- 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.
Similarly, some characters are listed as "Protected." This means they can be killed, but only by the Dragonborn; not by followers or enemies.
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 "Glory of the Dead." | Yes |
| Alik'r Prisoner | ||
| Amaund Motierre | End of "To Kill an Empire." | No |
| Avulstein Gray-Mane | ||
| Balgruuf the Greater | No | |
| Commander Caius | No | |
| Farkas | If "Glory of the Dead" is complete and Vilkas is still alive. If Vilkas has been killed (post-"Glory of the Dead"), then the quest "Purity" must be completed. Farkas and Vilkas are unique in that the essential status of one can change based on the death of the other. | Yes |
| Hrongar | ||
| Irileth | ||
| Kodlak Whitemane | During "Blood's Honor." | |
| Mallus Maccius | ||
| Olava the Feeble | No | |
| Olfrid Battle-Born | ||
| Proventus Avenicci | No | |
| Skjor | During "The Silver Hand." | |
| Sabjorn | ||
| Sinmir | ||
| Vignar Gray-Mane | ||
| Vilkas | If "Glory of the Dead" is complete and Farkas is alive. If Farkas has been killed (post-"Glory of the Dead"), then the quest "Purity" must be completed. Farkas and Vilkas are unique in that the essential status of one can change based on the death of the other. | Yes |
| Ysolda | End of "A Night to Remember"* |
Solitude[]
| Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
|---|---|---|
| Ahtar | After Roggvir's execution. | Yes |
| Beirand | ||
| Bolgeir Bearclaw | ||
| Bryling | After "Bound Until Death" | |
| Captain Aldis | After Roggvir's execution | |
| Dervenin | ||
| Dorian | ||
| Elisif the Fair | No | |
| Erikur | After the Civil War questline | |
| Falk Firebeard | ||
| General Tullius | During "Battle for Solitude." | |
| Gianna | ||
| Gisli | ||
| Gulum-Ei | During "Scoundrel's Folly" | |
| Jaree-Ra | During "Lights Out!" | No |
| Legate Adventus Caesennius | ||
| Legate Rikke | During "Battle for Solitude." | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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." |
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 (Skyrim)[]
| 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 (some of the mob will die if Thonnir is not spoken to 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." | No |
| 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 |
Fort Dawnguard[]
| Name | Marked as unessential (if applicable) | Can be follower |
|---|---|---|
| Isran | During "Destroying the Dawnguard" | |
| 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 | ||
| Oslaf | 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" |