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Elder Scrolls
All Type of Bandits in Order

Examples of the seven Bandit subtypes

For other uses, see Bandits.

Bandits are one of the most common enemies encountered across Skyrim. They wield a wide variety of weapons, ranging from bows, one-handed and two-handed melee weapons, and, on rare occasions, spells. Their apparel varies from light to heavy armor, and always consists of a cuirass and boots (or fur shoes), and may include gauntlets, a helmet, or a shield as well.

"We wanted to establish the bandits as somewhat nomadic and rugged. By clothing them in wolf pelts and leather we provided them with light armor and plenty of warmth for the cold Nordic nights."
―Bandit Armor[src]

Although most bandits are Nords, Orcish bandits and other races are also common. Bandits almost always appear in groups, and often inhabit forts and caves. Bandit groups often set up regular patrols to guard entrances and other key areas, sometimes numbering near a dozen at well-fortified locations. They can also be encountered traveling along the roads, but it is not as common. Their Solstheim counterparts are the Reavers, who are always Dunmer.

Subtypes[]

One-Handed[]

Rank Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Loot Armor Weapons Leveled Character ID
Bandit 1 35 25 70 Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools, Mace, Sword, Waraxe Light Armor Maces, Swords, and War Axes
0003DECB
Bandit Outlaw 5 109 25 86
Bandit Thug 9 238 25 107
Bandit Highwayman 14 318 25 152
Bandit Plunderer 19 398 25 172
Bandit Marauder 25 489 25 246

Tank[]

Rank Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Loot Armor Weapons Leveled Character ID
Bandit 1 35 25 70 Gold, Lockpicks, Mace, Sword, Waraxe Heavy Armor Maces, Swords, War Axes, and Daggers
00015BE5
Bandit Outlaw 5 109 25 86
Bandit Thug 9 238 25 107
Bandit Highwayman 14 318 25 152
Bandit Plunderer 19 398 25 172 Gold, Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Orcish Dagger
Bandit Marauder 25 489 25 246

Two-Handed[]

Rank Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Loot Armor Weapons Leveled Character ID
Bandit 1 35 25 70 Gold, Lockpicks, Warhammer, Battleaxe, Greatsword Light Armor Warhammers, Battleaxes, Greatswords, and Daggers
0001E79D
Bandit Outlaw 5 109 25 86
Bandit Thug 9 238 25 107
Bandit Highwayman 14 318 25 152
Bandit Plunderer 19 398 25 172 Gold, Warhammer, Battleaxe, Greatsword, Orcish Dagger
Bandit Marauder 25 489 25 246

Archer[]

Rank Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Loot Armor Weapons Leveled Character ID
Bandit 1 35 25 70 Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools, Dagger, Bow, Arrows Light Armor Bows and Daggers
0001E79E
Bandit Outlaw 5 109 25 86
Bandit Thug 9 238 25 107
Bandit Highwayman 14 318 25 152
Bandit Plunderer 19 398 25 172
Bandit Marauder 25 489 25 246

Chief[]

Bandit Chief Rank Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Loot Armor Weapons Leveled Character ID
Rank 1 6 155 25 95 Gold, Warhammer, Battleaxe, Greatsword, Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Steel Dagger Heavy Armor Warhammers, Battleaxes, Greatswords, Maces, Swords, War Axes, and Daggers
0003DF17
Rank 2 10 224 25 126
Rank 3 16 315 25 160 Gold, Warhammer, Battleaxe, Greatsword, Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Orcish Dagger
Rank 4 21 395 25 195 Gold, Warhammer, Battleaxe, Greatsword, Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Elven Dagger
Rank 5 28 497 25 258

Wizard[]

Bandit Wizard Rank Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Spells Loot Armor Weapons Leveled Character ID
Bandit 1 35 100 50 Healing, Frostbite or Flames or Sparks, Oakflesh, Lesser Ward Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Jewelry, Soul gems, Ingredients, Books, Tomes, Staves, Iron Dagger Light Armor Daggers
0001E79F
Bandit Outlaw 5 101 124 70
Bandit Thug 9 222 173 75 Fast Healing, Ice Spike or Firebolt or Lightning Bolt, Stoneflesh, Steadfast Ward Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Jewelry, Soul gems, Ingredients, Books, Tomes, Staves, Steel Dagger
Bandit Highwayman 14 292 153 70 Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Jewelry, Soul gems, Ingredients, Books, Tomes, Staves, Dagger
Bandit Plunderer 19 362 183 70 Fast Healing, Ice Spike or Firebolt or Lightning Bolt, Ice Storm or Fireball or Chain Lightning, Stoneflesh, Steadfast Ward Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Jewelry, Soul gems, Ingredients, Books, Tomes, Staves, Dagger
Bandit Marauder 25 441 294 150

