Do Followers use potions?

[Lampros]

I am getting conflicting answers online; and they seem possibly out-dated, too. In particular, some claim all Followers will at least use healing potions - while others say that they won't use healing potions if you crafted them (as opposed to looting them or buying them). So what's the truth?

[GrimCat]

So give your follower some healing potions, go out and find a fight and let your follower get injured, look back into their inventory and see if any have been used.

[Insane]

Yes, in vanilla they can use potions. They will use it if their health or stamina/magic goes to ♥♥♥♥. Not sure about crafted one, but they definitely can and will use these that you can find in world. However, that won't make some of Followers immortal because of this. There is a little room before they fall on knees and react to use potion. So if you are with someone who can be killed, there is a chance that he will not have enough time to use potion and will be dead shortly after falling to knees. Obviously that's not a problem when it comes to immortal followers. Like Serana, or your wife, husband.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Insane:

Yes, in vanilla they can use potions. They will use it if their health or stamina/magic goes to ♥♥♥♥. Not sure about crafted one, but they definitely can and will use these that you can find in world. However, that won't make some of Followers immortal because of this. There is a little room before they fall on knees and react to use potion. So if you are with someone who can be killed, there is a chance that he will not have enough time to use potion and will be dead shortly after falling to knees. Obviously that's not a problem when it comes to immortal followers. Like Serana, or your wife, husband.

Eh? Wives get the immortal tag?!

[kharille]

I noted some of them have that animation which resembles... some white ring around their waist. I do wonder whether its specific to 'healing potion' and whether they use other types. Good question.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by kharille:

I noted some of them have that animation which resembles... some white ring around their waist. I do wonder whether its specific to 'healing potion' and whether they use other types. Good question.

I tested, and Faendal did use a healing potion, but he didn't use any other potions I gave him. But the test sample was very small - just a few fights in Halted Stream Camp. I also do not have any crafted healing potions, so I couldn't test that.

[Insane]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Originally posted by Insane:

Yes, in vanilla they can use potions. They will use it if their health or stamina/magic goes to ♥♥♥♥. Not sure about crafted one, but they definitely can and will use these that you can find in world. However, that won't make some of Followers immortal because of this. There is a little room before they fall on knees and react to use potion. So if you are with someone who can be killed, there is a chance that he will not have enough time to use potion and will be dead shortly after falling to knees. Obviously that's not a problem when it comes to immortal followers. Like Serana, or your wife, husband.

Eh? Wives get the immortal tag?!

Well, not exactly immortal, but you need to really trying hard for them to be killed. There is also these characters that are connected to quest, so they will be immortal. It is also depends on dificulty. On Legendary your followers barely killable, but when it comes to adept - they will take some real damage.

[jerrypocalypse]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Originally posted by kharille:

I noted some of them have that animation which resembles... some white ring around their waist. I do wonder whether its specific to 'healing potion' and whether they use other types. Good question.

I tested, and Faendal did use a healing potion, but he didn't use any other potions I gave him. But the test sample was very small - just a few fights in Halted Stream Camp. I also do not have any crafted healing potions, so I couldn't test that.

What potions? I could be mistaken, but I thought I read something that potions with certain effects, or crafted potions, won't be used by the AI, only the preset found/bought ones.

Found it. From the Followers page on UESP:
"It is also possible to heal damage and quickly return the follower into the fight by having traded to them some standard healing potions (e.g. Potion of Extreme Healing) but not potions you made by alchemy."

[Lampros]

Originally posted by jerrypocalypse:

Originally posted by Lampros:

I tested, and Faendal did use a healing potion, but he didn't use any other potions I gave him. But the test sample was very small - just a few fights in Halted Stream Camp. I also do not have any crafted healing potions, so I couldn't test that.

What potions? I could be mistaken, but I thought I read something that potions with certain effects, or crafted potions, won't be used by the AI, only the preset found/bought ones.

Found it. From the Followers page on UESP:
"It is also possible to heal damage and quickly return the follower into the fight by having traded to them some standard healing potions (e.g. Potion of Extreme Healing) but not potions you made by alchemy."

Yeah, I gave Faendal standard potions; I haven't tested crafted potions. And since UESP is definitive, I won't waste time testing crafted potions.

What about stuff like poisons or invisibility potions? Do Followers use any standard potions other than healing potions?

[jerrypocalypse]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Originally posted by jerrypocalypse:

What potions? I could be mistaken, but I thought I read something that potions with certain effects, or crafted potions, won't be used by the AI, only the preset found/bought ones.

Found it. From the Followers page on UESP:
"It is also possible to heal damage and quickly return the follower into the fight by having traded to them some standard healing potions (e.g. Potion of Extreme Healing) but not potions you made by alchemy."

Yeah, I gave Faendal standard potions; I haven't tested crafted potions. And since UESP is definitive, I won't waste time testing crafted potions.

What about stuff like poisons or invisibility potions? Do Followers use any standard potions other than healing potions?

They use Magicka potions, but only when they're very low. I would imagine the same for stamina, but generally NPCs don't seem to run low on that unless you as the player are doing a bunch of stamina drain things to them.

Pretty sure they don't use invisibility potions (and ones you find on invisible enemies are just there for flavor). Never tried giving poisons to a follower, but that'd be easy to test. However, I imagine if they don't use crafted potions, they probably won't use crafted poisons, and standard poisons are quite expensive in bulk