Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion- Skill Basics and Techniques to Level Up

The game of Oblivion has 21 specific skills designed to help your character in whatever kind of game you want to play. There are three specializations with 7 skills in each one, combat, stealth, and magic. As well as the specializations each skill is affected by your attributes (the choices for your class, what you level up and choose from). There's a chart from the UESP Wiki below, red is combat, yellow is stealth, and blue is magic. Now, each skill also has a set of level rankings that let you use better spells, fall from greater heights, do more damage, get a better deal from stores, etc. If your skill is 0-24 you are a novice in that skill, 25-49 is Apprentice, 50-74 is Journeyman, 75-99 is Expert, and finally 100 is Master. At each increase you get a little banner on your screen that explains some perks of sorts that you have.

The ones you choose as your major skills are automatically Apprentice level. The other ones are set by your race effects, as some races are better at some skills than others. You also can have these skills be greater or less than their actual values with armor, disease, spells, and items. If you put on a ring that increases your marksman (or any skill) past 50 you aren't a journeyman until your actual skill is at 50, so if you are wondering about that ever, that's why. Now you level up by increasing your major skills but sometimes you have to increase other skills to get a certain perk you want. Spells are usually the reason I level up any minor skills, I want the higher spell but can't until I reach Apprentice or Journeyman rank. I'll tell you some tricks to increase any of the skills you want to increase so skip around to whatever you want to read, no need to start at the top and go to the bottom unless you want to.

What is it: How well your character uses short handled sharp weapons like daggers, claymores, cutlasses, katanas, or swords. The higher your skill, the better damage you deal towards opponents.

How To Increase It: You increase your skill by 0.5 points every time you hit a living target with a blade weapon. Hitting inanimate objects doesn't count (like the NPCs do in the fighters guild).

Perks:

• Novice- basic power attack with 2.5 times more damage in all directions
• Apprentice- bonuses added to damage with a Mastery Standing Power by 3 times
• Journeyman- Mastery Left and Right Power Attacks, 2.5 more damage and 5% chance to disarm your opponent
• Expert- Mastery Backwards Power Attack, 2.5 more damage dealt and 5% chance of a knockdown to your opponent
• Master- Mastery Forward Power Attack, does 2.5 more damage and has a 5% chance to paralyze your opponent. (ignores Resist Paralysis)

Trainers:

• Naspia Cosma- Castle Cheydinhal
• Right-Wind- Bruma Fighters Guild
• Rhano- Anvil Fighters Guild
• Sherina- Leyawiin Fighters Guild
• Alix Lencolia- Faregyl Inn, south of Imperial City

Skill Book Locations:

• 2920, Morning Star (v1)- Cheydinhal and Leyawiin Castle Private Quarters, The Wandering Scholar Quest Reward (fighters guild), Bedroom Upgrade of the Battlehorn Castle (add-on).
• Battle of Sancre Tor- Bravil Castle Great Hall (locked in a display case), Random loot is possible, Possible reward from Bear Season (quest located between Skingrad and Kvatch).
• Fire and Darkness- Hall of the Epochs during The Ultimate Heist (thieves guild quest)
• Song of Hroormir- Imperial City Arena District in Branwen and Saliith's chest (Branwen has the key), Bravil Castle Private Quarters (Last room on your left when walking down the hall on a large case with a jewelry box on it)
• Words and Philosophy- Modryn Oreyn's House in Chorrol (on a shelf)

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: There's a quest that involves a staff that has never ending scamps that keep spawning after you kill them and they never attack back. They can be used to level up blade or any of the other combat skills, or really anything requiring a living creature.

What is it: Your characters skill with crushing weapons, like hammers, maces, and axes. The more skill you have the better damage and power attacks you have.

How To Increase It: Every time you hit a living target with a blunt weapon you gain 0.5 experience points. Doesn't count if you hit inanimate objects.

Perks:

• Novice- Basic Power Attack with 2.5 more damage in all directions
• Apprentice- Mastery standing power attack with 3 times more damage
• Journeyman- Mastery Left and Right Power Attacks which do 2.5 more damage and have a 5% chance to disarm the opponent.
• Expert- Mastery Backwards Power Attack which does 2.5 bonus damage as well as having a 5% chance of a knockdown on your opponent.
• Master- Mastery Forward Power Attack, deals 2.5 more damage and has 5% chance to paralyze the opponent even with Resist Paralysis.

