Achievements
Complete each achievement to receive the allotted gamerscore:
Adept (10) - Reach Level 10.
Artificer (10) - Make a smithed item, an enchanted item, and a potion.
Dragon Soul (10) - Absorb a dragon soul.
Dragonslayer (50) - Complete "Dragonslayer".
Elder Knowledge (20) - Complete "Elder Knowledge".
Expert (25) - Reach Level 25.
Explorer (40) - Discover 100 Locations.
Bound Until Death (10) - Complete "Bound Until Death".
Bleak Falls Barrow (10) - Complete "Bleak Falls Barrow".
Alduin's Wall (20) - Complete "Alduin's Wall".
Apprentice (5) - Reach Level 5.
Blessed (10) - Select a Standing Stone blessing.
Blood Oath (10) - Become a member of the Circle.
Dragon Hunter (20) - Absorb 20 dragon souls.
Oblivion Walker (30) - Collect 15 Daedric Artifacts.
One with the Shadows (30) - Returned the Thieves Guild to its former glory.
Reader (20) - Read 50 Skill Books.
Revealing the Unseen (10) - Complete "Revealing the Unseen".
Sideways (20) - Complete 10 side quests.
Skill Master (40) - Get a skill to 100.
Snake Tongue (10) - Successfully persuade, bribe, and intimidate.
Standing Stones (30) - Find 13 Standing Stones.
Glory of the Dead (30) - Complete "Glory of the Dead".
Citizen (10) - Buy a house.
Daedric Influence (10) - Acquire a Daedric Artifact.
Darkness Returns (10) - Complete "Darkness Returns".
Delver (40) - Clear 50 dungeons.
Diplomatic Immunity (20) - Complete "Diplomatic Immunity".
Gatekeeper (10) - Join the College of Winterhold.
Master (50) - Reach Level 50.
Master Criminal (20) - Bounty of 1,000 gold in all nine holds.
Taking Sides (10) - Join the Stormcloaks or the Imperial Army.
The Eye of Magnus (30) - Complete "The Eye of Magnus".
The Fallen (20) - Complete "The Fallen".
The Way of the Voice (20) - Complete "The Way of the Voice".
Thief (30) - Pick 50 locks and 50 pockets.
Thu'um Master (40) - Learn 20 shouts.
Golden Touch (30) - Have 100,000 gold.
Hail Sithis! (30) - Complete "Hail Sithis!"
Hard Worker (10) - Chop wood, mine ore, and cook food.
Hero of Skyrim (30) - Capture Solitude or Windhelm.
Hero of the People (30) - Complete 50 Misc Objectives.
Married (10) - Get married.
Take Up Arms (10) - Join the Companions.
Taking Care of Business (10) - Join the Thieves Guild.
Unbound (10) - Complete "Unbound".
Wanted (10) - Escape from jail.
War Hero (10) - Capture Fort Sungard or Fort Greenwall.
With Friends Like These... (10) - Join the Dark Brotherhood.
Words of Power (10) - Learn all three words of a shout.
Additionally, there are ten Dawnguard DLC achievements:
A New You (20) - Change your face.
Auriel's Bow (20) - Use the special power of Auriel's Bow.
Lost to the Ages (30) - Complete "Lost to the Ages".
Soul Tear (20) - Learn all three words of Soul Tear.
Awakening (20) - Complete "Awakening".
Beyond Death (20) - Complete "Beyond Death".
Kindred Judgement (40) - Complete "Kindred Judgement".
Legend (40) - Defeat a Legendary Dragon.
Vampire Mastered (20) - Acquire 11 vampire perks.
Werewolf Mastered (20) - Acquire 11 werewolf perks.
Additionally, there are five Hearthfire DLC achievements:
Architect (10) - Build three wings on a house.
Landowner (10) - Buy a plot of land.
Land Baron (10) - Buy three plots of land.
Master Architect (10) - Build three houses.
Proud Parent (10) - Adopt a child.
Additionally, there are ten Ragonborn DLC achievements:
At the Summit of Apocrypha (40) - Complete "At the Summit of Apocrypha".
Dragon Aspect (20) - Learn all 3 words of Dragon Aspect.
Raven Rock Owner (20) - Own a house in Raven Rock.
Solstheim Explorer (30) - Discover 30 locations on the island of Solstheim.
Stalhrim Crafter (20) - Craft an item out of Stalhrim.
Dragonrider (20) - Tame and ride 5 dragons.
Hidden Knowledge (40) - Learn the secrets of 5 Black Books.
Outlander (20) - Arrive on Solstheim.
