Skyrim Beginner’s Guide#
Basic Controls#
Default PC Keybindings#
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| W/A/S/D | Move |
| Left mouse button | Attack (or cast) with right hand |
| Right mouse button | Attack/block with left hand |
| Left Shift | Sprint |
| Space | Jump |
| Ctrl | Sneak |
| R | Sheathe/draw weapon |
| E | Activate/interact |
| TAB | Inventory |
| Q | Favorites menu |
| J | Quest journal |
| M | Map |
| Z | Shout |
| F5 | Quick save |
| F9 | Quick load |
| C | Toggle camera (first/third person) |
Race Selection#
| Race | Starting skill bonuses | Special ability | Active power | Recommended playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nord | Two-Handed +2, One-Handed +1, Block +1, Light Armor +1, Smithing +1, Speech +1 | 50% frost resistance | Battle Cry: enemies flee for 30 seconds | Warrior — best race for beginners |
| Imperial | One-Handed +1, Block +1, Heavy Armor +1, Destruction +1, Restoration +1, Speech +2 | Find more gold | Voice of the Emperor: Calm | All-rounder |
| Breton | Conjuration +2, Illusion +1, Restoration +1, Alteration +1, Alchemy +1, Speech +1 | 25% magic resistance | Dragonskin: 50% magic absorption for 60 seconds | Mage — best magic resistance |
| Redguard | One-Handed +2, Archery +1, Block +1, Smithing +1, Alteration +1, Destruction +1 | 50% poison resistance | Adrenaline Rush: 10x stamina regen for 60 seconds | Battle mage |
| High Elf | Illusion +2, Conjuration +1, Destruction +1, Restoration +1, Alteration +1, Enchanting +1 | +50 starting Magicka | Highborn: fast Magicka regen for 60 seconds | Pure mage — largest Magicka pool |
| Wood Elf | Archery +2, Light Armor +1, Sneak +1, Lockpicking +1, Pickpocket +1, Alchemy +1 | 50% poison & disease resistance | Command Animal: animals won’t attack for 60 seconds | Ranger/archer |
| Khajiit | Sneak +2, One-Handed +1, Archery +1, Lockpicking +1, Pickpocket +1, Alchemy +1 | Claws (15 bonus damage) | Night Eye: 60 seconds of night vision | Thief/sneak — strongest starting pickpocketing |
| Argonian | Alteration +2, Light Armor +1, Sneak +1, Lockpicking +1, Pickpocket +1, Restoration +1 | Waterbreathing | Histskin: 10x health regen for 60 seconds | Sneak/underwater exploration |
| Orc | Heavy Armor +2, One-Handed +1, Two-Handed +1, Block +1, Smithing +1, Enchanting +1 | — | Berserker Rage: double damage + take half damage for 60 seconds | Heavy armor warrior — strongest physical damage |
| Dark Elf | Destruction +2, Illusion +1, Alteration +1, Light Armor +1, Sneak +1, Alchemy +1 | 50% fire resistance | Ancestor’s Wrath: fire cloak for 60 seconds | Destruction mage |
Top races for beginners:
- Nord — solid weapon skill bonuses + frost resistance + a straightforward warrior identity
- Imperial — balanced across skills + extra gold income
- Breton — 25% magic resistance lasts the whole game — the top pick for mage players
Early Game Roadmap#
| Level | Advice |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | Run the main quest to “The Way of the Voice” — meet the Greybeards and learn Shouts |
| 3-5 | Join a guild: the Companions (warrior) or the College of Winterhold (mage) |
| 5-8 | Explore the Whiterun area — clear dungeons and sell the gear you loot |
| 8-10 | Buy the house in Whiterun — set up your alchemy/enchanting stations |
Core Mechanics Explained#
The Shout System (Thu’um)#
Shouts are the Dragonborn’s signature ability — each one is made of three Words of Power.
How to learn Shouts:
- Find a Word Wall carved with dragon runes
- Absorb a dragon’s soul (kill a dragon)
- Spend the dragon soul in the magic menu to unlock the Shout
Key Shouts:
| Shout | Effect | How to get it | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrelenting Force | Knocks enemies back | Automatic during the main quest | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Whirlwind Sprint | Dash forward quickly | Greybeard quests | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Fire Breath | Breathes fire | Automatic during the main quest | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Elemental Fury | Speeds up weapon swings | Word Walls/dragon words | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Call Dragon | Summons Odahviing to fight for you | Late main quest | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Become Ethereal | Invulnerable, takes no damage | Word Walls/dragon words | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ice Form | Freezes enemies solid | Word Walls/dragon words | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Slow Time | Slows the time around you | Word Walls/dragon words | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Storm Call | Summons a lightning storm | Word Walls/dragon words | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The Follower System#
In Skyrim you can recruit one follower to travel with you.
