Ah, Skyrim followers. They’re the loyal (and sometimes insufferable) companions who make adventuring just a little bit easier—or, depending on your luck, significantly harder. From steadfast mercenaries to morally dubious necromancers, these tagalongs are there to block doorways, set off traps, and sometimes, just sometimes, be actually helpful.

But among the hordes of potential companions, a few have stood out to me over the years. Some because they’re genuinely useful, others because they have interesting personalities, and one or two simply because they survived the longest without launching me off a mountain. So, let’s talk about my favourite followers and why I’d willingly drag them across Skyrim time and time again.

The Basics: What Makes a Good Follower?

Skyrim’s follower system is a mixed bag of brilliance and chaos. Some followers are complete powerhouses, able to cleave through entire dungeons with ease. Others are more like clingy toddlers with swords, getting lost at the first sign of trouble.

Followers generally fall into a few categories:

• Mercenaries – Found in inns and cities, these sell-swords will join you for a price. Most are solid warriors, though some are better than others (cough Cosnach cough).
• Housecarls – Earned after becoming Thane of a hold. They’re loyal, obedient, and programmed to defend you at all costs. Basically medieval personal assistants with a greatsword.
• Mages and Priests – Useful for ranged combat and healing… unless you get an overzealous destruction mage who thinks friendly fire is just an occupational hazard.
• Unique Quest Followers – Special characters tied to quests, often with deeper lore or unique abilities. Some of these are incredible. Others… well, they exist.
• Animals – Yes, you can have a dog. No, they will not stop running into traps or barking incessantly.

With that in mind, let’s get to the real reason we’re here—my favourites.

Vorstag: My First Ever Follower

Everyone remembers their first.

Mine was Vorstag, the sellsword from Markarth, and I dragged him through a significant chunk of my first playthrough. He was the first companion who made Skyrim feel a little less lonely—a trusty tank in battle, someone to carry my burdens (mainly dragon bones and miscellaneous junk), and an uncomplaining companion no matter how many times I made him wait in a cave for hours on end.

There’s something special about your first follower. Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s Stockholm Syndrome. Either way, Vorstag set the bar, and while others have surpassed him in terms of power and personality, he’ll always have a place in my adventurer’s heart.

Eola: The Morally Ambiguous Powerhouse

During my first playthrough, I absolutely hated everything about Namira and cannibalism.

So when Eola, a literal flesh-eating Daedra worshipper, approached me in Markarth’s Hall of the Dead and tried to tempt me into feasting on human remains, I did what any self-respecting hero would do: I killed her and all of her creepy cultist friends.

But, in later playthroughs, I decided to be a bit more… flexible. I let the quest play out, and to my surprise, Eola turned out to be one of the best followers in the game. She’s a powerhouse destruction mage, she’s got conjuration skills, and she’s eerily calm about everything. Honestly, her magic abilities alone make it easy to overlook her minor taste for human flesh. If you can get past the whole ‘occasional corpse snacking’ issue, she’s a top-tier follower.

Marcurio: The Sassy Spellcaster

Whenever I played a non-magicka character, Marcurio was my go-to.

He’s one of the few followers who actually has a personality, and while his smug attitude might not be for everyone, I find it pretty amusing. He’s also one of the strongest destruction magic users available, which makes him a solid choice if you need someone to fry your enemies while you handle the stabbing.

That said, Marcurio has a habit of underestimating danger. His confidence often leads to him charging into battle with zero survival instincts, which means a lot of panicked healing and occasional reloading. But hey, no one’s perfect.

Serana: The Undisputed Queen of Followers

And then there’s Serana.

Added with the Dawnguard DLC, Serana is one of the most fleshed-out (no pun intended) followers in Skyrim. She has extensive dialogue, a proper backstory, and a level of depth most followers lack. Plus, she’s ridiculously powerful in combat.

The problem? She’s also a bit of a walking hazard.

Her vampiric drain spells often hit me instead of enemies, and there have been more times than I’d like to admit where I accidentally became a vampire because of her. Nothing like realising mid-quest that I need to make a mad dash to a shrine before full-blown vampirism sets in.

That aside, Serana is easily one of the best followers in the game. Whether you’re roleplaying as a vampire lord or just need a strong companion, she’s an obvious choice. Just… watch out for her magic.

Lydia: The Unintended Martyr

Ah, Lydia. The Skyrim icon. The original “I am sworn to carry your burdens.”

Lydia is the first housecarl you get, and she’s fiercely loyal—perhaps too loyal, considering how often players tend to lose her. Either she gets left behind in a dungeon, mysteriously vanishes into the ether, or (as is most common) meets an unfortunate end in battle due to friendly fire, gravity, or an ill-placed dragon shout.

Her AI is questionable at best, her pathfinding is a joke, and yet… we love her. There’s something endearing about her sighs of exasperation every time you load her up with loot. Skyrim just isn’t the same without Lydia getting in the way at every possible moment.

Honourable Mentions

A few others deserve a quick nod:

• J’zargo – A Khajiit mage who talks big but often accidentally incinerates things (including himself). Loveable, if slightly unreliable.
• Mjoll the Lioness – A solid warrior and one of the most genuinely good characters in the game. Comes with an overly attached ex-boyfriend in tow.
• Teldryn Sero (Dragonborn DLC) – The actual best mercenary in Skyrim. If you’ve never hired him, do yourself a favour and fix that.

Final Thoughts

Followers in Skyrim can be a blessing or a burden, depending on who you pick. Some are indispensable in battle, while others exist purely to block doorways and test your patience. But despite their flaws, they add personality to the game and make those long treks across Tamriel just a little less lonely.

As for me? I’ll keep hiring the same favourites over and over again, ignoring their flaws in favour of nostalgia and power. Well, except for Serana. I’ll be keeping a very close eye on her magic.

Who are your favourite followers? Have you had any particularly ridiculous experiences with them? Let me know!