The Path of Knowledge (20) - Complete "The Path of Knowledge".
The Temple of Miraak (20) - Complete "The Temple of Miraak".
Free Archery Skill
Visit Faendal at riverwood (he's a wood elf that usually stands by the mill) and ask him to follow you. Then ask him to train your archery. (Have some gold around at least to make your first purchase of training). Ask to borrow something and take his gold. It's not considered stealing. Repeat the last two procedures as many times as you like.
NOTE: You can only level archery 5 times per level, but you level up slightly every time your archery skill goes up. This will work with any trainer who can also be a follower.
Joining the Dark Brotherhood
After making your way to Riverwood, speak to the bartender inside the inn. Ask him if he has heard any rumors. He will eventually tell you about a boy that is trying to summon the Dark Brotherhood. Follow the subquest to Windhelm. When entering Windhelm, make an immediate right and travel up the path until you encounter a Dark Elf and child talking. Enter the door to their left and find the child inside. He will ask you to kill Grinelda The Kind in Riften. Go to Riften, enter the orphanage, and murder Grinelda. Fast Travel back to Windhelm and speak to the child again to get your reward. Next, go outside of the city and wait for twenty four hours. A courier will approach and give you a note with a black handprint on it, with the words "We Know". Go to the nearest inn, rent a room, and sleep for twenty four hours. When you awake you will have been kidnapped by one of the Dark Brotherhood. They will tell you that if you kill one of the other three people in the room they will release you. Choose a person and kill them. Speak to the Dark Brotherhood again and they will tell you to meet them at their lair in the pine forest in the far southwest corner of Skyrim. Fast Travel to the western watchtower outside of Whiterun then travel west towards the marker. When you reach the door, answer the question asked with "Silence, My Brother" to enter the sanctuary. Speak to the first person you find inside the lair, and you are now part of the Dark Brotherhood.
Dragon Tomb Location
Use a shout in front of a guard (not a dangerous one). A courier will deliver a letter from a "friend", giving you the location of another dragon tomb.
Dragonreach Cave Puzzles
Inside the cave during your first mission for Dragonreach, you are faced with a combination puzzle. Look to the wall above the closed gate. You will see two heads with a gap in the middle. Each one holds a picture of a creature (snake and dolphin). On the floor by the lever is the third creature (snake). The combination is Snake, Snake, Dolphine. The second combination is found deeper in the chambers. It is a turntable combination, which is more difficult. This one is Bear, Owl, Bird. Insert the claw and the door will open.
Easy Armor, Spells, and General Leveling
Set the difficulty to "Novice" and have a weak one-handed attack enemy hit you while healing. This will level the armor you are wearing, restoration, also may level up illusion.
Easy Sneak Leveling
At the beginning in Helgen's Keep, you will encounter a sleeping bear. Your guide states that you can either sneak past it or kill it. Just off to the left of where your guide stops is a small rock pile. Go to the back side of it, and you can sneak in the crevice there and remain hidden from the bear. Keep sneaking at the rock and your skill will increase. You can do this for as desired, because the bear only moves if it detects you. To make sure you are in a good location, sneak for a short time, then check your Sneak skill to see if it is rising. If not, move slightly closer to the bear and keep trying.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Reference
Search inside the museum of Dawnstar to find a display case containing a yellowing piece of paper with the symbol for Oblivion. Pick the lock and use a spell for a few seconds on the paper to turn it into a bucket.
Glitch: Easy Experience
Go to the village named "Riverwood" and find a house called "Alvor & Sigrid's House". Inside is a man named Hadvar. Rest until it is after 8 a.m. so that Alvor leaves the house. Sigrid and the young girl should remain downstairs and Hadvar will be upstairs. If he is not, just wait and he will come upstairs. Save the game before the next part in case something goes wrong. Equip your strongest sword or weapon that you want improved skill for, and sneak behind him until he cannot see you. Do a heavy strike and he will stumble to the floor. When he gets up will have no knowledge that you hit him. He also never dies, so it can be done indefinitely. Repeat the process to level up as much as desired. This will also maximize your Sneak skill, and whatever weapon type you are using.
Become a Werewolf
Go to the city of Whiterun. Move through the town until you reach Dragonsreach, which is the castle. While standing on the steps looking at the doors to Dragonsreach, look to your right. There should be a building that resembles a ship's hull. This is where the Companions are located. Go and join them. After a few quests you are given the chance to become a werewolf. To use your new ability, go to "Magic", then "Powers", then "Beast Form". Beast Form can be used once a day. You will turn into a werewolf and friendly humans will attack you. You will have increased speed, health, damage, and stamina. You cannot pick up objects. If you kill a human you can "Feed" on the corpse to regain some health and extend the duration of Beast Form. This is also useful for traveling great distances on foot. When the werewolf sprints, it runs on all fours, and moves much faster than a horse. The werewolf's stamina also regenerates very quickly.
