Unlocking Serana’s Wardrobe: A Comprehensive Guide to Armor for Skyrim’s Favorite Vampire

Yes, Serana will absolutely wear different armor in Skyrim, but with a few important caveats. This isn’t a simple case of handing her a shiny new set of steel and expecting her to immediately equip it. There’s a bit of strategy involved, primarily concerning armor rating and type. She’s a creature of habit, and breaking her out of her default vampire attire requires understanding her preferences and the game’s mechanics. This guide will delve into the specifics of outfitting Serana, ensuring she’s both stylish and well-protected on your adventures.

Understanding Serana’s Armor Preferences

Serana’s default armor is Vampire Royal Armor, a light armor set with a decent armor rating. This is her baseline, and any replacement armor must exceed that baseline to entice her to switch. The key thing to remember is that she generally prefers light armor. While she can technically equip heavy armor, she’s much more likely to wear light armor that offers superior protection to her default gear.

Enchantments also play a vital role. If you’re looking to optimize Serana for a specific playstyle, like stealth, armor enchanted with Muffle and Fortify Sneak can turn her into an even more effective companion. The combination of higher armor rating and beneficial enchantments is the golden ticket to getting her to change her clothes.

Equipping Serana: The Step-by-Step Process

1. Assess Her Current Gear: Familiarize yourself with the stats of her Vampire Royal Armor. This is the benchmark you need to surpass. You can find the base stats online or by using console commands (if you’re on PC).

2. Find or Craft Better Armor: Seek out light armor with a higher armor rating. Dragonscale Armor, Glass Armor, or even high-quality Elven Armor are all excellent choices. Alternatively, improve common sets like Leather or Hide at a forge.

3. Enchant the Armor (Optional but Recommended): Enchantments can significantly enhance the armor’s value and appeal. As mentioned, Muffle and Fortify Sneak are great for stealth builds, while Fortify Health or Stamina can increase her survivability.

4. Give Her the Armor: Simply transfer the armor to her inventory.

5. She Won’t Equip it Automatically: Here’s where the patience comes in. You need to remove her existing armor. This can be done by using a follower management mod (if on PC or Xbox) or through the console command: removeallitems (target Serana first). Do NOT use pickpocketing to remove her gear. She can be really stubborn in that case.

6. Equip Via Trading: After the removal, she should equip the new armor from her inventory. If for some reason this doesn’t happen, ensure there are no conflicting items (like another chest piece occupying the same slot).

Why This Matters: The Importance of Companion Customization

Customizing your companions’ gear is more than just cosmetic; it’s a crucial element of effective gameplay. A well-equipped Serana can significantly enhance your combat prowess, stealth capabilities, and overall enjoyment of the game. By understanding her preferences and the mechanics of armor equipping, you can transform her from a helpful follower into an indispensable ally.

Frequently Asked Questions About Serana and Armor

1. What happens if Serana has multiple armor pieces with different armor ratings in her inventory?

Serana will generally equip the armor piece with the highest armor rating for each slot. However, enchantments can influence her decision. If a piece has a slightly lower rating but a more desirable enchantment, she might choose that instead.

2. Can Serana wear custom armor added by mods?

Yes, as long as the custom armor meets the same criteria: it must be light armor (ideally) with an armor rating higher than her Vampire Royal Armor. If the mod-added armor is flagged as heavy armor, she’s less likely to equip it unless it’s significantly better than her default. Also, be sure the armor is appropriately flagged for her race.

3. Does Serana benefit from armor perks in the Light Armor skill tree?

No. Serana doesn’t benefit from the Dragonborn’s perk tree. Her abilities and attributes have already been preset by Bethesda.

4. Is there a way to force Serana to wear specific armor, regardless of its stats?

On PC, using the console commands is the most reliable method. Target Serana and use the equipitem command followed by the item ID. However, be warned that this can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior or glitches. Follower management mods are the safer option.

5. Will Serana equip enchanted rings, amulets, and other accessories?

Yes, Serana will equip rings and amulets. These are a great way to boost her stats or add additional enchantments.

6. Can I give Serana a shield?

No, Serana cannot use shields. She prefers to use spells in her off hand. You can however give her an off-hand staff.

7. Does Serana’s level affect the armor she will wear?

Yes, Serana’s level scales up to level 50, as she levels up her skills with light armor and one-handed improve, meaning the overall stats that will be useful for her when choosing armor will also increase. This means higher-level armor will generally be more appealing to her as she gains experience and levels up.

8. What happens if I cure Serana of her vampirism? Will this affect her armor preferences?

Curing Serana will not affect her armor preferences. She will still look for gear upgrades after being cured.

9. Can Serana wear the Dawnguard armor?

Yes, Serana can wear Dawnguard armor, however it needs to surpass her default armor rating. You can find Dawnguard light and heavy armor inside Fort Dawnguard.

10. If I give Serana a weapon, will she use it instead of her spells?

Serana prioritizes using spells, particularly Destruction spells. However, if she runs out of magicka, she will switch to a melee weapon. Giving her a powerful enchanted sword or dagger is a good backup plan. You can give her a staff to use instead.

11. Is there a best type of armor for Serana?

This depends on your playstyle. For stealth-focused players, light armor with Muffle and Fortify Sneak is ideal. For a more aggressive playstyle, light armor with Fortify Health or Stamina will increase her survivability. Dragonscale armor is usually a safe bet.

12. Why won’t Serana equip the helmet I gave her?

Serana often prefers not to wear helmets, especially if they cover her face. However, there is a glitch that forces her to show the helmet when you fast travel. Consider using a circlet instead, as she is more likely to wear those.

13. Will armor weight affect Serana’s movement or stealth?

No, the armor weight won’t affect Serana’s movement or stealth. Her stealth is affected by enchantments like Muffle.

14. What happens if I accidentally remove Serana’s default armor and can’t get it back?

If you accidentally remove Serana’s default armor, you can use console commands to add it back to her inventory. The item ID is xx002821, where “xx” represents the Dawnguard DLC’s load order number in your game. Use the command player.additem xx002821 1 after targeting Serana in the console.

15. Does Serana’s outfit impact her dialogue or interactions with other characters?

No, Serana’s outfit does not impact her dialogue.

Understanding Serana’s quirks and preferences is part of what makes her such a compelling companion. By taking the time to find or craft armor that suits her needs, you can ensure that she’s both effective in combat and a stylish addition to your adventuring party. Remember to prioritize light armor with a higher armor rating than her default Vampire Royal Armor, and don’t hesitate to experiment with enchantments to tailor her to your specific playstyle. As you explore the world of Skyrim, remember that learning through play and experimentation is a valuable approach, a concept championed by organizations like the Games Learning Society who are dedicated to research and innovation in game-based learning at GamesLearningSociety.org. With a little effort, you can transform Serana into the ultimate companion, ready to face any challenge that comes your way.