Trainers:

• Bugak gr-Bol- Leyawiin
• Vigdis- Anvil Fighters Guild
• Azzan- Anvil Fighters Guild
• Christophe Marane- Brina Cross Inn NE of Anvil
• Irene Metrick- Elven Gardens District Imperial City

Skill Book Locations:

• The Importance of Where- Bravil Castle Dungeon
• King- Anvil Castle Royal Quarters, Battlehorn Castle bedroom area upgrade
• The Legendary Sancre Tor- Vilena Donton's house in Chorrol
• Mace Etiquette- random loot, possible reward from Bear Season
• Night Falls on Sentinel- Goblin Jim's cave

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: There is a quest that involves a staff of never ending scamps. The everscamp staff makes 4 scamps that are easily defeated and respawn, easy pickings to level up combat skills like blunt.

What is it: How well the character attacks and deals damage using only their fists. Attacks both health and fatigue unlike other melee attacks.

How To Increase It: Every time you hit a living target using your fists you gain 0.6 experience points. Doesn't apply to inanimate objects but levels faster than blunt or blade, if only slightly.

Perks:

• Novice- basic power attack with 2.5 bonus damage in all directions.
• Apprentice- Mastery Standing Power Attack with 3 times more damage
• Journeyman- Mastery Left and Right Power Attacks with 2.5 more damage and 5% chance to disarm your opponent. Also gives the ability to hit creatures that are immune to normal weapons (ghosts, wraiths, etc.) and you can cause the enemy attacks to recoil when blocking.
• Expert- Mastery Backwards Power Attack with 2.5 bonus damage dealt and 5% chance of knocking down your opponent. Also gains a chance to knockback an attack while blocking.
• Master- Mastery Forward Power Attack which does 2.5 additional damage with 5% chance of paralyze opponent even with Resist Paralysis. Also gains a chance of a disarm on a knockback attack when blocking.

Trainers:

• Nahsi- Bravil Fighters Guild
• Rufrius Vinicius- Anvil Fighters Guild
• Davela Hlaren- Imperial Bridge Inn
• Ra'qanar- Castle Cheydinhal
• Helvius Cecia- Bruma

Skill Book Locations:

• Ahzirr Traajijazeri- Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, J'Ghasta's house in Bruma
  
• Immortal Blood- Bandit camp outside Vilverin, Seridur's house in Temple District Imperial City (the order of the virtuous blood quest), J'Ghasta's house in Bruma, Deepscorn Hollow after buying study area
• Master Zoaraym's Tale-random loot, possible reward from bear season
• Way to the Exposed Palm- Fieldhouse Cave (black balconies of Fieldhouse)
• The Wolf Queen, v2- Skingrad Castle

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: There is a quest that involves a staff of everscamp that spawns unlimited scamps that follow the character or stay in the cave after you do the quest, killing them has no ill effects and you can increase your skill as long as you have the patience to do it.

What is it: How well you repair items with repair hammers.

How To Increase It: Use a repair hammer to repair an item, 1.5 points each use even if you break the hammer.

Perks:

• Novice- can't repair magical items
• Apprentice- repair hammers last twice as long but still can't repair magical items
• Journeyman- can now repair magical items
• Expert- can repair items to 125% which allows them to protect more or do more damage
• Master- repair hammers do not break, one will last a lifetime (using fortify armorer will allow you to have this skill perk)

Trainers:

• Eitar- Leyawiin
• Tadrose Helas- Bravil Fighters Guild
• Rasheda- Chorrol
• Rohssan- Market District Imperial City
• Gin-Wulm- Imperial City Market District

Skill Book Locations:

• The Armorer's Challenge- First Edition Imperial City (Buy or pickpocket), Cheydinhal Fighters Guild
• Cherim's Heart of Anequina- First Edition Imperial City
• Heavy Armor Repair- Battlehorn Castle Master Bedroom upgrade and in Blacksmith's house, random loot
• Last Scabbard of Akrash- A Fighting Chance Imperial City Market District
• Light Armor Repair- Bravil Castle Barracks

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Use repair hammers after every fight, even if the items health is 99%, same with any people you have with you. Even if you don't plan on keeping them. Use a bow to fire at those archery targets then heal the bow (you won't get marksman points). You can fortify your armorer skill to get more uses out of your hammers if you are worried about that.

