Skyrim: Is It Better To Follow Hadvar or Ralof? What Are the Differences & Consequences?

One of the first choices you will have to make when you start the new playthrough of Skyrim is whether you will side with Hadvar or Ralof. Hadvar is a soldier of the Imperial Legion, and Ralof belongs to the Stormcloaks. The two sides are at war, and choosing one over the other is an absolute must. Due to that, we’ve put together this guide to review who is the better option to follow, Hadvar or Ralof, and lastly, what are the consequences of your choice. 

Both Ralof and Hadvar are present on your execution 

At the start of a new playthrough, all roads lead to Helgen. You have been captured trying to cross the Skyrim border by the Imperial Legion, and now you’re scheduled for execution. You are associated with Stormcloaks, who are waging the civil war in Skyrim against the Imperial Legion, trying to break off Skyrim as a province from the Empire.

Of course, as we all know, this is where Alduin comes in, and as you are led to the chopping block, he intervenes, saving you and dooming himself in the process. After the worm’s attack, you will have a choice. One choice is following Ralof, and the other choice is following Hadvar. Even though the two NPCs have the same purpose, they provide different rewards depending on who you choose. Let’s analyze them in a bit more detail.

Following Hadvar gives you access to supplies and prepares you for two-handed weapons 

If you decide to follow Hadvar, it means that the first set of enemies you will encounter will be Stormcloaks. Stormcloaks come equipped with a set of leveled two-handed weapons and light armor. For light armor and two-handed oriented characters, this is a perfect choice. 

Once you leave Helgen, the first natural choice to visit is Riverwood, you are able to learn some basics of the game as well as mingle with the locals to get a sense of the world you have found yourself in. 

If you choose Hadvar, he will mention that he has an uncle in Riverwood named Alvor. Alvor is a blacksmith, and once you meet him, he will offer you some supplies that can be found near his forge as well as whatever you can find inside the house. Those supplies are not much, but they can be a lifesaver depending on your chosen difficulty. 

Since Alvor is a blacksmith, by interacting with him, you will be able to play out the smithing tutorial and gain access to a weapon you’ve crafted yourself. The ingots that he offers as part of his supplies are a good starting point for practicing smithing. 

Following Ralof gives you a place to stay and a headstart in terms of heavy armor 

The players who decide to side with Ralof will gain access to heavy armor early on since the first set of enemies you will encounter in Helgen Keep will be Imperials, who normally are equipped with Heavy Armor. You will likewise be forced to equip a one-handed weapon. 

Leaving Helgen Keep, if you make your way toward Riverwood, If you decide to side with Ralof, he will mention that he has a sister there who goes under the name Gerdur. Gerdur and her husband Hod run the local Riverwood Mill, which is one source of sawn logs later on. 

Ralof’s sister Gerdur will give you a free place to stay at her house + some limited supplies that you can find around her house.  If you value a free bed over smithing supplies, you should definitely choose Ralof. 

Choosing Ralof or Hadvar has no consequences on the civil war storyline 

The last question asked regarding the Ralof / Hadvar choice is whether it has some consequences on the overall civil war storyline. It doesn’t. If you decide to go with Hadvar, you can still ultimately choose to side with Stormcloak with no penalties, and if you decide to join Ralof, you can still join Imperials later on. No matter which character you choose, the quests remain the same. However, it’s important to mention that choosing Ralof or Hadvar may lead to the other character disappearing from the game altogether due to a bug. 

Ultimately, from the story’s perspective, your choice doesn’t matter. Choosing Hadvar or Ralof will not lock you out of joining the opposing faction and will not affect your choices further down the line. The only thing affected by the choice between Ralof and Hadvar is the starting gear you will acquire and the “reward” you will receive in Riverwood.

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