Followers that aren't trash? Help please.

[White]

Seriously I've been using the dark elf mage girl from the college (since I started with alternate start as a mage) and she uses her fists and bow more than any magic.
Also, she is "essential" when something kills her, but when I happen to hit her because she is busy fullfilling her dreams of being a pro boxer she dies and I have to reload.
What I need:
- Not J'zargo
- Can't die, not by enemies, or my own spells
- Never turns hostile against me
- Can wear armor and weapons I give them
Please help.

[Tiamara]

Hello! Check Marcurio in the Bee & Barb

[ELF EYES]

alva , serana and the one in skull vilage that you helped out are realy great folowers

[Docsprock]

Aranea Ienith at the Shrine of Azura, and the mage in Darklight tower, her name escapes me right now, are both quite adept mages.

You will find that all vanilla followers are essential and cannot be killed by anyone but you.

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by Docsprock:

You will find that all vanilla followers are essential and cannot be killed by anyone but you.

Characters that "cannot be killed by anyone but you" are not "essential" - they're "protected".

[Angry Squirl]

In my opinion, Lydia is hard to beat. She is sword and board, which is very desirable if you mainly just want her be in the enemie's face and not die.She likes upgraded heavy armor and sheilds and will wear them if you give them to her. Also, she will use found health pots if you give them to her.

[Pig Mac]

Random disposable assassin mate, or just marry the first one you get, and leave them at home for free money, better sleep/rest and free daily homecooked food..
Resting with 'spouse' doesn't do anything when you're a werewolf, and the food is free out in the woods too.

[Pixelmite]

You want to look for any followers that are invincible because they are tied in with quests

[cheshirm]

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Followers

[vonbleak]

I use a mod for my main follower called Sofia - https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2180/ - She is well voice acted and has heaps of dialog, she can even sing songs if you want...

She seems to be able to use whatever you give her well, so she can be customised to whatever kind of character you are looking for... Far better and more entertaining than any of the standard followers i have yet found...

[Duudad]

Just give Lydia some late game armor and a staff of ice storms. She will be unbeatable.

[axe.gaijin]

You might want to take a look at Amazing Followers Tweaks on Nexus; https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6656/?tab=description

I use followers a lot on my playtrhoughs and can't really imagine playing without this mod anymore as it allows you to tweak so many things about followers, making it a perfect tool to set-up your follower exactly like you want them to be/behave.

[Adriac]

Originally posted by Tiamara:

Hello! Check Marcurio in the Bee & Barb

[Jo]

Yup, thumbs up for Marcurio here too. He's a great mage backup if you play a warrior class style. I love giving him different staffs and watching him zap those dragons in the sky.

Vorstag is actually pretty solid too, despite capping at Lvl 40 (unless you use mods), as is Vilkas. Also Celann from the Dawnguard and Valdimar (homestead steward from the Hearthfire DLC). There are probably more but I haven't tried them all yet.

[Magicktech]

http://3dnpc.com/2017/11/20/3dnpc-v3-4-for-oldrim-and-sse/

Also you should be using either Amazing Follower Tweaks or Extensible Follower Framework. Also as Docsprock said, Aranea is one of the better vanilla followers.

[Docsprock]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Originally posted by Docsprock:

You will find that all vanilla followers are essential and cannot be killed by anyone but you.

Characters that "cannot be killed by anyone but you" are not "essential" - they're "protected".

Then why did I write 'essential'?

There are also some great followers with 'Interesting NPCs' mod.