Why Are All The Guards Attacking Me in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’re wandering the snowy peaks and bustling cities of Skyrim, only to be met with the cold steel of a guard’s sword? You’re not alone! The Dragonborn’s life is rarely a peaceful one, and sometimes the reasons for a hostile reception from the local constabulary aren’t immediately obvious. In short, guards in Skyrim will attack you if you have a bounty in their hold, you were witnessed committing a crime, you are transformed into a werewolf, or you are a stage 4 vampire. Let’s delve into the nuances of each of these situations, and explore ways to avoid becoming a wanted criminal (or at least, to handle the consequences).
Understanding Skyrim’s Justice System
Skyrim operates on a hold-based justice system. Each of the nine holds (Eastmarch, Falkreath Hold, Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, The Pale, The Reach, The Rift, Whiterun Hold, and Winterhold) functions somewhat independently. Crimes committed in one hold don’t automatically translate to a bounty in another. This means you could be a notorious outlaw in Whiterun, yet stroll freely through Riften – at least until someone recognizes you!
Bounties: The Most Common Culprit
The most frequent reason for guard aggression is an unpaid bounty. This bounty is accrued by committing crimes within the hold, such as:
- Theft: Pilfering everything from sweet rolls to valuable artifacts.
- Assault: Punching, stabbing, or magically zapping innocent bystanders.
- Murder: Taking a life (or several) without justifiable cause.
- Trespassing: Entering restricted areas, like houses or castles, uninvited.
The amount of the bounty varies depending on the severity of the crime. A stolen apple might incur a small fine, while murder can result in a hefty price on your head.
How to Check Your Bounty:
Navigate to your “General Stats” within the game’s menu. This will reveal your bounty in each hold. Remember that if you’re a member of the Thieves Guild and have progressed through their questline, you might be able to bribe guards to ignore smaller bounties.
Monsterous Transformations and Predjudices
There are a couple ways that you can be turned into a monster in Skyrim, and neither goes over well with guards.
- Vampirism: As you progress through the stages of vampirism (contracted from fighting vampires and left untreated), you will eventually reach stage 4. At this stage, humans will attack you on sight.
- Lycanthropy (Werewolf): Transforming into a werewolf in public is a surefire way to earn the ire of guards and townsfolk alike. Even if you didn’t commit a crime as a werewolf, the act of transformation is enough to trigger a hostile response.
Witnessed Crimes: The Aggro Effect
Even if you think you got away with a crime, Skyrim’s NPCs aren’t always as oblivious as they seem.
- Aggroed NPCs: If you kill an NPC, the surrounding NPCs may become “aggroed” and attack you, even if you don’t technically have a bounty yet.
- Delayed Reactions: Sometimes, guards react to crimes committed earlier. You might have thought you were in the clear, but the memory of your misdeeds lingers in the digital minds of Skyrim’s inhabitants.
Civil War Allegiances and Factions
Skyrim’s civil war between the Empire and the Stormcloaks can also lead to misunderstandings with the guards.
- Whiterun’s Siege: If you’re actively participating in the siege of Whiterun (for either side), expect heavy resistance from the guards defending the city.
- Faction Hostility: Outside of specific quest events, simply wearing the armor of a faction (e.g., Stormcloak armor in an Imperial-controlled city) won’t automatically trigger an attack. However, it can influence NPC dialogue and reactions.
Solutions: How to Stop the Aggression
Alright, so you’re being chased by every guard in Whiterun. What can you do? Here’s a breakdown of your options:
- Sheathe Your Weapon: The universal sign of peace in Skyrim. With your weapon holstered, approach a guard. They may attempt to arrest you and offer you a chance to pay your fine.
- Pay the Bounty: If you have the gold, this is the simplest solution. Be warned, however: paying a bounty confiscates all stolen items in your possession.
- Go to Jail: An alternative to paying, but with its own drawbacks. Serving jail time reduces progress towards leveling up your skills. Also, all your gear gets confiscated (though you can try to pickpocket it back or escape!).
- Bribe a Guard (Thieves Guild): If you’re a member of the Thieves Guild, you can attempt to bribe a guard to ignore your bounty. This only works for smaller bounties and requires some skill in Speechcraft.
- Use Illusion Magic: Calm spells from the Illusion school can pacify hostile NPCs, giving you time to escape or negotiate.