Key followers and where to find them:
| Follower | Location | Specialty | Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lydia | Dragonsreach, Whiterun | One-Handed + Heavy Armor | Yes |
| Faendal | Riverwood | Archery | Yes |
| Jenassa | The Drunken Huntsman, Whiterun | Dual-wielding | Yes |
| Marcurio | Bee and Barb, Riften | Destruction mage | Yes |
| Serana | Dawnguard DLC | All-round mage | No |
Core follower tips:
- Followers can carry unlimited weight — command them to pick items up off the ground
- Followers don’t trigger traps — let them walk in front to scout
- Follower deaths are permanent — if you accidentally kill yours, reload a save
- Important: if a follower goes missing during a quest — wait 3 days and they return to where you recruited them
The Marriage System#
You can marry certain NPCs by wearing Mara’s Amulet and talking to them.
Marriage benefits:
- Your spouse opens a shop and gives you 100 gold per day
- While living together you get the “Lover” bonus — skills improve 15% faster
Marriageable NPC picks:
- Lydia
- Ysolda
- Mjoll the Lioness
Common Beginner Mistakes#
| # | Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spreading skills too thin | Focus on 6-8 skills — jack-of-all-trades characters are weak mid-game |
| 2 | Never leveling Smithing and Enchanting | These two skills cap your gear — the strongest source of late-game power |
| 3 | Selling all your materials | Keep every ore, soul gem, and herb — alchemy and enchanting need them |
| 4 | Skipping dialogue without reading objectives | Skyrim’s quest hints are vague — pay attention to what NPCs actually say |
| 5 | Looting while overencumbered | Only pick up items with a value/weight ratio above 10 — leave the rest |
| 6 | Skipping follower mods | Vanilla follower AI is poor — “Amazing Follower Tweaks” is strongly recommended |
| 7 | Rushing the main quest in one go | Skyrim’s fun is in the side content — the main quest is only about 10% of the game |
| 8 | Grabbing artifacts without training Enchanting | Artifacts can’t be enchanted — late game they fall behind gear you make yourself |
FAQ#
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Best race for beginners? | Nord or Imperial — their starting skills fit most playstyles and their racial powers are practical |
| What to do first? | Finish the first stretch of main quest to Whiterun, then join the Companions (warrior) or the College of Winterhold (mage) |
| How to make gold fast? | Alchemy — harvest Blue Mountain Flowers + Butterfly Wings to brew high-value potions. Enchanting — craft and enchant weapons to sell |
| How to assign perk points? | Commit to one build (warrior/mage/sneak) and don’t spread out. Every perk point is precious |
| What about broken equipment? | Repair it at a grindstone (weapons) and a tanning rack (armor). Learn Smithing yourself so you never depend on NPCs |
| Do enemies scale with level? | Skyrim’s enemies level with the player — prioritize survival perks at low levels |
| Mods needed for vanilla? | Vanilla Skyrim is already very complete. At minimum, install the Unofficial Patch |
| Best follower? | Serana is the most feature-rich; Lydia is the most loyal and practical |
| Vampire vs Werewolf? | Vampires excel at spell builds, werewolves at physical combat. Vampires give you more overall |
| Death penalty? | You lose progress back to the last save. Save often — Skyrim has no item drop on death |
| Fast way to Enchanting 100? | Iron Daggers + the Banish enchantment (learn it by disenchanting a Banish weapon). Sell every dagger for profit |
| Which guild first? | Do the Companions first — practical rewards and a shorter questline. The Thieves Guild is also very profitable early on |
| Where to buy spell books? | Court wizards in each major city sell them. The College of Winterhold library has the best selection |
Race Stats Comparison#
| Race | Starting skill bonuses | Racial power | Recommended build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nord | Two-Handed +10, Smithing +5 | Battle Cry | Warrior |
| Imperial | Restoration +10, Destruction +5 | Voice of the Emperor | All-rounder |
| Breton | Conjuration +10, Alteration +5 | Dragonskin | Mage |
| Redguard | One-Handed +10, Archery +5 | Adrenaline Rush | Dual-wielding |
| Dark Elf | Destruction +10, Sneak +5 | Ancestor’s Wrath | Nightblade |
| High Elf | Illusion +10, Destruction +5 | Highborn | Pure mage |
| Khajiit | Sneak +10, Lockpicking +5 | Night Eye | Assassin |
| Argonian | Lockpicking +10, Restoration +5 | Histskin | Thief |