What is it: Your ability to reduce damage taken from melee and ranged combat using a shield, weapon, or your hands.

How To Increase It: Each successful attack blocked adds 1.25 experience points whether it is a weapon or a shield. Shields block more damage though.

Perks:

• Novice- fatigued by blocking, blocking with hands has no effect
• Apprentice- no longer fatigued by blocking
• Journeyman- blocking with a shield has 25% chance to knock back the opponent
• Expert- blocking with a shield has a 25% chance to knock back a counter attack, staggering your opponent if the shield contacts
• Master- blocking with a shield has an additional 5% chance of disarming the enemy with a successful knock back counter attack

Trainers:

• Fadus Calidius- Skingrad Fighters Guild
• Huurwen- Anvil Fighters Guild
• Ambroise Canne- Skingrad
• Lum gro-Baroth- Chorrol Fighters Guild
• Andragil- Bravil

Skill Book Locations:

• A Dance in Fire, v2- Guard House Elven Gardens District Imperial City
• Death Blow of Abernanit- Anvil Fighters Guild
• The Mirror- Leyawiin City Watch Barracks
• The Warp in the West- Cloud Ruler Temple after Dagon Shrine, Brother Piner gives you one during Deliver the Amulet, random loot, possible reward from Bear Season
• Warrior- Countess Alessia Caro's chamber in Leyawiin Castle, Battlehorn Castle after buying bedroom upgrade

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: When you have a heal spell that will help you enough to be helpful (or some health potions) get a rat to attack you (or some other creature I just use rats at low levels or just in general) block the attacks and when your health gets a good chunk gone, heal or drink a potion in between attacks then block again.

What is it: How much you are protected by heavy armor, how much it encumbers you, and how damaged it gets when hit.

How To Increase It: You get 1.25 experience points for every hit taken on the body part wearing heavy armor. (A hit to the chest won't increase Heavy Armor if you are wearing a light cuirass or nothing.)

Perks:

• Novice- Heavy armor degrades rapidly (150% of normal rate)
• Apprentice- Degrades at a normal rate
• Journeyman- degrades at a slower rate (50% of normal rate)
• Expert- equipped heavy armor only encumbers by 50%
• Master- equipped heavy armor does not encumber at all

Trainers:

• Brodras- Leyawiin Fighters Guild
• Bumph gra-Gash- Bruma Fighters Guild
• Varnado- Imperial City The Best Defense
• Pranal- Roxey Inn, North of Lake Rumare

Skill Book Locations:

• 2920, Midyear, v6- Chorrol Fire and Steel
• Chimarvamidium- Imperial Legion Offices
• Fighters Guild History, 1st Edition- Chorrol Fighters Guild, Arcane University Mystic Archives, Anvil Fighters Guild
• Hallgerd's Tale- Chorrol Fighters Guild
• History of the Fighters Guild- Battlehorn Castle library area upgrade, random loot, possible reward from Bear Season
• How Orsinium Passed to Orcs- Bruma Castle

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Wear all heavy armor without a shield and block with your hands, then the blocks increase your heavy armor as well as your block skills. Let enemies attack you if you are comfortable just standing there and can kill them quickly (a rat for example).

What is it: How quickly you run or swim and how much fatigue is used when running.

How To Increase It: You get 0.03 points for each real time second spent running and 0.04 points for each real time second spent swimming. Sneak running does not add to the skill.

Perks:

• Novice- Regenerations 2 fatigue per second when running
• Apprentice- Regenerates 4 fatigue per second while running
• Journeyman- Regenerates 6 fatigue per second when running
• Expert- Regenerates 8 fatigue per second while running
• Master- Regenerations 10 fatigue per second, running or not

Trainers:

• Mahei- Leyawiin
• Uuras the Shepherd- Skingrad
• Hauls-Ropes-Faster- Anvil (Not in the unpatched version)
• Honditar- Chorrol, lives SW of Chorrol
• Rusia Bradus- Anvil

Skill Book Locations:

• The Argonian Account, Book 1- random loot, possible reward from Bear Season
• Beggar- Cloud Ruler Temple
• A Dance in Fire, v3- Uuras the Shepherd's House in Skingrad
• The Random of Zarek- Arena Bloodworks, Cheydinhal Mages Guild
• The Red Kitchen Reader- Anvil Castle private quarters

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Running everywhere is, of course, the obvious way. Swimming rather than running is better, though not by much. If you set your character up against an obstacle and make them run against it so they are stuck you can level up. (Use a rubber band on a controller or Q Key *Default*) You can do this while swimming too if you can breathe underwater.