- Run Away: Flee into the wilderness! Guards typically won’t pursue you far beyond the city walls.
- Console Commands (PC Only): If you’re playing on PC, you can use console commands to clear your bounty. Be warned that using console commands can disable achievements.
Preventing Future Conflicts
The best way to avoid guard aggression is, of course, to avoid committing crimes in the first place. Here are some tips:
- Be Mindful of Witnesses: Think you’re alone? Think again! Skyrim’s NPCs have an uncanny knack for appearing at the worst possible moment.
- Invest in Stealth: A high Sneak skill allows you to pickpocket, steal, and even kill without being detected.
- Control Your Transformations: If you’re a werewolf, avoid transforming in populated areas. The same goes for vampires, feed and avoid stage 4 vampirism.
- Consider Pacifism (Sometimes): Not every situation requires violence. Sometimes, talking or running away is the best course of action.
Understanding the nuances of Skyrim’s justice system and the various factors that can trigger guard aggression is key to navigating the world without constantly looking over your shoulder. So go forth, Dragonborn, and conquer Skyrim – just try to avoid getting arrested along the way! Also, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more on the educational aspects of gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will changing my race in Skyrim get rid of my bounty?
No, changing your race (or your appearance in general) will not affect your bounty. The game tracks your criminal activity based on your character, not your appearance.
2. Do I lose my house (Breezehome, etc.) if I attack Whiterun?
If you’re involved in the battle for Whiterun during the civil war, you will lose access to your house temporarily, but you will regain access after the battle is complete.
3. Can guards arrest me if I’m a werewolf?
If you transform into a werewolf in a populated area and are witnessed, guards will become hostile and attempt to kill you, not arrest you. There’s no “werewolf justice system.”
4. Is it better to pay my bounty or go to jail in Skyrim?
It depends on your priorities. Paying the bounty is faster, but you lose all your stolen items. Going to jail avoids the loss of stolen goods (if you stash them beforehand), but it reduces your skill progress.
5. Do guards level up with me in Skyrim?
Guards do not individually level up with you in the traditional sense. They are spawned at certain levels which are increased as the player levels.
6. What’s the hardest enemy in Skyrim that might cause me to accidentally incur a bounty?
While not an enemy that directly causes a bounty, high-level enemies like dragons, giants, and powerful mages can indirectly lead to trouble. In the heat of battle, stray spells or swings of your weapon might accidentally hit a civilian, incurring a bounty for assault or even murder.
7. Can I disable the ability to attack innocent NPCs in Skyrim?
Yes, there is an option to “Prevent Attacking Innocents” in the gameplay settings menu. This can help you avoid accidentally hitting civilians during combat.
8. Do guards ever stop pursuing me in Skyrim if I just run away?
Yes, guards will eventually stop pursuing you if you flee far enough away. They typically won’t chase you beyond the city limits or into another hold. However, you’ll still have a bounty and will be arrested on sight if you return.
9. Are there an infinite number of guards in Skyrim?
No, there isn’t technically an infinite number, but guards will respawn over time to maintain order in the cities.
10. If I’m attacked by bandits and I kill them in self-defense, will I get a bounty?
No, you will not get a bounty for defending yourself against bandits or other hostile creatures, as long as you don’t harm any innocent bystanders in the process.
11. How long do I have to stay in jail to clear my bounty in Skyrim?
The length of your jail sentence depends on the size of your bounty. Smaller bounties result in shorter sentences (typically 1-3 days), while larger bounties can lead to a week or more in the slammer.
12. Will my companions get arrested if I commit a crime in Skyrim?
No, your companions will not get arrested for your crimes. The bounty is solely on you, the Dragonborn.
13. If I pay off my bounty, will the guards forget that I’m a vampire/werewolf?
Paying off your bounty only clears your criminal record. It does not change the guards’ attitude towards you if you are visibly a vampire (Stage 4) or if they witness you transforming into a werewolf.
14. Can I join the guards in Skyrim and get a pass for my crimes?
No, there is no faction that allows you to join the city guards. Being a Thane will get you out of jail once, but it is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.
15. Does being Thane of a hold prevent guards from attacking me?
Being a Thane grants you certain privileges, like having a personal housecarl and being allowed to purchase property in the hold. While it might give you some preferential treatment, it doesn’t make you immune to the law. You’ll still be arrested if you commit a crime and incur a bounty.