The world of Skyrim is filled with diverse factions, each with its own goals, ideologies, and questlines. Joining these groups offers unique benefits, from powerful gear and new skills to access to exclusive areas and influential allies. Choose wisely, as your allegiances can shape your destiny and the fate of Skyrim.
Major Factions and Their Benefits
The Companions (Whiterun)
The oldest and most respected warrior guild in Skyrim. Joining the Companions offers a path to becoming a master warrior, with opportunities to learn new combat techniques and gain access to unique weapons and armor. Their questline culminates in a transformation into a werewolf, granting powerful combat abilities.
- Benefits: Access to training in One-Handed, Two-Handed, Block, and Heavy Armor. Unique quests and story progression. Potential to become a werewolf.
The College of Winterhold
The primary institution for magical study in Skyrim. The College offers training in all schools of magic, access to powerful spells, enchanted items, and unique research opportunities. Their questline involves uncovering ancient magical secrets and dealing with powerful magical threats.
- Benefits: Access to training in Destruction, Restoration, Conjuration, Alteration, and Illusion. Access to powerful spells and enchanted gear. Unique magical artifacts.
The Thieves Guild (Riften)
Operating from the shadows of Riften, the Thieves Guild specializes in stealth, lockpicking, pickpocketing, and persuasion. Joining them provides access to unique stealth-oriented gear, training in relevant skills, and a compelling questline involving heists and intrigue.
- Benefits: Access to training in Sneak, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, and Speech. Unique thieves' armor sets and weapons. Access to fences for selling stolen goods.
The Dark Brotherhood
A shadowy organization of assassins who operate under the guise of the Night Mother. Joining the Dark Brotherhood allows you to hone your assassination skills, learn powerful stealth spells, and undertake contracts on various targets across Skyrim. Their questline is dark and morally ambiguous.
- Benefits: Access to training in Sneak, One-Handed, and Illusion. Unique assassin gear and poisons. Access to the Blade of Woe.
The Blades
An ancient order dedicated to hunting dragons and protecting Tamriel. While their numbers are few, joining the Blades offers unique dialogue options with dragons, access to the Sky Haven Temple, and the ability to craft Dragonbone weapons and armor (with the Dragonborn DLC).
- Benefits: Access to Sky Haven Temple. Unique dialogue with dragons. Ability to craft Dragonbone gear (with Dragonborn DLC).
The Dawnguard (Dawnguard DLC)
A faction of vampire hunters dedicated to eradicating the vampire threat. Joining the Dawnguard allows you to wield powerful crossbows, learn new spells, and fight alongside dedicated warriors against the forces of Lord Harkon.
- Benefits: Access to crossbows and specialized ammunition. Unique Dawnguard armor and weapons. Training in combat skills.
The Volkihar Clan (Dawnguard DLC)
The opposing faction to the Dawnguard, this is a powerful coven of vampires led by Lord Harkon. If you choose to join them, you can become a vampire yourself, gaining potent vampiric abilities and a unique questline focused on eternal night.
- Benefits: Ability to become a vampire lord. Access to powerful vampiric spells and abilities. Unique vampire-themed gear.
The Greybeards
While not a faction you formally 'join' in the traditional sense, the Greybeards are masters of the Thu'um (Dragon Shouts) and reside atop the Throat of the World. Interacting with them is essential for progressing the main quest and learning new shouts.
- Benefits: Essential for learning Dragon Shouts. Access to the Throat of the World.
Joining Factions: The Process
Generally, joining a faction involves completing an introductory quest or proving your worth. For example, to join the Companions, you must defeat a sparring opponent in their hall. To join the College of Winterhold, you must demonstrate some magical aptitude or be recommended by a mage.
Consequences of Allegiance
Be aware that joining one faction may sometimes put you at odds with another. For instance, siding with the Imperials in the Civil War questline will make you an enemy of the Stormcloaks, and vice versa. Similarly, the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood operate outside the law, which can lead to conflict with city guards or other factions.