What is it: Your ability to jump higher and fall from higher distances without gaining damage. Also effects your ability to move in midair, useful in combat.

How To Increase It: You gain 0.3 experience points for every jump if you start while you are fully level with the ground. You also get 3.0 points for every fall that causes damage. (the amount doesn't matter, you gain 3 points for a lot or a little damage)

Perks:

• Novice- cannot attack while jumping or falling
• Apprentice- can perform normal, not power, attacks while jumping or falling
• Journeyman- gain the Dodge ability, you can jump while blocking to roll away and avoid damage. You also can perform power attacks while jumping or falling.
• Expert- uses 50% less fatigue when jumping
• Master- gains the Water Jump ability and can jump off the surface of water with perfect timing.

Trainers:

• Ida Vlinorman- Elven Gardens District
• Quill-Weave- Anvil
• Ganredhel- Cheydinhal
• Tsrava- Leyawiin
• Torbern- Aerin's Camp, NE of Cheydinhal

Skill Book Locations:

• The Black Arrow, v1- Torbal the Sufficient's house in Brindle Home, Duke's Quarters in Shivering Isles
• A Dance in Fire v1- Ganredhel's house in Cheydinhal
• A Dance in Fire v4- Kvatch castle (on a table on your right as you enter the second section of the Great Hall after The Battle for Castle Kvatch)
• Mystery of Talara, v1- only found in random loot unless shivering isles is installed, The Laughing Coast on top of the mountain north of the letter "T"
• Thief- S'Krivva's house in Bravil

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Jump while walking in between quest NPCs (if you won't be going into battle) or just anywhere you walk. Jump while waiting for someone or when you just are bored. Jump from as low area that will cause damage, higher falls doesn't mean more points.

What is it: How much protection you receive from light armor, as well as how much damage the armor takes for each hit.

How To Increase It: You gain 1.5 experience points for each hit on the body part covered in Light Armor.

Perks:

• Novice- degrades at 150% of the normal rate
• Apprentice- degrades at a normal rate
• Journeyman- degrades at a 50% slower rate
• Expert- equipped light armor doesn't encumber them at all
• Master- when they wear only light armor they gain a bonus of 50% to the armor's rating

Trainers:

• Dul gro-Shug- Imperial City Elven Gardens District
• Olfand- Bruma
• Ahdarji- Leyawiin
• Luciana Galena- Bravil
• J'bari- Leyawiin

Skill Book Locations:

• Ice and Chitin- Ahdarji's house in Leyawiin
• Lord Jornibret's Last Dance- Bleak Flats Cave
• The Rear Guard- Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary
• The Refugees- First Edition Imperial City, Cloud Ruler Temple only after Blood of the Divines
• Rislav the Righteous- Deepscorn Hollow after buying the study area, random loot

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Wear only light armor and take hits. There's no shortcut besides letting enemies attack you more without attacking/killing them. Don't do this if the enemy could kill you though, do it with ones you can easily take down or lower their health first.

What is it: How well you can pick a lock.

How To Increase It: You gain 1.5 points for each tumbler you lock into position. You also get 1.5 points for each auto-attempt, success or not.

Perks:

• Novice- drops all picked tumblers when breaking a pick
• Apprentice- keeps one picked tumbler up when breaking a pick
• Journeyman- keeps two picked tumblers up when breaking a pick
• Expert- keeps three picked tumblers up when breaking a pick
• Master- never drops a tumbler when breaking a pick

Trainers:

• Malintus Ancrus- Chorrol
• Samuel Bantien- Imperial City Talos Plaza District
• Dro-shanji- Bravil
• Mandil- Othrelo's house in Elven Gardens District Imperial City
• Tahm Blackwell- Dunbarrow Cove (thieves den plug in only)
• J'baana- Imperial Prison Complex Imperial City

Skill Book Locations:

• Advances in Lock Picking- For sale in Cheydinhal Mach-Na's Books or pickpocketed, Fingerbowl Cave
• The Locked Room- Smuggler's Cave under Anvil Castle
• Proper Lock Design- Dareloth's House in waterfront district after you become guildmaster of the thieves guild
• Surfeit of Thieves- random loot
• The Wolf Queen, v1- Dro'shanji's house in Bravil

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Pick every lock you encounter. It might be easier if you aren't very good to use auto-attempt, but you get more points if you actually can get the tumblers up on your own. Try unlocking doors you know will be locked again, you don't have to go in just to unlock them. Don't use spells, you have to physically unlock them yourself.

