Characters & Roles
Characters & Roles Guide for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Unlike traditional class-based RPGs, Skyrim doesn’t lock you into a predefined character. Instead, it uses a freeform skill system where you develop your Dragonborn by using skills, choosing perks, and selecting equipment. This guide covers the major playable archetypes (classes) you can create, as well as the key followers (NPC companions) you can recruit. Each section describes strengths, weaknesses, playstyle, how to unlock/build, recommended gear, and team synergy for both your character and your allies.
Playable Archetypes (Classes)
Your character’s role is defined by the three major skill groupings: Warrior (Combat), Mage (Magic), and Thief (Stealth). You can specialize in one or mix them into hybrids. Below are the most effective and iconic builds.
#### 1. Warrior (Combat Focus)
- Background / Strengths: Warriors excel in direct melee and ranged combat. They have high health, heavy armor, and can deal massive physical damage. Ideal for players who like charging into battle.
- Weaknesses: Vulnerable to magic (especially destruction/illusion spells); limited crowd control against mages or dragons unless using shouts.
- Playstyle: And\. use one-handed weapons (sword + shield), two-handed weapons (greatsword, warhammer), or archery with heavy armor. Blocking and bashing are key. Perks in Heavy Armor, Block, One-Handed or Two-Handed, and Smithing.
- Unlock Conditions: None; freely choose skills at start. Recommended race: Orc (Berserker Rage) or Nord (Battle Cry).
- Recommended Equipment:
- Team Synergy: Pair with a mage follower (e.g., J’zargo or Illia) for ranged damage and healing. Or a stealth archer follower (e.g., Aela the Huntress) for distraction.
- Background / Strengths: Masters of the arcane. High magicka pool, powerful destruction spells, conjured allies, and restoration healing. Can dominate from a distance or control the battlefield.
- Weaknesses: Very fragile (low health, light armor). Running out of magicka mid-fight is deadly. Weak against silence or magic-resistant enemies.
- Playstyle: Stay at range, use Destruction spells for damage, Conjuration for summons, Restoration to heal, Alteration for armor buffs (Oakflesh). Perks in Destruction (dual casting, impact), Conjuration, Restoration, and Alteration.
- Unlock Conditions: Start with any magic skills. Recommended race: High Elf (high magicka, +50 magicka power) or Breton (magic resistance).
- Recommended Equipment:
- Team Synergy: Pair with a tank follower (e.g., Lydia or Mjoll the Lioness) to hold enemies while you cast. A restoration-focused follower like Marcurio can also heal you.
- Background / Strengths: Masters of stealth, lockpicking, pickpocketing, and backstabbing. Can one-shot many enemies from shadows. Excellent for silent gameplay and avoiding direct combat.
- Weaknesses: Very low armor and health; a single detected fight can be lethal. Ineffective against dragons or large groups unless using ranged stealth (archery).
- Playstyle: Sneak everywhere, use Sneak perks (Muffled Movement, Backstab), One-Handed with daggers for 15x sneak damage (with perk), Archery for ranged sneak attacks, Lockpicking and Pickpocket for utility. Light armor or clothes.
- Unlock Conditions: No unlock; skills available from start. Recommended race: Khajiit (night vision, claw attacks) or Wood Elf (sneak boost, arrow resistance).
- Recommended Equipment:
- Team Synergy: Avoid loud followers who break stealth (e.g., horses). Use a follower that also sneaks, like Cicero (Dark Brotherhood) or Jenassa (Whiterun). Followers with Light Armor and One-Handed work best.
- Spellsword (Warrior + Mage): One-handed weapon in one hand, spell in the other. Use Destruction for ranged damage, Restoration for healing, and heavy/light armor. Perks: One-Handed, Block (if using shield), Destruction, Heavy Armor.
- Nightblade (Thief + Mage): Sneak + illusion magic (Invisibility, Muffle, Calm). Daggers for backstab. Excellent for crowd control and escape.
- Battlemage (Warrior + Mage): Heavy armor + two-handed weapon + destruction/conjuration. Slow but powerful. Use Conjuration to summon allies, then charge.
- Ranger (Thief + Warrior): Archery + light armor + one-handed for close combat. Use Alchemy for poisons. Perks: Archery, Light Armor, Sneak, One-Handed.
- Early: Steel armor, Iron greatsword.
- Mid: Dwarven or Orcish armor, Ebony blade.
- Late: Daedric or Dragonplate armor, Daedric warhammer.
#### 2. Mage (Magic Focus)
- Apprentice robes (early), Archmage’s robes (late).
- Mage hood or Diadem of the Savant.
- Staves for extra spells.
#### 3. Thief / Assassin (Stealth Focus)
- Ancient Shrouded Armor (Dark Brotherhood questline) or Nightingale Armor (Thieves Guild).
- Daedric dagger (best sneak dagger), Mehrunes’ Razor.
- Bow: Auriel’s Bow (Dawnguard DLC) or Dragonbone Bow.
