Who Are the Immortal Followers in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
In the vast and treacherous landscape of Skyrim, choosing the right companions can be the difference between glorious victory and a swift demise at the hands of dragons, draugr, or even a particularly grumpy giant. While most followers can be felled in battle, a select few possess the enviable trait of immortality. These essential characters are marked as significant to the game’s storyline and, as such, cannot be permanently killed, making them invaluable allies.
The permanently essential followers in Skyrim are:
- Cicero: The eccentric and unsettling keeper of the Dark Brotherhood is integral to their questline, ensuring his unkillable status.
- Derkeethus: A bug in the game has made Derkeethus an essential follower.
- Frea: Introduced in the Dragonborn DLC, Frea is a skilled warrior and an essential character during the DLC’s main quest.
- Mjoll the Lioness: Located in Riften, Mjoll is a formidable warrior with a strong moral compass and a unique backstory. She is essential until her quest is completed.
- Serana: A powerful vampire and a central figure in the Dawnguard DLC, Serana’s immortality is crucial to her role in the storyline.
- Dark Brotherhood Initiates: Joining the Dark Brotherhood offers two generic followers that cannot die.
Understanding who these unkillable companions are and how to acquire them will significantly impact your gameplay experience, allowing you to explore Skyrim’s dangers with greater confidence. Now, let’s dive into some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of immortal followers in Skyrim.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Immortal Followers in Skyrim
1. What does it mean for a follower to be “essential” in Skyrim?
Being “essential” means that a character is protected from permanent death by the game’s code. When an essential follower’s health reaches zero, they will simply kneel and recover, eventually rejoining the battle. This designation is typically reserved for characters vital to the main storyline or significant questlines.
2. Are all followers recruitable from the Dark Brotherhood immortal?
No, only the two Dark Brotherhood Initiates are permanently essential. Other members of the Dark Brotherhood who might temporarily follow you on quests can die.
3. Can I ever kill an essential character in Skyrim?
In most cases, no. However, some mods might alter this, and certain story choices can lead to the death of characters who were previously essential. For example, completing certain quests may remove a character’s essential status.
4. Does Serana’s essential status ever change?
Serana remains essential throughout the entire Dawnguard DLC and beyond. Regardless of your choices during the DLC’s main quest, she cannot be permanently killed.
5. How do I acquire Serana as a follower?
You will meet Serana during the Dawnguard DLC questline. She is found in Dimhollow Crypt and will become a follower as part of the main quest.
6. Are there any downsides to having an immortal follower?
While having a follower who can’t die seems ideal, there can be drawbacks. Immortal followers can sometimes steal your kills, potentially hindering perk progression. Their inability to die might also reduce the sense of danger in certain encounters. Their aggressive nature can also make stealth-based gameplay difficult.
7. Can I make a non-essential follower immortal?
Yes, using console commands (available on PC), you can make any follower essential. Open the console, select the follower by clicking on them, and type “setessential [refID] 1” (replace [refID] with the follower’s reference ID). Also, you can add health points.
8. What happens if my immortal follower gets “lost”?
Immortal followers, like all followers, can get separated from you due to terrain, enemy encounters, or simply getting stuck. Typically, they will eventually catch up. If they are truly lost, try fast traveling to a different location, which should bring them to your side.
9. How does an immortal follower’s “kneeling” affect combat?
When an immortal follower’s health is depleted, they kneel for a short period to recover. During this time, they are temporarily out of the fight, potentially leaving you vulnerable. However, they quickly rejoin the battle with full health.
10. Does the difficulty setting in Skyrim affect immortal followers?
No, the difficulty setting primarily affects the damage you and your enemies deal. It does not change the essential status of immortal followers.
11. Are there any mods that affect follower immortality?
Yes, many mods can alter follower behavior, including their essential status. Some mods might make all followers essential, while others might remove the essential status from certain characters. Always read mod descriptions carefully before installation.
12. What are some strategies for using immortal followers effectively?
Use immortal followers as frontline tanks to draw enemy fire while you focus on dealing damage. They are also excellent for exploring dangerous areas, as they can survive traps and enemy ambushes that might instantly kill a weaker character.
13. Can I marry an immortal follower?
Yes, some immortal followers like Aela the Huntress can become spouses.
14. How does follower level scaling work in Skyrim?
Many followers, including some immortal ones, have level caps and level with you until they reach that cap.
15. Besides immortality, what makes a good follower in Skyrim?
Beyond being unkillable, a good follower should complement your character’s skills and playstyle. Consider their combat proficiency, skills like archery or magic, and their personality. A follower with a strong set of skills can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. Consider their perks and skills that are useful.
Ultimately, the choice of who to bring along on your adventures in Skyrim is a personal one. However, understanding the capabilities and limitations of immortal followers can give you a significant advantage in the harsh and unforgiving world of Tamriel. Whether you’re delving into ancient ruins, battling fearsome dragons, or simply exploring the vast wilderness, these resilient companions will be by your side, ready to face any challenge. Remember that games offer unique environments to study learning! More research is available at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.