Skyrim:Essential NPCs

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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, and when their health bar fully depletes, they will merely fall into a state of recovery before reverting to normal again 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. There are instances where some "essential" NPCs can still be killed before their related quest is completed. Erikur is one such NPC. Needs to be confirmed for other NPCs.

[edit] A

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Aela the Huntress	Companion's Faction Hall (Whiterun)	If The Player Decides To Marry Her
Alik'r Prisoner	Dragonsreach Dungeon (Whiterun)
Amaund Motierre	The Bannered Mare (Whiterun)	Hail Sithis!
Ancano	Hall of the Elements (College of Winterhold)	The Eye of Magnus
Anton Virane	Understone Keep (Markarth)	Recipe for Disaster
Anuriel	Mistveil Keep (Riften)
Arnbjorn	Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (Falkreath Hold)	Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!
Arngeir	High Hrothgar (Whiterun Hold)
Arniel Gane	Hall of Attainment (College of Winterhold)
Arrald Frozen-Heart	Hjaalmarch Stormcloak Camp
Asgeir Snow-Shod	Snow-Shod Manor (Riften)	Bound Until Death
Aslfur	Highmoon Hall (Morthal)
Astrid	Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (Falkreath Hold)	With Friends Like These, Death Incarnate.
Atmah	Labyrinthian (Hjaalmarch)
Augur of Dunlain	The Midden (College of Winterhold)
Avrusa Sarethi	Sarethi Farm (the Rift)
Avulstein Gray-Mane	House Gray-Mane (Whiterun)
Azzadal	Bard's Leap Summit (The Reach)

[edit] B

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Balagog gro-Nolob	Nightgate Inn Cellar (the Pale)	Recipe for Disaster
Balgruuf the Greater	Dragonsreach (Whiterun)
Beirand	Solitude Blacksmith (Solitude)	Get Outfitted
Bersi Honey-Hand	Pawned Prawn (Riften)	Taking Care of Business
Borri	High Hrothgar (Whiterun Hold)
Boti	Ivarstead	The Book of Love
Breya	Avanchnzel (the Rift)
Brina Merilis	Brina's House (Dawnstar)
Brother Verulus	Hall of the Dead (Markarth)	The Taste of Death
Brunwulf Free-Winter	Brunwulf Free-Winter's House (Windhelm)
Bryling	Bryling's House (Solitude)
Brynjolf	Thieves Guild (Riften)

[edit] C

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Calcelmo	Understone Keep (Markarth)
Calixto Corrium	Calixto's House of Curiosities (Windhelm)	At the end of the quest Blood on the Ice
Captain Metilius
Carriage Driver
Cart Driver
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.
Colette Marence	Hall of Countenance (College of Winterhold)
Commander Caius	Guard Barracks (Whiterun)
Commander Maro	Penitus Oculatus Outpost (Dragon Bridge)	Hail Sithis!
Curwe	Loreius Farm (the Pale)	Found dead after Delayed Burial if player chooses to turn in Cicero

[edit] D

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Deeja	Red Wave,Wreck of the Icerunner	Lights Out!
Delphine	Sleeping Giant Inn (Riverwood)
Delvin Mallory	The Ragged Flagon (Riften)
Dengeir of Stuhn	Dengeir's House (Falkreath)
Dervenin	Temple of the Divines (Solitude)
Dorian	Red Wave (Solitude)
Drennen	Avanchnzel (the Rift)
Drevis Neloren	Hall of Countenance (College of Winterhold)

[edit] E

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Einarth	High Hrothgar (Whiterun Hold)
Elenwen	Thalmor Embassy (Haafingar)
Elisif the Fair	Blue Palace (Solitude)
Eltrys	The Warrens (Markarth)	Scripted death after The Forsworn Conspiracy
Elvali Veren	Labyrinthian (Hjaalmarch
Endon	Endon's House (Markarth)
Enthir	Hall of Attainment (College of Winterhold)
Erandur	Windpeak Inn (Dawnstar)	Waking Nightmare
Erikur	Erikur's House (Solitude)
Erlendr	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
Esbern	The Ratway Warrens (Riften)

[edit] F

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Faleen	Understone Keep (Markarth)
Falion	Falion's House (Morthal)
Falk Firebeard	Blue Palace (Solitude)
Faralda	Hall of Countenance (College of Winterhold)
Farkas	Companion's Faction Hall (Whiterun)	If The Player Decides To Marry Him
Fastred	Ivarstead	The Book of Love
Felldir the Old	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
Fenrig	Greenspring Hollow (Whiterun Hold)
Festus Krex	Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary	Death Incarnate
Frorkmar Banner-Torn	Dawnstar

