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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Hints
Skill Books List
Below are lists of the most convenient locations where certain books can be found that increase a skill by one point when you first read them (if that skill isn't already 100). Once you've read one copy of a certain skill book, it does no good to read other copies of the same book.
Alchemy Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- De Rerum Dirennis Falkreath, Grave Concoctions, on floor under basket next to western cupboard A Game at Dinner Windhelm, New Gnisis Cornerclub, on 2nd floor dresser Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim Whiterun, Arcadia's Cauldron, on table in southern ground-floor room Mannimarco, King of Worms Evergreen Grove (NW of Falkreath), on or near large altar Song of the Alchemists Anise's Cabin (NW of Guardian Stones), at foot of bed Alteration Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Breathing Water Winterhold, Kraldar's House, inside basket on shelves Daughter of the Niben Markarth, Understone Keep, on table to right of throne room entrance The Lunar Lorkhan Solitude Lighthouse (NE of Solitude), on table near bedroom doorway Reality & Other Falsehoods Snow-Shod Farm (SW of Riften), on shelf in basement Sithis Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (west of Falkreath after you join the Brotherhood), on shelf on first room's east side Archery Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Black Arrow, v2 Whiterun, The Drunken Huntsman, on shelf behind counter Father of the Niben Hunter's Rest (NW of Falkreath), between bed rolls The Gold Ribbon of Merit Solitude, Fletcher, small table near entrance The Marksmanship Lesson Mixwater Mill (SW of Windhelm), Gilfre's House, table in NW corner Vernaccus and Bourlor Markarth, The Treasury House, on west wall's golden urn stand Block Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Battle of Red Mountain North Skybound Watch (east of Riverwood), on shelf in room with campfire inside Skybound Watch Pass area A Dance in Fire, v2 Traitor's Post (east of Windhelm), on cupboard in ruined building Death Blow of Abernanit Falkreath, Jarl's Longhouse, on table just NE of war map The Mirror Do the "Bring one The Mirror to Aldis" Solitude miscellaneous quest Warrior Fort Kastav (south of Winterhold), on end table next to bed Conjuration Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2920, Frostfall, v10 Windhelm, Belyn Hlaalu's house, behind upstairs bedroom dresser 2920, Hearth Fire, v9 Dawnstar, The Mortar and Pestle, on shelf behind counter The Doors of Oblivion Falkreath, Hall of the Dead, under the western bed Liminal Bridges Falkreath Watchtower (NW of Falkreath), next to tent on top of tower The Warrior's Charge Markarth, Understone Keep, next to foot of bed in Jarl's bedroom Destruction Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Art of War Magic Dawnstar, The White Hall, on table in east upstairs area Horror of Castle Xyr Glenmoril Coven (long way west of Riverwood), in wooden box in tent in NW cave branch A Hypothetical Treachery Windhelm, Aretino Residence, behind bookcase west of fireplace Mystery of Talara, v3 Winterhold, Birna's Oddments, on left dresser on upper floor Response to Bero's Speech Dawnstar, Iron-Breaker Mine, on barrel near bedroll Enchanting Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catalogue of Armor Enchantments Morthal, Falion's House, on bookshelf against north wall Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments Dawnstar, The White Hall, next to barrel just west of war map Enchanter's Primer Whiterun, Carlotta Valentia's House, on floor left of upstairs bed A Tragedy in Black Glenmoril Coven (long way west of Riverwood), on table in upper north cave branch Twin Secrets Winterhold, Jarl's Longhouse, in basket on barrel in SW corner of north ground-floor room Heavy Armor Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2920, MidYear, v6 Morthal, Guardhouse, behind barrel to right of fireplace Chimarvamidium Darkwater Crossing (long way south of Windhelm), Goldenrock Mine, on barrel next to bedroll directly east of entrance Hallgerd's Tale Whiterun, Jorrvaskr, on table on south side of main hall The Knights of the Nine Windhelm, Palace of the Kings Upstairs, on cupboard in NE room Orsinium and the Orcs Stonehills (east of Morthal), Rockwallow Mine, on table on wooden structure near entrance Illusion Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2920, Sun's Dawn, v2 Markarth, Temple of Dibella, Inner Sanctum, next to other books on SW bookshelf in main chamber Before the Ages of Man Whiterun, Dragonsreach Jarl's Quarters, on desk in room south of upstairs dining table The Black Arts on Trial Windhelm, The White Phial, on shelf behind counter Incident at Necrom Pinemoon Cave (long way west of Solitude), on table in western-most cave room Mystery of