Bandit corpses[]

Click to show table
Name Level Health-icon MagickaIcon Stamina Drop Location Form ID
TreasCorpseBanditBretonFemale 1 35 100 50 Iron dagger, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Jewelry, Soul gems, Ingredients, Books, Tomes, Staves On the mountain South-East of Harmugstahl, Shimmermist Cave, Irkngthand, Liar's Retreat, Ilinalta's Deluge, Fort Greenwall 000328E0
TreasCorpseBanditBretonMale 1 35 100 50 Iron dagger, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks Silverdrift Lair, Darkshade, Forelhost, Kagrenzel, Gloomreach, Greywater Grotto, Irkngthand, Sightless Pit 000328DF
TreasCorpseBanditDarkElfFemale 1 35 100 50 Iron dagger, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Jewelry, Soul gems, Ingredients, Books, Tomes, Staves Irkngthand, Liar's Retreat 000328DD
TreasCorpseBanditDarkElfMale 1 35 100 50 Iron dagger, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Jewelry, Soul gems, Ingredients, Books, Tomes, Staves Nilheim, Darklight Tower, Twilight Sepulcher, Volskygge, Silverdrift Lair, Sightless Pit 000328DE
TreasCorpseBanditImperialFemale 1 35 25 70 Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools Outside Ustengrav, Tolvald's Cave, Irkngthand 0001A766
TreasCorpseBanditImperialMale 1 35 25 70 Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools Outisde Fort Greymoor, Outside Roadside Ruins, Outside/In Ustengrav, Volskygge, Silverdrift Lair, Duskglow Crevice, Haemar's Shame, Snapleg Cave 0001A765
TreasCorpseBanditNordFemale 1 35 25 70 Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools In a cove South-East of Pinemoon Cave, Dragontooth Crater, In a cove South of Tolvald's Cave, Orphan Rock, Kagrenzel, Graywinter Watch, Greywater Grotto, Volskygge, Silverdrift Lair, Bleakcoast Cave, Jorrvaskr, Haemar's Shame, Northwatch Keep, Fort Snowhawk 000328D6
TreasCorpseBanditNordMale 1 35 25 70 Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools Outside Roadside Ruins, Outside Ustengrav, (Middle of a road T-section between Whiterun, Solitude, and Karthwasten), 2 Outside/1 In Korvanjund, Rannveig's Fast, Lost Knife Hideout, Darkshade, Bleak Falls Barrow, Bloodlet Throne, Ravenscar Hollow, Shimmermist Cave, Graywinter Watch, Cold Rock Pass, Druadach Redoubt, Ustengrav, Liar's Retreat, Silverdrift Lair, Jorrvaskr, Fort Snowhawk 000328D5
TreasCorpseBanditOrcMale 1 35 25 70 Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools Fallowstone Cave, Near Talking Stone Camp, Outside Ragnvald, (Bottom of a large waterfall South of Hillgrund's Tomb, under a large tree crossing), Outside Darkshade, In a cove North-West of Fort Fellhammer, Rannveig's Fast, Bonechill Passage, Bloodlet Throne, Ravenscar Hollow, Fort Sungard, Shimmermist Cave, Irkngthand, Silverdrift Lair, Haemar's Shame, Lost Echo Cave, Mzinchaleft, Fort Snowhawk 000328D7
TreasCorpseBanditRedguardFemale 1 35 25 70 Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools Outside Wolfskull Cave, (South of Hillgrund's Tomb, by a large tree crossing), Bloodlet Throne, Sightless Pit, Fort Snowhawk 000328D4
TreasCorpseBanditRedguardMale 1 35 25 70 Mace, Sword, Waraxe, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools Outside Fort Neugrad, Lost Knife Hideout, Silverdrift Lair, Fort Greenwall, Haemar's Shame 00032860
TreasCorpseBanditWoodElfFemale 1 35 25 70 Bow, Dagger, Arrows, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools Lost Knife Hideout, Hag Rock Redoubt, Broken Fang Cave 000328DC
TreasCorpseBanditWoodElfMale 1 35 25 70 Bow, Dagger, Arrows, Light armor, Gold, Lockpicks, Food, Gems, Jewelry, Ingots, Tools Liar's Retreat, Duskglow Crevice, Honeystrand Cave 000328D8

Notable bandits[]

