Stenvar in Skyrim: Your Complete Guide to Hiring and Maximizing This Reliable Follower

If you’re wandering the frozen roads of Skyrim and need a dependable sword arm at your side, Stenvar might be exactly what you’re looking for. This no-nonsense Nord mercenary won’t recite poetry or offer witty banter, but he’ll charge into battle without hesitation and carry your dragon bones without complaint. Unlike some followers who come with elaborate questlines or moral baggage, Stenvar keeps things simple: pay his fee, and he’s yours.

But is he worth the gold? How does he stack up against other hireable followers, and what’s the best way to gear him for maximum efficiency? Whether you’re a stealth archer who needs a distraction or a mage looking for frontline protection, understanding Stenvar’s strengths and limitations will help you decide if this mercenary deserves a spot in your party. Let’s break down everything you need to know about hiring, equipping, and managing Stenvar effectively.

Who Is Stenvar in Skyrim?

Stenvar is a Nord warrior and one of the hireable mercenary followers available in Skyrim. Unlike essential quest followers such as Lydia or Serana, Stenvar operates purely as a paid companion, no backstory quests, no emotional investment, just straightforward muscle for hire.

He’s classified as a warrior-class follower, meaning he defaults to heavy armor and two-handed weapons, though his equipment can be adjusted. His personality is… minimal. Don’t expect memorable dialogue or companionship commentary. Stenvar’s appeal lies in his combat reliability and accessibility, not his charm.

Lore-wise, there’s almost nothing. He doesn’t tie into any major questlines, has no unique dialogue beyond his hiring conversation, and won’t react to your choices in the Civil War or other faction storylines. He’s a blank slate, perfect if you want a follower who won’t judge your decision to steal every cheese wheel in Whiterun.

Stenvar is also marriageable (if you’re into that) and can be recruited into the Blades, making him slightly more versatile than his sparse dialogue would suggest. He’s essentially the working-class alternative to flashier followers, and for many players, that simplicity is a feature, not a bug.

Where to Find Stenvar

Stenvar hangs out in Candlehearth Hall, the inn located in Windhelm. If you haven’t been to Windhelm yet, it’s the imposing stone city in the northeastern corner of Skyrim, home to Ulfric Stormcloak and a generally unwelcoming atmosphere.

Location Details: Candlehearth Hall in Windhelm

Candlehearth Hall sits near the city’s entrance, making it one of the first buildings you’ll encounter when entering through the main gate. Inside, you’ll find the typical inn setup: a bar, NPCs drinking and eating, and Stenvar usually standing near the fire or wandering around the main room.

Windhelm is accessible fairly early in the game. You can fast-travel there once discovered, or hoof it from other major cities. If you’re following the main quest, you’ll likely visit Windhelm during the Season Unending negotiations or Civil War storyline, making Stenvar easy to pick up mid-playthrough.

One thing to note: Windhelm’s layout can be confusing for first-timers. The city has multiple districts, but Candlehearth Hall is in the main Stone Quarter, right near where you enter. If you’re having trouble, look for the building with the warm glow and the sign depicting a hearth, hard to miss once you know what you’re looking for.

How to Hire Stenvar as a Follower

Hiring Stenvar is refreshingly straightforward. Walk up to him in Candlehearth Hall and initiate dialogue. He’ll offer his services as a sellsword, and you can accept or decline.

Hiring Cost and Requirements

Stenvar charges 500 gold for his services, a one-time fee, not a subscription. Once you pay, he’s yours indefinitely until you dismiss him or he dies (followers aren’t essential NPCs, so permadeath is possible if you’re not careful).

There are no level requirements, skill checks, or prerequisite quests. As long as you have 500 gold and an open follower slot, you’re good to go. This makes him one of the most accessible followers in the game, especially compared to someone like Mjoll the Lioness, who requires you to retrieve her sword first.

The 500 gold price tag is middle-of-the-road for hired followers. Jenassa in Whiterun also costs 500 gold, while Marcurio in Riften charges 500 gold but brings destruction magic to the table. Stenvar’s value proposition is purely physical, he’s a frontline brawler, not a spellcaster or archer.

One quirk: if you dismiss Stenvar and want to rehire him later, you’ll need to pay another 500 gold. His loyalty is transactional, so budget accordingly if you like to rotate followers.

