Players looking for some love and commitment in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim can find just that after getting their hands on the Amulet of Mara. While wearing the amulet, they can find a man or a woman after their heart and settle down with them—even without a house.
The game has a number of different partners to choose from, so there's definitely no shortage of options. That being said, some NPCs are best left alone, as they simply won't bring as much utility or wholesomeness into the Dragonborn's life. The following characters are therefore some of the worst romances in Skyrim, ranked—even if they are not necessarily bad characters or people.
8 Cosnach
Skyrim has its fair share of characters who like to stick around inns all day and while sipping on ale, and that's exactly the type of character Cosnach is. He's not the ideal, hardworking kind of spouse that players should be looking for, as he spends most of his time at the Silver-Blood Inn.
It speaks volumes that in order to romance him, players need to first challenge him into a brawl and win against him to gain his favor. It's definitely not the most stable way of beginning a relationship, let alone for marriage, making Cosnach a hard pass for any Dragonborns looking for something a bit more special.
7 Benor
Nothing is more off-putting than a spouse candidate who comes across as standoffish, violent, and rude. Benor, a man who couldn't make it to the official guard force of Morthal despite applying, fits this archetype to perfection. Even after he failed to make it as a guard, he still pretends to be part of them by watching over the town.
He's also quite arrogant, making the steep claim at introductions that he's the best brawler in town (and given how small Morthal is, this isn't exactly a big flex anyway). Winning against him will unlock him as a spouse, but unless players are going for the chaotic, somewhat unpleasant type of main character vibe, Benor isn't exactly a dream choice.
6 Viola Giordano
Viola Giordano may end up keeping up a little shop for the player (as most spouses do), but she's definitely not most players' first option. She's significantly older than most candidates, and while there's nothing inherently wrong with life experience, she comes across as a bit frail.
Not able to hold her own in combat, players won't get the chance to have Viola join them along for their adventures. That said, she does have strong morals that encourage her to fight against the injustice in Windhelm and help figure out who the mysterious murderer is.
5 Octieve San
Image source: Elder Scrolls Wiki
Gambling, drinking, and accumulating debts—that's what Octieve San's whole character is all about in Skyrim. An older man who comes across as highly irresponsible for crunching on his daughter, he's not exactly the pinnacle of romance and tenderness, either.
Octieve San's debts can, of course, be paid by the Dragonborn, but given how he should be taking responsibility for his own life at his current age, yet refuses to, it's a bit questionable to choose him as the one person to spend the rest of one's life with in Skyrim.
4 Angrenor Once-Honored
A marriage partner should be someone we can rely on for support, both mentally, physically, and at times financially. While Dragonborns probably don't need a rich lord to survive, Skyrim's hero doesn't need to settle for just anyone—including beggars.
Angrenor Once-Honored will be wandering around the Gray Quarter in Windhelm and will gladly share his tale from past battles in the ranks of the Stormcloaks. Despite this, he's quite a mean-spirited man towards the Dunmer of the city, which doesn't exactly make him the most charming gentleman.
3 Camilla Valerius
While Camilla is one of the more popular ladies in Skyrim, she's also one of the worst spouse options for one reason in particular. When the player arrives at Riverwood for the first time, they will most likely overhear that two men, Sven and Faendal, are fighting over Camilla's love and attention. This affair becomes a small quest in which the Dragonborn can choose who Camilla should favor.
Alternatively, they could marry Camilla themselves after helping her brother Lucan retrieve the Golden Claw from Bleak Falls Barrow but know that she will be visited by Faendal regularly, which is a huge annoyance in itself. No one needs a third wheel, especially after a proper marriage ceremony.
2 Njada Stonearm
Likely among one of the most hated Skyrim characters (right after Nazeem, of course) is Njada Stonearm, a character found in Whiterun among the Companions that just seems to love hating the Dragonborn by showering the player character with rude remarks. She will make it very clear that she's not here to make friends.
Even after the Dragonborn gets their much-deserved promotion at the end of the Companion questline, Njada will continue to give them a bit of attitude. With all this taken into account, she's definitely not the type of energy anyone would want along for their adventures.
1 Sorex Vinius
Image source: Elder Scrolls Wiki
When it comes to the absolute worst and most unreliable partners in the game, Sorex immediately makes the top of the list. Not only does he support Roggvir's execution in Solitude simply because he was bullied by Roggvir in his youth, but his dialogue also showcases just how selfish he can be.
He'll voice his distaste if the house the Dragonborn moves him into isn't big enough and will subtly complain if he's asked to cook food. Not to mention, he will continue flirting and buying free drinks to women at the Winking Skeever, even after marriage. In terms of reliability and loyalty, he's at the very bottom of the list.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.