- For other uses, see Essential Characters.
Essential characters are NPCs that, at some point during in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, cannot be killed in any way whatsoever. If their health is depleted, they fall to one knee, shortly recovering completely. Followers lie somewhat in this category, whereas they can only be killed if the Dragonborn is the one to deliver the final blow or if they are repeatedly attacked in this downed state. In addition, essential characters are unable to be pickpocketed of some equipped weapons, or any equipped items.
There are many characters vital to the progression of quests, and if killed, would effectively render large portions of the game completely broken. To safeguard against this, certain characters are marked as "essential" by the game. Some characters lose this essential flag after their crucial role is fulfilled; these actors then become "unessential" and can be killed.
Compass Rose
Yes | This character temporarily cannot be killed. |
---|---|
No | This character can be killed at any time. |
Always | This character can never be killed. |
Cities
Whiterun
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Aela the Huntress | End of Totems of Hircine | Yes |
Alik'r Prisoner | ||
Amaund Motierre | End of To Kill an Empire. | |
Avulstein Gray-Mane | ||
Balgruuf the Greater | ||
Commander Caius | ||
Farkas | If his Purity quest has been completed. | Yes |
Hrongar | ||
Irileth | ||
Kodlak Whitemane | During Blood's Honor. | |
Mallus Maccius | ||
Olava the Feeble | ||
Olfrid Battle-Born | ||
Proventus Avenicci | ||
Skjor | During The Silver Hand. | |
Sabjorn | ||
Sinmir | ||
Vignar Gray-Mane | ||
Vilkas | If married to the player. | Yes |
Ysolda | End of A Night to Remember* |
Solitude
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Ahtar | After Roggvir's execution. | Yes |
Adventus Caesennius | ||
Beirand | ||
Bolgeir Bearclaw | ||
Bryling | After Bound Until Death | |
Captain Aldis | After Roggvir's execution | |
Dervenin | ||
Dorian | ||
Elisif the Fair | ||
Erikur | After the Civil War quest line | |
Falk Firebeard | ||
General Tullius | During Battle for Solitude. | Temporary |
Gianna | ||
Gisli | ||
Gulum-Ei | During Scoundrel's Folly | |
Jaree-Ra | During Lights Out! | |
Legate Rikke | During Battle for Solitude. | Temporary |
Noster Eagle-Eye | ||
Sabine Nytte | ||
Varnius Junius | ||
Viarmo | ||
Vittoria Vici | During Bound Until Death. |
Riften
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Anuriel | ||
Asgeir Snow-Shod | During Bound Until Death. | |
Bersi Honey-Hand | ||
Brynjolf | After Under New Management | Temporary |
Delvin Mallory | ||
Esbern | Temporary | |
Haelga | After collecting her debt first. | |
Hemming Black-Briar | ||
Keerava | After collecting her debt first. | |
Laila Law-Giver | ||
Louis Letrush | After Promises to Keep, but currently bugged. | |
Maramal | ||
Maul | ||
Mercer Frey | During Blindsighted. | Temporary |
Mjoll the Lioness | Always | |
Maven Black-Briar | ||
Talen-Jei | After collecting his debt first. | |
Tonilia | ||
Unmid Snow-Shod | ||
Vekel the Man | ||
Vex |
Windhelm
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Aventus Aretino | ||
Brunwulf Free-Winter | ||
Calixto Corrium | End of Blood on the Ice. | |
Galmar Stone-Fist | End of Battle for Windhelm. | Temporary |
Jorleif | ||
Niranye | During Summerset Shadows. | |
Rolff Stone-Fist | ||
Torsten Cruel-Sea | ||
Tova Shatter-Shield | After Mourning Never Comes, only if Nilsine is killed. | |
Ulfric Stormcloak | End of Battle for Windhelm. | Temporary |
Markarth
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Anton Virane | During Recipe for Disaster. | |
Brother Verulus | During The Taste of Death. | Yes |
Calcelmo | ||
Eltrys | End of The Forsworn Conspiracy | |
Endon | ||
Faleen | ||
Jarl Igmund | ||
Muiri | After Mourning Never Comes. | |
Nepos the Nose | During The Forsworn Conspiracy. | |
Raerek | ||
Reburrus Quintilius | ||
Thonar Silver-Blood | After No One Escapes Cidhna Mine. | |
