantage of the actual stats that are on the item.

10. Are some followers better with enchanted weapons than others?

    Yes, followers with higher skill levels in relevant weapon types (e.g., One-Handed, Two-Handed, Archery) will generally be more effective with enchanted weapons. Also, followers with a high Destruction magic skill (like Serana or J’zargo) tend to utilize elemental enchantments more effectively.

11. What are the best types of soul gems to use for recharging follower weapons?

    Grand Soul Gems, particularly those containing Grand Souls (e.g., mammoths, giants), are the most efficient for recharging enchanted weapons, providing the highest number of charges replenished. However, any filled soul gem can be used.

12. Do follower skills matter?

    Yes! If a follower favors bows, give them an enchanted bow.

13. Can I use console commands to make follower weapons not lose charges?

    Yes, if you’re playing on PC, you can use console commands to achieve this. Select the follower in the console, then use the command SetAV WeaponCharge 9999 (or any large number) to effectively prevent their weapon from losing charges. Note: This may affect game balance.

14. Does upgrading weapons improve follower weapon damage?

    Absolutely. Upgrading a weapon, whether it’s enchanted or not, increases its base damage, directly benefiting the follower’s combat effectiveness. This is especially important in later game stages where enemy health pools are significantly larger.

15. What should I consider for a novice player?

    Stick to robust followers like Lydia or Aela the Huntress. Aela the Huntress is one of the best wives to marry in Skyrim, but she’s also one of the strongest followers that the Dragonborn can adventure with, given her status as an essential follower. They are durable, relatively easy to obtain, and can handle a variety of combat situations. Focus on equipping them with armor that fortifies their health and defensive skills, and weapons with straightforward damage enchantments. As you gain more experience, experiment with more specialized enchantments and follower builds.

Understanding how followers interact with enchanted weapons is a crucial component to mastering Skyrim’s gameplay. By equipping your companions effectively and maintaining their enchanted gear, you’ll create a powerful and versatile adventuring party, capable of tackling even the most challenging threats.

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