Skyrim is split by a civil war. You can fight for the Imperial Legion or for the Stormcloaks, or stay out of it. Neither side is simply good or evil, and the game is built so that neither is punished. This guide compares them so you can choose with open eyes.
Key takeaways
- You can join only one side. They are direct enemies.
- The Stormcloaks follow Ulfric Stormcloak and want the ban on Talos worship lifted. The Empire follows General Tullius and wants to keep Skyrim in the Empire.
- Rewards differ in style, but neither side is clearly better.
- You can switch sides until you hand over the Jagged Crown.
The two sides
| Stormcloaks | Imperial Legion | |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm | General Tullius, based in Solitude |
| Goal | Free Skyrim from the Empire and restore Talos worship | Keep Skyrim in the Empire and strengthen it |
| Starting holds | Eastmarch, the Pale, the Rift, Winterhold | Falkreath, Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, the Reach |
| Gear style | Generally light | Generally heavier |
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Why people fight
An old treaty with the Aldmeri Dominion, the White-Gold Concordat, banned worship of Talos. Many Nords feel this insults their traditions, and that anger feeds the Stormcloak cause. The Empire accepted the treaty to end an earlier war. The Thalmor, the Dominion's agents, gain most from a long fight between the two sides.
Rewards
- Stormcloaks: the early quest gives the Ice Wraith's Bane weapon, which suits sneaky, light builds.
- Imperials: a high rank gets you Daedric weapons from General Tullius, so you stop using weak ones.
- Whichever side wins, you can take the other leader's armor.
The Whiterun truce
Early in the main quest, the Jarl of Whiterun may demand a truce before his city is used to catch a dragon. This starts the Season Unending quest, where you host a peace council at High Hrothgar. UESP says you can do it before or after joining a side, but you only earn a reward if the treaty favors your side, and it gets harder later. If one side holds eight of the nine holds, the truce cannot happen.
Can I change my mind?
Yes, for a while. After you get the Jagged Crown you can still take it to the other side. After that you are locked in.
How to decide
- Pick the story you care about: Nord freedom or imperial order.
- Pick the gear style that fits your build.
- Save before the first big choice, so you can see both.
Next steps
Want the full quest and faction list? See Skyrim quests, factions and DLC. Not sure which character to play? Try races and builds, or visit the Skyrim hub.
