Skyrim: How To Bring NPCs Back To Life

Quick Links Using Console Commands To Resurrect An NPC In Skyrim Using Dead Thrall To Resurrect An NPC In Skyrim Using The Ritual Stone To Resurrect An NPC In Skyrim

While it’s impossible to kill certain NPCs due to their involvement in an important quest or otherwise, a great deal of the NPCs in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim will die if they receive enough damage. Not only can the Dragonborn kill these NPCs, but so can dragons and other hostile entities, making the process of keeping helpful NPCs alive a great deal more challenging.

If a Skyrim NPC dies, bringing them back to life can take a lot of work. To make matters worse, one of the most effective NPC revival methods is locked until the Dragonborn has reached a certain level in the Conjuration Skill. Thankfully, there are other ways to resurrect the dead, but not all players will have access to them.

Using Console Commands To Resurrect An NPC In Skyrim

Those playing Skyrim on PC can permanently resurrect NPCs using Console Commands. To do this, players should press the tilde key, often found below the Esc button on the keyboard, and click on the NPC they wish to revive; then, they should type “resurrect” and press the Enter key. Pressing the tilde key once more will cause the dead NPC to awaken and resume their previous role in the game.

Using Dead Thrall To Resurrect An NPC In Skyrim

Players who don’t have access to Console Commands can also permanently resurrect an NPC by using Dead Thrall, a Master Conjuration Spell. This spell can be acquired upon reaching Level 90 in the Conjuration Skill and completing the “Conjuration Spell Ritual” quest, given by Phinis Gestor in Winterhold.

Unfortunately, reviving an NPC using Dead Thrall will not restore the NPC to what they previously were and will instead render them an emotionless husk, like a Vampire’s Thrall. An NPC who was revived using Dead Thrall will then become a follower of sorts, and any role they played in Skyrim prior to their death will no longer be available to them.

Using The Ritual Stone To Resurrect An NPC In Skyrim

Using Console Commands to revive dead NPCs in Skyrim is arguably the best way to get the job done, but not all players will have access to the Console Command menu. Those who do not but still wish to revive a particular NPC and have yet to reach Level 90 in the Conjuration Skill can use the Ritual Stone to achieve their goal.

The Ritual Stone, located east of Whiterun, can be interacted with to grant the Dragonborn the ability to reanimate dead NPCs. When this ability is used, all dead NPCs within a 75-meter radius will be resurrected and will fight at the Dragonborn’s side for a total of 200 seconds. Like with Dead Thrall, using the Ritual Stone to resurrect an NPC will not restore any of said NPC’s prior traits.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available for PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.