The lore and mythology behind the world of the Elder Scrolls is extensive and complicated, and even contradictory at some points. But there are, undeniably, gods, spirits, and demons galore in the realm of Nirn.
Among these are the Daedra, though their status as deities or devils is still heavily debated. And in almost every game, players can interact with these entities, or perhaps even become their champions. Not all Daedra are equal though, so these are the five best and worst Daedric Princes to become champions of.
10 Worship - Malacath
For those hesitant to worship any Deadra of a sort, they can perhaps find comfort in an Aedra-turned-Daedra, Malacath. Formerly Trinimac, this Daedric Prince is a cornerstone in many pantheons of Tamriel, though his favor falls strongly to the Orcs. He is not a benevolent deity, but to then call him malevolent is not also quite as apt. Malacath is undeniably a harsh and perhaps sadistic Prince, but he is protective - perhaps, even caring - of his followers and admires physical strength. And for players who equally value strong warriors, Malacath is a perfect Daedric Prince to worship, offering amazing boons and blessings to his champions and followers alike.
9 Avoid - Peryite
Peryite is certainly a unique Daedra, given that he often takes the form of a dragon when summoned to Nirn, not too much unlike Akatosh. But do not let this divine form fool anyone, as he is among the crueler Daedric Princes, as the Lord of Pestilence. Many of Tamriel’s past plagues can be attributed to him, as his twisted way of preserving the ’natural order’ of the world, be it on Nirn or in Oblivion. His boons to worshipers consist of a powerful spell-reflecting shield… and the onslaught of diseases he afflicts upon them. Perhaps, for players who favor the realism of sickness and building immunity, Peryite is the perfect Prince to worship. But if not, best to avoid all things related to this Daedra.
8 Worship - Sanguine
Sanguine is neither benevolent, nor is he overtly malicious, and he could give Sheogorath a run for his money regarding chaos. Indeed, this god of drunken debauchery simply exists to have a grand old time, and if a couple hearts (or legs) get broken along the way, so be it.
From Morrowind to Skyrim, he’ll have players commit some random act to spread revelry and chaos across the land, be it drunkenly marrying a Hagraven or getting all the guests of a royal party to strip naked. And doing so will reward players with Sanguine’s Rose, a staff to summon Dremora to fight alongside them. For fellow debauchery lovers, Sanguine is undoubtedly a fantastic Prince to be champion of.
7 Avoid - Vaermina
This Daedric Prince is responsible for every nightmare, omen, and terror, plaguing the minds of Tamriel’s peoples. Indeed, Vaermina is also among the Daedras considered consistently evil and malevolent, with her followers worshipping her not out of reverence, but in hopes to stave off her mind tricks on them. While her boon - the Skull of Corruption - is an extremely powerful artifact, it often comes at the high price of betraying, killing, and perhaps even torturing those who only seek to do good. For those who seek to play more murderous characters, perhaps Vaermina is a great Daedra to worship, but if not, it’s best to fight avoid this nightmarish deity.
6 Worship - Nocturnal
For any thieving players of the Elder Scrolls, having Nocturnal as their patron deity is a must. This Daedric Prince of night, darkness, and luck has strong ties to the Thieves Guilds of both Oblivion and Skyrim, with rich rewards to her loyal followers, so long as they do not double-cross her.
Indeed, this Prince, while hardly malevolent in behavior, is extremely enigmatic to mortals, be they her followers or not. Her rewards come not in permanently physical forms, but rather in every successful lock picked or every assassin hidden totally in shadow. So for players who find friendship in the night, Nocturnal is undoubtedly a great Daedra to follow.
5 Avoid - Namira
Namira is the Daedric prince of darkness, shadow, and decay. Perhaps most importantly, she is the patron deity of all Tamriel’s cannibals. Namira undoubtedly encompasses all that is gross in Tamriel, be it a rotting carcass, scuttling parasite, or any creepy, crawling thing. Her boon to her followers is her Ring of Namira, an artifact with varying effects, though undoubtedly each are powerful. Indeed, she provides many benefits to follower and champion alike, but it comes at a high price. Though, that price comes not in the form of any cruelty done by the Daedra herself, but rather the horrible actions her followers must take to earn her favor. If players are willing to lower themselves among the grossest for rich rewards, Namira is a must to worship. But if not, they better have a strong stomach.
4 Worship - Meridia
Meridia is quite possibly one of the few Daedric Princes who can be considered truly benevolent. Her motivations may still be shrouded in mystery, but most of her interactions with the peoples of Tamriel have been to their benefit, as she seeks to destroy and protect them from the undead. For those who seek to follow her, she can grant rich boons in the form of Dawnbreaker, a powerful weapon, or Ring of Khajiiti, an accessory that grants incredible stealth. For those who seek to purge Tamriel of its ghosts, skeletons, and draugrs alike, earning this Prince’s favor comes with great reward.
3 Avoid - Molag Bal
Molag Bal is the Prince of Schemes and Domination, almost always presented as a malevolent force. He’s the patron god and creator of Tamriel’s vampires, a process that encompasses the full nature of his cruelty, be it offering the lives of thousands of innocents slaughtered, or letting him violate one’s self how he pleases.
For those willing to undergo or commit these tortures, their status of Vampirism - or perhaps his artifact, the Mace of Molag Bal - comes at a great reward, but also with great drawbacks. With the bloody, twisted path it takes to get this double-edged boon, is it really worth it to become Molag’s champion?
2 Worship - Azura
This Daedric Prince is among the most benevolent Daedra, and is a central part of the Dunmeri and Khajiit Pantheons. Almost always presented as female, this goddess of Twilight and Prophecy plays a central role in the main story of Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, though she also has her own small quests for Oblivion and Skyrim. For players so magically inclined - especially towards enchanting - becoming her champion grants them access to the rich boon of Azura’s Star, capable of entrapping any soul, aside from sentients, and infinitely useable. Powerful, prophetic, and generally benevolent, Azura is undoubtedly among the best Daedra to seek championship from.
1 Avoid - Mehrunes Dagon
Dagon is the Daedric prince of Destruction and Change, and like many other Daedras, is one who is wholly malevolent. He’s also among the most direct in his cruel pursuits, attempting to invade and destroy Tamriel multiple times, even causing the Oblivion Crisis in the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. He offers very few boons to his followers - only his blade, Mehrunes Razor - but then again, that is exactly what they seek. They are quite willing to see the world burn, even if they burn with it. For those who seek such chaos and destruction, perhaps this is the perfect Daedra for them. But if not, best to avoid Dagon at all costs.
