The wabbajack, dismiss them then use wabbajack on them until they transform into a mud crab, dremora, chicken or rabbit. Then just punch the transform once and they will be 'freshly spawned' resulting in their skills scaled to your level.

If you didn't know, followers don't scale with you. Their stats are dependent on when you first entered their cell. Meeting Lydia at level 10, she will have the same stats when you are level 50. But if you use the wabbajack method above, she will be respawned to the level 50 version of her.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?pli=1&key=0Aly8njaU3H1adGJYTlJaUnRxRUN2RnM5MkxPaU1mQkE&type=view&gid=0&f=true&sortcolid=6&sortasc=false&rowsperpage=250&pli=1

^ There is a list of the followers, their maximum level and their stats.

Nice tip but this should be in Hints, Tips & Spoilers

And if you're on the PC, here's a website that explains how to do it.


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

There's also a lot of other info, including a Google spreadsheet with very detailed info.

Probably the same sheet OP mentioned.

Oh mah gawd i need to test this immediately!

Tested on J'zargo, 1 ice spike before took off 60% of his health, used the Wabbajack *save before you do this since it takes a few trys for it to turn ur follower into something* and turned him into a bunny, hit him once and he respawned, used an ice spike on him and it barely took off any of his health.

THANK YOU SO FKING MUCH OP THIS WAS SUCH A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME AND MY PARTNER AND FRIENDS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH SOMEONE STICKY THIS TOPIC

Haha glad to help. Found it out by accident, then confirmed it on uesp.

That is very helpful indeed. Thank you.

Unfortunately, dismissing and reenlisting followers results in another bug. Each time you dimsmiss/reenlist a follower, their total carrying capacity gets reduced.

Yeah I'm a little annoyed about this, I don't really rely on followers for carrying my stuff. But it would be annoying if I couldn't them give them anything.

I imagine using the wabbajack method will reset that to though.

That would certainly be worth testing.

1.3 fixed the follows not scaling properly bug, I have had Lydia since lvl 10 she can fight with me just fine since 1.3 I'm lvl 74 now. Trick is to give them proper gear and some potions so that they can take care of them selves just like we do.

You miss the point, your Lydia will have the stats of a level 10 Lydia. You need to use this method or use the console (pc) to give her level 50 stats.

if they fixed the scaling issue how does she still have the stats of a lvl 10?

They didn't. They level with your level, but their stats stay the same from when you first met them.

got it, just going to fix it via console. As many sweet Rolls as Lydia has eaten the Wabbajack is liable to play a sick joke on her.

Haha, Pc's have an easy fix though, this was more for xbox and ps3 players.

Nice, thanks. Should help a bit.

This does not seem to work on the Essential characters (Cicero, Mjoll, Derkeethus, ect.) as the Wabbajack doesn't transform them, it just does an attack spell.

If you tell them to pick up items instead of giving it to them. They have an unlimited carry capacity. I've only used companions this latest playthrough and I have the steed stone, so I'm not sure. But it was talked about in an earlier thread.

Yeah, that's a workaround, but it's not ideal. Dropping loads of items that you want your follower to carry and then instructing them to pick them up one-by-one can be a time-svcking chore.

Wow. This is great. OK I Wabbajack the crap of them until they become the above specified form. But please clarify "Then just punch the transform once". Does that mean I Wabbajack them again?

Once they have transformed, hit them with anything, punch them, hit with a sword or a destruction spell. They will then transform back, they won't be hostile as they have just spawned.

Sheogorath must like us.

That a really cool tip I'm going to try that out.

Really !! This is great!

BUT - WHY IS THIS EVEN NEEDED???????
Why did Bethesda screw up so big time and not have followers level with you??

I love it! God, I love this forum..........