Stenvar’s Combat Abilities and Stats

Stenvar’s combat style is pure aggression. He’s built to rush enemies, soak damage, and dish out punishment with heavy weapons.

Fighting Style and Preferred Weapons

By default, Stenvar wields a two-handed weapon, typically an iron or steel greatsword when you first recruit him. He wears heavy armor, starting with a mix of iron or steel pieces. His AI is programmed for melee combat, so he’ll charge enemies head-on rather than hanging back.

He’s proficient in one-handed weapons as well, so you can equip him with a sword and shield for better survivability, though his default preference leans toward two-handers. He won’t use bows or magic, so don’t bother giving him a staff or arrows.

Stenvar’s block skill is respectable, and his heavy armor skill scales as he levels, making him increasingly tanky over time. He’s not as specialized as some followers (Lydia has higher heavy armor skill, for example), but he’s competent enough for most content.

Level Scaling and Maximum Stats

Stenvar’s level scales with the player from level 1 up to a maximum of level 40. This is solid mid-tier scaling, better than followers capped at 30, but weaker than uncapped followers like Frea or Serana (who scale indefinitely with the Dawnguard DLC).

At level 40, his health caps around 671 HP, which is decent but not exceptional. His stamina and magicka are standard for a warrior-class follower. For comparison, players who venture into endgame content often find that level 40 followers start to struggle in Legendary difficulty or against high-tier enemies like Dragon Priests.

His combat skills at max level include:

• One-Handed: 98
• Two-Handed: 98
• Block: 98
• Heavy Armor: 98

These stats make him a reliable damage-dealer and tank for most of the game, though he won’t outperform followers with higher level caps or unique perks.

Best Equipment and Gear for Stenvar

Followers in Skyrim don’t auto-equip the best gear in their inventory, they follow specific AI rules. Understanding this will save you frustration when outfitting Stenvar.

Recommended Weapons

Stenvar will use whatever weapon in his inventory has the highest base damage, ignoring enchantments unless the enchantment significantly boosts damage output. Here’s what works well:

• Two-Handed Options: Daedric Greatsword, Dragonbone Greatsword, or an enchanted Ebony Greatsword. These maximize his damage per swing.
• One-Handed + Shield: Dragonbone Sword paired with a Dragonbone Shield or Spellbreaker for added defense. Useful if you want him to tank rather than DPS.
• Unique Weapons: Volendrung (Daedric warhammer) is a solid choice, or The Longhammer (found in Liar’s Retreat) for faster attack speed.

Enchantments to prioritize: Absorb Health or Chaos Damage (requires Dragonborn DLC). Followers don’t benefit from weapon speed enchantments, so focus on raw damage output.

Optimal Armor Choices

Followers equip armor based on total armor rating, not set bonuses or enchantments (with some exceptions). Stenvar will automatically wear whatever gives him the highest defense.

Best armor sets:

• Dragonplate Armor: Highest heavy armor rating in the base game. Expensive to craft, but worth it for endgame.
• Daedric Armor: Slightly lower rating than Dragonplate, but easier to acquire through loot or Atronach Forge.
• Enchanted Heavy Armor: Fortify Health, Fortify Heavy Armor, or Resist Magic. Followers do benefit from enchantments on armor, so stack defensive buffs.

Don’t bother with light armor, Stenvar’s perks are optimized for heavy armor, and switching him to light armor wastes his skill investment. Players who use follower mods sometimes get more control over AI behavior, but in vanilla Skyrim, heavy armor is the way to go.

One pro tip: give Stenvar a shield even if he’s using a two-hander. He’ll still block occasionally during combat, reducing incoming damage.

Stenvar vs Other Hireable Followers: How Does He Compare?

Skyrim offers several hireable mercenary followers, each with slight differences in combat style and stats. Here’s how Stenvar stacks up:

Stenvar vs Jenassa (Whiterun)

Both cost 500 gold. Jenassa is a dual-wielding or archery specialist, making her better for ranged support or hit-and-run tactics. Stenvar is tankier and better for frontline brawling. If you’re a stealth or magic build, Jenassa’s ranged focus might suit you better. If you need a meat shield, Stenvar wins.

Stenvar vs Marcurio (Riften)

Marcurio costs 500 gold but brings destruction magic to the table, making him a ranged DPS powerhouse. His level cap is also 40, same as Stenvar. Marcurio struggles in melee and has lower health, so he’s squishier. Choose Marcurio if you need magic damage: choose Stenvar if you need a brawler.

