Hi all - I accidentally happened upon a giant with 2 mammoths who decided to attack me. I ran as far as my stamina would carry me, and then once the initial panic subsided, I remembered I have the power to turn animals to fight for me. So I stopped, took "control" of the first mammoth which promptly killed both the giant and the other mammoth. My idea was just to throw something in their way to make my escape easier, but I hung around to kill the mammoth after he dispatched the 2 of them and then scavenged all the remains.

My question is, how is it the one mammoth pretty quickly defeated the other and the giant? I figured my controlled mammoth would succumb to 2 against 1. The only real attacking I did was 1 level-1 force shout, and fling a couple arrows into the melee (not even sure who I actually struck, if anyone). Are commanded animals empowered more than regular animals?

Thanks!

Difficulty level changes the damage received and delivered for followers, and suspect commanded animals are affected in the same way. This is most noticeable at the beginning of the game in Helgen Keep. On novice, Ralof/Hadvar will easily take out opponents. On Master/Legendary, they will struggle, often being put to one knee over and over again.

Oh, and Michi very much likes her Command Animal power for the very situation you describe.

Thanks for sharing that. I did not know this. I am going to start using it. It is a shout is it not??

Hi Ashley - I'm a wood elf so it's my natural power. It's REALLY cool. One time I found a cave bear (or rather, a cave bear found me!) while sneaking around just outside a bandit fort I was about to attack. I made the bear mad so it chased me and because I can sprint really fast, was able to stay out of its reach. I ran right into the heart of the bandits and then turned the bear to fight for me and it kicked butt! LOL That was fun to watch. I did find that animals will not outright follow you, they will just be passive unless you're attacked so if you need them to go to a specific location as I did, you have to get them to attack you first.

I used it again just now for the "kill the giant" quest for the Jarl. Long-range hidden bow attack x3 damage, 2 shots before being seen, then turned the first mammoth to reach me and he trampled the giant. It's awesome (but not for the giant of course).

Trolls are susceptible to command animal too. It's pretty rare to have a troll in a position to actually help you, but it can be helpful to get them off your back.

Another tip: Command Animal overpowers the command spriggans put on animals. If you find yourself under attack from three or four animals with a spriggan you can turn the table right-quick.