I was wondering if any followers are better than others.

I'm playing as a battle mage, and want to find a follower to tank.

So far, all the followers I've found are ranged, except for Lydia. However, Lydia will not equip any armors I give her, so she just ends up falling in battle quickly. The one mage I found equips the best armors I give them, but they are ranged and svck.

I just need a follower to run in and tank while I destroy the enemy.

I haven't had any issues with Lydia not equipping better armor or weapons. What kind of armor are you trying to give her?

Solitude Inn, Brawl in Whiterun Inn, Markarth Inn

I used Lydia to carry stuff from a few dungeons, so I've given her quite a few different armors. But she won't equip any of them EXCEPT for helmets. That's all she will equip. She will equip weapons and jewelry.

I found a Dark Elf Mage type follower and she is very strong. She summons fire pets and wrecks people with lightning or frost spells. As for a tank companion OP... I haven't found one because I haven't really looked. I play as a 1h+shield char myself so I haven't needed to. Sorry

Adoring Fan.

Marcurio is the best, no contest.

Marcurio is a male Imperial magician available for hire at the Bee and Barb in Riften for 500 gold coins. Marcurio is incredibly powerful on offense. He uses Arcane Magic and generally is very intelligent when it comes to picking and choosing his spots. As a Mage he's obviously fragile defensively but he can kill almost anything in 3-4 spells. He will, however, equip any armor you give him.

He can cast lightning bolts(most of the time) , some kind of a shield on himself, fire spells, frost spells and he moves all the time, plus he can't die he just get knocked, and he makes funny comments like he is the best how, nobody is a match for him etc, the draugh are slow and lazy and they can never stand against him, get him buy him some destruction robe and give him few magicka potions and you are set.

Faenriel? I forget how it's spelled. I think he's in Riverwood, though. He has a bow, but I gave him a 2h sword and some strong armor and he is a useful enough distraction tank. He's been with me from level 3 to 23, so I'm probably biased A mage would likely be more useful.

You could probably take just about anyone, though; just throw some health enchantments at their equipment if they keep getting killed.

Depends what your looking for. Magic wise its Erandur, since he has high level spells that others don't, and he is a healer that will actually heal you in combat. And he sounds like Michael Caine.

As for tanks, it would probably be one of the Companion guild members. Although Id say check out Eola and Belrand. Ones a nightblade, the latter a spellsword. The only two of their class kind.

that + avatar = Iloveyou?

I'd be careful playing a mage and pairing up with a tank that runs in close. You can kill him/her off with sloppy spell casting. I agree with Saskia that Marcurio is a great companion to have around. My character is a mage and he covers me great and is hard to kill. He only gets in my way once in a while and I use Healing Hand on him when he does manage to get knocked down to one knee and he's got something he says for that too. I've upgraded his bow to an enchanted one and taken away his knife and he uses that bow very, very effectively. He's saved my butt a lot.

Erandur or Illia>Marcurio.

Illia isn't even a mage, but a Witch.

From what I've seen the Solitude housecarl has the highest health that I've come across (500+ vs. 320 for the Companions I've checked and 158 for Lydia). Also has 100 one handed skill and 70 blocking skill, 100 heavy armor. She's kind of lacking in personality though. Been sort of wanting to try out that drunkard Companion that keeps asking me to go boozing with him to see what he says.

do followers also increase in levels with player? or they stay with initial stats?

Why not Zoidberg?

They level with you.

Golldir, he's found in a ruin along the path to ivarstead from whiterun, just a bit past the towers in the middle. he uses a shield and heavy armor.

I found Illia at a really low level and have kept her up through level 12. I play an archer, so it's nice to have someone who can dish out heavy damage while I pick 'em off.

Illia reminds me of Dr. Orpheus's daughter from the Venture Brother cartoon.

but I still cant say enough about good old Erandur. Dudes the best. I even think he'll make potions for you since he has an alchemy skill.

So if I change a follower on level 25 is that also ok? I mean new follower will be also relevant level?

Yes.

Thank you!

No, and here is why:

Illia - She is a Mage that focuses heavily upon Frost related spells.

Erandur - He uses destruction magic with one hand while welding a mace in the other, but at times he'll even use a bow.

Marcurio - Dual wield destruction magic, duel wield lighting bolt( killing 2 enemy's at once in 2-3 casts) , he has a spell to make undead,vampires,draugh flee, he casts fire spells and has frost shield

Sorry but marcurio is better, even if they cast same spells he still uses duel wield magic while the other 2 don't, plus the lighting magic has a huge range and its good vs groups

Oh and the person who is writing the skyrim wiki said once that marcurio is his personal choice.
And if i am not mistake one of those 2 can summon familiars wich is kinda too much in a dungeon than can block your way and you have to reload the game.

Is Erandur really that good? I picked up Benor, I think is his name, after Lydia died. Should I switch Benor for Erandur do you think?

He can DEFINITLY die...