With the introduction of the Hearthfire expansion to Skyrim, the role of the Steward was added to the game. When you build a house, bandits are sure to come looking for your things, and the best way to keep them safe is to hire a steward.

There are plenty of options for stewards as many, if not most, of your followers, can be hired. However, deciding who to live with can be challenging with all the available options. There are certainly a handful of followers that stand above the rest, though.

Updated October 31, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: Boy, Bethesda really took their ideas from Hearthfire and ran, didn't they? Fallout 4's settlement-building, Starfield's base-building... love it or hate it, but a trend began right here in the province of Skyrim. And hey, Hearthfire's pretty cool, right? So, we've republished this list with some added flair to help you choose your steward(s) wisely.

13 Faendal

Faendal is a love-struck thief who will stick by your side once you help him win the heart of his beloved. He's a low-level archery trainer, as well as a hard worker. While not as strong as other followers, he still makes a decent pick for Steward. His genuine personality makes him a great choice, as he'll never abandon your Homestead and keep it safe from dragons, giants, and bandits alike.

Don't forget to give Faendal a good One-Handed blade as well. He has some excellent One-Handed skills that can come in handy when defending your home and when he runs out of arrows.

12 Mjoll The Lioness

Mjoll can be found when you first enter the city of Riften, where it becomes clear that she's a force to be reckoned with. She travels Skyrim fighting for the greater good until you ask her to fight by your side. Typically, she's very kind and looks out for everyone around her, making her a great personality to have in your home. She can also make a great wife if that's more of your vibe.

Remember that Mjoll loves to use staves, even though she isn't that much of a Magicka user. She will, however, use the staff you give her to attack any enemy. The downside is that she can't recharge them, so play it safe and give her an excellent bow to defend your house.

11 Brelyna Maryon

Brelyna is a mage at the College of Winterhold. Unfortunately, she asks if she can test some new spells on you, which is terrible. After this, though, she apologizes by joining the ranks of your followers, and she's excellent.

She resorts mainly to defensive spells and archery. These two are great if you consider having her as your Steward. You'll travel with peace of mind with Brelyna in charge, and know that anyone trying to damage your property will have difficulty getting through.

10 Erik The Slayer

To gain access to Erik's strong fighting abilities, you must first convince his father that he's more than capable of adventuring. After this, he becomes a dedicated and extremely useful follower. He has the highest health of any available steward and is proficient in several weapons.

Keep in mind that Erik the Slayer is a Barbarian, and as it goes, this class prefers Light Armor. Don't be fooled by his equipped Heavy Armor because he has no perks in the skill, so it's a waste of an item if you give it to him. Once you have everything in order, Erik the Slayer can become Erik the Steward.

9 Ghorbash The Iron Hand

Chief Burguk's brother, Ghorbash the Iron Hand, is a recruitable follower from Dushnikh Yal. There are three ways to recruit him: persuasion, bribery, or beating him in a fistfight. The Orsimer character is a perfect steward because he is versatile as a fighter. That's what you want with any Follower looking after your home.

Even though Ghorbbash comes equipped with Heavy Armor, we suggest you offer him Light Armor, as his stats are higher in that skill set. Also, remember that he is a great Archer and One-Handed wielder.

8 Illia

After saving her mother from becoming a Hagraven, Illia becomes a dependable mage and a strong follower. She has high Magicka and Health, so she'll stay standing for a long time in fights to protect your home.

Mages can be extremely useful as stewards due to their ranged attacks and healing abilities. Similarly to Brelyna, Illia's Magicka abilities ensure your home is safe from intruders.

7 Onmund

The Nord apprentice you meet in the College of Winterhold is one of the best followers to add as a Steward in your stead. Even though Onmund is only an apprentice mage, he has some fantastic spells that he casts when in time of need. A combination of Shock, Lighting and Chain Lighting Spells will be ideal for defending your home.

Once he is out of Magicka, Onmund will sometimes use his hunting bow, but if you prefer to equip him with a one-handed weapon, go ahead. Don't expect him to be dual-wielding anything; the developers didn't make that possible with Onmund.

6 Lydia

Lydia is the Housecarl assigned to the Thane of Whiterun. She's headstrong and dependable. She can be your wife, follower, or an impressive steward. Rest assured that your Homestead will be in good hands with Lydia, as she's self-reliant and a skilled warrior. How can you not think about giving Stewardship to the first Housecarl that joins you on your adventure?

She's extremely reliable as a follower and even more so as a Steward. But, of course, you probably already know that because she is everyone's first Steward of choice.

5 Uthgerd The Unbroken

Uthgerd is found in the Bannered Mare in Whiterun. She becomes a potential follower after you beat her in a fistfight and becomes a marriage candidate. Even though you've defeated her in combat, she proves to you why how she gained her nickname, the Unbroken.

Uthgerd is a strong woman, dealing severe damage with her one-handed weapons and heavy Armor. She also has good stats, leading her to be an excellent choice for a steward.

4 Ingjard

Once you finish the Prophet quest in the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim, you can recruit Ingjard as a follower. She's a great addition to your team. The Nord female recruit isn't only a hard-hitting follower but can also be a great Steward thanks to the innate ability to be 50 percent resistant to frost damage.

Even though Ingjard tends to be highly offensive in her fighting style, she can be equipped with high-ranking Heavy Armor to compensate for her lack of defense.

3 Jordis The Sword-Maiden

Jordis watches over Proudspire Manor in Solitude, should you buy it. She's proficient in heavy Armor and archery, making her a great candidate for watching your Homestead while you're away.

She also has excellent defensive skills, making her an even more exciting candidate for protecting your home from intruders. Be it necromancers or dragons.

2 Aela The Huntress

Aela is among the few werewolves you can have as a follower in Skyrim. Her maximum level is level 50, leading her to be one of the most vital followers in the game. She can train you in archery, turn you into a werewolf if you follow the Companions questline, or even be your wife.

She's a fantastic follower and a superb choice for a steward. In addition, her history with completing tasks to protect Skyrim's citizens means she'll be more than willing to fend off enemies from your estate.

1 Rayya

Rayya is the Housecarl appointed to the Thane of Falkreath and is the only non-Nord with this position. She typically duel-wields scimitars but will use any weapon you give her.

She'll do a fantastic job guarding your home and is typically pleasant to live with. She's also a marriage candidate, so if you seek that kind of connection instead, you can pursue it.

NEXT: Which Hearthfire Home Is the Best?