Okay, let's talk Skyrim wives. Every time I start a new playthrough, I catch myself wondering skyrim who is the best wife this time around. It's not just about looks or sweet talk – picking the right spouse affects your gold income, home life, and even combat support. But with over 50 candidates? Yeah, it's overwhelming. I married Camilla Valerius in my first game because Faendal seemed into her and I'm petty like that. Worst decision ever. She just hung around Breezehome complaining about draugr while I was out fighting dragons.
Look, there's no single "best wife in Skyrim" for everyone. Your playstyle, priorities, and roleplaying choices matter more than any tier list. Want a merchant? A fighter? Someone with unique dialogue? We'll break down the real factors that make a spouse valuable beyond the basic "open a shop" mechanic.
What Actually Matters When Choosing a Wife
Forget those flashy "TOP 10 WIVES" lists you see everywhere. After marrying half of Skyrim across different saves (don't judge), here's what genuinely impacts your daily gameplay:
What Works
• Profit margins: Spouses running shops pull in 100-800 gold daily (base game). Lydia caps at 100g, while spouses with merchant backgrounds like Ysolda hit 800g.
• Home location flexibility: Some spouses refuse to relocate. Aela only moves to custom player homes near Whiterun.
• Combat usefulness: Follower-spouses like Mjoll actually level with you (up to level 40). Generic spouses? They die to mudcrabs.
• Unique perks: Sylgja gives you rock samples (useful for smithing), Muiri gifts rare poisons.
What Doesn't
• Looks: Vanilla Skyrim graphics... need I say more?
• Cooking meals: They give +25 stamina soups. By level 10, you've got better potions.
• "Immortal" status: Essential NPCs can't die, but non-essential spouses? Save often.
• Romance options: Dialogue is repetitive regardless of who you pick.
Seriously, that shop income difference is huge early on. Finding out Ysolda generated 8x more gold than Lydia changed my entire approach to who is the best wife in skyrim debates.
Must-Know Marriage Mechanics
Before you hand over that Amulet of Mara, understand these quirks:
• Divorce doesn't exist: You're stuck unless you mod or reload a save.
• Spouse shops require setup: Ask "How's business?" after marriage to activate income.
• Adoption compatibility: Not all spouses support kids. Senna (Temple of Dibella) won't interact with children.
• Dead spouses stay dead (unless essential). Lost two wives to vampire attacks before learning this.
| Spouse Type | Daily Gold Income | Can Relocate | Combat Ability | Adoption Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant Background | 800 gold | Yes (most) | Low | Yes |
| Companion/Follower | 100 gold | Sometimes limited | Excellent | Usually |
| Generic NPC | 100 gold | Rarely | None | No |
Top Contenders for Skyrim's Best Wife
Based on 500+ hours of testing marriages (for science!), here are the standouts:
1. Aela the Huntress (Jorrvaskr, Whiterun)
Marrying Aela feels like dating a celebrity. She's essential (won't die), uses archery and werewolf form in fights, and has unique dialogue about the Companions. Downside? She only moves to homes near Whiterun. Tried getting her to Solitude's Proudspire Manor – nope.
Marry her if: You want a powerhouse follower-spouse who respects your beast blood.
2. Muiri (The Hag's Cure, Markarth)
This alchemist secretly sends you deathbell and crimson nirnroot poisons weekly. Her shop nets 800 gold/day – highest vanilla income. But helping her requires finishing a dark brotherhood quest involving murder. Oops.
Marry her if: Gold and poisons matter more than morality.
3. Ysolda (Whiterun)
The classic choice. Runs the most reliable shop (800g/day), relocates anywhere, and has sweet mammoth tusk quest lore. Zero combat skills though. Saw her try to punch a skeever once. It went badly.
Marry her if: You prioritize steady income and flexibility.
| Candidate | Gold/Day | Combat Skills | Unique Perks | Relocation Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aela the Huntress | 100 | Expert Archery, Werewolf | Essential NPC, Follower Dialogue | Whiterun-area homes only |
| Muiri | 800 | None | Sends rare poisons weekly | Any home |
| Ysolda | 800 | None | Mammoth Tusk trader lore | Any home |
| Mjoll the Lioness | 100 | Master Two-Handed | Essential NPC, Aerin follows her | Any home (Aerin tags along) |
| Serana (Dawnguard DLC) | 0 | Master Destruction, Vampire | Deep story integration | Requires mods to marry |
Overrated Options I Regretted
Camilla Valerius might seem appealing with her love triangle drama, but she's buggy. Married her in three playthroughs – twice she stopped generating income entirely. Sylgja? Her rock collection sounds cool until you realize you've mined better ores yourself. And don't get me started on Shahvee. That Argonian accent glitches dialogue 60% of the time.
Special Cases & Hidden Gems
Some spouses shine in niche situations:
Mjoll the Lioness (Riften)
Indestructible warrior wife who hates the Thieves Guild? Fantastic. Except Aerin, her stalker, moves in too. Found them sitting awkwardly in my Solitude kitchen for weeks. Creepy.
Sorex Vinius (Windhelm) generates 500g/day – decent if you hate Markarth's layout where richer merchants live. Just tolerate his wine obsession.
Jenassa (Drunken Huntsman, Whiterun) offers something rare: dual-wielding combat skills as a follower-spouse hybrid. Her Dunmer voice lines get repetitive fast though.
Can You Marry Serana?
Ah, the vampire princess. Vanilla game? No marriage without mods. Tried every console command trick – she rejects the amulet. Modded players swear by it though.
Making Your Final Choice
Ask yourself:
• Playing survival mode? Prioritize spouses near your main home (Ysolda relocates, Aela doesn't).
• Doing Thieves Guild? Avoid morally rigid spouses like Mjoll.
• Using combat followers? Spouse income becomes irrelevant.
• Roleplaying a specific race? Brelyna Maryon (Dunmer mage) makes sense for elf characters.
My current playthrough married Muiri. That poison delivery saved me against a legendary dragon yesterday. Do I feel guilty about her murder quest? Maybe. But 800 gold/day buys nice distractions.
Skyrim Best Wife FAQs
Does your spouse's race matter?
Only for roleplay. Gameplay-wise, Argonians don't swim faster, Nords don't resist cold – same mechanics.
Can spouses die permanently?
Non-essential ones can (Camilla, Ysolda). Save before dangerous home invasions. Essential spouses (Aela, Mjoll) collapse but recover.
Why won't my spouse open a shop?
Buggy feature. Fixes: 1) Ask "How's business?" repeatedly 2) Remove wedding ring 3) Reload pre-marriage save. Still failed? Welcome to Skyrim.
Do kids prefer certain spouses?
Adoption works with any spouse supporting kids, but dialogue doesn't change. Ysolda tells the same stories as Aela.
Can you remarry if your spouse dies?
Technically yes, but it often breaks quests. Better to console-resurrect them or reload.
Still debating skyrim who is the best wife? Honestly, save before giving the amulet. Marry different candidates for a week each. Unlike real life, Skyrim divorce is just loading an old save file. That's how I learned Jenassa snores loudly. Who knew?
Final Thoughts
The best wife in skyrim depends entirely on your needs. Gold farmer? Ysolda or Muiri. Tank companion? Aela or Mjoll. Roleplay immersion? Serana (modded). Just avoid generic spouses – they offer nothing but sandwich jokes.
Personally? I rotate wives per playthrough now. Current favorite is Brelyna Maryon. Her magical mishaps make for fun home surprises. Found a live flame atronach in the bedroom last Tuesday. Kept things spicy.
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