Hello, i just joined the forums and hope this doesnt frustrate some folks. But i have been happy leveling up my Nord, and just got Aela the huntress to live with me. I have not yet asked her to follow me, but i have a question before i do. I've heard numerous things about companions not leveling with you. And once you talk to them, they will be stuck with you at that same level. Now, ive heard some things confirming this, and others saying that companions do in fact level with you. I was just wondering if someone could clear this up that is SURE they know the answer. I would like to have Aela follow me, but if she will be with level 17 stats for the rest of the game, i might hold off.

Also, if companions dont level up with you, does it really affect how effective they are in combat?

Thanks for the help all, and again, sorry if this is a dumb noob question that even a Thalmar would know..

even if they dont level with you, you can still give them new weapons and gear to keep them up to date with you, so you shouldnt worry.
also aela is basically immortal, so dont worry about her getting into trouble

Thanks for the reply,
Well that sounds good to me,and even better about her being immortal
Still, i think it is a little wierd that the companion wouldnt level with you, as some claim. But if its not that big of a deal...

One way to test it would be to take a mage companion. See if their spells get better?

I used the dark elf mage from the college for awhile to carry some stuff for me. She was casting fire bolts and summoning a frost atronach. That was around lvl 30, I haven't used her since... I have 2 dremora lords... who needs mortal followers?

Well, some say they stay at the same level they are when you first enter their cell. For me, the ones I got leveled. Not to my exact level, but close. For example, I got Uthgerd when I was around level 10, and at level 44, using the "getlevel" console command, she was level 40.

"level" doesn't mean much in this game... a 1 handed skill of 100 with no perks is beaten by a skill of 30 with a single point. Level, even if they do level, wouldn't help them all that much.

Well either Lydia doesn't level or she's the biggest wimp in Skyrim. I've put her in very high end armor (made using 100% blacksmithing and enchanted armor) and a high end enchanted sword and she was dropped to her knee by a single mudcrab. But it seems to be hit and miss because I've seen her just decimate an enemy as well. But for the most part even the lowest level bandits I run into at 39 can drop her in one to 2 hits. Thankfully, as long as I don't damage her, she can't die so at least that isn't a problem. As a mage though I do have to be extremely careful what spells I use because any aoe attack will kill her permanently.

Are you on PC?

1) Open console
2) Click on companion
3) Type "getlevel"
4) Note results
5) Close console
6) Go run around and level up some
7) Return to step 1

Also note!

If followers are level locked, then Aela is already level locked. A character's level is determined the first time you meet them. So there's no reason not to take her with you for a while, to test out whether she can level up. (Followers don't die unless you kill them. Be careful with those fireball spells!)