Name Location
Agrius Halldir's Cairn
Ahjisi Bloated Man's Grotto
Alain Dufont Raldbthar
Arvel the Swift Bleak Falls Barrow
Batum gra-Bar Bloated Man's Grotto
Brandish Fort Neugrad
Butcher Cragslane Cavern
Captain Hargar Broken Oar Grotto
Drahff The Ratway
Eisa Blackthorn Frostmere Crypt
Eriana Bloated Man's Grotto
Esmond Tyne Castle Karstaag Caverns
Fjola Mistwatch
Ghunzul Cracked Tusk Keep
Hajvarr Iron-Hand White River Watch
Heratar Bloated Man's Grotto
Hewnon Black-Skeever The Ratway
J'Kier Bloated Man's Grotto
Krev the Skinner Gallows Rock
Kyr Frostmere Crypt
Ma'tasarr Bloated Man's Grotto
Maluril Mzinchaleft
Ra'jirr Frostmere Crypt
Ra'kheran Bloated Man's Grotto
Raen Halldir's Cairn
Rhorlak Pinewatch
Rigel Strong-Arm Pinewatch
Rissing Bloated Man's Grotto
Rochelle the Red

HF

Homestead

HF

Telrav Nilheim
Thomas Bleak Falls Barrow
Torkild the Fearsome Bloated Man's Grotto
Tsrasuna Bloated Man's Grotto
Ulfr the Blind White River Watch
Vidgrod Halldir's Cairn
Yar gro-Gatuk Bloated Man's Grotto

Locations[]

Group of Bandits

A group of bandits

Conversations[]

Bleak Falls Barrow

Bandit: "So we're just supposed to sit here while Arvel runs off with that golden claw?" Bandit 2: "That dark elf wants to go on ahead, let him. Better than us risking our necks."
Bandit: "What if Arvel doesn't come back? I want my share from that claw!"
'Bandit 2: "Just shut it and keep an eye out for trouble."

Swindler's Den, In My Time of Need

Bandit: "I'm not sure I like these Alik'r warriors hiding out here. They seem like trouble." Bandit Thug: "Keep it to yourself. They're not paying us to talk. They'll be gone as soon as they've found whoever they're looking for. And we'll have all the more coin."

White River Watch

Bandit: "So, you in?" Bandit 2: "...Yeah. We can't have that rheumpy-eyed fool as our watchman, even if he is Hajvarr's uncle. Time we dealt with both of them." Bandit: "We strike tonight, at dusk. Be ready."

Bandit: "You think it'll work?" Bandit 2: "'Course not. Dogs I could train. But a half-starved wolf? Not a chance." Bandit: "Right. Lucky if it doesn't rip our throats out."

Embershard Mine

Bandit: "Aren't you worried someone will wander in here? The entrance isn't exactly hidden, you know." Bandit 2: "This again? I told you we have someone standing guard out there. And, don't forget the rock trap we rigged up. So, stop your worrying and get some rest. Your shift is coming up and I don't want you dozing off again like last time."

Bandit: "I knew I heard something. What's this bridge doing down?" Bandit 2: "I thought we had a guard posted outside." Bandit: "We did! Keep your eyes peeled. I don't think we're alone. You check the entrance. I'm going to look over here."

Lost Knife Cave

Bandit: "So, you're saying you brought that cat down alone?" Bandit 2: "Why? You don't think I could do it?" Bandit: "Wasn't our last catch a Cave Bear?" Bandit 2: "Yeah, why?" Bandit: "Take down that one with your bare hands too?" Bandit 2: "Troll's blood was he a tough one!" Bandit: "Pfft" Bandit 2: "But, I've got the key to the Sabre Cage! Look!" Bandit: "What's that supposed to prove? Get back on patrol!"

Bandit: "Looks like the boss is at it again." Bandit 2: "Why? What's he doing now?" Bandit: "He's on one of his drunk rants again. Except this time he's challenging everyone to a duel over in the hole. We've got him locked in there now, but he's still challenging anyone that looks crooked at him." Bandit 2: "Someone should let that cat lose. That'd shut him up real quick." Bandit: "Don't say that to [sic] [Do not change this to too. This misspelled word is how it appears in-game.] loud, you don't want it getting back to him."

Pinewatch

Bandit: "I tried to tell him that he wouldn't get past the traps, but he wouldn't listen..." Bandit 2: "It was a stupid plan, and now Rigel is so mad she won't even let us cut him down from there!" Bandit 3: "Aye, and she's added more traps now as well... A moment of silence for our fallen friend..."

