Getting the Guards Off Your Back in Skyrim: A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’ve found yourself on the wrong side of the law in Skyrim? Maybe you accidentally picked a pocket (or two), or perhaps you got a little carried away during a dragon fight and collateral damage ensued. Whatever the reason, those pesky guards are after you, and you need them to back off. Here’s the lowdown on how to make that happen.
The most direct approach is to resolve your bounty, the gold debt you owe for your crimes, with the hold. There are many ways to make that happen and each situation is different. These are some of the most popular ways to make that happen.
Options for Evasion and Resolution
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Pay the bounty: The simplest solution. If you have the gold, just pay the guard who confronts you. This clears your bounty in that specific hold, and you’re free to go. However, be warned: paying the bounty will result in the confiscation of any stolen goods in your possession.
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Go to jail: Choose to serve your time. All your belongings will be confiscated (though you keep one lockpick!), and you’ll wake up in a jail cell. Serving your sentence reduces your skill progress. You can choose to sleep away your sentence, or try to escape if you’re feeling adventurous.
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Bribe the guard (Thieves Guild/Speech Perk): If you’re a member of the Thieves Guild or have invested in the Speech skill tree to obtain the Bribery perk, you can attempt to bribe the guard to ignore your crimes. This is a great option if you don’t want to lose stolen goods or skill progress.
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Sheathe your weapon: If the guards are attacking you and you believe it’s due to an accidental hostile action, put your weapon away. This might prompt them to initiate a dialogue, giving you a chance to address your bounty.
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Wait it out: If the commotion is a result of immediate aggro from witnesses or NPCs, simply wait in a separate cell in-game for approximately three in-game days. After this time, the guards might’ve calmed down.
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Disable NPC aggression (Console Commands): For PC players, using the console command “tcai” will disable all AI combat. Be careful, as they will still treat you as a criminal. However, with the NPCs selected, you can use the command “setav aggression 0” to stop attacks. You can also use tdetect, which stops NPCs from detecting you, which can help avoid a hostile response in the first place. Remember these commands disable achievements.
FAQs: Conquering Skyrim’s Criminal Justice System
How do I stop guards from attacking me in Skyrim when I don’t have a bounty?
If guards attack you without an active bounty, it’s often because they witnessed you committing a crime or you’re still considered hostile (“aggroed”) from a previous encounter. Try putting your weapons away to initiate dialogue. If that doesn’t work, the aggression may be a glitch. Loading an earlier save might resolve the issue. Also, if you have completed the civil war questline, some guards may not want you in their city, so you would have to reload an earlier save.
Why are Whiterun guards attacking me randomly?
There could be several reasons. If you sided with the Stormcloaks during the Civil War and Whiterun has reverted back to imperial control, guards will automatically attack you. More commonly, it might be a lingering aggro effect from a past crime, or even a bug. Double-check your active crime tab.
How long does it take for guards to stop pursuing you in Skyrim?
If you’re trying to escape and avoid paying or going to jail, running away and hiding until the “crime” icon disappears from your compass is usually sufficient. If they actively begin pursuing you again upon entering their view, you will have to find new strategies. If you are trying to have them calm down, you will have to wait a few in-game days.
Is it better to pay the bounty or go to jail in Skyrim?
This depends on your priorities. Paying the bounty clears your name immediately but confiscates stolen items. Going to jail avoids losing your items (provided you stash them beforehand) but penalizes your skill progress. Sometimes it’s fun to role-play an escape, too!
Can you join the guards in Skyrim?
While there isn’t a formal “join the guard” questline, some mods allow you to join a guard faction. The vanilla game does not offer this ability.
Do guards level with you in Skyrim?
Guards spawn at your level, so their strength and abilities will scale as you level up. This means they will not be an easy target to kill or sneak by.
What happens if you go to jail in Skyrim?
You’ll be stripped of your belongings (except for one lockpick) and placed in a jail cell. You can then either serve your time, which reduces your skill progress, or attempt to escape.
Does changing your face in Skyrim get rid of a bounty?
No, changing your appearance does not remove an existing bounty. The guards recognize your actions, not just your face.
Why do people keep attacking me in Skyrim?
If you are constantly being attacked, it’s likely due to an active bounty in the hold or lingering aggro from a past crime. Open your journal and check the “Crimes” tab to see if you have any unpaid bounties.
Can you turn down the violence in Skyrim?
Skyrim allows you to adjust gore settings, but the game will still feature combat and potentially violent scenarios, including kills moves. You can disable the ability to attack innocents in gameplay settings.
Why is the Dawnguard attacking me?
If the Dawnguard (or other factions like the Companions) are attacking you, it’s possible you have a hidden bounty in their associated hold, usually the Rift (Riften). You can try punching a guard in Riften and paying your bounty to reset any hidden charges.
Does Whiterun ever get repaired after the civil war?
In the unmodded version of Skyrim, Whiterun will not automatically repair itself after damage inflicted during the civil war. Mods can address this issue.
Can Whiterun be attacked by a dragon?
Yes, dragons can and will attack cities, including Whiterun. It’s a relatively common occurrence.
How do you become Thane of Solitude?
To become Thane of Solitude, you must first purchase property in Solitude (Proudspire Manor for 25,000 gold). Then, complete several radiant quests for the people of Haafingar hold. Once you have completed enough quests, talk to the Jarl and she will grant you the title of Thane.
How to get a high bounty in Skyrim?
The easiest way to acquire a high bounty is to commit murder with witnesses in the hold. A single witnessed murder will typically incur a 1,000 gold bounty. Do not have a companion with you, as they may kill the witness and disappear your bounty!
A Few Last Pro-Tips
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Stash your stolen goods: Before paying a bounty or going to jail, store any stolen items in a safe location (like your home) to avoid losing them.
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Exploit the environment: Use the terrain to your advantage when evading guards. Skyrim’s landscape is full of hiding spots, cliffs, and waterways.
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Consider your actions: The best way to avoid guard trouble is to simply avoid committing crimes! Easier said than done, perhaps, but being mindful of your actions can save you a lot of headaches.
Skyrim’s criminal justice system can be frustrating, but with these tips and tricks, you can navigate the law and continue your adventures without constant harassment from the guards. Now go forth, Dragonborn, and explore the world – just try not to get caught!
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