In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it’s not uncommon to accidentally or intentionally kill an NPC that turns out to be important later in the game. Whether you lost a follower during combat, eliminated a quest giver by mistake, or found that a crucial character was slain by a dragon attack, you might find yourself needing to resurrect an NPC. Fortunately, Skyrim’s built-in console commands provide a way to bring NPCs back to life. This guide explains step-by-step how to resurrect NPCs, with useful tips for handling various resurrection scenarios.
Using Console Commands in Skyrim
How to Open the Console
To resurrect NPCs in Skyrim, you’ll need to use the developer console. Follow these steps to access it:
- Press thetilde (~)key on your keyboard. This key is usually located just below the ESC key.
- The console will appear as a transparent window over your game screen. You can now type commands.
Be careful while using the console. Some commands can unintentionally break quests or cause glitches, especially if used incorrectly.
Basic Resurrection Command
Reviving an NPC Immediately
If you want to bring an NPC back to life where their body lies, here is the basic command:
resurrect
This command must be used on the targeted NPC. Here’s how to do it:
- Stand close to the dead NPC’s body.
- Open the console and click directly on the body. Their reference ID will appear on the screen.
- Type
resurrectand press Enter. - Close the console by pressing the tilde key again.
The NPC should now stand up and behave as normal. If they were a follower, you can usually re-hire them immediately.
Resurrecting with Inventory and AI
To bring back an NPC with full memory of their AI routines and inventory, use this variant:
resurrect 1
The 1 tells the game to refresh the NPC completely. This can sometimes reset their state, which may or may not be helpful depending on what you want to achieve.
Finding an NPC’s Reference ID
Using the In-Game Method
The easiest way to get an NPC’s reference ID is by clicking on their body in the console. However, if the NPC’s body has disappeared or you’re not near them, you can find their reference another way.
Using the Player.PlaceAtMe Method
If you know the base ID of an NPC, you can spawn a new version of them next to you. Here’s how:
player.placeatme [BaseID]
For example, to place Lydia near you:
player.placeatme 000A2C94
This is not technically a resurrection, but a recreation. The new NPC might not remember previous events and may behave as if they are a fresh instance.
Recovering Dead NPCs from Memory
When the Body Is Gone
If the body of an NPC has despawned, you can still resurrect them if you know their reference ID. Use the following method:
- Open the console and type:
prid [ReferenceID] - This targets the NPC, even if you can’t see them.
- Then type:
resurrectorresurrect 1 - Finally, use:
moveto playerto bring them to your location.
This is particularly useful for important characters whose bodies are no longer in the world but whose questlines or dialogue are needed again.
Important Notes and Exceptions
Essential NPCs Cannot Die Normally
Many quest-critical characters are flagged as essential, meaning they cannot be killed. They only enter a ‘bleed out’ state when losing health. You cannot resurrect them because they technically don’t die unless their essential status is removed via mods or console commands.
Dead NPCs in Quests
Resurrecting an NPC who died during a quest might not restore the quest to a working state. Some quests track the NPC’s death as a permanent condition. If you’re trying to fix a broken quest, resurrection may not help unless you also reset the quest state via other commands.
Using Mods to Help
While this guide avoids external tools, it’s worth knowing that some mods allow resurrection through menus or spells. These are helpful if you want to avoid using the console every time an NPC dies. However, they should be used with caution as they may also conflict with certain scripts.
Resurrecting Followers and Companions
Reviving a Follower
If your follower dies and you want them back, follow the same resurrection steps. Click on their body and use theresurrect 1command. After revival, you can usually talk to them and ask them to follow you again.
Known Follower IDs
Here are a few commonly used follower base IDs:
- Lydia: 000A2C94
- Faendal: 0001348C
- Mjoll the Lioness: 0001336B
Use these IDs with theplayer.placeatmecommand if you cannot find their bodies or need to recreate them entirely.
Preventing Future NPC Deaths
Marking NPCs as Essential
To prevent certain NPCs from dying again in the future, you can mark them as essential using this command:
setessential [ReferenceID] 1
For example, if you want to make Lydia essential:
setessential 000A2C94 1
This command prevents accidental deaths during dragon attacks, enemy ambushes, or player error.
Learning how to resurrect NPCs in Skyrim can be a game-saver, especially when a character’s death disrupts your progress or removes access to important quests. Using the console, you can target their reference ID, bring them back to life, and even teleport them to your location. While the process requires a bit of technical understanding, it becomes easy with practice. Always remember to save your game before using console commands, as some effects cannot be undone easily. With this knowledge, you can keep your favorite companions, merchants, and quest givers alive throughout your journey in the vast and dangerous world of Skyrim.