Is Aela Unkillable in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer is: Aela the Huntress is not permanently unkillable in Skyrim, but her status changes depending on your progress through the game, particularly the Companions questline. Understanding her mortality (or lack thereof) is key to planning your playthrough, especially if you intend to have her as a companion or even a spouse.
Aela’s Essential Status and How It Changes
Essential Before the Companions Questline Completion
Before you complete the Companions questline, Aela is marked as an essential NPC. This means she cannot die, regardless of the damage she takes. You can see her fall in battle, or be struck by a dragon’s fire breath, but she’ll just kneel for a short period and then return to the fight unharmed. This status is there to ensure players can advance through the Companions story without accidentally losing a vital character. You can think of it as a form of plot armor.
Killable After the Companions Questline
After completing the entire Companions questline, Aela loses her essential status. She becomes killable, meaning she can be permanently killed. However, this is where a unique element of her character comes into play. She can only be permanently killed by the player character. While other enemies can bring her down to a kneeling position, and may seem to deliver the killing blow, she will always recover from these non-player inflicted “deaths”. This unique mechanic adds a layer of depth to her character and the weight of the player’s decisions. It also underscores her importance to the player’s journey through Skyrim.
The Tragedy of Killing Aela
The fact that Aela can only be permanently killed by the player character makes the possibility even more impactful. It’s a decision of significant weight, as she’s not just a random NPC. She is often seen as a valuable companion, an accomplished archer, a skilled one-handed fighter, a potential spouse, and a fellow werewolf within the Circle. This means killing Aela is a deliberate, player-driven act that is likely to impact how the player feels about their own game, and further emphasizes the weight of the Dragonborn’s actions within the game world.
Aela’s Skills and Roles
A Versatile Companion
Aela is a great choice for a follower, thanks to her well-rounded skill set. She excels in archery and one-handed combat. Her sneak skill makes her useful for stealth-based players as well. She also has decent speech skills, which can be helpful during trading and interactions. Her versatility makes her a valuable asset for most playstyles.
Ancient Nordic Armor
Unlike most of the other Companions who wear Wolf or Steel armor, Aela is unique in that she wears the Ancient Nordic Armor. This makes her visually distinct and adds to her unique character. Also, it serves as a reminder of her history and her role within Skyrim.
Light Armor Skill
While she starts wearing heavy armor, her light armor skill is quite good. It’s recommended to outfit her in a decent set of light armor, especially if you are using her as a regular follower. She will benefit from the extra protection.
Aela: Spouse and Blade
Marriage Potential
Aela is one of the most popular marriage candidates in Skyrim. She is a strong, capable warrior with a compelling personality. She also offers the benefit of free Archery training after marriage.
Possible Blade Member
Aela can also be recruited into the Blades. If you do, she will leave Jorrvaskr and move to Sky Haven Temple, changing her location and potentially influencing your other choices in the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Aela be healed?
No, Aela cannot be healed directly. If she is brought down to her knees in combat, she recovers on her own. In the cases where she is killed by the player, she’ll be gone for good.
2. Can Aela be resurrected?
Without using console commands (PC only) you cannot directly resurrect Aela. There is no in-game spell or ability that will directly restore her to life. Some players might use a reanimation spell or the ritual stone, however, that would turn her into a temporary zombie and won’t be considered her original self.
3. How do I prevent losing Aela?
If you are worried about losing Aela during your play through, it is best to create a save file before going out into the world with her. If you lose her, reload your previous save. Aela will not be lost, if you don’t kill her yourself, and the save will help you prevent an accidental loss of one of your favorite companions.
4. Can Aela become a vampire?
No, Aela cannot contract vampirism. She is immune due to her status as a werewolf. The lycanthropy that she has acquired prevents any vampiric infections.
5. Who is the strongest female follower in Skyrim, compared to Aela?
While Aela is strong, Serana is generally considered the strongest female follower in Skyrim. She has high skill levels in Destruction, Conjuration, One-Handed, and Light Armor. Making her a versatile and formidable ally.
6. Where does Aela rank among all Skyrim followers?
Aela is generally considered one of the best followers in Skyrim. She frequently appears in “top follower” lists, usually among the top 10.
7. What makes Aela a good wife in Skyrim?
Aela is a popular wife choice due to her strength, loyalty, and the fact that she provides free archery training. She is also seen as having a strong and confident personality.
8. Can I get Aela’s Ancient Nordic Armor?
Yes, after completing the main Companions questline, you can obtain Aela’s Ancient Nordic Armor if you kill her. She will drop the pieces she was wearing.
9. What are Aela’s main skills?
Aela’s main skills are Archery, One-Handed, Sneak, and Light Armor.
10. What happens if Aela dies during the Companions questline?
If you are playing the game before the Companions questline is completed, Aela is an essential NPC and cannot be killed.
11. Why is Aela considered essential before the Companions questline?
She is considered essential to ensure players cannot lose her prior to the questline being completed. This guarantees she is available to advance the story and avoids situations where questlines could be broken.
12. Can I marry Aela as a vampire?
To marry Aela you must complete the Companions quest line. Given that this questline turns you into a werewolf, you cannot be a vampire at that moment. However, after finishing the Dawnguard questline, Serana can turn you into a vampire at any time.
13. Do you have to be a werewolf to marry Aela?
Yes, you must complete the Companions quest line in order to marry her. This will require you to become a werewolf yourself.
14. Is Aela the most loyal follower in Skyrim?
While Aela is a very loyal follower, Frea from Dragonborn is also known to be a highly loyal character and a strong fighter. The “most” loyal will ultimately come down to player preference.
15. Can I use console commands to make Aela essential again after completing the Companions questline?
Yes, using PC console commands, you can change her status from killable to essential. This requires some knowledge of the console commands.
Conclusion
While Aela the Huntress is not unkillable in the strictest sense, her unique status in the game is what makes her special. She remains invulnerable before the Companions questline is completed, becomes vulnerable but only to the player afterward, and is a generally strong and beneficial follower. Whether you choose to keep her by your side, recruit her into the Blades, or even take her hand in marriage, understanding her importance in the game will surely enhance your overall experience in Skyrim.