Should I Go With Hadvar Or Ralof?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: Choose Hadvar if you are leaning toward the Imperial Legion, plan a heavy-armor or sword-and-board build, or want an early introduction to smithing. Hadvar is an Imperial soldier who recognizes that you were not meant to be executed, and following him leads to his uncle Alvor, the Riverwood blacksmith. Alvor offers crafting materials and a tutorial-style introduction to improving armor and weapons, making this path practical for warriors who want reliable gear quickly.
• Good fit: Choose Ralof if you sympathize with the Stormcloak rebellion, prefer two-handed weapons and lighter armor, or want a roleplay reason to reject Imperial authority. Ralof is a Stormcloak soldier who fights alongside you through Helgen Keep, and afterward he takes you to his sister Gerdur in Riverwood. That route gives you Stormcloak-aligned gear early and frames the Empire as the aggressor, which can feel natural for a Nord nationalist, rebel, or barbarian-type character.
• Good fit: Either companion makes sense if you simply want a guided escape from Helgen and do not care about long-term consequences. Both routes lead to Riverwood, introduce a friendly local contact, and let you continue the main questline normally. Because the choice does not permanently lock you into a Civil War faction, you can treat it as a momentary roleplay decision rather than a strategic commitment.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: Avoid choosing Hadvar on a playthrough where you are determined to side with Ulfric Stormcloak and want the opening to reflect that rebellion. Although the decision is not binding, following an Imperial soldier and fighting Stormcloaks in the keep can feel narratively inconsistent with a staunch Stormcloak character.
• Warning sign: Avoid choosing Ralof if you are roleplaying a law-abiding Imperial loyalist or simply dislike killing Imperial soldiers during the tutorial. Ralof’s path requires you to cut down Imperial troops inside Helgen Keep, which may clash with a character concept built around serving the Empire or avoiding unnecessary bloodshed.
• Warning sign: Avoid overanalyzing the choice if you are new to Skyrim and worried about making a permanent mistake. The differences between the two paths are largely cosmetic and limited to the first few minutes of gameplay, so stress over this decision is usually not worth it.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Early equipment and skill hints. Hadvar’s path favors heavy armor, one-handed weapons, and smithing, while Ralof’s path favors light armor, two-handed weapons, and a rebel aesthetic. Picking the companion whose style matches your planned build gives you a small head start on gear and a clear sense of direction.
• Roleplay flavor without commitment. The choice lets you express your character’s political sympathies and morality immediately, but it does not force you to join the Imperial Legion or the Stormcloaks later. You remain free to switch allegiance when the Civil War questline opens up.
• A built-in safe introduction to Riverwood. Both Hadvar and Ralof deliver you to a friendly, helpful NPC who provides supplies, a bed, and quest guidance. This smooths the transition from the chaotic tutorial to the open world.

Cons

• Missed content on the alternate path. In a single playthrough you can only experience one keep route. You will not see the other companion’s dialogue, combat style, or the specific loot containers in their section of Helgen Keep unless you reload a save or use console commands.
• Potential confusion about faction locking. Some players believe following Hadvar commits them to the Empire or following Ralof commits them to the Stormcloaks. That misunderstanding can cause unnecessary anxiety, since the Civil War choice remains independent.
• Little mechanical impact later. Because the decision barely affects stats, quests, or endgame outcomes, players who enjoy optimizing may find the choice underwhelming and may wish it had deeper consequences.

Decision Checklist

• Which Civil War faction, if any, do you intend to join later in the playthrough, and does your chosen companion’s introduction align with that story?
• Does your planned character build favor heavy armor and smithing (Hadvar) or two-handed weapons and light/rebel gear (Ralof)?
• Are you roleplaying a specific background or morality that makes following an Imperial soldier or a Stormcloak rebel more believable?
• Do you want the alternate path’s loot and dialogue enough to save before the choice and try both?

Alternatives to Consider

If you are undecided, the simplest alternative is to save the game right before Hadvar and Ralof split, then try one path and reload to experience the other. On PC, you can also use console commands to teleport through the alternate keep section or view the alternate introduction through recorded gameplay. Another option is to ignore the faction framing entirely and pick whichever companion fits your character’s personality, since the Civil War allegiance can be decided hours later. Finally, if you prefer minimal combat in the tutorial, you can still choose either companion; both routes require fighting through the keep, but the enemy type changes.

Final Recommendation

Go with Hadvar if you plan to support the Imperial Legion, want heavy armor and smithing resources early, or prefer a structured, lawful introduction. Go with Ralof if you plan to join the Stormcloaks, favor two-handed weapons and rebel gear, or want to frame your character as resisting the Empire. If you have no strong preference, choose for roleplay or early gear convenience and remember that the choice does not lock you into a faction. Save before the split if you want to compare both paths, and consider consulting Skyrim community wikis such as the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages for exact loot and dialogue differences.