Stenvar vs Vorstag (Markarth)

Vorstag is nearly identical to Stenvar, warrior-class, level 40 cap, two-handed preference. The main difference is location and minor dialogue variations. Performance-wise, they’re interchangeable. Pick whichever is more convenient geographically.

Stenvar vs Lydia (Free Follower)

Lydia is free (you get her after becoming Thane of Whiterun) and has identical stats to Stenvar at level 40. The only reason to hire Stenvar over Lydia is if you’ve already assigned her as a steward or want a second follower via exploits. Otherwise, Lydia offers the same tanking ability without the 500 gold cost.

Bottom line: Stenvar is a solid mid-tier follower. He’s not the best at anything specific, but he’s reliable, accessible, and effective for most playthroughs. Players seeking optimal builds for higher difficulties might prefer uncapped followers, but for standard playthroughs, Stenvar does the job.

Advantages of Using Stenvar

Why choose Stenvar over dozens of other followers? Here are his main strengths:

No Quest Requirements

You don’t need to complete any storylines or fetch quests to recruit him. Just show up with 500 gold. This makes him ideal for early-to-mid game when you need muscle but haven’t progressed far in faction questlines.

Solid Tanking Ability

With heavy armor and high health scaling, Stenvar can absorb punishment. He’s perfect for squishy builds (mages, archers) that need an enemy distraction. Toss him into a room of draugr, and he’ll hold aggro while you rain down arrows or spells.

Easy to Gear

Since he’s a straightforward warrior, outfitting him is simple. No need to balance magic vs. melee, just stack the heaviest armor and highest-damage weapon you can find. Even players who struggle with optimizing equipment can make Stenvar effective.

Marriageable and Blades-Recruitable

If you want a follower you can marry (for the 100 gold per day income and Lover’s Comfort bonus) or recruit into the Blades (for dragon-hunting quests), Stenvar qualifies. Not essential for most players, but nice flexibility.

Low Maintenance

Stenvar doesn’t have unique dialogue or questlines that can bug out. He won’t judge your choices or refuse commands based on alignment. He’s a tool, not a character, which is exactly what some players want.

Disadvantages and Limitations

Stenvar isn’t perfect. Here’s where he falls short:

Level 40 Cap

If you’re playing into the high levels (50+), Stenvar will start to lag behind. Enemies scale indefinitely in many areas, but Stenvar stops at 40. This isn’t a dealbreaker for normal or hard difficulty, but on Legendary, he’ll become more liability than asset.

Generic AI and Dialogue

Stenvar has zero personality. His dialogue is limited to hiring, dismissal, and standard follower commands. If you care about immersion or companion banter, he’s a poor choice. Followers like Serana or Cicero offer far more character.

Costs 500 Gold Each Time

Unlike free followers, you pay every time you rehire him. If you like to rotate companions or dismiss followers frequently, this adds up. Budget-conscious players might prefer permanent followers.

No Ranged Combat

Stenvar won’t use bows, crossbows, or magic. If you need ranged support (to hit flying dragons, for example), he’s useless. You’ll have to handle ranged threats yourself or pair him with a ranged companion (if using mods or exploits for multiple followers).

Mortal

Stenvar isn’t essential, meaning he can die permanently. If you’re playing on Legendary difficulty without careful management, he might eat a giant’s club or a mage’s ice storm and disappear for good. Save often.

Pathfinding Issues

Like all Skyrim followers, Stenvar suffers from occasional AI derp. He’ll trigger traps, block doorways, and sometimes lose track of you in dungeons. This is a Bethesda-wide issue, not unique to him, but worth mentioning.

Marriage and Blades Recruitment Options

Stenvar qualifies for two optional follower perks: marriage and Blades recruitment.

Marriage

Once you’ve completed the “Book of Love” quest in Riften and obtained the Amulet of Mara, you can marry Stenvar. Wearing the amulet while talking to him will trigger the marriage dialogue option.

Benefits of marrying Stenvar:

• Lover’s Comfort: Sleeping in the same house as your spouse grants a 15% skill increase buff for 8 hours, useful for grinding levels.
• Daily Income: Your spouse generates 100 gold per day, deposited in a chest or container in your shared home.
• Homecooked Meal: Once per day, your spouse can cook a meal that restores health and stamina.

