If you’re starting The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and want to level up quickly, you’re in the right place! Gaining levels early helps you survive battles, unlock new abilities, and become stronger faster. This easy-to-follow guide will show you the best tips and tricks to level up quickly at the beginning of Skyrim.
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1. Choose the Best Race for Faster Leveling
Each race in Skyrim has unique skill boosts. Picking the right race can help you level up faster in your preferred playstyle.
| Race | Best for | Starting Skill Bonuses |
|---|---|---|
| High Elf (Altmer) | Magic users | +10 Illusion, +5 in other magic skills |
| Orc (Orsimer) | Melee combat | +10 Heavy Armor, +5 Two-Handed, Smithing |
| Khajiit | Sneak & Thief builds | +10 Sneak, +5 Pickpocket & Lockpicking |
| Breton | Magic & defense | +10 Conjuration, Magic Resistance |
If you want to level up quickly, choose a race that boosts the skills you want to use most.
How to Level Up Fast in Skyrim at the Beginning | Image credit: Nintendo
2. Activate a Guardian Stone for Bonus XP
At the start of the game, head to the Guardian Stones near Riverwood. These stones give a 20% XP boost to different skill types:
| Stone | Skills Affected | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior Stone | One-Handed, Two-Handed, Heavy Armor, Archery, etc. | Levels up combat skills 20% faster |
| Mage Stone | Destruction, Conjuration, Restoration, Alteration, etc. | Levels up magic skills 20% faster |
| Thief Stone | Sneak, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, Speech, etc. | Levels up stealth skills 20% faster |
Pick the stone that matches your playstyle to maximize your leveling speed.
3. Level Up Sneak Quickly
Sneak is one of the easiest skills to level up early. Here’s how:
✔️ Inside Helgen Keep: Sneak behind Hadvar or Ralof and hit them repeatedly.
✔️ In caves or dungeons: Crouch and sneak near enemies without being detected.
✔️ With the Greybeards (after reaching High Hrothgar): Sneak near them while they are meditating.
This will level up Sneak very fast and help you gain overall levels quickly.
4. Train Combat Skills on Essential NPCs
Some NPCs in Skyrim cannot die, so you can use them to level up your combat skills.
| NPC/Method | Skills Improved | How to Do It |
|---|---|---|
| Hadvar or Ralof (Helgen Keep) | Sneak & One-Handed | Sneak attack them repeatedly |
| Greybeards (High Hrothgar) | Destruction, Archery | Attack them with weak spells or arrows |
| Shadowmere (Dark Brotherhood horse) | One-Handed, Two-Handed, Archery | Attack Shadowmere (it won’t die) |
This lets you level up attack skills quickly without worrying about killing NPCs.
5. Use Trainers for Free Skill Boosts
Trainers in Skyrim can boost your skills in exchange for gold. Some trainers even let you get free training if you join their guild.
| Trainer | Location | Skills Trained | How to Get Free Training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companions (Whiterun) | Jorrvaskr | One-Handed, Two-Handed, Archery | Join the Companions |
| College of Winterhold | Winterhold | Destruction, Alteration, Conjuration | Join the College |
| Thieves Guild (Riften) | Riften | Sneak, Lockpicking, Pickpocket | Join the Thieves Guild |
Join these factions early to level up quickly without spending much gold.
Crafting skills are easy to level up and help you make powerful gear.
| Skill | How to Level Up Fast |
|---|---|
| Smithing | Craft Iron Daggers at any forge. |
| Alchemy | Mix Blue Mountain Flower + Butterfly Wings for potions. |
| Enchanting | Disenchant items to learn enchantments, then enchant gear. |
Doing this levels up Smithing, Alchemy, and Enchanting very fast.
7. Spam Magic Spells for Fast XP
Magic can be leveled up just by using spells repeatedly.
| Magic School | How to Level Up Fast |
|---|---|
| Alteration | Cast “Oakflesh” repeatedly in battle. |
| Restoration | Stand in a fire and heal yourself. |
| Conjuration | Cast “Bound Sword” over and over. |
| Destruction | Attack essential NPCs (like Hadvar) with fire spells. |
This lets you level up magic very quickly without much effort.
8. Get Extra XP Boosts
To maximize leveling speed, use these tricks:
✔️ Use the Lover’s Stone (near Markarth) for a 15% XP boost to all skills.
✔️ Sleep in a bed to get the Well Rested bonus for extra XP.
✔️ Wear enchanted gear that boosts XP gain in certain skills.
Final Tips & Summary
If you follow these steps, you can level up fast in Skyrim right from the beginning.
Step-by-Step Summary:
- Pick a race that boosts your favorite skills.
- Activate a Guardian Stone (Warrior, Mage, or Thief) for a 20% XP boost.
- Sneak behind NPCs (Hadvar, Ralof, Greybeards) for fast Sneak XP.
- Attack essential NPCs (like Greybeards or Shadowmere) to level up combat skills.
- Use trainers from the Companions, College, or Thieves Guild for free skill boosts.
- Spam crafting (Smithing, Alchemy, Enchanting) for quick XP.
- Spam magic spells to quickly level up magic skills.
- Use the Lover’s Stone and sleep in a bed for extra XP boosts.
By using these tricks, you’ll level up faster than ever, making your Dragonborn powerful in no time!
💡 Are you ready to dominate Skyrim? Try these tricks and watch your XP skyrocket! 🚀