[edit] G

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Gabriella	Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (Falkreath Hold)	Death Incarnate
Galmar Stone-Fist	Palace of the Kings (Windhelm)	Battle for Windhelm
Gelebros	Hall of the Elements (College of Winterhold)
General Tullius	Castle Dour (Solitude)	Battle for Solitude
Gianna	Castle Dour, Emperor's Tower (Solitude)	To Kill an Empire
Girduin	Labyrinthian (Hjaalmarch)
Gisli	Erikur's House (Solitude)
Gonnar Oath-Giver	Rift Stormcloak Camp(The Rift)
Gormlaith Golden-Hilt	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
Gulum-Ei	The Winking Skeever (Solitude)	Scoundrel's Folly

[edit] H

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Hadvar	Helgen Keep
Haelga	Haelga's Bunkhouse (Riften)	Taking Care of Business
Hafnar Ice-Fist	Labyrinthian (Hjaalmarch)
Hakon One-Eye	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
Hero of Sovngarde	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
High King Torygg	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
Hjornskar Head-Smasher	Whiterun Stormcloak Camp
Horik Halfhand	Brina's House (Dawnstar)
Hrongar	Dragonsreach (Whiterun)
Hunroor	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)

[edit] I

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Idgrod Ravencrone	Highmoon Hall (Morthal)
Idgrod the Younger	Highmoon Hall (Morthal)
Igmund	Understone Keep (Markarth)
Irileth	Dragonsreach (Whiterun)
Istar Cairn-Breaker	Haafingar Stormcloak Camp

[edit] J

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Jaree-Ra	Angeline's Aromatics (Solitude)	Lights Out!
Jod	The White Hall (Dawnstar)
Jofthor	Ivarstead	The Book of Love
Jolf
Jorleif	Palace of the Kings (Windhelm)
Jurgen Windcaller	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)

[edit] K

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Kai Wet-Pommel	Winterhold Stormcloak Camp
Karliah	Snow Veil Sanctum (Winterhold)
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)
Kottir Red-Shoal	Reach Stormcloak Camp
Kraldar	Kraldar's House (Winterhold)

[edit] L

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Laila Law-Giver	Mistveil Keep (Riften)
Legate Adventus Caesennius	(Haafingar)
Legate Constantius Tituleius
Legate Emmanuel Admand
Legate Fasendil
Legate Hrollod
Legate Quentin Cipius
Legate Rikke	Castle Dour (Solitude)	Battle for Solitude
Legate Sevan Telendas
Legate Skulnar
Legate Taurinus Duilis
Louis Letrush	The Bee and Barb (Riften)

[edit] M

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
M'aiq the Liar	The Reach
Malborn	Thalmor Embassy (Haafingar)	Diplomatic Immunity
Mallus Maccius	Honningbrew Meadery (Whiterun)
Malur Seloth	Jarl's Longhouse (Winterhold)
Maramal	Temple of Mara (Riften)
Maul	Black-Briar Manor (Riften)
Maven Black-Briar	Black-Briar Manor (Riften)
Mercer Frey	The Ragged Flagon - Cistern (Riften)	Blindsighted
Mirabelle Ervine	Hall of Attainment (College of Winterhold)	Scripted death The Staff of Magnus
Mjoll the Lioness	Aerin's House (Riften)
Muiri	The Hag's Cure (Markarth)	Mourning Never Comes

[edit] N

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Nazir	Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary	Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!
Nelacar	The Frozen Hearth (Winterhold)
Nenya	Jarl's Longhouse (Falkreath)
Nerien	Saarthal Excavation (Winterhold)
Nikulas	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
Niranye	Niranye's House (Windhelm)	Summerset Shadows
Noster Eagle-Eye	The Winking Skeever (Solitude)

[edit] O

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Olaf One-Eye	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
Olava the Feeble	Olava the Feeble's House (Whiterun)
Olfrid Battle-Born	House of Clan Battle-Born (Whiterun)

[edit] P

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Pactur	Sorli's House (Hjaalmarch)
Paratus Decimius	Mzulft Aedrome (Eastmarch)	Revealing the Unseen
Phinis Gestor	Hall of Countenance (College of Winterhold)
Proventus Avenicci	Dragonsreach (Whiterun)

