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There are several NPCs in Skyrim who at some point during gameplay are essential. In effect, this means they cannot be killed under any condition (unlike protected NPCs, who can be killed normally by the player, but not by others), and when their health bar fully depletes, they will merely fall into a state of recovery for a short time before standing back up with full health. Unlike Oblivion, it is not possible to tell whether an NPC is essential without attempting to kill them or by using the level 100 Pickpocket perk Perfect Touch, which allows the player to remove equipped items; in the case of essential NPCs, however, the player will not be able to use this perk on them. NPCs are usually only set to essential if they are of high importance to a later quest (some of these essential NPCs have scripted deaths during, or at the end of, the quest).
Some NPCs in Skyrim are always essential and can never be killed, even after their associated quests are completed. Notable examples include the Imperial legates at the Imperial camps and named Stormcloak officers at the Stormcloak camps.
Children are not listed here because they use a tag other than essential to prevent them from being killed. This tag is a part of their race and, with the exception of Babette and SofieHF, these two tags are never both found on the same NPC.
AEdit
BEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Balagog gro-Nolob | Nightgate Inn Cellar (the Pale) | Recipe for Disaster |
| Baldor Iron-ShaperDB | Baldor Iron-Shaper's HouseDB (Skaal Village) | Never |
| Balgruuf the Greater | Dragonsreach (Whiterun) | Never |
| Beirand | Solitude Blacksmith (Solitude) | Get Outfitted |
| Bersi Honey-Hand | Pawned Prawn (Riften) | Taking Care of Business |
| Blasphemous Priest | Temple of Kynareth (Whiterun) | Never |
| Bolgeir Bearclaw | Blue Palace (Solitude) | Never |
| Borri | High Hrothgar (Whiterun Hold) | Never |
| Boti | Fellstar Farm (Ivarstead) | The Book of Love |
| Brand-Shei | Riften (the Rift) | After A Chance Arrangement. |
| Breya | Avanchnzel (the Rift) | Never |
| Brina Merilis | Brina's House (Dawnstar) | Never |
| Brother Verulus | Hall of the Dead (Markarth) | The Taste of Death |
| Brunwulf Free-Winter | Brunwulf Free-Winter's House (Windhelm) | Never |
| Bryling | Bryling's House (Solitude) | After Bound Until Death. |
| Brynjolf | Thieves Guild (Riften) | Never |
CEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Calcelmo | Understone Keep (Markarth) | Never |
| Calixto Corrium | Calixto's House of Curiosities (Windhelm) | Blood on the Ice |
| Captain Lonely-Gale | Windhelm | Never |
| Captain VelethDB | The BulwarkDB (Raven Rock) | Never |
| Carriage Driver | Katla's Farm, Thalmor Embassy | Never |
| Cart Driver | Never | |
| Chief Yamarz | Largashbur Longhouse (the Rift) | The Cursed Tribe |
| Cicero | The Pale then Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary | The Cure for Madness (becomes essential again if spared) |
| Cindiri AranoDB | Morvayn ManorDB (Raven Rock) | Never |
| Colette Marence | Hall of Countenance (College of Winterhold) | Never |
| Commander Caius | Guard Barracks (Whiterun) | Never |
| Commander Maro | Penitus Oculatus Outpost (Dragon Bridge) | Hail Sithis! |
| Crescius CaerelliusDB | Caerellius HouseDB (Raven Rock) | Never |
| Curwe | Loreius Farm (the Pale) | Scripted death after Delayed Burial if the player chooses to turn in Cicero |
| Corrupt Agent | Penitus Oculatus Outpost (Dragon Bridge) | Never |
DEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Danica Pure-Spring | Temple of Kynareth (Whiterun) | After The Blessings of Nature |
| Deeja | Red Wave, Wreck of the Icerunner | Lights Out! |
| Delphine | Sleeping Giant Inn (Riverwood) | Never |
| Delvin Mallory | The Ragged Flagon (Riften) | Never |
| Dengeir of Stuhn | Dengeir's House (Falkreath) | Never |
