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How Long Does It Take For Guards to Stop Pursuing You in Skyrim?

In the vast, immersive world of Skyrim, tangling with the law is almost inevitable. Whether you accidentally pickpocketed a sweetroll or went on a full-blown rampage, the guards will be on your tail. So, the burning question is: How long does it actually take for guards to stop pursuing you in Skyrim? The answer isn’t always straightforward and depends on a few key factors, but generally, give it about 3 in-game days.

The pursuit doesn’t simply cease because you’ve run far enough. The Skyrim system operates on a bounty and recognition basis. If you have a bounty in a hold, guards from that hold will pursue you if they recognize you. Waiting 3 in-game days allows the situation to “cool off,” resetting some of the recognition factors. However, this isn’t a guaranteed fix. There are other steps and variables to consider.

Understanding Bounty and Pursuit Mechanics

Before diving into the nuances of escaping the long arm of the law, let’s break down how the bounty system works:

Bounty Amounts: Each hold in Skyrim has its own separate bounty. This means that if you have a bounty in Whiterun, guards in Riften won’t be concerned. The severity of your crimes determines the amount of the bounty. Petty theft might incur a small fee, while murder will significantly inflate the price on your head.
Witnesses and Recognition: A bounty is only incurred if someone witnesses your crime and reports it to the authorities. If you manage to eliminate all witnesses, no bounty will be issued. However, even if there are no witnesses, guards might still become suspicious if they observe you acting suspiciously or find you near a crime scene.
Guard Behavior: When guards spot you with an active bounty, their behavior depends on several factors. If the bounty is relatively small, they might approach you and offer you the chance to pay it off. If the bounty is significant or you resist arrest, they will become hostile and pursue you.

Strategies to Evade the Guards

So, how do you effectively shake off the guards and return to your adventuring ways without constantly looking over your shoulder? Here are a few tried-and-true methods:

Wait It Out: As mentioned earlier, waiting 3 in-game days is a common solution. This allows the guards’ immediate memory of your crimes to fade. Find a secluded location outside the city walls, or use a rented room somewhere unnoticed to pass the time. You can use the “T” key to wait specified hours.
Sheathe Your Weapon: If guards approach you and attack, immediately sheathe your weapon. This action can trigger a dialogue option where they attempt to arrest you rather than outright attack. You’ll then have the option to pay your fine, go to jail, or resist arrest (which will escalate the situation).
Pay Your Bounty: The most straightforward method is to simply pay your bounty. Approach a guard and choose the dialogue option to pay your fine. This will clear your record in that hold. However, if you’re carrying any stolen goods, they will be confiscated.
Serve Your Time: Opting to serve jail time will also clear your bounty. The length of your sentence depends on the severity of your crimes. You’ll lose skill progress in areas you’ve used a lot recently.
Thane Status: If you’re a Thane of the hold, you might be able to use your influence to get out of trouble. When approached by a guard, a special dialogue option might appear, allowing you to avoid paying the bounty or serving time. This can only be used once per hold.
Thieves Guild: Members of the Thieves Guild have an advantage when dealing with the law. You can bribe guards to ignore your crimes, effectively clearing your bounty without any consequences. This requires some investment in the Thieves Guild questline.
Running and Hiding: If direct confrontation isn’t your style, you can try to escape and hide. Guards typically won’t pursue you far outside the city walls. Find a secluded cave or building, wait for them to give up the chase, and then return when the coast is clear.
Use Water: Jumping into a nearby river or lake can also help you escape the guards. They are less likely to follow you into the water.
Console Commands (PC Only): For PC players, console commands offer a quick fix. The command player.payfine will clear your bounty in the current hold. Be aware that using console commands can disable achievements.
Join the Imperial Legion or Stormcloaks: Depending on your allegiances in the Civil War, guards in holds controlled by the opposing faction may become hostile. Clearing your name in these areas requires completing specific questlines or aligning with the controlling faction.

Additional Tips and Considerations

Here are a few more tips for minimizing your interactions with the guards:

Stealth: Investing in stealth skills makes it easier to commit crimes undetected. High stealth allows you to pickpocket, sneak, and eliminate witnesses without raising alarms.
Illusion Magic: Illusion spells like Invisibility can make you undetectable to guards.
Avoid High-Traffic Areas: Be cautious when committing crimes in crowded areas. The more witnesses there are, the higher the chances of getting caught.
Faction Allegiance: Guards from holds aligned with a faction you are hostile toward will always be aggressive.
Vampirism/Lycanthropy: Being a full-blown vampire or werewolf can also make guards hostile, even without a bounty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)