Unlimited Steel Arrows
Upon becoming a full member of the Thieves Guild, the other recruits train often. There is a recruit named Niruin. He can give you training in archery and often wastes his arrows on a target dummy with his infinite arrows. You can continually pick up the steel arrows and either use them for yourself, or sell a mass quantity of them.
Easy Gold
At the beginning of the game, when you reach to the first town of Riverwood start chopping wood and find the man named Hod. He usually stands at the top of the sawmill during the day. He will pay you for "all the wood you can carry" as he puts it. However, there is no limit to how much you can make buy chopping wood and selling it to him. He never runs out of gold like the merchants. Chop and sell wood to him until you have as much gold as desired.
Easy Blocking Experience
Use the following trick to level up your blocking or just save a few spare perks. Find a weak enemy that does not like to enter water (for example, a wolf). Pin yourself between the enemy and the water, and use a rubber band to hold the trigger button that controls your shield. Note: Make sure the enemy will not move from where he is attacking you. Allow the game to idle in that state.
Easy Conjuration Experience
To do this, it is best to have the Bound Sword spell, because you are able to conjure two of these at the same time to gain experience faster. This works best when there is an enemy that is trying to fight you, but you are at an area that they cannot reach you (for example, fighting a troll or bear while you are too high for them to actually hit you). Use the Bound Sword spell, put the sword(s) away, then repeat the process. Doing this will increase your conjuration levels very quickly.
This trick requires dragons roaming around and being far enough in the Dark Brotherhood to have Shadowmere. When you find where a dragon is located, Fast Travel there so Shadowmere can be with you. Start the battle with the dragon. Do not worry when the dragon goes after Shadowmere, as Shadowmere is invincible and will fight and eventually will kill the dragon for you. Use the Bound Swords spell as described above and it will have the same outcome.
Easy Money, Smithing and Enchanting Experience
Note: This requires a Soul Trap weapon and access to a smithy and arcane enchanter. First, purchase equal amounts of Iron Ingots, Leather Strips and Petty Soul Gems. Fill the Petty Soul Gems (by killing with the Soul Trap weapon), then go to a smithy. Create as many Iron Daggers as possible, then go to an arcane enchanter (there is one in Dragonsreach). Enchant all the daggers with the Petty Soul Gems (disenchant the Soul Trap weapon if reqiored). Go to a shop and sell the daggers. Depending on your barter skill, you will get about 170 gold per dagger in profit, and should level up a fair amount. Note: Smithy every three or four daggers; enchant every one or two daggers early on.
Easy Restoration Experience
Go to High Hrothgar. Go out the door to the area where you are taught the Whirlwind Sprint. Once you get outside, go to the right. You will soon find a small staircase that goes up to show that looks like a blizzard of some kind. Go forward just enough to start getting hurt by it and begin using the Healing spell. Your health will go down slowly because you are using the healing spell, but you will also gain experience. This is better than fighting an enemy and leveling up your experience because you can control how much danger you are taking by simply walking backwards.
Easy Smithing Experience
This process will require a bit of coinage, and the more money you have the better. Once you have a vast fortune, go to every town and visit each blacksmith. Buy all their Iron Ignots and Leather. Once you visit the last blacksmith, turn your leather into Leather Strips and make Iron Daggers at the forge. Continuously make Iron Daggers and your Blacksmithing will eventually reach 100. You can also try the dagger process with steel, but iron is cheaper. If you do not want to waste more money on iron, just make Leather Bracers. It is a slower process, but is still effective.
With about 5,000 gold, start in Whiterun and buy all of the Leather Strips and Iron Ingots from both blacksmiths (the one at the entrance and one at Skyforge if joined the companions). Forge Iron Daggers until you run out of materials. Fast Travel to Solitude (or Carriage Ride if not discovered) and do the same thing there with the Solitude blacksmith. Fast Travel back to Whiterun and both blacksmiths will have replenished their supplies of Iron Ingots and Leather Strips. With about 5,000 gold and selling the daggers, you can upgrade Smithing from level 26 to level 100 in about one or two hours and have full dragon gear. You do not have to worry about not increasing your other stats, as you can just save perks and use them whenever.