What is it: How well you can move around undetected, pick pockets, and the amount of damage you deal while in sneak mode.

How To Increase It: For every real time second spent moving in sneak mode without being detected you gain 0.75 points. You also must have a living creature/person nearby.

Perks:

• Novice- 4x damage bonus for one handed weapons or hand-to-hand attacks or a 2x damage bonus for marksman attacks (while undetected)
• Apprentice- 6x damage bonus for one handed weapons or hand-to-hand attacks or a 3x damage bonus for marksman attacks (while undetected)
• Journeyman- the weight of boots no longer effects your ability to be detected while sneaking
• Expert- running has no effect on your ability to be detected while sneaking
• Master- attacks ignore their armor rating as long as you are undetected

Trainers:

• City-Swimmer- Bravil
• Glistel- Chorrol
• Rowley Eardwulf- Wawnet Inn West of Imperial City (with Vile Lair only)
• Kovan Kren- Dunbarrow Cove (Thieves Den only)
• Mirabelle Monet- Anvil Waterfront
• Othrelos- Imperial City Elven Gardens District
• Marana Rian- Imperial City Temple District

Skill Book Locations:

• 2920, Last seed, v8- City-Swimmer's house in Bravil
• Legend of Krately House- Cloud Ruler Temple
• Purloined Shadows- random loot
• Sacred Witness- Lake Arrius Caverns after Dagon Shrine Quest, Deepscornhollow study area upgrade, Duke's Quarters in shivering isles
• The Wolf Queen, v6- Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Go to an area with one person inside and sneak behind them back and forth in the shadows. I like to level up my sneak in the churches, as there is a shadow along most of the walls and someone is usually in there. Just sneak around at any speed and you should go up up and away with levels. And remember that the slower you go the better!

What is it: How much damage you deal when using bow and arrows. The only ranged weapon in the game.

How To Increase It: You gain 0.8 experience points for every hit on a living target. The archery targets outside of guilds can be used to help your accuracy but don't help your skill.

Perks:

• Novice- normal fatigue loss when drawing a bow
• Apprentice- no fatigue loss when drawing a bow
• Journeyman- you can zoom in when drawing a bow by holding the block button.
• Expert- successful hits have a 5% chance of a knockdown
• Master- each successful hit has a 5% chance of paralysis

Trainers:

• Edla Dark-Heart- Bruma
• Shameer- Skingrad
• Melliwin- Dunbarrow Cove (With thieves Den plug in)
• Pinarus Inventius- Anvil
• Reman Broder- Skingrad
• Alawen- Troll Candle Camp, East of Anvil

Skill Book Locations:

• The Black Arrow, v2- Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood living quarters, random loot
• A Dance in Fire, v5- Regner's house in Bruma
• Father of the Niben- Bravil Castle Lord's Manor North Wing, Melisi Daren taxidermist at Battlehorn Castle
• The Gold Ribbon of Merit- Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, Deepscorn hallow study area upgrade
• Vernaccus and Bourlor- Renoit's Books in Chorrol (for sale or on a shelf)

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Use the bow whenever possible, if you have a high sneak skill you can pick off people without them noticing you (of course this is also affected by other things). If you run around the Imperial city island you will come across many deer, hit them with arrows and sell the venison in the market district.

What is it: How well you can get a good deal when buying or selling goods. Your haggling ability.

How To Increase It: You gain 0.4 experience point per transaction, regardless of how many items you sell or the value of the items. No experience is given for buying items (except spells, 0.4) or for giving away zero value items.

Perks:

• Novice- gold received for goods is reduced because of wear
• Apprentice- prices are no longer effected by wear
• Journeyman- sell any goods to any vendor (not including stolen goods) Also allows you to buy items that people wouldn't normally carry.
• Expert- allows character to invest money in a shop to increase available gold by 500 permanently (available before expert with fortify skills)
• Master- all shops have 500 more gold for bartering, you can sell items for base value.

