Who is the Best Caster Follower in Skyrim?
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The answer isn’t straightforward, as “best” depends heavily on your playstyle and what you need from a follower. However, Serana emerges as the arguably best caster follower in Skyrim for a multitude of reasons. Her powerful necromantic abilities, essential status making her unkillable, engaging backstory and dialogue, and access to a wide range of spells make her incredibly versatile and effective in a variety of situations. While other mage followers might excel in specific areas, Serana’s overall package makes her a top contender.
Diving Deep: Understanding Caster Followers in Skyrim
Before we definitively crown a champion, let’s understand what makes a good caster follower in Skyrim. This involves considering several factors:
Spell Selection and Versatility
A great caster follower shouldn’t be a one-trick pony. They need a diverse spellbook encompassing offense (destruction magic), defense (alteration and restoration), and utility (conjuration). Access to spells like Chain Lightning, Fireball, Healing Hands, and Raise Zombie are invaluable.
Combat AI and Aggressiveness
A follower’s AI dictates how effectively they use their spells. Do they prioritize defense, offense, or a balanced approach? A follower that constantly rushes into melee combat with a staff is less useful than one who hangs back and casts spells strategically.
Survivability
Even the most powerful spells are useless if the caster is dead. A follower’s health, armor proficiency, and access to healing spells determine their longevity in a fight. Essential status, meaning they cannot die, is a massive advantage.
Personal Preference and Roleplaying
Ultimately, the best follower is one you enjoy having around. Do you prefer a stoic spellsword or a talkative mage with a complex backstory? Personal preference plays a significant role.
Why Serana Stands Out
Serana, a pure-blood vampire and a central character in the Dawnguard DLC, embodies many of the qualities of an ideal caster follower.
- Powerful Necromancy: Serana excels at raising the dead. She can reanimate multiple corpses simultaneously, creating a formidable undead army. This is particularly useful for players who struggle with crowd control or want a distraction for enemies.
- Essential Status: This is a game-changer. Serana cannot be killed, meaning you don’t have to constantly worry about her safety. This allows you to focus on your own combat and objectives.
- Varied Spell Selection: While specializing in necromancy, Serana also uses a variety of other spells, including lightning spells, drain spells, and healing spells. This makes her adaptable to different combat scenarios.
- Engaging Dialogue and Story: Serana is a well-developed character with a compelling backstory and plenty of dialogue. She provides unique insights into the world of Skyrim and the vampire culture.
- Customization with Mods: Mods can further enhance Serana’s capabilities, allowing you to tailor her spell selection and behavior to your specific needs.
Other Contenders for Best Caster Follower
While Serana is a strong contender, several other mage followers are worth considering:
- Marcurio: Found in Riften’s Bee and Barb, Marcurio is a mercenary mage with a diverse spell selection, including powerful lightning spells. He’s a solid choice for players who prefer offensive spellcasting.
- Brelyna Maryon: Available at the College of Winterhold, Brelyna is a novice mage with a focus on illusion magic. She’s useful for players who want a follower to use crowd control spells like Calm and Fear.
- Teldryn Sero: Found on Solstheim, Teldryn is a spellsword who combines magic with melee combat. He’s a versatile follower who can handle a variety of situations.
- Illia: Rescued from a tower in Riften, she focuses on Ice magic and is a good choice for range attacks.
The Downside of Serana
Despite her many advantages, Serana has a few drawbacks:
- Vampire Lord Form: While potentially useful, Serana occasionally transforming into a Vampire Lord can be disruptive, especially in enclosed spaces.
- Limited Equipment: Serana’s armor is fixed, limiting your ability to customize her equipment.
- Dialogue Interruptions: Some players find Serana’s constant dialogue during exploration to be annoying.
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. Can Serana be cured of her vampirism?
No, Serana cannot be cured of her vampirism. This is a core aspect of her character and story.
2. What happens if I side with the Dawnguard instead of the vampires?
You can still have Serana as a follower even if you side with the Dawnguard. However, her dialogue might change slightly.
3. Can I marry Serana?
Unfortunately, no. Serana is not a marriageable character in the vanilla version of Skyrim. However, mods can enable this option.
4. Which spells does Serana use?
Serana uses a mix of necromancy, destruction (mostly lightning), restoration, and alteration spells. Her specific spells can vary slightly depending on her level.
5. How do I get Serana as a follower?
You gain Serana as a follower during the Dawnguard questline after rescuing her from Dimhollow Crypt.
6. Is Marcurio better than Serana?
It depends on your playstyle. Marcurio is more focused on offensive destruction magic, while Serana excels at necromancy and has essential status.
7. Can I give Serana new spells?
Without mods, you cannot directly teach Serana new spells. However, some mods allow you to customize her spellbook.
8. Does Serana’s level scale with mine?
Yes, Serana’s level scales with yours up to a certain point, ensuring that she remains a viable follower throughout the game.
9. Is it worth using a mod to make Serana marryable?
That’s entirely a matter of personal preference. If you’re attached to Serana’s character and want to marry her, then a mod can fulfill that desire.
10. How does Serana’s Vampire Lord form affect gameplay?
Serana’s Vampire Lord form can be powerful, but it can also be disruptive. She might transform unexpectedly, especially in tight spaces, and can sometimes hinder your own combat.
11. What are some good mods to enhance Serana?
Several mods enhance Serana, including those that allow you to customize her appearance, spellbook, and behavior. “Serana Dialogue Add-on” and “Seranaholic” are popular choices.
12. Does Serana affect my stealth?
Yes, Serana’s presence can affect your stealth. Her armor makes noise, and she might engage enemies even when you’re trying to sneak past them.
13. Can I equip Serana with different weapons?
No, Serana primarily uses spells and cannot be equipped with standard weapons like swords or bows.
14. What’s the best armor for Serana?
Serana’s armor is fixed and cannot be changed without mods.
15. Is Serana the best follower for all playstyles?
No, Serana isn’t the best follower for all playstyles. If you prefer a follower who focuses on melee combat or stealth, other options might be better suited to your needs. However, for players who appreciate powerful magic, essential status, and an engaging character, Serana is an excellent choice.
Conclusion: Choosing Your Magical Companion
Ultimately, the best caster follower in Skyrim is subjective. While Serana offers a compelling package of power, survivability, and personality, other followers might better suit your specific needs. Consider your preferred playstyle, the challenges you anticipate facing, and your personal preferences when making your decision. Experiment with different followers to find the magical companion who best complements your Dragonborn’s journey. Choose wisely and may your spells always hit their mark!