Followers I've used: Erik, Vorstag, Marcurio, Jenassa, and Lydia. I prefer the first two most of all so far (and those are the ones I've married, too). I like what Vorstag says about Dwemer stuff to my Dwemer scholar Jenassa is growing on me, though.

Iv used Belrand the most so far he was very good and changed his fighting style a lot to adapt to the fight and summoned a wolf a lot.
I'm currently using mjoll the lioness she's ok but i thought she'd be tougher.
I bought Vigilance the dog but he keeps dieing in nearly every battle?? ( might leave him at home from now on)
What is the follower monks name?
ill take him for a bit then get Illia i think.

Cicero always has something interesting to say. But as for the most powerful companion, well Barbas the dog has taken down dragons for me. I've never seen him faint. He also works as a good distraction so I can attack enemies from behind.

i would say erandur or elandur is the best companion, because he is the only one with the tag "healer"

Barbas.

Cicero is still my favorite, but I sent him back to the Sanctuary a while ago 'cause me started getting on my nerves a bit.

Now I have Erik the Slayer, and it's working out great now that he has better armor and weapons.

Hmmmmm Barbas.

J'zargo is the best because he level's up all the way to 81 with you. and he is khajiit.

MEEKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The chick from the College... Biryana? She is my first by default because I couldn't find Onmund, and she's pretty damn awesome.

Mudcrabs. In my time of need against a bandit on master dificulty, a swarm of like 8 mudcrabs wandered out of the nearby river bank and mauled him to death.

Kharjo.

You gotta love the guy when, after explaining that he's protecting that caravan because he has some life debt, you casually ask 'wanna join me?', and he's like 'yeah, let's go'.

So much for all the loyalty to his fellow Khajiit.

Cicero is hands down my favorite. He's good for sneak type characters & he's also damn good with a dagger. Plus Cicero has the funniest things to say, I find him very entertaining & helpful.

(forgot his name) a argonian from dark passing he is a bit weak but he never dies

I currently have J'zargo following me. I find it annoying many followers don't use the weapons that are given to them.

Aranea. She isn't very good for sneaking (I tell her to go wait in a corner while I do all the work so she won't bust me), but she murders everything. I barely have time to pull out my own weapon before the enemy is dead on the floor.

Jordis The Sword Maiden...

Well, I am partial to Muiri, from Markarth. With the Updated Muiri mod you can utilize the Syrim NPC Editor and change her stats, as well as her clothing, armor and weaponry. My Muiri is currently a blue-eyed blonde with longer hair and wears the steel armor. She is happy-go-lucky and kicks royal butt. Here favored spell is the conjurer to which she likes the wolf. She also doesn't cop an attitude when you ask her to carry something. Her favorite line when fighting is, "You're out matched damn you!" Unlike Lydia she will avoid many of the traps, but her darn wolf howls to much at times. My current character Arwen Amell-Stark, a Nord Amazonian beauty, is a dual swordswoman/BattleMage; and, while Muiri wears the heavy armor and wields a sword and shield, she can also wield destruction magicka --as well as staffs. So far it works for me!?!

So far I've only had the chance to use Lydia and Argis. I switched to Argis once I saw how crazy high his health level is. He's a great fighter and I've become very attached to him because he really handles the enemies and doesn't often go down to his knee. I'd like to try out Erandur on a game before I can get Argis.

Eola - good with a blade or fireball, can raise the dead or summon an atronach, good with stealth...oh and she even prepared a dinner for me the first time I met her. She is a keeper!

Aela the Huntress is amazing and great!!!

If the follower AI would be better I might still use companions. But as it is now they're too much of a hassle to take along imho.

The one companion I do take along sometimes is the spectral assassin. But he's a boring ape, far from my favorite.


But I just don't trust Cicero.

That deluded fool really really hates your guts you know.

How do you get J'zarga?

Kharjo - no question about it. Awesome tank, decent sneak and never complains about waiting or carrying equipment. I love his dialogue too.

Vernon Roche easily wait that is a different game.