Skyrimis far from the safest place to live in Tamriel,especially during the time whenThe Elder Scrolls 5takes place, with the return of the dragons. But even besides those flying furnaces, there are hostile giants, trolls, packs of wolves and bandits, and the mysterious Daedra interfering with the lives of mortals.
Still, there are bastions of safety and civilization across the frigid land; primarily, in the capitals of the nine holds.Each hold has at least one city, walled off and defended by guards, where the majority of Skyrim’s population lives. But which of these cities is truly the safest, and are there any that are more dangerous than the surrounding wilderness? These are the nine hold capitals, ranked by how safe of a place to live they are during the times ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
9Markarth Is Full Of Threats Lying In Wait
A Powder Keg Waiting For A Spark
Markarth is a dangerous holdin general, primarily due to the ongoing conflict between the occupying Nords and the local Forsworn. And even the grand Dwemer ruins that make up the hold’s capital are not safe from this feud.Forsworn murder folk within the city walls, and the corrupt guards are willing to silence anyone that causes a disturbance, as the Dragonborn is apt to do.
Not only that, butthe city is home to at least two Daedric influences, those of Namira and of Molag Bol, neither of which are especially safe to be around. It’s not even a safe city to navigate from a gameplay perspective, as its drastic changes in altitude from building to building leave players prone to accidental falls. Markarth is a city that even its own residents recognize as unsafe, and should probably be avoided by anyone not prepared for violence.
8Dawnstar’s Frigid Surroundings Pose A Massive Threat
Nightmares And Constant Dragon Attacks
Dawnstar is no safe haven, either, but for different reasons. Far to the north, Dawnstar is one of the coldest holds in the game, which can pose its own problems forplayers in survival mode. But it also means running into bears, saber tooth tigers, frost trolls, and other kinds of dangerous fauna more often. Plus, for whatever reason,Dawnstar is among the number-one spots for dragon attacks in the game.
And, like Markarth, the Daedra have some influence over this area.Vaermina, who holds power over dreams and nightmares, is actively plaguing the city’s residentsat the time of the game. And, not far from the city, a haunted Dark Brotherhood hideout is waiting to be discovered. Couple that with the city’s lackluster leadership, and Dawnstar becomes a very deadly place to live.
7Morthal Is Surrounded By A Deadly Swamp
Beasts And Bloodsuckers Galore
Speaking of dangerous environments,the swamps around the city of Morthal are feared by travelers and residents alike. They are home to all manner of dangerous creatures, from chaurus to spriggans to vampires. And when it comes to vampires, these undead aren’t content to just prowl the city skirts. Morthal itself is home to a dangerous vampire named Alva, a servant of the nearby vampire lord, Movarth.
One thing in Morthal’s favor is the powerful nature of its jarl, Idgrod Ravencrone. She can see bits of the future and the past, and has apparently tangled with Movarth before. Still, her protection is not enough to make this a safe place to live.
Obviously, living close to a vampire lord’s lair is not safe, and the town has even recently experienced the death of two residents at the hands of Movarth’s servants. That’s not even mentioning how apt the townsfolk are to turn on one another, sincethere is very little trust between Morthal’s leadership and its citizenry. It’s a recipe for disaster and bloodshed, unless the Dragonborn intervenes.
6Windhelm Is Only Safe For Certain Citizens
A Den Of Bigotry (And A Serial Killer)
Windhelm is the best-defended city on the list so far, with huge, icy walls and aplethora of Stormcloak guardswilling to lay down their lives for the hold and its jarl. But not all within Windhelm are regarded equally, and its residents don’t all share the same level of security. The nords of this hold are notoriously bigoted, especially their jarl, andthe dark elves and argonions are treated as subhuman groups within the city. The argonians aren’t even allowed within the walls, instead living in the harbor, and the dark elves are kept in the decrepit “gray quarter.”
Anyone who is not a Nord may find themselves faced with hostility and coldness in Windhelm, beyond that offered bySkyrim’sharsh climate. On top of that,the city is home to a dangerous serial killer known as the Butcher.He targets mainly women and kills violently in the night, and allusion to Jack the Ripper that players can try to solve through detective work. Even Nords aren’t safe from his blades, proving that Windhelm’s security isn’t quite all it is cracked up to be.
5Riften’s Threats Are Limited To Larceny
The Thieves' Guild Is Less Dangerous Than They Seem
Next is Riften, which may come as a shock given its dirty reputation. It’s home to the Thieves' Guild, after all, and is basicallythe criminal captial ofSkyrim. But in terms of physical safety and well-being, Riften’s people are actually not that bad-off. The city is located in the southern area of the province, where the weather and wildlife are less deadly, and it is far from the civil war that is engulfing the central areas ofSkyrim.