Talara, Part 4 Markarth, Nepos's House, on stone shelf left of bed in eastern bedroom Light Armor Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ice and Chitin Windhelm, on table in room under south end of bridge leading to city Jornibret's Last Dance Fort Neugrad (south of Riverwood), on table in room south of entry hall The Rear Guard Solitude, Castle Dour, on table in downstairs area north of entry room The Refugees Solitude, Solitude Blacksmith, on wall shelf in upper-floor bedroom Rislav the Righteous Fort Greymoor (west of Whiterun), on upper-floor podium Lockpicking Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advances in Lockpicking Riften, Sewer (use broken shackle on wall near table in SE upstairs cell in Riften Jail, follow secret passage to sewer entrance, turn around in sewer to find book on barrel behind bars) The Locked Room Morthal, Highmoon Hall, next to other books on top shelf in northern upstairs bedroom Proper Lock Design Markarth, Cidhna Mine, on bookshelf in locked room with prison chests Surfeit of Thieves Riften, Mistveil Keep Jarl's Chambers, on end table left of bed in northern bedroom The Wolf Queen, v1 Dawnstar, Dawnstar Barracks, Dawnstar Jail, in SW corner of cell One-Handed Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2920, Morning Star, v1 Morthal, Jorgen and Lami's House, in bucket on barrel in SE corner Fire and Darkness Folgunthur (SE of Solitude), next to dead adventurer on west side of large central chamber's lower floor The Importance of Where Markarth, Guard Tower, on table in northern sleeping area Mace Etiquette Orotheim (SW of Morthal), on crate stack near grindstone Night Falls on Sentinel Bandit camp (from Guardian Stones, go east up path, turn right at split, and watch for dirt path on left), on small table in tent Pickpocket Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aevar Stone-Singer Morthal, Thonnir's House, under basket on shelf in SW corner Beggar Riften, Haelga's Bunkhouse, on dresser in NE corner of top floor Purloined Shadows Riften, Honorhall Orphanage, next to bed in small west bedroom Thief Windhelm, Argonian Assemblage (docks area), on dresser next to west wall Guide to Better Thieving Mara's Eye Pond (SW of Windhelm), with other books in small open-top crate on top of crate stack Restoration Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2920, Rain's Hand, v4 Morthal, Falion's House, on table near Arcane Enchanter The Exodus Winterhold, The Frozen Hearth Cellar, between pillar and crate with sacks on it against west wall Mystery of Talara, v 2 Frostflow Lighthouse (east of Dawnstar), on dresser in NE bedroom Racial Phylogeny Morthal, Moorside Inn, inside basket on dresser in room south of counter Withershins Whiterun, Temple of Kynareth, on middle shelf in NE side room Smithing Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Armorer's Challenge Whiterun, next to Skyforge Cherim's Heart Dawnstar, Quicksilver Mine, in small crate on east side of main cave Heavy Armor Forging Gloombound Mine (SE of Windhelm), on table in hut to right of mine entrance Last Scabbard of Akrash Fort Sungard (long way NW of Falkreath), on table at west end of Muster area's upper floor Light Armor Forging Falkreath, Lod's House, on barrel in SW corner of basement Sneak Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2920, Last Seed, v8 Redoran's Retreat (west and a bit north of Whiterun), on crate in final cave room Legend of Krately House Nightgate Inn Cellar (SE of Dawnstar), on end table right of bed The Red Kitchen Reader Windhelm, New Gnisis Cornerclub, next to barrel under base of stairs Sacred Witness Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (west of Falkreath after you join the Brotherhood), on wooden counter in NE bedroom Three Thieves Shor's Watchtower (long way south and a bit east of Windhelm), next to one end of large fallen tree almost directly south of tower's doorway Speech Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2920, Second Seed, v5 Windhelm, Sadri's Used Wares, on shelf behind counter Biography of the Wolf Queen Whiterun, Belethor's General Goods, on cupboard near counter The Buying Game Solitude, Bards College, on top of two other books on bookshelf in east upper-floor classroom A Dance in Fire, v6 Falkreath, Dead Man's Drink, on shelf behind counter A Dance in Fire, v7 Markarth, Arnleif and Sons Trading Company, on crate near counter Two-Handed Skill Book Most Convenient Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Battle of Sancre Tor Whiterun, House of Clan Battle-Born, on bookshelf in western bedroom King Bleakwind Bluff (long way SW of Morthal), next to rock altar in tower The Legendary Sancre Tor Falkreath, Falkreath Barracks, on chest in upstairs room Song of Hrormir Whiterun, Jorrvaskr Living Quarters, on table next to map at north end of hallway Words and Philosophy Riften, Mistveil Keep Barracks, on dresser in SW corner of upper floor
