Is it impossible to use the Wabbajack to reset the level of members of the Circle? It seems like even though they're non-essential as followers after completing their quest-line, they become essential again upon dismissal (tested on Aela). Is there any point this stops happening, or are they essentially level-locked? It's unfortunate, because I wanted to use a member of the Companions as a follower longterm, but the three which aren't members of the Circle can't level past 25 according to UESP.

The UESP also mentions they should be non-essential after their quest-line is finished, but I'm guessing this only refers to when they're your follower.

I tried to wabbajack aela a lot of times without effects, then I close her in a room, I dismiss her and so I was able make her a little rabbit...
I assume it doesn't work if she is actually your follower...

I was out in the middle of a field and had dismissed her, maybe I'll give it another try--or maybe they changed something in the 1.5 patch I'm not aware of.

For me it was before 1.5. it was possible, I don't know exactly how, but it was possible

Essential followers can never be wabbajacked. Non-essential followers should be valid candidates, though. So it's, save, dismiss, wabbajack and see what happens. It takes a transformation to take effect, IIRC. Mind you, I'm on PC, so this is a moot point as I can adjust followers' shortcomings directly.

That's where the Circle gets quirky--they're still essential after dismissal, even though they can die when they're following you after completing their quest-line.

[Sorry for the double post]

Update/Error Correction: The Circle is not deemed essential after their quest-line, but it appears Aela is if you remain a werewolf. After completing the "Totems of Hircine" quest-line she is permanently marked as non-essential (and therefore a Wabbajack candidate). Apologies for the mistake (UESP is also wrong). UESP is also wrong when they say she doesn't usually equip one-handed weapons other than daggers. I gave her a Skyforge Steel Sword and she equipped it over her Skyforge Steel Dagger.

make sense to me, I'm quite sure I wabba her after "totem of hircine" quests.good job