The Elder Scrolls V
Our Skyrim guides cover the builds that work, from the stealth archer to the Vampire Lord, plus the Civil War, skill books and the Stones of Barenziah. Pick a build, choose a side or hunt down every collectible.
Pick a build or a guide below to get started. More Skyrim guides land on this page as they go live.
All 432 locations from the game files, from the nine hold capitals to every cave, Dwemer ruin, dragon lair and Standing Stone, plus Solstheim.
Tick off cities, dungeons and Standing Stones as you find them. Your progress is shared with the full Skyrim interactive map, which also has the checklist and progress panel.
| Build | How it plays | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Stealth archer | Sneak, draw your bow and land huge sneak attack damage from range. | Players who like picking enemies off quietly |
| Mage | Destruction spells for damage, backed by Restoration and Alteration. | Players who want ranged magic |
| Two-handed warrior | Heavy armor and a big weapon, straight into the fight. | New players who want a simple, tough build |
| Spellsword | A weapon in one hand and a spell in the other. | Players who want both steel and magic |
| Vampire Lord | The Dawnguard vampire form, with life drain and summons. | Players with the Dawnguard add-on |
It leads to your first dragon fight and your first shout, which open up the rest of the game.
Swing a sword to get better with swords and cast spells to get better at magic. Your build grows from how you play.
The Warrior, Mage and Thief Stones near Riverwood make the matching skills level faster early on.
Grindstones and workbenches boost your weapons and armor. Smithing pays off in every build.
Too much loot slows you to a walk. Sell often or store items in a house.
The Civil War and some quests close off other paths. Keep a save before you commit.
A warrior in heavy armor with a two-handed weapon, or a sword and shield, is the most forgiving start. Our beginner build guide walks you through it.
Both sides end the war and both have strong story moments. Our Civil War guides compare what each side offers before you pick.
It is one of the safest and strongest, because sneak attacks with a bow deal huge damage from range. It is not the only good choice, and our build guides cover many others.
Yes. Skills grow as you use them, so you can shift your build at any time. Legendary skills also let you reset a maxed skill and level it again.
There are 24. Collecting them all completes the quest No Stone Unturned, which rewards a perk that helps you find more gems.