Trainers:

• Foroch- Gottshaw Inn, west of Kvatch
• Mach-Na- Cheydinhal
• Khafiz- Dunbarrow Cove (with thieves guild plug in)
• Margarte- Leyawiin
• Seed-Neeus- Chorrol
• Palonirya- Imperial City Market district

Skill Book Locations:

• 2920, Sun's Height, v7- Black house courier office market district imperial city
• The Buying Game- Fathis Ules' house in Elven Gardens District
• A Dance in Fire, v6- Casta Scribonia's house in Chorrol
• A Dance in Fire, v7- random loot
• The Wolf Queen, v4- Office of Imperial Commerce market district imperial city

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Sell items one at a time, not in bundles. You get the experience points for each transaction not item so selling 5 Wolf Pelts will get you 0.4 experience but selling them separately will get you 2.0 points.

What is it: How much people like you and thus how they react to you.

How To Increase It: You gain 2.4 experience points for each round of persuasion mini game done. You don't gain points if their disposition is the same at the end of the round as it was at the beginning.

Perks:

• Novice- can offer bribes to increase disposition
• Apprentice- can rotate the wheel once for free in the mini game
• Journeyman- disposition falls 50% slower in the persuasion mini game
• Expert- loss of disposition for "hate it" result is lowered from -150% to -100%
• Master- bribes cost half as much

Trainers:

• Alga- Bruma
• Eris Senim- Vravil (Knights of the Nine only)
• Uravasa Othrelas- Bravil
• Gruiand Garrana- Cheydinhal
• Inius Colus- Cheydinhal (Knights of the Nine only)
• Jak Silver- Dunbarrow Cove (Thieves Den only)
• Varon Vamori- Bravil
• Tandilwe- Imperial City Temple District

Skill Book Locations:

• 2920, Second Seed v5- Imperial Palace only during The Ultimate heist
• Biography of the Wolf Queen- Armand Christophe's house, reward for completing Caught in the Hunt
• The Wolf Queen, v5- Hastrel Ottus' house in Temple District Imperial City
• The Wolf Queen, v7- Cheydinhal Castle Lord's Quarters

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Use the persuasion mini game on every person you meet, even people you don't need to use it on. Use charm skill as a last resort, do the mini game first. If nobody has a low enough disposition to play the game, talk to them with your weapon drawn or purposely set the haggle bar too high on a merchant.

What is it: The magic school that is used to create light, conceal, charm, paralyze, or alter aggression/confidence.

How To Increase It: You get 3 experience points for every illusion spell cast, regardless of Magicka cost.

Perks:

• Novice- can only cast Novice spells
• Apprentice- can only cast up to Apprentice level spells
• Journeyman- can only cast up to Journeyman level spells
• Expert- can only cast up to Expert level spells
• Master- can cast all spells

Trainers:

• Esbern- Cheydinhal (Knights of the Nine only)
• Hil the Tall- Cheydinhal
• Jantus Brolus- Bruma
• Carahil- Anvil Mages Guild
• Martina Floria- Arcane University's Chironasium

Skill Book Locations:

• The Argonian Account, Book 3- Arcane University Mystic Archives
• Incident in Necrom- Willow Bank in Cheydinhal
• Mystery of Talara, v4- Fort Caractacus in Ancotar's alchemy lab, random loot
• Mythic Dawn Commentaries 3- main quest, sunken sewers during the path of dawn, lake arrius caverns during dagon shrine
• Palla, volume 1- Arkved's Tower available during Vaermina's daedric quest
• The Wolf Queen, v3- Bruma Mages Guild

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Use low magicka cost spells like Starlight whenever you can, or cast low magicka spells like Rally on townspeople. Use spells on others that won't cause harm unless your intention is to be killed or get them killed. Custom spells are less cost than bought spells at times but you aren't able to create spells until you reach the Arcane University.

What is it: The ability to identify the properties of ingredients you can find in Cyrodiil, that are used for potions and poisons.

How To Increase It: You receive 5 points for each potion you create, regardless of how many ingredients you use to make it. You also get 0.5 points for each non-food ingredient you eat.