Faldar's Tooth (Skyrim)

Bandit: "I'll do you ten gold at three to one on the white one." Bandit 2: "Sounds like easy money to me. You're on." Bandit 3: "Get him! Rip his throat out!"

Frostmere Crypt

Eisa Blackthorn: "Damn it, not now!" Bandit: "There she is!" Bandit 2: "Get her!"

Bandit: "But... Eisa? She's smarter than that." Bandit 2: "Ra'jirr was always dragging her into things." Bandit: "But.. stealing the boss's sword? Did he have a death wish?" Bandit 2: "Who knows. The cat was crazy. She was a fool to trust him."

Bandit: "What? There's a whole shift down there!" Bandit 2: "Kyr's orders. Nobody goes in or out until he gets back. Or the boss will skin you soon as he's done with Ra'jirr." Bandit: "Gods, what a mess."

Bandit: "The boss went down there? Today?" Bandit 2: "Yeah, he's after Ra'jirr- never seen him so angry." Bandit: "I've got a bad feeling about this... something's just felt wrong down here lately. Eerie." Bandit 2: "Now you're sounding as crazy as the cat. Be going on about the Pale Lady next."

Bandit: "Something's wrong... Boss' been down there too long." Bandit 2: "Yeah... Let's wait a little longer. Then..."

Duskglow Crevice

Bandit: "The boss is going to cut those creepy cave people to pieces!" Bandit 2: "Yeah! It'll teach them to steal from us! One of them took my good helmet." Bandit: "I hope one comes running up here so I can stab it right in the face." Bandit 2: "I would be fine if they didn't. Have you seen their eyes? They don't have any! Gross."

Quotes[]

Quote Condition
"That's close enough!" If a foe approaches the bandit, but stays out of aggro range.
"I'm warning you, back off!"
"You picked a bad time to get lost, friend." Upon initiating combat.
"Well ain't this a surprise!"
"Time to end this little game."
"Never should have come here!"
"Maybe I was just hearing things." If the Dragonborn is sneaking and hidden.
"What was that?" When a foe is detected while sneaking.
"Is someone there?"
"Die already so I can take your stuff!" During combat.
"You'll be so much easier to rob when you're dead!"
"Can't wait to count out your coin..."
"Gonna rip you... open!"
"Gonna split your belly like an old woman's purse!"
"Ha, I think you're bleeding!"
"Son of a..."
"Die, damn you!"
"I'll mount your head on my wall!"
"You're dead! Dead!"
"I'll have your head!"
"That all you've got?"
"Prepare to die!"
"You won't leave here alive!"
"Hurry up and die already, so I can take your stuff!"
"Tell you what. You start running so I can stab you in the back."
"You should have stayed in your precious fortress!" If a homeowner.
"I'll gut you like a horker!" Only by bandits in Eastmarch and Winterhold, also said by male Dark Brotherhood Initiate.
"I'm gonna wear that tail as a belt!" If their foe is an Argonian.
"You should have stayed in your precious forests, elf!" If their foe is a Wood Elf.
"You'll make a fine rug, cat!" If their foe is a Khajiit.
"You remind me of my cousin's cat, killed that one too!"
"You call yourself a Nord?" If their foe is a Nord.
"Lookie here. Looks like we got ourselves a hero."
"Time to die, hero!"
"You're a disgrace to your own kind!"
"You won't leave Skyrim alive!"
"Die, Orc filth!" If their foe is an Orc.
"Kill it! Kill the monster!" If their foe is a Werewolf.
"Burn it! Burn the Vampire!" If their foe is a Vampire.
"Skyrim belongs to the Nords!" If the bandit is a Nord. This can also be said even when their foe is a Nord.
"Victory or Sovngarde!" If the bandit is a Nord.
"No one bests an Orc!" If the bandit is an Orc.
"I'll show you what a real Orc can do!"
"I'll show you a real fight!"
"Might pay off my bounty this time — walk in to the city a free man." Only heard when Bandits are not alerted to the Dragonborn's presence.
"Should have known she was lying... she said she would wait for me, but they never wait..."
"I'll never do another span in that stinkin' jail. Rather die than give myself up."
"Never enough gold... just need one more good haul."
"...mead, mead, mead... ...kill 'em to get some beer every now and then.. Stupid bees and their stupid honey..."
"*Singing* With three beers down, the Orc did frown, and bid the Elf goodbye, for none could know, 'twas not for show, and someone had to die."
"...picking pockets, now that's the real art... No rough stuff, just take it and go.. hmph, doesn't sound like much fun though..."
"Lying little harlot.. that brat ain't mine, could be anyone's... won't get one rusty septim from me..."
"Hmph, wizards... now that's power.. bet they got that "secret magic".. turn wood into gold.. yeah, wish I could turn wood into gold..."
"*Singing* Once was a woman as fair as an evenin' of a spring-time of Stros M'kai..."
"..kill him... he talks like that to me again... get him while he's sleeping, or poison his meat...see how he likes that..."
"Go to the college, da said. Use your smarts, he said. Idiot, how was I supposed to know what college he meant?"
"...gonna start keepin' a knife in my boot... tired of gettin' disarmed..."
"Hmph. Looks like we got a cutthroat skulkin' around..." After discovering a corpse.

