Tips for Starting | Skyrim

In this section of our TES V: Skyrim guide, you will find a set of starting tips that will help you understand the game’s key features and mechanics. We’ve put together a list of ten tips that cover everything from gameplay to character development. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to play the game more effectively and make progress in the main campaign.

• You can change the difficulty level at any time during the game
• Take your time and don’t rush through the main story
• Save your game frequently to avoid sudden death or bad decisions
• Get rid of unnecessary loot on a regular basis
• Travel with a companion from the early stages of the game
• Develop your hero in different areas to avoid weaknesses
• Repeat the same activities to increase your skills faster
• Don’t get caught stealing by avoiding detection
• Visit all major cities early in the campaign
• Explore every location in the game at 100%

You can change the difficulty level at any time during the game

Skyrim has six different difficulty levels, each affecting the amount of damage dealt and received by the hero and enemies. Higher difficulty levels mean weaker attacks from the hero and increased enemy damage. The game allows you to change the difficulty level at any time, even while in combat, by accessing the Options menu in the pause menu and selecting the Gameplay tab. This feature can be used to your advantage by lowering the difficulty level to win battles you may struggle with.

Another benefit of changing the difficulty level is that there are no trophies associated with the difficulty levels. You can select the lowest level of difficulty, Novice, to make obtaining the platinum trophy easier.

Take your time and don’t rush through the main story

Skyrim has fewer main quests than other open-world games, but these quests can be lengthy and challenging. Rushing through the main story may make it difficult to progress without sufficient character development and equipment. Take your time to explore the world, complete side quests, and develop your character to make the main story more manageable.

Three Tips for Playing Skyrim

When playing Skyrim, it’s important to take your time and not rush into main quests. Completing a few initial main quests, such as The Way of the Voice, will unlock useful Shouts and help you gain experience. Once you feel that your character is stronger and more versatile, you can return to the main story and develop combat-related skills and secondary abilities.

It’s also crucial to save your game frequently, especially before entering a new, unknown location or when making decisions during quests. This will protect you from sudden death or bad decisions, and ensure that you don’t miss out on opportunities to gain daedric artifacts or unlock trophies.

Finally, be mindful of your inventory load limit and regularly get rid of unnecessary items. This will help you avoid being over-encumbered and unable to run or use the fast travel option.

1. Get rid of unnecessary items – at the beginning of the game, locate as many traders as possible and remember their locations. Each trader has a limited amount of gold, so it may not be possible to sell all unwanted items in one place. Visit different traders to help replenish their gold reserves.
2. Store unnecessary items – this method is useful after purchasing your first house. You can store heavy crafting materials and other items that may be useful later on.

Travel with a companion from the start

Having a companion can make the game easier as they can support you in battles and carry heavy items. Remember, however, that companions are not immortal and can be defeated in battle. You can store and carry items in their inventory, which is useful during long journeys where there are no opportunities to sell or store equipment. Lydia is your first companion and can be recruited after completing the Way of the Voice quest.

Diversify your hero’s development

While it is possible to specialize your character according to a specific archetype, it is impractical to do so. It is better to diversify your character’s abilities to make them more well-rounded. This is important because it allows you to adapt to different situations and enemies.

1. Hero development is accelerated by developing various skills. Skills that require fewer points can be improved much faster than those already at level 50 or 70. This leads to faster advancement and development of health, magicka, and stamina.
2. Different skills are useful for different types of quests. This is particularly important for guild quests, where a warrior may struggle with quests for the Mages or Thieves Guild.

Repeating activities can speed up skill development

Skills in Skyrim can be improved by performing activities related to them. For example, using melee weapons will improve one-handed weapons, while casting spells will improve destruction. By repeating these activities, players can ‘cheat the game’ and develop skills much faster than in traditional gameplay. Skill books and trainers are also helpful for further skill development.

Stay hidden when stealing

Stealing is a common occurrence in Skyrim, with players able to sneak into private homes and stores to steal valuable items. However, it’s important to stay hidden to avoid being detected and summoning city guards. By regularly improving skills like Stealing, Sneaking, and Lockpicking, players can increase their effectiveness and reduce the risk of detection. Burglary is best done at night when NPCs are asleep and less likely to detect the player.

Explore Major Cities Early in the Game

At the beginning of a new game campaign, the world map will not have many locations available. Players must travel to unlock all points of interest. To save time, it’s recommended to visit major cities early on. These cities are connected to both main and side quests, making it easier to discover new locations and use fast travel to reach them.

Use carriage services to quickly unlock most of the main locations on the world map. Carriage drivers can be found in the stables located at key locations on the map. The stable in Whiterun is recommended for players starting the Dragon Rising quest. From Whiterun, players can travel to many different towns and cities of Skyrim, including Markarth, Solitude, Dawnstar, Winterhold, Riften, and Windhelm. For more information on traveling around the game world, see the Exploration chapter of our guide.

Thoroughly Explore Every Location

Exploring new locations can increase overall gameplay time, but it’s a great way to gain money. Players can improve combat skills by fighting intelligent enemies or monsters occupying a given location and gain valuable loot from stronger enemies. Exploring dungeons and other locations can also lead to earning the Delver trophy for clearing 50 dungeons.

Players should only escape from an explored location if it’s being watched by strong or numerous opponents, such as giants. It’s important to remember these places and return to them with a stronger character later in the game.

Our world atlas includes a list of all game locations, their descriptions, and information on enemies and quests associated with each location.

FAQ

What is Skyrim and how do I start playing?

Skyrim is an open world action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios. It is the fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls series and was released in 2011. To start playing, you need to purchase the game either in physical or digital form. Once you have the game, you can install it on your preferred platform such as PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. After installation, start the game and create your character. You can choose your character’s race, gender, and appearance. Once your character is created, you will start in a prison cell and begin your adventure in the world of Skyrim.

What are some starting tips for playing Skyrim?

First, take your time and explore the world of Skyrim. There are many hidden treasures and side quests that you may miss if you rush through the main story. Second, focus on leveling up your character’s skills. You can level up your skills by using them frequently. Third, join a faction or guild to gain access to unique missions and rewards. Fourth, manage your inventory wisely. Don’t carry unnecessary items that will weigh you down and slow you down in combat. Finally, save often. The world of Skyrim is unpredictable, and you may encounter unexpected enemies or situations that can lead to your character’s death.

What are some essential mods for Skyrim?

Mods are user-created modifications that enhance or modify the game’s features and gameplay. Some essential mods for Skyrim include the Unofficial Skyrim Patch, which fixes many bugs and glitches in the game, SkyUI, which improves the game’s user interface, and A Quality World Map, which adds more details to the game’s map. Other popular mods include Immersive Armors, which adds new armor sets to the game, and Immersive Weapons, which adds new weapons. Modding Skyrim can greatly enhance your gameplay experience, but be sure to research and choose mods that are safe and compatible with your platform and game version.

Can I play Skyrim with friends?

Skyrim is primarily a single-player game, but there are some mods that allow you to play with friends. One popular mod is Skyrim Together, which allows you to play with up to eight friends in a co-op mode. However, modding and playing Skyrim with friends can be complicated and requires technical knowledge and setup. If you want to play with friends, it may be easier to look for other multiplayer games instead of trying to modify Skyrim.