Conjuration followers blocking doorways—worth switching to Bound Weapons instead?

[RiftenWanderer]

I'm on my second playthrough (level 31, playing on Switch) and I've been running two Conjured Atronachs for most of the mid-game. They're great for damage but they constantly stand in doorways during dungeons and it's driving me nuts—I'll be trying to sneak or just move through a tight space and one of them is just... there.

Has anyone found a good workaround besides just dismissing them, or should I pivot to Bound Sword / Bound Bow and go solo? I like having backup but not if it means getting stuck every other room. What do you usually do?

 

[TamrielTactician]

Yeah, the doorway thing is real and honestly it's one of the few legit downsides to running conjured followers. They have zero pathfinding sense in tight spaces.

A couple workarounds I've found: if you're sneaking, just dismiss them before you enter a dungeon and resummon them once you're in a bigger chamber. Sounds annoying but it's like 10 seconds and keeps your sneak bonus intact. Or—and this is what I do more—just accept that you're going in loud and use them as a meat shield while you hang back. Works great on Switch especially since you don't have to manage as much on screen.

That said, Bound Weapons aren't really a replacement for that kind of backup. They're more of a solo playstyle thing—you get the damage and perks like the one that staggers enemies, plus you can dismiss them instantly (no animation), but you're doing all the work yourself. It's actually fun but it's a different vibe entirely.

If you like having followers but want fewer pathfinding headaches, honestly just grab a humanoid follower from a tavern or faction quest instead. They're way smarter about doorways and you only have one to deal with. Or stick with one atronach instead of two—cuts the clutter in half.