#### 4. Hybrid Builds (Examples)
Major Followers (Companions)
Followers are NPCs who can join your party (one humanoid follower at a time, plus one pet/animal if you have Hearthfire). Each has unique skills, equipment, and personality. Below are the most notable followers, their roles, how to recruit them, and best uses.
| Follower | Role / Playstyle | Strengths | Weaknesses | How to Recruit | Best Synergy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lydia | Tank (One-Handed + Shield) | High health, heavy armor, aggressive; carries burdens. | Low magic resistance, no sneaking. | Given as Housecarl after becoming Thane of Whiterun (buy Breezehome). | Any mage or archer build; holds aggro. |
| J’zargo (Khajiit mage) | Destruction mage | High-level spells (Fireball, Chain Lightning); unlimited magicka in low-level fights. | Low health, no armor; can kill you with area spells. | Complete quest “J’zargo’s Experiment” at the College of Winterhold. | Warrior or tank builds; keep him at range. |
| Serana (Dawnguard DLC) | Necromancer / Vampire | Raises dead enemies, powerful ice spells, immune to frost, essential (cannot die). | Weak to fire, her necromancy can cause confusion. | Main quest in Dawnguard; she joins after meeting her in Dimhollow Crypt. | Any build; her necromancy provides extra bodies. |
| Aela the Huntress | Archer / Light Armor | Expert archer, high sneak, werewolf. | Low health, not good in melee. | Complete quest “The Silver Hand” in the Companions faction. | Stealth archer builds or spellsword; she adds ranged damage. |
| Cicero | Stealth / Assassin | Dual-wielding daggers, high sneak, can’t be killed (essential). | Annoying personality, low armor, limited carry weight. | After the Dark Brotherhood quest “Death Incarnate” (he survives). | Nightblade or thief builds; he follows sneak tactics. |
| Dawnguard Rune Hammer (not a follower, but a unique weapon) | Special weapon | Staves – These are not characters. | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Barbas (dog follower) | Defensive / Distraction | Immortal (essential), staggers enemies, doesn’t count as humanoid follower. | No damage, can push you off cliffs. | From quest “A Daedra’s Best Friend” (near Falkreath). | Any build; good for tanking and keeping enemies busy. |
| Meridia’s Beacon (artifact) | Not a character – placeholder. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
- Lydia – essential only until you dismiss her; she can die in battle.
- Serana – always essential, even after quests.
- Cicero – essential after a certain point.
- Barbas – immortal.
- Dawnguard members (like Durak) – not essential.
- Warrior: Unrelenting Force (knockback), Elemental Fury (attack speed), Whirlwind Sprint (gap closer).
- Mage: Slow Time (cast more spells), Become Ethereal (survivability), Marked for Death (armor reduction).
- Thief: Throw Voice (distraction), Aura Whisper (detect life), Shadowcloak of Nocturnal (invisibility).
- Skills: Heavy Armor (all perks), Block (5/5 + Deflect Arrows + Shield Charge), One-Handed (Armsman 5/5 + Critical Charge), Smithing (up to Dragon), Enchanting (for resistances).
- Equipment:
- Shouts: Unrelenting Force, Elemental Fury, Slow Time.
- Followers: J’zargo (mage) or Serana (necromancy).
- Skills: Destruction (Dual Casting, Impact, Augmented Flames/Frost/Shock), Restoration (Regeneration, Respite), Alteration (Mage Armor perks), Enchanting (reduce Destruction cost).
- Equipment: Archmage’s Robes, Morokei (mask for magicka regeneration), Ring of Peerless Destruction, Necklace of Peerless Destruction.
- Shouts: Slow Time, Become Ethereal, Marked for Death.
- Followers: Lydia (tank) or a conjurer follower like Tolfdir (not recruitable normally – use console on PC; not recommended for console). Best: Marcurio (Riften) – he casts high-level destruction spells.
- Skills: Sneak (5/5 + Muffled Movement + Backstab + Deadly Aim), Archery (5/5 + Overdraw + Eagle Eye + Steady Hand), One-Handed (for backup dagger), Light Armor (Agile Defender 5/5 + Deft Movement).
- Equipment:
- Shouts: Throw Voice (distract enemies), Aura Whisper (detect life), Slow Time.
- Followers: Aela the Huntress (stealth archer) or Cicero (sneaky). Keep distance; never take a heavy armor follower.
- Tank (Warrior) + Mage: Let the tank take aggro while you cast safely. Give your mage follower a staff to prevent them from dying quickly.
- Archer + Tank: Your follower draws attention while you snipe from cover. Avoid companions that use loud summons.
- Assassin + Stealth Follower: Both sneaking – use followers like Cicero or Jenassa. Do not take heavy armor followers; they will get you detected.
- Mage + Barbas (dog): The dog distracts enemies, giving you time to charge spells. Excellent combo for squishy mages.
The Dragonborn (Hero Role)
Your character is the Dragonborn – a mortal born with the soul of a dragon. This role is unique because you can learn Thu’um (Shouts) from word walls, which are powerful abilities that complement any build. All skills and Shouts are tied to your character, not a separate class. Key Shouts for each role:
Recommended Equipment & Builds by Role
#### Warrior Tank Build (One-Handed + Shield)
- Armor: Dragonplate (or Ebony) – fully tempered.
- Shield: Spellbreaker (rewards from ‘The Only Cure’ quest) or Daedric shield.
- Weapon: Daedric Sword of the Vampire (absorb health).
#### Pure Destruction Mage
#### Stealth Archer (Classic Skyrim Build)
- Armor: Ancient Shrouded set (double backstab damage) or Nightingale Armor.
- Bow: Auriel’s Bow (with Sunhallowed arrows for undead) or Daedric Bow of the Stag (soul trap).
- Dagger: Mehrunes’ Razor (instant kill).
Unlock Conditions (General)
All playable archetypes are available from the start – you simply choose which skills to use. Followers require specific quests or conditions (listed in table above). No paywalls or hidden unlocks for classes; the only “unlock” is gaining access to guilds (Companions, College of Winterhold, Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood) which provide unique gear and trainers.
Team Synergy & Followers
Conclusion
Skyrim’s class system is a blank slate – your role evolves with your skill choices. This guide provides a framework for the most popular and effective playstyles, along with the best followers to complement them. Remember that you can respec skills (after the Dragonborn DLC, by reading the Black Book: Waking Dreams) to try new roles. Choose the archetype that matches your preferred combat style and have fun exploring the world of Skyrim!