Worst Skyrim NPCs The Dragonborn Can Kill

Skyrimis considered one of the greatest fantasy RPGs, but it’s not without many cruel, rude, and creepy characters that the Dragonborn can thankfully kill if they so choose. There are dozens of NPCs that have invoked the Skyrim community’s ire, but only a handful are killable. Unfortunately, others are deemed essential in the game’s files and are integral to completing certain questlines.

Skyrim is an open-world fantasy roleplaying game where players control a legendary hero known as the Dragonborn. Every feature of this character is customizable, and there are many ways to fulfill one’s destiny. However, this freedom also allows players to lethally interact with many of Skyrim’s inhabitants. While many characters may share a voice actor or use similar dialogue, each has a unique personality and backstory that makes Skyrim feel alive. Unfortunately, this means that players are as likely to run into a smug jerk as they are to encounter a tragic orphan.

If The Elder Scrolls has proved one fact, it’s that heroes can be evil. Even the best Dragonborn characters have dark urges that sully their otherwise perfect reputation. As players level up and explore within Skyrim’s borders, powerful spells, weapons, and skills will continue to fill their arsenal. Players can develop dozens of different (and powerful) character builds in Skyrim to accomplish their goals, but some of the worst NPCs don’t require flashy attacks to kill.

Skyrim Players Can Murder Nazeem In Whiterun

Few Skyrim characters and companions are more hated than Nazeem, a wealthy farm owner in Whiterun’s Cloud District. From the moment the Dragonborn encounters him, Nazeem flaunts his privileged life and degrades the player no matter what they’ve accomplished. He treats fellow Whiterun citizens with contempt, ridiculing the city’s beggars and judging the market stalls for their unimpressive wares. This attitude has led many players to shut him up for good. Since Whiterun is a starting city, Nazeem is only level four and can be defeated with ample patience and stealth. Increasing the player’s stealth stat and hiding behind the tavern can give the Dragonborn cover until they line up the perfect shot. After killing him, it’s best to leave until the guards have lost interest in the body.

Skyrim Players Can Also Eliminate Belethor In Whiterun

Belethor is Whiterun’s general goods store owner and a swindler that puts Skyrim’s Thieves Guild in Riften to shame. His creepy dialogue and relentless drive for profit override any redeemable qualities he may display. One of Belethor’s most common lines when interacting with the Dragonborn is “Everything’s for sale, my friend. Everything. If I had a sister I’d sell her in a second,” and a foreboding “Do come back,” as a farewell.

However, if his unsettling personality isn’t enough to convince players of his terrible nature, Belethor’s tendency to swindle the Dragonborn when selling and purchasing goods should be. Thankfully, players can achieve lethal vengeance by killing Belethor without mods or prerequisite quests. The easiest method is to break into Belethor’s General Goods through the back door and murder the shift salesman at the counter. Belethor’s death allows players to freely loot his pockets and any valuable items in the store. Additionally, players can sell their goods at several other Whiterun storefronts, meaning Belethro’s death comes at a profit and not a loss.

Skyrim’s Imperial Supporters Can Slay Ulfric Stormcloak

Ulfric Stormcloak is the leader of Skyrim’s Stormcloak Rebellion, and one of two factions players can join for the Skyrim Civil War quest. Imperial-aligned players will find Ulfric to be a particularly scummy character, as will non-Nord Dragonborn. As a veteran of the Great War, Ulfric shows distrust and apathy towards non-Nords and refuses to negotiate with the Thalmore (and by extension, the Aldmeri Dominion). Ulfric is responsible for starting the Skyrim Civil War after killing High King Torygg in ritualistic combat. Unfortunately, players that want to kill Ulfric Stormcloak will either have to complete the Imperial side of Skyrim’s Civil War quest or download a mod to make Ulfric Stormcloak non-essential earlier in the game. Players that side with the Imperials should prepare for simultaneous combat against Galmar, Stormcloak soldiers, and Ulfric.

Skyrim’s Stormcloak Players Can End General Tullius And Imperial Occupation

General Tullius is the leader of Skyrim’s Imperial Legion in the Civil War and a veteran of the Great War. While he is polite and professional, his unwavering support for a crumbling Empire may be frustrating for Stormcloak-aligned players. Additionally, this loyalty often overrides the concern locals have for their homelands. As the highest-ranking Imperial officer, he works alongside the Aldmeri Dominion and Thalmor in subduing Talos worship and Skyrim’s natives. Like Ulfric Stormcloak, players won’t be able to kill General Tullius until they complete the Stormcloak questline for Skyrim’s Civil War. However, mods exist to make Tullius a non-essential character earlier. Players who side with the Stormcloaks should prepare to fight General Tullius, Legate Rikke, and accompanying Imperial soldiers.

Skyrim’s Falkreath Has Room For Bolund In The Cemetery

Players that purchased Skyrim’s Hearthfire DLC expansion may be familiar with Falkreath’s Bolund. While the local logger may play a beneficial role for players building their homes, his services are rarely worth his racist comments. Like most Nords, Bolund is impassioned by the Skyrim Civil War and the subsequent Imperial occupation. Non-Nord Dragonborn will endure racist remarks whenever interacting with him, and Nordish Dragonborn are always subject to harsh treatment.

Bolund’s brother, Solaf, tries to explain his behavior by saying he doesn’t trust outsiders, but even Solaf won’t punish the player too severely after they murder his brother. Additionally, Bolund is extremely cruel to other Falkreath residents for no reason. The logger regularly harasses Lod, the local farmer, and calls him lazy despite the barren soil on his land. By killing him, the Dragonborn is completing a public service for Falkreath. Unfortunately, Bolund is more difficult to assassinate than other targets on this list, as he frequents crowded areas. Players should kill Bolund at night when he returns home, and most guards have turned in.

Skyrim’s Markarth Is Home To Ondolemar, A Thalmor Agent

Markarth is Skyrim’s worst city, but players can achieve a sick sense of satisfaction by slaying Ondolemar when they visit. Ondolemar is a member of the Thalmor, the Aldmeri Dominion’s governing bodies, and one of the most hated factions in The Elder Scrolls. When players encounter Ondolemar in Markarth’s palace, he’ll immediately interrogate the player character on Talos worship in the city. The High Elf actively works towards religious suppression, High Elf racial supremacism, and the Aldmeri Dominion’s absolute rule over the whole continent. Ondolemar also tortures his prisoners, as shown by Ogmund’s fate if players acquire his Talos Amulet and hand it over to the Thalmor. It can be challenging to kill Ondolemar, as players must murder him inside Markarth’s Keep. However, his assassination is simple to complete if players wait for him to fall asleep and use their strongest (and stealthiest) attack to finish him off.

Unfortunately, players can’t kill many characters in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, no matter their crimes. War-mongers, assassins, bandits, and more escape the Dragonborn’s wrath as quest-givers or otherwise essential NPCs. Thankfully, sites like NexusMods provide dozens of mods for players to install on their save files that change their essential status. Elder Scrolls fans can now also obtain a version of Skyrim with preloaded mods available.

About The Author

Natalie Lindner
(501 Articles Published)

Natalie Lindner is a Game Features Writer for Screen Rant, creating content on the past, present, and future of games in the industry. Prior to this, she worked out of a writing consultancy in Rhode Island from 2018 to 2021, where she helped college students improve their writing abilities. Natalie has contributed her video game writing to several smaller websites and projects since 2018 and is eager to continue that journey with Screen Rant.

Working out of New Hampshire, Natalie spends the time she isn’t writing about games outside; hiking or biking. On those rainy days, she can be found striving for action on the latest FPS or perusing the latest comic books.

More From Natalie Lindner