| Dervenin | Temple of the Divines (Solitude) | Never |
| Desperate Gambler | Windhelm Barracks | Never |
| Dishonored Skald | Bards College (Solitude) | Never |
| Dorian | Red Wave (Solitude) | Never |
| Drennen | Avanchnzel (the Rift) | Never |
| Drevis Neloren | Hall of Countenance (College of Winterhold) | Never |
| Drovas RelviDB | The Retching NetchDB (Raven Rock), Tel Mithryn Steward's HouseDB (Tel Mithryn) |
Never |
EEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Einarth | High Hrothgar (Whiterun Hold) | Never |
| Elenwen | Thalmor Embassy (Haafingar) | After Dragonslayer |
| Elisif the Fair | Blue Palace (Solitude) | Never |
| Eltrys | The Warrens (Markarth) | Scripted death after The Forsworn Conspiracy |
| Elvali Veren | Labyrinthian (Hjaalmarch) | Never |
| Endon | Endon's House (Markarth) | Never |
| Ennis | Cowflop Farmhouse (Rorikstead) | Before Patch 1.5 |
| Enthir | Hall of Attainment (College of Winterhold) | Never |
| Erandur | Windpeak Inn (Dawnstar) | Waking Nightmare |
| Erikur | Erikur's House (Solitude) | After Bound Until Death / Never, if you choose to play Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! instead |
| Erlendr | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Esbern | The Ratway Warrens (Riften) | Never |
FEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Falas SelvaynDB | Ramshackle Trading PostDB | Never |
| Faleen | Understone Keep (Markarth) | Never |
| Falion | Falion's House (Morthal) | Never |
| Falk Firebeard | Blue Palace (Solitude) | Never |
| Faralda | Hall of Countenance (College of Winterhold) | Never |
| Farkas | Companion's Faction Hall (Whiterun) | After completing Glory of the Dead |
| Fastred | Fellstar Farm (Ivarstead) | The Book of Love |
| Felldir the Old | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Fenrig | Greenspring Hollow (Whiterun Hold) | Never |
| Festus Krex | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (Falkreath Hold) | Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!, or scripted death during Death Incarnate |
| FreaDB | Temple of MiraakDB, Skaal VillageDB | Never |
| Frorkmar Banner-Torn | The White Hall (Dawnstar) | Never |
GEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Gabriella | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (Falkreath Hold) | Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!, or scripted death during Death Incarnate |
| GalathilDG | The Ragged Flagon (Riften) | Never |
| Galmar Stone-Fist | Palace of the Kings (Windhelm) | Battle for Windhelm |
| Geldis SadriDB | The Retching NetchDB (Raven Rock) | Never |
| Gelebros | Hall of the Elements (College of Winterhold) | Never |
| General Tullius | Castle Dour (Solitude) | Battle for Solitude |
| Gianna | Castle Dour, Emperor's Tower (Solitude) | To Kill an Empire |
| Girduin | Labyrinthian (Hjaalmarch) | Never |
| Gisli | Erikur's House (Solitude) | Never |
| Gjalund Salt-SageDB | The Northern MaidenDB | Never |
| Glover MalloryDB | Glover Mallory's HouseDB (Raven Rock) | Never |
| Gonnar Oath-Giver | Rift Stormcloak Camp(The Rift) | Never |
| Gormlaith Golden-Hilt | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Griefstricken Chef | Windpeak Inn (Dawnstar) | Never |
| Gulum-Ei | The Winking Skeever (Solitude) | Scoundrel's Folly |
HEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Hadvar | Helgen Keep | Never |
| Haelga | Haelga's Bunkhouse (Riften) | Taking Care of Business |
| Hafnar Ice-Fist | Labyrinthian (Hjaalmarch) | Never |
| Hakon One-Eye | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Helgird | Hall of the Dead (Windhelm) | Never |
| Hemming Black-Briar | Black-Briar Manor (Riften) | Never |
| Hero of Sovngarde | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| High King Torygg | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Hjornskar Head-Smasher | Whiterun Stormcloak Camp | Never |
| Horik Halfhand | Brina's House (Dawnstar) | Never |