The Thieves' Guild are not necessarily kind to the people of Riften, but they are firmly in Maven Black-Briar’s pocket, and she has a vested interest in keeping the hold alive. Thus,most of their criminal activities within the city walls are limited to extorting protection money and petty larceny.It’s also one of the only holds with no connections to any violent Daedra, which is always a plus. The main thing making it less safe is the Ratway, an underground den of thieves and killers, which is largely left to its own devices.
4Winterhold Is Right To Fear The Mage’s College
Living Next To A Hub Of Arcana Anomalies
Calling Winterhold a safe place to live is perhaps a bit disingenuous, as the main thing keeping the city safe is also the main thing threatening it. That is, the College of Winterhold, the highest seat for magical studies in the province. The College is distrusted by the local residents, and for good reason:their experiments often lead to disasters happening within the city. Half of the hold was demolished decades ago by the College’s magic, leaving parts of it uninhabitable.
While this enormous disaster should maybe have made Winterhold the most dangerous city inSkyrim, it happened before the events of the game and before the Dragonborn arrived, disqualifying it from consideration when it comes to the city’s safety in the present day.
Even during the course of the game, the College of Winterhold questline sees the College’s experiments unleash dangers upon the citizenry. Still, the College’s reputation does much to keep any other threats far away, and Winterhold’s isolation in the mountains means it is rarely involved directly in other conflicts throughoutSkyrim. Plus, the College’s proximity means thatplenty of restoration and alteration mages are very close by to lend a hand when folks are sick or injured.It’s a double-edged sword that lands Winterhold in the middle of pack where safety is concerned.
3Whiterun Is Well-Defended, But For Good Reason
A Hold Caught Between Two Armies
If you’ve playedSkyrim, then you knowWhiterun is easily the most idyllic and welcoming hold in the game. Its jarl is just and fair, its guards are brave enough to take on one of the first dragons spotted in centuries, and it even has a fortress meant to imprison dragons. The city is positioned in a peaceful and warm part of the province, and it’s home to some of Skyrim’s most decorated warriors, the Companions.
All of that would makeWhiterun the safest hold inSkyrim, if not for one looming factor that makes the hold dangerous: the civil war. At the start of the game,Whiterun is the primary target of both Stormcloak and Imperial forces, as the hold which hasn’t yet picked a side. Its neutrality makes either side liable to attack and claim the city, which the Stormcloaks will attempt as soon as they are given the chance. Being literally in the middle of a civil war is not good for the citizens' safety, pulling Whiterun down a little on the list.
2Falkreath Faces The Least Direct Threats
You Won’t Be Joining This City’s Graveyard Anytime Soon
Forthe hold with the largest graveyard inSkyrim, Falkreath doesn’t actually seem that dangerous. It’s a forest city full of working folks that do little to get involved in the conflicts throughout the rest of the land. Its guards are organized enough to restrain and capture a werewolf, and any involvement the city has with Daedra tends to end without the citizenry being hurt.
The deadliest part of Falkreath is its wildlife, which includes many spriggans and wild animals, but they never seem to get close to the city’s walls, andthere are plenty of hunters in the area to thin out the bear and wolf populations. Falkreath’s leadership is lazy and unqualified, but the fact that their terrible jarl hasn’t caused any major problems yet goes to show how trouble-free Falkreath is at this point in time.
1Solitude Is The Most Secure Capital In Skyrim
Strategic Positioning And Imperial Defenses
Solitude is the safest city in Skyrim, and it’s really not even close. It has by far the most intimidating and effective natural protection, being built atop a rocky outcropping above the sea. It’s full of local and Imperial guards, andit’s the official headquarters for Imperial forces withinSkyrim. The citizenry seems far less politically divided than they are in other parts of the province, lessening interpersonal disputes, and the level of wealth on display within the city walls shows how these residents afford such a secure place to call home.
On top of being the safest city inSkyrim, Solitude is also the wealthiest one, due to its connections to the East Empire Trading Company. This is reflected by the fact that a house there costs the Dragonborn over 20,000 gold pieces.
With all of that said, there are plenty of examples of violent acts happening within Solitude. There’s the murder of Vittoria Vici at her wedding, the poisoning of the Emperor’s body double, the rise of Potema’s undead spirit, and of course,the murder ofHigh King Toryggbefore the events of the game. But the fact that each of these events is so newsworthy and memorable goes to show how much more secure of a reputation Solitude has, and how much more effort it takes to get away with murder in the safest city inSkyrim.
