The Guardian Stones are a trio of standing stones beside the road southwest of Riverwood and north-northwest of Helgen, close to the river. They are three of the thirteen ancient standing stones scattered across Skyrim, and for most players they are the first ones they ever see: after escaping Helgen in Unbound, Ralof or Hadvar walks you right past them on the way to Riverwood.
What you’ll find
- The Warrior Stone – the blessing for combat-minded characters.
- The Mage Stone – the pick for spellcasters.
- The Thief Stone – for sneaks and lockpickers.
You can only have one standing stone blessing active at a time, so choosing one replaces the previous. The other ten stones offer different perks, such as the Lord Stone, the Lady Stone, the Lover Stone, the Shadow Stone, the Atronach Stone, the Ritual Stone, the Apprentice Stone, the Steed Stone, the Tower Stone and the Serpent Stone. The Guardian Stones are the beginner-friendly trio, so treat this pick as a starting point rather than a life sentence.
Tips
Your escort comments on whatever you pick. Choose the Mage Stone and you get a polite “each to his own.” Pick the Thief Stone and you’re told it’s never too late to change your fate – a not-so-subtle hint. Go Warrior and Ralof promises honour and glory, while Hadvar says he knew you didn’t belong on that cart the moment he saw you. Since the stones are right next to the road, it’s easy to come back and switch later once you know what kind of character you’re actually playing.
Good to know
The Warrior, Mage and Thief trio echoes the three classic character archetypes, which is why the game parks them right on the path out of the tutorial.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.