Character Model Generation mechanics[]

  • Bandits are generated with radiant character Base ID or Ref ID, while their base ID can be uncovered in Console Commands by typing help.
  • The first two number determines their character type (Bandit Rank), the third letter determines character type (C: class, D: design, E: encounter/radiant).
  • The fourth number determines the variant's race (e.g. 6 is always Bosmer) while the fifth one determines facial variants. e.g. 39D67 will always spawn bosmer female.
  • While radiant characters' fourth number can be letter as well, this avoids using the same Base ID so the AI will not be bugged.
  • All bandits models are generated within the same BaseIDs, therefore their facial features are not entirely generated randomly.
  • With the exception of TreasCorpseBanditWoodElfFemale, her Base ID does not follow this rule, although she can still be generated with radiant characters.

Trivia[]

  • A small group of bandits can be found in the wilderness, disguised as Imperial Soldiers. They will try to extort a "fine" from the Dragonborn. They can be found in some random encounter locations. If the Dragonborn is a member of the Imperial Legion, they can say "I'm in the Legion, and I know damn well you're not." or if with the Stormcloaks, can deny their "authority." This will turn the bandits hostile.
  • Bandits may say "Skyrim belongs to the Nords!" even if the Dragonborn is a Nord, and/or if the Bandit that said it is not a Nord.
  • Bandits may utter generic greetings if the Dragonborn is successfully defeated.
  • If calmed with a calming spell, they can be talked to, though they will only give out generic responses. Making them neutral this way will make it easier to get close to their pockets to be picked for valuables without having to battle them.
  • After installing Dragonborn, Skyrim bandit chiefs may start appearing with Nordic Carved Armor and Nordic weapons at higher levels.
  • After speaking to one of the Orc Strongholds, an Orc bandit can be caught off guard and spoken to before being detected. He can then be asked to grant "Blood Kinship," though he will attack as soon as the dialogue is over, and will not grant entrance to a Stronghold.
  • If a bandit is fighting Shadowmere, they might refer to the horse as "hero."
  • Although bandits can be of most of the races in Skyrim, there are no Altmer bandits.
  • Sometimes one can encounter mage bandits. While most of the time they are Argonian or Dunmer, they can be of any race with the exceptions of Orc, Bosmer, and Khajiit.
  • If the Dragonborn is a Khajiit, Khajiit bandits will still comment on how the Dragonborn will "make a fine rug", and call them a "cat."
  • Although there are male bandits from these races, there are no female Orc, Khajiit, or Argonian bandits.
  • While the other voice actors say the line ("..Kill him... he talks that way to me again..."), the voice provider for the male Imperials sings that quote.
  • While most Bandit Chiefs are Nords, they can also be Orcs, Redguards, and Imperials, though they are never any other races that appear as that type of bandit (i.e., no Bosmer Bandit Chief). This is due to the fact only melee type bandits have the Bandit Chief actors.
  • The only difference between a Berserker and a normal Two-Handing bandit, is their fighting styles. Berserkers tend to attack more aggressively.
  • Only male Chiefs will use Two-Handed weapons.

Bugs[]

This section contains bugs related to Bandits (Skyrim). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

  1. Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
  2. If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template  360  /  XB1  ,  PS3  /  PS4  ,  PC  /  MAC  ,  NX  /  PS5  ,  XS  , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
  3. Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.
  • Bandits may sometimes say things like "Hey, watch it!" or "What is it?" when the Dragonborn is killed, or say speak of leaving trash around.
  • If the Dragonborn is killed while they are a werewolf, the bandits will comment on them being naked.
  • In rare instances, bandits may respond with neutrality, even when approached. However, they will not engage in dialogue, and will become hostile if spoken to too many times.
  •  360   If the Dragonborn pickpockets an item from a bandit without killing them, they may send hired thugs to attack the Dragonborn.
  •  360   NX   After killing a bandit, the Dragonborn may receive a letter of inheritance, that usually occur if a dead thrall spell was used.

Appearances[]

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