| Hrongar | Dragonsreach (Whiterun) | Never |
| Hunroor | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
IEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Idgrod Ravencrone | Highmoon Hall (Morthal) | Never |
| Idgrod the Younger | Highmoon Hall (Morthal) | Never |
| Igmund | Understone Keep (Markarth) | Never |
| Ildari SarothrilDB | Highpoint TowerDB | End of Old Friends |
| Indolent Farmer | Vilemyr Inn (Ivarstead) | Never |
| Irileth | Dragonsreach (Whiterun) | Never |
| Istar Cairn-Breaker | Haafingar Stormcloak Camp | Never |
JEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Jaree-Ra | Angeline's Aromatics (Solitude) | Lights Out! |
| Jod | The White Hall (Dawnstar) | Never |
| Jofthor | Fellstar Farm (Ivarstead) | The Book of Love |
| Jorleif | Palace of the Kings (Windhelm) | Never |
| Jurgen Windcaller | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
KEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Kai Wet-Pommel | Winterhold Stormcloak Camp | Never |
| Karliah | Snow Veil Sanctum (Winterhold) | Never |
| Keerava | The Bee and Barb (Riften) | Taking Care of Business |
| Kodlak Whitemane | Jorrvaskr (Whiterun) | Scripted death after Blood's Honor |
| Korir | Jarl's Longhouse (Winterhold) | Never |
| Kottir Red-Shoal | Reach Stormcloak Camp | Never |
| Kraldar | Kraldar's House (Winterhold) | Never |
LEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Laila Law-Giver | Mistveil Keep (Riften) | Never |
| Legate Adventus Caesennius | Castle Dour (Solitude) | Never |
| Legate Constantius Tituleius | Pale Imperial Camp | Never |
| Legate Emmanuel Admand | Understone Keep (Markarth) | Never |
| Legate Fasendil | Rift Imperial Camp | Never |
| Legate Hrollod | Eastmarch Imperial Camp | Never |
| Legate Quentin Cipius | Whiterun Imperial Camp or Dragonsreach (Whiterun) | Never |
| Legate Rikke | Castle Dour (Solitude) | Battle for Solitude |
| Legate Sevan Telendas | Winterhold Imperial Camp | Never |
| Legate Skulnar | Jarl's Longhouse (Falkreath) | Never |
| Legate Taurinus Duilis | Highmoon Hall (Morthal) | Never |
| Lleril MorvaynDB | Morvayn ManorDB (Raven Rock) | Never |
| Louis Letrush | The Bee and Barb (Riften) | Depends on choices in dialogue with him at the end of Promises to Keep |
| LygrleidDB | The Northern MaidenDB | Never |
MEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| M'aiq the Liar | Random encounter | Never |
| Malborn | Thalmor Embassy (Haafingar) | Diplomatic Immunity |
| Mallus Maccius | Honningbrew Meadery (Whiterun) | Never |
| Malur Seloth | Jarl's Longhouse (Winterhold) | Never |
| Maramal | Temple of Mara (Riften) | Never |
| Maul | Black-Briar Manor (Riften) | Never |
| Maven Black-Briar | Black-Briar Manor (Riften) | Never |
| Mercer Frey | The Ragged Flagon - Cistern (Riften) | Blindsighted |
| Mirabelle Ervine | Hall of Attainment (College of Winterhold) | Scripted death during The Staff of Magnus |
| Mirri SeverinDB | Severin ManorDB (Raven Rock) | During Served Cold |
| Mjoll the Lioness | Aerin's House (Riften) | Never |
| MogrulDB | The Retching NetchDB (Raven Rock) | During and after the quest A New Debt |
| Muiri | The Hag's Cure (Markarth) | Mourning Never Comes |
NEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Nazir | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary | Destroy the Dark Brotherhood! |
| Nelacar | The Frozen Hearth (Winterhold) | Never |
| NelothDB | Tel MithrynDB (Tel Mithryn) | Never |
| Nenya | Jarl's Longhouse (Falkreath) | Never |
| Nerien | Saarthal Excavation (Winterhold) | Never |
| Nervous Patron | Candlehearth Hall (Windhelm) | Never |
| Nikulas | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Niranye | Niranye's House (Windhelm) | Summerset Shadows |
| Noster Eagle-Eye | The Winking Skeever (Solitude) | Never |
OEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Olaf One-Eye | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Olava the Feeble | Olava the Feeble's House (Whiterun) | Never |