Perks:

• Novice- recognize one of four potential properties of an ingredient
• Apprentice- recognize two of four potential properties of an ingredient
• Journeyman- recognize three of four potential properties of an ingredient
• Expert- recognize all properties of an ingredient
• Master- can make potions from a single ingredient

Trainers:

• Felen Relas- Anvil Mages Guild
• S'drassa- Leyawiin Mages Guild
• Ardaline- Bravil Mages Guild
• Brotch Calus- Bruma
• Sinderion- Skingrad

Skill Book Locations:

• Calcinator Treatise- Imperial Bridge Inn, random loot
• De Rerum Dirennis- All Things Alchemical in Skingrad
• A Game at Dinner- Chorrol Mages Guild, Frostcrag Spire after buying library upgrade
• Mannimarco, King of Worms- Arcane University's Mystic Archives
• Song of the Alchemists- Arcane University's Lustratorium

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: Instead of selling the ingredients you find throughout your journeys, use them to make as many potions as possible (using two ingredients max to get as many points as possible). Potions usually get more gold than just the ingredients. A good way to find ingredients is to harvest them from farms or find food inside buildings. Store unused ingredients or sell them, depending on how important this skill is compared to your need for gold. Carry a mortar and pestle around with you to make potions at any time to lower your weight and increase your skill faster than just eating the ingredients.

What is it: the magic school that summons creatures, creates magical weapons and armor, and repels undead creatures.

How To Increase It: For each conjuration spell cast you gain 6 points regardless of the amount of magicka used to cast it.

Perks:

• Novice- can only cast Novice spells
• Apprentice- can only cast up to Apprentice level spells
• Journeyman- can only cast up to Journeyman level spells
• Expert- can only cast up to Expert level spells
• Master- can cast all spells

Trainers:

• Fathis Aren- Castle Bravil
• Sulinus Vassinus- Skingrad Mages Guild
• Alberic Litte- Chorrol Mages Guild
• Arentus Falvius- Bruma
• Olyn Seran- Molag Bal's Shrine in Great Forest

Skill Book Locations:

• 2920, Frostfall, v10- Anvil Chapel Hall
• 2920, Hearth Fire, v9- Bruma Chapel Hall
• The Doors of Oblivion- Fort Caractacus in Ancotar's Alchemal Lab, Anvil Mages Guild library, Cloud Ruler Temple after Blood of the Divines
• Liminal Bridges- Arcane University Mystic Archive
• Mythic Dawn Commentaries 1- Main Quest, on Mythic Dawn agents or in their houses
• The Warrior's Charge- random loot

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: The best spell to use that isn't custom is bound dagger, just cast the spell, hit the button that pulls out weapon so it changes back to your weapon and then cast the spell again and repeat. Custom spells that don't cost much magicka are also good but they won't last very long if you want low cost.

What is it: the school of magic that has spells that absorb, reflect, or dispel magic, move objects, sense life, or bind souls.

How To Increase It: You gain 3 experience points for each spell cast upon the appropriate target regardless of the magicka cost.

Perks:

• Novice- can only cast Novice spells
• Apprentice- can only cast up to Apprentice level spells
• Journeyman- can only cast up to Journeyman level spells
• Expert- can only cast up to Expert level spells
• Master- can cast all spells

Trainers:

• Angalmo- Chorrol Mages Guild
• Druja- Skingrad Mages Guild
• Boderi Farano- Arcane University's mystic archives
• Ita Rienus- Bravil Mages Guild
• Dagail- Leyawiin Mages Guild

Skill Book Locations:

• 2920, Sun's Dawn, v2- Skingrad Chapel Hall
• Before the Ages of Man- Arcane University's Chironasium
• The Black Arts on Trial- Mystic Emporium in Imperial City market district (desk or for sale)
• The Firsthold Revolt- Cheydinhal Mages Guild
• Mythic Dawn Commentaries 4- Raven Camoran during The Path of Dawn
• Souls, Black and White- Fort Cuptor Battlemains, random loot

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: The easiest spell to cast that isn't custom is the Minor Life Detection spell. You can cast it repeatedly whenever you need it or just when you are walking to your next destination. Detect life is also the easiest custom spell to level up your skill.

What is it: the magic school that alters the physical world. Opens locks, shields your body, allows you to carry more, or breathe underwater are a few examples.

