Vorstag in Skyrim: Your Complete Guide to Hiring the Best Mercenary Companion in 2026

In a province crawling with dragons, bandits, and draugr death lords, going it alone is risky business. Sure, you could solo every dungeon with enough cheese wheels and quick-save spam, but why not hire someone who actually knows how to swing a sword? Enter Vorstag, one of Skyrim’s most underrated mercenary followers, a two-handed weapon specialist who’ll cleave through enemies without complaining about carrying your fourth enchanted helmet.

Even though being overshadowed by flashier companions like Lydia or Serana, Vorstag brings solid DPS, reliable combat AI, and a surprisingly flexible skill set to any build. Whether you’re running a mage who needs a tanky frontliner or a stealth archer looking for someone to distract enemies (let’s be honest, everyone’s a stealth archer eventually), this Markarth mercenary has your back, for the right price. This guide covers everything from his location and stats to optimal gear setups and troubleshooting tips for when he inevitably gets lost in a Dwemer ruin.

Who Is Vorstag?

Background and Lore

Vorstag isn’t dripping with deep lore like some of Skyrim’s more narrative-heavy followers. He’s a straightforward sellsword who chose the mercenary life over aligning with any of Markarth’s political factions. Unlike many citizens tied to the Silver-Blood or Forsworn drama, Vorstag keeps his business transactions simple: you pay, he follows.

He doesn’t have a dedicated personal quest or tragic backstory quest chain. What you see is what you get, a professional warrior who values gold over ideology. This makes him refreshingly uncomplicated compared to followers who require you to navigate faction politics or moral dilemmas before they’ll join your party.

Location and Personality

You’ll find Vorstag hanging out in the Silver-Blood Inn in Markarth, typically near the bar or wandering the ground floor. The inn is located in the southwestern section of the city, easily accessible once you enter through the main gates and follow the path downward.

Personality-wise, Vorstag leans toward the confident mercenary archetype. His dialogue reflects a pragmatic attitude toward combat and coin. He’s not particularly chatty or emotional, don’t expect heartfelt conversations about his past, but he’s also not hostile or abrasive. He treats adventuring like a job, which honestly feels more realistic than some followers who pledge undying loyalty after five minutes.

How to Recruit Vorstag as a Follower

Finding Vorstag in the Silver-Blood Inn

Recruiting Vorstag is painfully simple. Travel to Markarth, either by carriage, fast travel, or the long walk through the Reach. Once inside the city, head to the Silver-Blood Inn. Vorstag will be inside during most hours, though like all NPCs, he follows a basic schedule.

If he’s not immediately visible, wait a few in-game hours or check the inn’s upper level. He won’t be involved in any quests that lock him out of recruitment, so as long as you’ve got the gold, he’s available from the moment you can access Markarth.

Hiring Cost and Requirements

Vorstag costs 500 gold to hire. There are no level requirements, skill checks, or prerequisite quests. This makes him one of the earliest high-quality followers you can recruit if you’ve been looting efficiently.

Once you pay, he’ll follow you indefinitely until dismissed. Like other hired mercenaries, he can be recruited again later for another 500 gold if you part ways. If you already have an active follower, you’ll need to dismiss them first, Skyrim’s base game only allows one humanoid follower at a time (unless you’re running mods that expand follower limits).

He’s marriageable after recruitment, which we’ll cover later. But the initial transaction is purely business, hand over the gold, and he’s yours.

Vorstag’s Combat Skills and Stats

Class, Level, and Skills Breakdown

Vorstag is classified as a Warrior class follower. His level scales with the player, capping at level 40. This is mid-tier compared to followers like Frea or Teldryn Sero (who cap at 50+), but perfectly serviceable for most playthroughs, especially early-to-mid game.

His primary combat skills include:

• One-Handed: 32 (base)
• Two-Handed: 42 (base, his strongest combat skill)
• Block: 28
• Heavy Armor: 33
• Archery: 23 (serviceable but not his focus)

He also has minor skill investment in Speech (26), which doesn’t affect combat but reflects his mercenary background. His skill distribution heavily favors melee combat tactics, making him a reliable frontline fighter.

Combat Style and Preferred Equipment

Vorstag defaults to a two-handed combat style, wielding weapons like greatswords, battleaxes, or warhammers when equipped. If you give him a strong two-hander and heavy armor, he’ll charge into melee range and deliver high burst damage.

His default equipment when hired includes:

• Steel Greatsword
• Banded Iron Armor (heavy armor set)
• Iron Shield (he’ll equip this if you take away his two-hander)

He can use bows if given one, but his Archery skill is weak enough that you’re better off keeping him in melee. His AI prioritizes closing distance and power attacking, which synergizes well with high-damage two-handed weapons.

