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Plenty of world-ending threats have threatened the fate of mortals inThe Elder Scrolls, but thankfully there is always a protagonist on hand to stop things. Many doom-driven heroes have come and gone over Tamriel’s millennia of history, foiling plots by invading gods and politicking monarchs. But not all champions are made equal, as some are made in the image of legendary figures, while others serve to hold the Empire together despite their simple mortality.
The main protagonists of the variousElder Scrollsgames have plenty of accolades, having shaped the world in ways that can be felt from game to game. This list will be judging each one on their relative power, taking into account their eventual fates, and the various challenges they had to overcome.
S Tier - Azura’s Moon and Star
At the top of the list is the Nerevarine, for one simple reason: fate is on their side. With the blessing of Azura, the old Chimer king Nerevar was fated to return, no matter what, to destroy theHeart of Lorkhan, defeating Dagoth Ur, and depriving the Tribunal of their godhood. Already a proficient warrior, mage, or thief, the Nerevarine was cured of the Blight by Divayth Fir, becoming ageless and immune to disease. Crucially, what sets the Nerevarine apart from the rest is that their fate is their own, as after defeating all contenders in Hircine’s Bloodmoon prophecy, they sail to Akavir, never to be seen again.
A Tier - Consorting With Illicit Daedra
Dovakiin the Dragon language, but Dragonborn to everyone else, the hero of Skyrim is perhaps the most physically capable of all the characters on this list. The ability to absorb Dragon souls and shout foes into Oblivion with ease makes the Dragonborn unmatched in combat, but two things place them lower than the Nerevarine. First is the lack of the immortality bestowed to the Nerevarine, and second is that the events of the Dragonborn DLC mean the protagonist ofSkyrimis most likely a thrall ofHermaeus Mora, Daedric Prince of Knowledge.
The Vestige stands out from most of the heroes as they technically died during the Soulburst, and have come back swinging to put a stop to the machinations of many of Tamriel’s biggest enemies. While they lack the Dragonborn’s ability to shout, their resurrection brought them serious power, and their ability to shape the fate of many kingdoms and involvement in stoppingMolag Bal’s Planemeldmakes them highly formidable.
B Tier - Analog Rip and Tear
Armed with nothing more than a rusty dagger and a dream, Emperor Uriel Septim sets a prisoner free before he dies, in what would be his most impactful decision yet. TheHero of Kvatchgoes on to become the hero of their namesake, walking into Oblivion gates like they own them, crushing Daedra beneath their boots as they single-handedly hold back the armies of Mehrunes Dagon. What keeps them in B tier is the lack of any innate power and the fact that it is Martin’s ultimate duty to stop the Oblivion Crisis. It also doesn’t help that the player character mantles Sheogorath, as although they do become a god, they lose themselves completely.
C Tier - Limited by Circumstance
Both heroes from the first two games make up the final two entries, although the Agent comes out just ahead. Able to gain the favor of many Daedra, as well as given the decision of who to give the Numidium to, the Agent has, appropriately, a lot of agency to shape Tamriel. In a cut ending, the Agent was able to take control of the Numidium themself, which proceeds to kill the Agent and go on a spree around the Empire. This means the Agent technically both dies and does not die, and while it was technically cut from the game, theWarp in the Westmakes far stranger things occur.
The Eternal Champion is the last hero, bravely piecing together theStaff of Chaosto stop Jagar Tharn and save Uriel Septim. As they were not blessed by some patron god or born with the soul of a Dragon, the Eternal Champion must rely on their own abilities to get by. Their placement is also partly due to the more limited scope ofArenaas the first one in the series, when ideas were not nailed down, as even the Daedra weren’t properly worked out yet.