Thongvor Silver-Blood | ||
Vigilant Tyranus | During The House of Horrors. | |
Yngvar the Singer |
Falkreath
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Dengeir of Stuhn | ||
Jarl Siddgeir | ||
Legate Skulnar | ||
Nenya | ||
Sinding | During Ill Met by Moonlight. | |
Tekla | ||
Zaria |
Dawnstar
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Brina Merilis | ||
Erandur | During Waking Nightmare. | Yes |
Frorkmar Banner-Torn | ||
Horik Halfhand | ||
Jod | ||
Skald the Elder |
Morthal
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Aslfur | ||
Falion | ||
Idgrod Ravencrone | ||
Idgrod the Younger | ||
Joric | ||
Legate Taurinus Duilis | ||
Sorli the Builder | ||
Thonnir | After "Laid to Rest" is completed(Part of the mob will die if you don't talk to Thonnir about going alone) | Temporary |
Winterhold
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Korir | ||
Kraldar | ||
Malur Seloth | ||
Nelacar | ||
Thaena | ||
Thonjolf |
College of Winterhold
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Ancano | During The Eye of Magnus. | |
Arniel Gane | ||
Augur of Dunlain | ||
Colette Marence | ||
Drevis Neloren | ||
Enthir | ||
Faralda | ||
Mirabelle Ervine | ||
Phinis Gestor | ||
Savos Aren | During The Eye of Magnus. | |
Tolfdir | Temporary | |
Urag gro-Shub |
Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Arnbjorn | During Death Incarnate or Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! | |
Astrid | During With Friends Like These... or Death Incarnate. | |
Babette | ||
Cicero | During The Cure for Madness. | Yes |
Festus Krex | During Death Incarnate or Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! | |
Nazir | During Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! | |
Veezara | During Death Incarnate or Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! |
Imperial Legion
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Hadvar | Temporary | |
Legate Emmanuel Admand | ||
Legate Fasendil | ||
Legate Hrollod | ||
Legate Quentin Cipius | ||
Legate Sevan Telendas |
Stormcloaks
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Arrald Frozen-Heart | ||
Gonnar Oath-Giver | ||
Kottir Red-Shoal | ||
Ralof | Temporary | |
Thorygg Sun-Killer | ||
Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced |
Other Locations
- Only becomes unessential if Update 1.4 or lower is installed.
Dawnguard
Castle Volkihar
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Serana | Yes | |
Lord Harkon | During Kindred Judgment. | |
Vingalmo | If Dawnguard is joined. | |
Orthjolf | If Dawnguard is joined. | |
Feran Sadri | If Dawnguard is joined. | |
Fura Bloodmouth | If Dawnguard is joined. | |
Garan Marethi | If Dawnguard is joined. | |
Valerica | Temporary |
Fort Dawnguard
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Isran | During Destroying the Dawnguard | Temporary |
Sorine Jurard | During Destroying the Dawnguard | |
Gunmar | During Destroying the Dawnguard | |
Florentius Baenius | During Destroying the Dawnguard |
Riften
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Galathil |
Dragonborn
Raven Rock
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Adril Arano | ||
Lleril Morvayn | ||
Cindiri Arano | ||
Captain Veleth | ||
Glover Mallory | ||
Milore Ienth | ||
Crescius Caerellius | ||
Geldis Sadri | ||
Drovas Relvi | ||
Mogrul | During A New Debt | |
Vendil Severin | During Served Cold | |
Mirri Severin | During Served Cold | |
Tilisu Severin | During Served Cold |
Skaal Village
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Frea | Yes | |
Storn Crag-Strider | During The Gardener of Men | |
Aeta | ||
Baldor Iron-Shaper | ||
After At the Summit of Apocrypha | ||
Nikulas | ||
Morwen |
Tel Mithryn
Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
---|---|---|
Neloth | Temporary | |
Talvas Fathryon | After From the Ashes | Yes |
Varona Nelas | During Reluctant Steward |
Trivia
- Although Derkeethus is unable to die, he is not necessarily an essential character; he is glitched so he is unable to die.