Easy Sneak Experience
At the beginning in Helgen's Keep, you will encounter a sleeping bear. Your guide states that you can either sneak past it or kill it. Just off to the left of where your guide stops is a small rock pile. Go to the back side of it, and you can sneak in the crevice there and remain hidden from the bear. Keep sneaking at the rock and your skill will increase. You can do this for as desired, because the bear only moves if it detects you. To make sure you are in a good location, sneak for a short time, then check your Sneak skill to see if it is rising. If not, move slightly closer to the bear and keep trying.
Note: This trick will also help you gain weapon experience. While doing the Molag Bal quest, and after you save the priest, go to the shrine. When he gets trapped in the cage, crouch behind him and hit him with the weapon of your choice. Note: Spells may also work too. He will heal quite fast, and he is invincible until he submits and you are forced to kill him for the Daedric lord. Note: Using spells will turn it into a real fight and your follower may become aggressive. However, it can still raise your Destruction level.
Easy Speechcraft Experience
Go to the town of Riften and locate the Black Briar Meadery. Ask the Dark Elf at the counter about the Black Briar women, and choose the "Persuade" option. He will answer your question, and you should receive a level in Speechcraft. Note: You must have Speechcraft at about 25 in order to persuade him, and it may require several attempts to receive a level as your Speechcraft increases. There is no limit to the number of times you may do this.
Moving When Over Encumbered
If you are over encumbered and are far away from a city, the fastest way to move is through the Whirlwind Sprint Shout. It can be used continuously and will get you to the nearest city quickly so you can sell. This also works when exiting caves and dungeons.
Free Training
If you can get a skill trainer as your follower, then you can get any training for free. Train your skills, then ask them to trade and take the gold back.
Paarthurnax Insults
Get the Elder Scroll, then go to Paarthurnax and use the "Throw Voice" shout at him. A new voice will shout insults such as "Hey, ugly!", "Hey, skeever butt!", "Hey, melon head!", "Hey, melon nose!", "Hey, troll bait!", "Hey, slug-breath!", and "Hey, cheese brain!"
Fallout 3 Reference
Walk up to a guard in Whiterun. There is a chance they will say something along the lines of "I supposed you're here to report a stolen sweetroll". This is a reference to the birthday party segment of growing up in the Vault in Fallout 3, where Butch tells you to hand over the sweetroll that you got as a present.
King Arthur References
Between Sundered Towers and Blackwind Bluff, you will find a cave called "Rebels Cairn" Inside this cave you must put a magic sword in a stone to open a door outside the cave to the left. You will find another sword in a stone.
Duplicating Books
This trick requires that you own a house with an alchemy lab. Activate the bookshelf and place the desired book on it. Leave the menu and immediately activate the bookshelf again. If your book has not yet physically appeared on the shelf, wait at the menu screen where you can loot the bookshelf. Once you see the book in front of you (it will hover in front of the shelf while the menu is open), loot the book from the shelf in the menu. Immediately close the menu, and you can click on the book itself to read and then take it. You have effectively looted the book twice, putting two of them in your inventory. This trick can be repeated as many times as desired, and is especially useful with expensive books such as the Oghma Infinium.
Unlimited Arrows
Find someone that is shooting at a target for practice. Stand near the target and collect all the arrows. This becomes very useful if you are an archer.
Duplicating Headgear
Once you open up the Dawnstar Sanctuary for the Dark Brotherhood, upgrade it all the way, or at least the master bedroom. There is a mannequin in the corner of the master bedroom. Give the mannequin any headgear, then exit the menu. Select the mannequin again, and it should say that he has it equipped. Press [R1] to equip the piece of gear onto your character. Exit the menu. Keep the headpiece on your character, turn around ,and sleep in the bed. Exit the sanctuary through the secret entrance. Once out of the sanctuary, turn around and go back in through the door you exited form. Return to the mannequin, and he will have the piece of head gear on that you took off earlier, and you will also have the gear in your inventory. Find an expensive piece of gear to use this trick on to make a lot of money.
Infinite XP Glitch
Level 100 Smithing
Free House Glitch
Keep the Rusty Mace and Mace of Molag Bal from House of Horrors
Equip the Rusty Mace. Click on any weapon mount in Hjerlim. This will remove the mace from your inventory even though it is a quest item. Finish the quest and receive the mace with unlocked potential, the Mace of Molag Bal. This can be used to keep other quest weapons that you are meant to give to others, since the game assumes it is impossible that the item is not in you inventory, quests continue as normal though you have kept the weapons for yourself.