[edit] Q

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Quaranir	Arch-Mage's Quarters (College of Winterhold)

[edit] R

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Raerek	Understone Keep (Markarth)
Ralof	Helgen Keep
Razelan	Thalmor Embassy (Haafingar)
Reburrus Quintilius	The Treasury House (Markarth)
Rexus	Volunruud (the Pale)
Ri'saad
Rolff Stone-Fist	Candlehearth Hall (Windhelm)
Ruki	Gjukar's_Monument (Whiterun Hold)

[edit] S

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Sabine Nytte	Red Wave (Solitude)
Sabjorn	Honningbrew Meadery (Whiterun)
Sam Guevenne	The Bee and Barb (Riften)
Sanguine	Morvunskar (Eastmarch)
Savos Aren	Arch-Mage's Quarters (College of Winterhold)	Scripted death during The Eye of Magnus.
Sheogorath	(Haafingar)
Siddgeir	Jarl's Longhouse (Falkreath)
Sinding	Falkreath	Ill Met By Moonlight
Sinmir	The Bannered Mare (Whiterun)
Skald	The White Hall (Dawnstar)
Sorli the Builder	Sorli's House (Hjaalmarch)
Svaknir	Dead Men's Respite (Hjaalmarch)

[edit] T

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Takes-In-Light	(Hjaalmarch)
Talen-Jei	The Bee and Barb (Riften)
Tandil	Hall of the Elements (College of Winterhold)
Teeba-Ei	Rockwallow Mine (Hjaalmarch)
Tekla	Dengeir's House (Falkreath)
Thaena	Jarl's Longhouse (Winterhold)
Thonar Silver-Blood	The Treasury House (Markarth)	After completing No One Escapes Cidhna Mine
Thongvor Silver-Blood	The Treasury House (Markarth)
Thonjolf	Kraldar's House (Winterhold)
Thonnir	Thonnir's House (Morthal)
Thorygg Sun-Killer
Tolfdir	Hall of Attainment (College of Winterhold)
Tonilia	The Ragged Flagon (Riften)
Torsten Cruel-Sea	House of Clan Cruel-Sea (Windhelm)
Tova Shatter-Shield	House of Clan Shatter-Shield (Windhelm)
Tsun	Sovngarde

[edit] U

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Ulfgar the Unending	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)
Ulfric Stormcloak	Palace of the Kings (Windhelm)	Battle for Windhelm
Unemployed Laborer	Frostfruit Inn (Rorikstead)
Unmid Snow-Shod	Mistveil Keep (Riften)
Urag gro-Shub	The Arcanaeum (College of Winterhold)
Urchin

[edit] V

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Vaermina
Vaermina Devotee	Nightcaller Temple (the Pale)
Valdar	Valthume Vestibule (the Reach)
Vantus Loreius	Loreius Farm (the Pale)	Found dead after Delayed Burial if player chooses to turn in Cicero
Varnius Junius	Blue Palace (Solitude)
Veezara	Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (Falkreath Hold)
Vekel the Man	The Ragged Flagon (Riften)
Vex	The Ragged Flagon (Riften)
Viarmo	Bards College (Solitude)
Vigilant Tyranus	Silver-Blood Inn (Markarth)	The House of Horrors
Vignar Gray-Mane	Jorrvaskr (Whiterun)
Vilkas	Companion's Faction Hall (Whiterun)	If The Player Decides To Marry Him
Viola Giordano	TownWindhelmFaction (Windhelm)	If The Player Decides To Marry Her
Vittoria Vici	Vittoria Vici's House (Solitude)
Voice of Boethiah
Voice of Namira	Reachcliff Cave (the Reach)

[edit] W

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Wary Outlaw	The Bee and Barb (Riften)
Watches-The-Roots	Avanchnzel (the Rift)
Wilhelm	Vilemyr Inn (Ivarstead)
Wulfgar	High Hrothgar (Whiterun Hold)

[edit] Y

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Yngvar the Singer	The Treasury House (Markarth)
Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced	(Eastmarch)
Ysgramor	Hall of Valor (Sovngarde)

[edit] Z

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Zaria	Grave Concoctions (Falkreath)

[edit] Creatures

Name	Found	Becomes Killable
Alduin		Dragonslayer
Barbas	Outside Falkreath
Odahviing	Dragonsreach (Whiterun)
Paarthurnax	Throat of the World (Whiterun Hold)	Paarthurnax
Queen Potema	Wolfskull Cave (Haafingar)