Perks and Special Abilities

As a warrior-class follower capped at level 40, Vorstag has access to several perks that boost his effectiveness:

• Heavy Armor perks that increase his damage resistance
• Two-Handed perks that improve power attack damage (specific perks depend on his level)
• Block perks if you equip him with a shield and one-handed weapon instead

He doesn’t have any unique abilities or racial powers, he’s a Nord, so he has the standard 50% frost resistance. What makes him solid isn’t flashy abilities but consistent, high-damage output in melee range. His perk selection automatically improves as he levels alongside you, making him progressively tankier and harder-hitting through mid-game content.

Best Ways to Use Vorstag in Combat

Optimal Build Synergies

Vorstag shines when paired with builds that need a durable frontliner. If you’re running:

• Mage builds: Let Vorstag tank damage while you spam destruction spells from range. Equip him with enchanted heavy armor for elemental resistance so your AoE spells don’t accidentally roast him.
• Stealth archer builds: Use him as a distraction. While enemies focus on Vorstag, you pick them off from stealth. Just be aware that his aggressive AI can blow your cover if he charges prematurely.
• Dual-wield or one-handed builds: Vorstag can flank enemies or split aggro, giving you breathing room to land power attacks.

Avoid pairing him with other melee-focused followers if you’re using mods that allow multiple companions, too many bodies in close quarters creates chaos and friendly fire issues. He’s best as your primary or sole melee companion.

Gear and Equipment Recommendations

Vorstag’s default gear is trash-tier. Upgrade him immediately for noticeable performance gains. Here’s what works:

Weapon Options:

• Ebony Greatsword or Dragonbone Greatsword: High base damage, scales well with his two-handed skill
• Daedric Battleaxe: Slightly slower but devastating power attacks
• Enchanted weapons: Fire or frost damage enchantments add DoT and crowd control

Armor Recommendations:

• Ebony Armor set or Dragonplate Armor: Maximize his damage resistance
• Enchant for Health and Stamina regen: Keeps him standing longer in extended fights
• Fortify Two-Handed enchantments: Boosts his DPS significantly

Accessories:

• Ring of Peerless Wielding or similar: Enhances two-handed damage
• Amulet with health/stamina bonuses: Survivability over offense usually wins for followers

Don’t bother giving him advanced weapon mods unless you’re running gameplay overhauls, vanilla Vorstag can’t access mod-specific perks or mechanics without follower framework mods like AFT or EFF. Stick to high-tier vanilla Skyrim weapons for consistent results.

Vorstag vs. Other Skyrim Followers

Comparing Vorstag to Popular Companions

How does Vorstag stack up against Skyrim’s roster of followers? Let’s break it down:

Vorstag vs. Lydia:

Lydia is the default housecarl most players get after becoming Thane of Whiterun. She caps at level 50, giving her an edge in late-game content. But, Vorstag’s higher base two-handed skill and more aggressive AI make him a better damage dealer in the early-to-mid game. Lydia’s also prone to the infamous “I am sworn to carry your burdens” sarcasm, while Vorstag keeps things professional.

Vorstag vs. Farkas/Vilkas:

The Companions offer two strong two-handed warriors. Both cap at level 50 and have werewolf transformations, making them objectively stronger in raw stats. But recruiting them requires completing Companions questlines. Vorstag is available immediately for 500 gold, no strings attached. For early-game players, he’s the more accessible option.

Vorstag vs. Serana:

Serana (from the Dawnguard DLC) is arguably the best follower in vanilla Skyrim, she’s essential (can’t die permanently), levels infinitely, and uses powerful destruction and necromancy spells. Vorstag can’t compete with that. But if you’re running a pure melee party or haven’t started Dawnguard yet, Vorstag fills the gap.

Vorstag vs. Mercenary Alternatives (Jenassa, Belrand):

Jenassa costs 500 gold and specializes in dual-wielding and archery. Belrand (also 500 gold) is a spellsword hybrid. Vorstag’s two-handed focus gives him higher single-target burst damage than both, making him the better choice for players who want a dedicated melee tank.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

• Available early with no quests required
• Strong two-handed damage output
• Scales to level 40, covering most of the main game
• Marriageable for players wanting a combat-capable spouse
• Professional attitude, no annoying dialogue quirks

Disadvantages:

• Level 40 cap means he falls off in late-game or high-level playthroughs
• Default gear is weak and needs immediate replacement
• No unique abilities, quests, or story integration
• Can’t match the raw power of essential or infinitely leveling followers
• Hiring cost resets if dismissed, which adds up

Vorstag is a solid “good enough” option. He won’t carry you through legendary difficulty endgame content, but for normal or hard difficulty playthroughs, he’s more than capable. Think of him as the reliable starter car of Skyrim followers, not flashy, but gets the job done.

