While it’s not the main quest, the Civil War quest line plays a major role inThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Should the province of Skyrim break free ofthe aging Empire of Tamriel, or should it help to preserve the empire against its many external enemies? It’s up to the player to decide who should win the war.
TheSkyrimCivil War story begins when the player joins either the Imperial Legion or the Stormcloaks, and then both sides attempt to claim the Jagged Crown. “The Jagged Crown” quest is almost identical for both sides, but the next major quest, “The Battle for Whiterun,” goes very differently depending on whether the player is with the Legion or the Stormcloaks.
Related:Skyrim: Should You Join The Imperials Or Stormcloaks?
Message To Whiterun
Before the battle can begin, players must complete a minor quest called “Message to Whiterun.” The quest name is the same for both factions, but the details are somewhat different.
Imperial players must deliver a letter to Jarl Balgruuffrom General Tullius. The letter warns Balgruuf that Ulfric is preparing to move west and take Whiterun, peacefully or otherwise. Balgruuf had been neutral in the war, but with Ulfric on the move he now has to choose a side. He does so by asking the Dragonborn to take his axe to Ulfric. Ulfric is in the Palace of the Kings in Windhelm, and this may be an Imperial player’s first chance to meet him in person. Note that players can wear Imperial gear in Windhelm without being attacked.
To complete the quest,head back to Whiterunand speak to Jarl Balgruuf again. Players will find him by the battle map that’s up the stairs behind the throne in Dragonsreach, and it’s clear from his new companion that he’s siding with the Empire.
Stormcloak players willget an axe from Ulfric Stormcloak to give to Balgruuf. Balgruuf will have the same debate with his advisors as he has when he gets Imperial news, and he’ll eventually tell the Dragonborn to send the axe back to Ulfric. This means the same thing as sending Ulfric his axe, and so Stormcloak players will need to conquer Whiterun.
As a side note, the “Battle for Whiterun” quest can only proceed when the main quest doesn’t need anything from the city. This means players can’t deliver either message to Balgruuf until after they kill the dragon menacing the town in “Dragon Rising” or while a dragon is being held captive in Dragonsreach.
How To Protect Whiterun
The Imperial version of “Battle for Whiterun” begins immediately after returning to Dragonsreach and speaking to Balgruuf. Players must speak to Legate Cipius after talking to Balgruuf, and the legate will tell the Dragonborn to headstraight to the gates of Whiterunto defend the city from the approaching Stormcloak army.
Related:Skyrim: Reasons Imperials Should Win The Civil War
Sure enough, when players leave Dragonsreach there are Stormcloak catapults raining fire onto the city, and residents are running for their homes. Players are unable to fast-travel during this sequence and must leave Whiterun by the front door,then run down to the gatehousewhere Legate Rikke is delivering a speech to her troops. The Stormcloak assault will begin once she finishes.
The “Battle for Whiterun” quest will tell players to protect the barricade from Stormcloak soldiers, but the barricade is made of wood and will break quickly when it takes a few hits from melee or ranged weapons. If it does break, the quest will update and tell players to defend the drawbridge. There’s a side road that leads up to the drawbridge chain, and if a Stormcloak soldier reaches it they’ll drop the drawbridge. If the drawbridge falls, players must defend the main gate of Whiterun.
Fortunately, there’s no real way to lose this quest by letting Stormcloak soldiers past, even if they get to the main gate. In fact, players can hide in a corner and eventually the respawningWhiterun and Imperial Guardswill defeat enough Stormcloaks to complete the quest. Still, actually fighting will raise combat skill experience and make the quest end much faster.
Once the Imperial side defeats enough Stormcloaks, around 40-50, the remaining Stormcloaks will retreat. Players must then head back up to the main gate of Whiterunwhere the Imperial forces have assembledto listen to Jarl Balgruuf give a speech. Players can listen to the whole speech and then speak to the Jarl, or they can head inside to end this quest early. Either way, the next step for Imperial players is to head back to Solitude and report to General Tullius.
How To Invade Whiterun
If players are on the Stormcloak side,Ulfric will accept Balgruuf’s messageand begin his invasion plans. He’ll ask the Dragonborn to take part in the invasion, and at this point the fast-travel markers for Whiterun and Dragonsreach will disappear. Instead, a new marker that looks like a wolf’s pawprint will appear near Whiterun. It’s called the Whiterun Military Camp, and players can fast-travel to it to begin the invasion.
Once there, Galmar Stone-Fist willgive a speech to the Stormcloak soldiers, and when he finishes the assault begins. Players must destroy the barricade blocking the first gate, then head up the side path that leads to the drawbridge chain. Activate the controls to drop the drawbridge, and the defenders will retreat into Whiterun. There are plenty of respawning Imperial and Whiterun Guards that defend the area, but unlike the Imperial version of this quest players don’t have to kill anyone.
Inside Whiterun is more soldiers and more barricades. Players can once again run straight to the barricades and break them to gain access to Dragonsreach, but it’s safer to wait forGalmar and the other Stormcloaks to catch up.
Only a few defenders are left once players enter Dragonsreach. A first wave of three guards will attack first, then three more guards will attack alongside Jarl Balgruuf and his housecarl Irileth. Keep in mind that Irileth is an essential NPC and can’t die.
Once Balgruuf loses most of his health, he’ll surrender and the fight will end. Balgruuf will then complain about Ulfric’s ambitions when his replacement, Vignar, shows up. Players can then fast travel back to Ulfric to continue the Civil War, and the next time they visit Whiterun it will have (mostly) recovered from the battle.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available now on PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