| Wood Elf | Archery +10, Light Armor +5 | Command Animal | Archer |
| Orc | Heavy Armor +10, One-Handed +5 | Berserker Rage | Melee |
Recommended Gear Progression#
| Stage | Weapons | Armor | Enchanting focus | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levels 1-10 | Iron weapons | Iron armor set | None | Buy from shops |
| Levels 10-20 | Steel weapons | Steel armor set | Health + Stamina | Shops + quest rewards |
| Levels 20-30 | Dwarven weapons | Dwarven/Steel Plate | Resistances + stats | Unlock via Smithing |
| Levels 30-40 | Elven/Orcish | Elven/Orcish armor | Elemental resistances | Smithing + dungeons |
| Levels 40-50 | Glass/Ebony | Glass/Ebony armor | Start the crafting trinity loop | Unlock via Smithing perks |
| Level 50+ | Daedric/Dragonbone | Daedric/Dragon armor | Full set of top-tier enchants | Smithing 100 + Enchanting 100 |
Gameplay Tips#
- Head straight for Whiterun — after Helgen, go straight to Whiterun; it’s the best starting hub
- The crafting trinity — Smithing → Enchanting → Alchemy boost each other; all late-game gear depends on them
- Save up for a house — the Whiterun house for 5,000 gold (after the “Dragon Rising” quest) is the best investment in the game
- Followers are mobile storage — they can carry unlimited weight (command them to pick up), a must for expeditions
- Don’t overuse fast travel — walk more to discover hidden locations; Skyrim’s world is full of surprises
- Adjust difficulty anytime — if it feels too hard/too easy, change the difficulty in settings; achievements aren’t affected
- Clear the quest journal at your own pace — Skyrim’s quest system generates tons of miscellaneous quests; pick the ones you enjoy
- Keep multiple saves — rotate save slots every 10 levels to guard against corrupted saves
- Use quick save well — F5 quick saves before fights and during adventures; full saves as backups before big decisions
Common Beginner Mistakes#
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Starting the Dragonborn questline right away | Triggers Shout quests too early | Stay away from the main quest for the first 10 levels |
| Making choices without saving | Irreversible bad decisions | Build a habit of saving often |
| Ignoring blacksmiths | Outdated gear | Train Smithing as early as possible |
| Not collecting Shouts | Difficult fights late game | Learn every Word Wall you come across |
| Too much fast travel | Missing hidden locations | Explore on foot more |
Detailed Race Attributes#
| Race | Health | Magicka | Stamina | Special ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nord | 100 | 100 | 100 | 50% frost resistance + Battle Cry |
| Imperial | 100 | 100 | 100 | Find nearby gold + Voice of the Emperor |
| Redguard | 100 | 100 | 100 | 50% poison resistance + Adrenaline Rush |
| Dark Elf | 100 | 100 | 100 | 50% fire resistance + Ancestor’s Wrath |
| Wood Elf | 100 | 100 | 100 | 50% poison resistance + Command Animal |
| High Elf | 100 | 150 | 100 | +50 Magicka + Highborn |
| Orc | 100 | 100 | 100 | Heavy armor affinity + Berserker Rage |
| Khajiit | 100 | 100 | 100 | Night Eye + night prowler |
| Argonian | 100 | 100 | 100 | Waterbreathing + 50% disease resistance |
| Dark Elf | 100 | 100 | 100 | 50% fire resistance + Ancestor’s Wrath |
Recommended Quest Path for Beginners#
| Stage | Level | Recommended quests | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-5 | Riverwood main quest + blacksmith | Basic gear and gold |
| 2 | 5-10 | First few Companions quests | Combat training + werewolf ability |
| 3 | 10-15 | Thieves Guild intro | Sneak training + money |
| 4 | 15-20 | College of Winterhold intro | Magic training + college gear |
| 5 | 20+ | Main quest Shout missions | Word Walls + dragon souls |
Recommended Resources for Beginners#
| Resource type | Recommendation | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Guide sites | This site + UESP Wiki | Quest walkthroughs + item lookups |
| Video tutorials | Search “Skyrim beginner guide” on YouTube | Controls demos + build recommendations |
| Community forums | Reddit r/skyrim | Q&A + mod recommendations |
| Mod resources | Nexus Mods | Graphics enhancement + convenience mods |
Save Management for Beginners#
| Advice | Details | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple save slots | Rotate to a new slot every 10 levels | ★★★★★ |
| Save before key choices | Manual save before major decisions | ★★★★★ |
| Quick save | Use F5 quick saves before fights | ★★★★☆ |
| Regular backups | Protect against corrupted saves | ★★★★☆ |