| Olfrid Battle-Born | House of Clan Battle-Born (Whiterun) | Never |
| OslafDB | Temple of MiraakDB, Oslaf's HouseDB (Skaal Village) | After completion of At the Summit of Apocrypha |
PEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Pactur | Sorli's House (Hjaalmarch) | Never |
| Paratus Decimius | Mzulft Aedrome (Eastmarch) | Revealing the Unseen |
| Phinis Gestor | Hall of Countenance (College of Winterhold) | Never |
| Proventus Avenicci | Dragonsreach (Whiterun) | Never |
QEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Quaranir | Arch-Mage's Quarters (College of Winterhold) | Never |
REdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Raerek | Understone Keep (Markarth) | Never |
| Ralis SedarysDB | Kolbjorn BarrowDB | End of Unearthed |
| Ralof | Helgen Keep | Never |
| Razelan | Thalmor Embassy (Haafingar) | Never |
| Reburrus Quintilius | The Treasury House (Markarth) | Never |
| Rexus | Volunruud (the Pale) | Hail Sithis! |
| Ri'saad | Outside Whiterun or Markarth | Never |
| Rolff Stone-Fist | Candlehearth Hall (Windhelm) | Never |
| Ruki | Gjukar's Monument (Whiterun Hold) | Never |
SEdit
TEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Takes-In-Light | Labyrinthian (Hjaalmarch) | Never |
| Talen-Jei | The Bee and Barb (Riften) | Never |
| Tandil | Hall of the Elements (College of Winterhold) | Never |
| Teeba-Ei | Rockwallow Mine (Hjaalmarch) | Never |
| Tekla | Dengeir's House (Falkreath) | Never |
| Thaena | Jarl's Longhouse (Winterhold) | Never |
| TharstanDB | GreathallDB (Skaal Village) | Never |
| Thonar Silver-Blood | The Treasury House (Markarth) | After completing No One Escapes Cidhna Mine |
| Thongvor Silver-Blood | The Treasury House (Markarth) | Never |
| Thonjolf | Kraldar's House (Winterhold) | Never |
| Thonnir | Thonnir's House (Morthal) | Never |
| Thorygg Sun-Killer | Falkreath Stormcloak Camp | Never |
| Tilisu SeverinDB | Severin ManorDB (Raven Rock) | During Served Cold |
| Tolfdir | Hall of Attainment (College of Winterhold) | Never |
| Tonilia | The Ragged Flagon (Riften) | Never |
| Torsten Cruel-Sea | House of Clan Cruel-Sea (Windhelm) | Never |
| Tova Shatter-Shield | House of Clan Shatter-Shield (Windhelm) | Scripted death if Nilsine Shatter-Shield dies |
| Tsun | Sovngarde | Never |
UEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Ulfgar the Unending | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Ulfric Stormcloak | Palace of the Kings (Windhelm) | Battle for Windhelm |
| Unemployed Laborer | Frostfruit Inn (Rorikstead) | Never |
| Unmid Snow-Shod | Mistveil Keep (Riften) | Never |
| Urag gro-Shub | The Arcanaeum (College of Winterhold) | Never |
VEdit
WEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Wary Outlaw | The Bee and Barb (Riften) | Never |
| Watches-The-Roots | Avanchnzel (the Rift) | Never |
| Wilhelm | Vilemyr Inn (Ivarstead) | Never |
| Wulfgar | High Hrothgar (Whiterun Hold) | Never |
| Wuunferth the Unliving | Palace of the Kings (Windhelm) | Never |
YEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Yngvar the Singer | The Treasury House (Markarth) | Never |
| YrsaDB | Temple of MiraakDB, Deor Woodcutter's HouseDB (Skaal Village) | Never |
| Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced | Palace of the Kings (Eastmarch) | Never |
| Ysgramor | Hall of Valor (Sovngarde) | Never |
| Ysolda | Ysolda's House (Whiterun) | Before Patch 1.5 |
ZEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Zaria | Grave Concoctions (Falkreath) | Never |
CreaturesEdit
| Name | Found | Becomes Killable |
|---|---|---|
| Alduin | Helgen, Kynesgrove, Throat of the World, Sovngarde | During the Dragonslayer quest |
| Barbas | Outside Falkreath | At the end of A Daedra's Best Friend (only with The Rueful Axe) |
| Odahviing | Dragonsreach (Whiterun) | Never |
| Paarthurnax | Throat of the World (Whiterun Hold) | During the eponymous quest |