I was exploring the wilderness, and i saw a few giants and a couple of mammoths. I'm still low-level but hell, why not? I shot a couple of arrows to get their attention and get them following me to Whiterun gates. And may i say.... Whiterun Guards are the worst fighters ever. Anyhow, it was an epic battle between giants, mammoths, Khajiit caravans, flying farmers and some guards. But the thing is, all guards were killed in the process and i was wondering if they respawn? It's kind of sad but also funny arriving to Whiterun and seeing guards laying on the ground, crushed like little insects. I hope i can bring more giants to the gates and have more battles like these, but i can't think to wonder if there will be new guards. So my question is, do guards respawn? I doubt the Khajiit traders will respawn since they are unique NPC's.

I'm fairly sure guards respawn in the barracks not long after they die. The bodies will probably take a few days to disappear.
And in my opinion, they're pretty decent fighters! They helped me take down a dragon, and I hardly did anything ...

I once tried getting the guards to fight a giant by the Watch tower, but everytime it got close, they'd run away. Also, I'm sure they will respawn.

If you are on PC you should try the Tiny Soldiers mod. Putting them up against something like a giant is hilarous. I'm on the 360 but I've seen videos of it in action on YouTube and it looks like a lot of fun. When I eventually get a better PC, it's one of the mods I'm looking forward to playing with. These minature people get tossed all over the place in a fight. It's very funny to watch.

Never had this issue in Oblivion or Morrowind.

"Not on my watch!"

This happens to me a lot. Skyrim guards are mostly hot air.

They fought the giant when I did it but they died pretty easily.

I am pretty sure that unnamed guards will always respawn. I went rampage in whiterun as a werewolfe and killed every guard in the town and they all seem to be back. Ofc I did not count how many exactly there were but I would be suprised they didn't all respawn unless it's a bug.

One of the guards just outside of Whiterun was killed by a dragon. He never came back. I felt sorry for the guy who stood on the other side of the gate, since he lost the only person he probably regularly spoke to, so I put on Whiterun guard armor, and stood at the gate next to him for a while. Just so he knew I cared.

Lol. That's awesome.

oh.