Marriage and Additional Features

Can You Marry Vorstag?

Yes, Vorstag is marriageable. After recruiting him as a follower, you can marry him by wearing an Amulet of Mara and initiating dialogue. He’ll offer the standard marriage dialogue options if his disposition toward you is high enough (which it will be after hiring him).

Marrying Vorstag grants the usual spouse benefits:

• Homecooked Meal daily buff (+25 Health, +25 Magicka, +25 Stamina regeneration for 600 seconds)
• Merchant services: He can open a shop wherever you set up your home, generating passive income
• Access to his inventory: Easier gear management and storage

He can still follow you after marriage, making him a two-for-one deal if you want a combat follower who also provides home base benefits. Just make sure you’ve completed the “Book of Love” quest in Riften to unlock the marriage mechanic and obtain the Amulet of Mara from Maramal.

Unique Dialogue and Interactions

Vorstag doesn’t have unique dialogue trees or special interactions beyond standard follower and spouse lines. He won’t comment on major questlines, react to specific locations, or offer personal quests. His dialogue is functional rather than narrative-driven.

As a spouse, he’ll use generic marriage lines like cooking for you, expressing affection, and managing the household. Don’t expect deep roleplaying opportunities, he’s not a character like Paarthurnax with philosophical depth or companions with faction ties.

His value lies in combat utility and spouse benefits, not story immersion. If you’re looking for a follower who feels integrated into Skyrim’s world and lore, Vorstag isn’t that. But if you want a reliable melee fighter who doubles as a merchant spouse, he checks both boxes efficiently.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

What to Do If Vorstag Disappears

Followers in Skyrim have a frustrating habit of vanishing. If Vorstag goes missing:

Check the last place you dismissed him:

If you told Vorstag to part ways, he returns to the Silver-Blood Inn in Markarth. Fast travel there and wait 24-48 in-game hours for him to respawn inside.

Wait 3 in-game days:

If Vorstag was separated during combat or got stuck in terrain, waiting 72 in-game hours usually resets his location back to the Silver-Blood Inn.

Check if he died:

Non-essential followers can die in combat. If you haven’t seen a “Your follower has been defeated” message, he might still be alive but lost. Backtrack to recent dungeons or use the map marker to check if he’s still active as a follower.

Fast travel spam:

Sometimes followers teleport to you after multiple fast travels. Try jumping between major cities, Whiterun, Riften, Solitude, and see if he reappears.

If none of these work, you’re looking at using console commands (PC only) or reloading a previous save.

Console Commands and Fixes

For PC players, console commands can resolve most Vorstag issues. Press ~ (tilde key) to open the console, then use these:

Teleport Vorstag to you:

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moveto player

This moves Vorstag directly to your current location.

Teleport yourself to Vorstag:

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moveto

Useful if he’s stuck somewhere and you want to retrieve him manually.

Resurrect Vorstag if he died:

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resurrect

Brings him back to life at his default location (Silver-Blood Inn).

Reset his AI and inventory:

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resetai

Fixes issues where he won’t follow commands or interact properly.

Dismiss and rehire via console:

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setrelationshiprank player 3

Resets his follower status if dialogue options are broken.

On consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch), you don’t have access to console commands. Your only options are waiting, fast traveling, or loading an earlier save. This is one reason many Skyrim veterans recommend keeping multiple rotating save files, so a lost follower doesn’t brick hours of progress.

If you’re running mods, follower behavior can be unpredictable. Framework mods like Nexus Mods‘ Amazing Follower Tweaks (AFT) or Extensible Follower Framework (EFF) offer better follower management and tracking features, though they can also introduce new bugs if not configured properly.

Conclusion

Vorstag won’t make the highlight reel of Skyrim’s most iconic followers, but that’s not his job. He’s a professional, pay him, gear him up, and he’ll cleave through enemies without drama or questline baggage. His level 40 cap and lack of unique features mean he’s not a late-game powerhouse, but for early-to-mid game content or players who want a straightforward melee tank, he delivers solid value.

If you’re exploring more about Skyrim’s mechanics, the Skyrim Archives section has additional guides covering everything from quest walkthroughs to build optimization. And if you’re curious about how other RPGs handle companion systems and character builds, RPG Site offers deep dives into role-playing mechanics across multiple titles.

Whether you hire Vorstag for his combat skills, marry him for the homecooked meals, or just need someone to carry your 47 dragon bones, he’s a reliable pick. Just don’t forget to upgrade that garbage starting gear.