How To Increase It: You gain 4 experience points for every spell cast regardless of the amount of magicka required.

Perks:

• Novice- can only cast Novice spells
• Apprentice- can only cast up to Apprentice level spells
• Journeyman- can only cast up to Journeyman level spells
• Expert- can only cast up to Expert level spells
• Master- can cast all spells

Trainers:

• Deetsan- Cheydinhal Mages Guild
• Dovyn Aren- Imperial City Elven Gardens District
• Abhuki- Faregyl Inn, South of Imperial City
• Athragar- Chorrol Mages Guild
• Tooth-in-the-Sea- Swimming off Niben Bay Coast North of Bravil

Skill Book Locations:

• Daughter of the Niben- Skingrad Mages Guild
• The Dragon Break- Dovyn Aren's house Elven Garden's District
• The Lunar Lorkhan- Henantier's Dream World only during his quest, random loot
• Reality & Other Falsehoods- Southern Books in Leyawiin
• Sithis- Leyawiin Chapel Hall, Deepscorn Hallow after buying study upgrade

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: The best way to level up this skill is to use Open Very Easy Lock, but this isn't very convenient, so use Protect instead. It doesn't have to be locked though, so you can use any door or chest with the lock spell. The best custom spell is feather, it costs 1 point for a 3 second feather spell. You do have to be an Apprentice to use these spells though.

What is it: the magic school that causes damage to enemies in the form of fire, frost or shock. It also can damage health, fatigue, magicka, skills, attributes, weapons, or armor.

How To Increase It: You gain 1.2 points per cast on an appropriate target regardless of magicka cost or damage inflicted. The target must be living or yourself (trees or rocks don't count).

Perks:

• Novice- can only cast Novice spells
• Apprentice- can only cast up to Apprentice level spells
• Journeyman- can only cast up to Journeyman level spells
• Expert- can only cast up to Expert level spells
• Master- can cast all spells

Trainers:

• Chanel- Castle Chorrol
• J'skar- Bruma Mages Guild
• Delphine Jend- Bravil Mages Guild
• Marc Gulitte- Anvil Mages Guild
• Bralsa Andaren- Near Wayshrine of Kynareth SW of Weatherleah and Wayshrine of Julianos

Skill Book Locations:

• The Art of War Magic- Leafrot Cave
• The Horrors of Castle Xyr- Bravil Mages Guild
• A Hypothetical Treachery- Skingrad Castle Lords Manor
• Mystery of Talara, v3- random loot
• Mythic Dawn Commentaries 2- Main Quest, Mythic Dawn agents on in their houses
• Response to Bero's Speech- Arcane University Mystic Archives

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: The best way to train this skill is to make a custom spell, but if you want to use regular spells just find a touch spell that causes damage with the least magicka you can find. I believe it's either frost or fire. You can also make a disintegrate armor or weapon spell if you want to train armorer skill at the same time.

What is it: The magic school that has healing spells. They restore, fortify, or absorb attributes, cure diseases, and resist magic attacks.

How To Increase It: You gain 0.6 experience points every time you cast a restoration spell on a target, regardless of the amount of magicka you need. You gain the points even if the target has full health of isn't even poisoned.

Perks:

• Novice- can only cast Novice spells
• Apprentice- can only cast up to Apprentice level spells
• Journeyman- can only cast up to Journeyman level spells
• Expert- can only cast up to Expert level spells
• Master- can cast all spells

Trainers:

• Cirroc- Bruma
• Marie Palielle- Skingrad
• Beem-Kiurz- Bravil (Knights of the Nine only)
• Kinther- Cheydinhal (Knights of the Nine only)
• Marz- Bravil
• Ohtesse- Cheydinhal
• Oleta- Kvatch Refugee Camp

Skill Book Locations:

• 2910, Rain's Hand v4- Bravil Chapel Hall
• The Exodus- Skingrad Chapel Hall
• Mystery of Talara, v2- random loot
• Notes on Racial Phylogeny- Chorrol Chapel Hall
• Withershins- Leyawiin Mages Guild

Tips on Increasing Skill Fast: The cheapest spell to cast is Minor Respite but most people will probably want to use Heal Minor Wounds as it is also cheap but you start off with it so you don't have to buy any spells. You can hold the block button and cast button at the same to time to cast more spells at a faster speed.