Downsides: Once married, you can’t divorce without console commands (PC) or mods. Also, married followers still occupy your follower slot, so there’s no mechanical advantage to marrying Stenvar versus keeping him as a hireling, unless you value the passive income and buffs.

Blades Recruitment

During the main quest “Rebuilding the Blades,” Delphine allows you to recruit up to three followers into the Blades faction. Stenvar is eligible.

Benefits:

• Stenvar gains Blades armor and weapons (provided by Delphine).
• He can participate in Dragon Hunting quests, where the Blades send you to kill specific dragons for radiant quests.
• He’ll hang out at Sky Haven Temple when dismissed, rather than returning to Windhelm.

Downsides: Recruiting followers into the Blades is permanent. Stenvar will no longer return to Candlehearth Hall, and you’ll need to travel to Sky Haven Temple to rehire him (still costs 500 gold). Unless you plan to use Sky Haven as your home base, this is inconvenient.

Most players skip Blades recruitment unless they’re roleplaying or want the aesthetic of having a personal dragon-hunting squad.

Tips for Managing Stenvar Effectively

Getting the most out of Stenvar (or any follower) requires understanding Skyrim’s follower mechanics and working around their quirks.

Command Tactics and Follower Controls

Followers respond to three basic commands:

1. “Wait here” – Stenvar stops following and stays put. Useful for sneaking sections or when you need him to hold a position.
2. “Follow me” – Resumes following.
3. “I need you to do something” – Lets you target objects or enemies. Point at a chest, and he’ll loot it. Point at an enemy, and he’ll prioritize attacking them.

Pro tip: Use the “do something” command to make Stenvar pick locks or activate levers in dungeons. Followers can interact with most objects, saving you time.

Combat AI Behavior:

Stenvar will automatically engage enemies within detection range. You can’t control his targeting directly, but you can influence it by attacking specific enemies first, he’ll usually focus on whoever you’re fighting.

If Stenvar is dying too quickly, command him to “wait here” and draw enemies away. Once he’s out of combat, his health regenerates. Alternatively, cast healing spells on him (Healing Hands works on followers).

Avoiding Common Follower Issues

Trap Triggering:

Followers love walking into pressure plates and tripwires. In trap-heavy dungeons (Nordic ruins, Dwemer ruins), move slowly and disarm traps before Stenvar blunders into them. Or just tank the damage, followers have high health pools for a reason.

Doorway Blocking:

Stenvar will occasionally stand in doorways, trapping you. Shout (use Unrelenting Force or any shout), and the stagger will move him. Alternatively, fast-travel out and back, which resets follower positioning.

Lost Followers:

If Stenvar disappears, he’s either stuck on terrain, waiting where you told him to, or dead. Fast-travel to a major city, wait 3-7 in-game days, and check Candlehearth Hall, dismissed or lost followers eventually return to their home location. If he’s dead, his body will have a “Search” option with his inventory (recover your gear before looting).

Friendly Fire:

Followers are somewhat resistant to player damage, but AoE spells and Fus Ro Dah can still hurt them. Be careful with fireball spam or you’ll accidentally aggro Stenvar. He’ll forgive one hit, but repeated damage makes him hostile.

Inventory Management:

Followers have a carry weight limit (around 300 lbs for Stenvar). To bypass this, command him to pick up items via the “do something” command, he’ll pick up anything regardless of weight. Great for hauling dragon bones and ebony ore.

Conclusion

Stenvar won’t win awards for personality or flexibility, but he’s a dependable hired sword who gets the job done. For players who prioritize straightforward combat effectiveness over companion quests and dialogue, he’s a solid pick, especially in the early-to-mid game when 500 gold is easier to spare than time grinding faction questlines.

His level 40 cap and lack of ranged combat mean he’s not the optimal choice for endgame Legendary runs, but for standard playthroughs on normal or hard difficulty, Stenvar holds his own. Gear him in heavy Daedric or Dragonplate, hand him a greatsword, and let him tank while you handle the tactics.

If you’re in Windhelm and need a follower right now, no fetch quests, no moral alignment checks, just gold and steel, Stenvar’s your guy. Pay the man, point him at your enemies, and enjoy having one less thing to micromanage in your Skyrim playthrough.