Trainer (Skyrim)
Trainers are NPCs who help increase proficiency in skills in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Most trainers offer their services from the start of the game, but some require certain tasks to be performed first. Skills can only be trained five times per level, until the skill level exceeds the level of the trainer. All training requires that a fee be paid. Gold is automatically subtracted from the inventory when a training session is accepted.
Changes from previous games
Unlike The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, trainers in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim only offer skill leveling from Adept upwards. In previous games, trainers offered Apprentice-level and Novice-level training. There are skill trainers in Skyrim labeled as “Common” trainers; this is incorrectly labeled, as the trainers offer their services up to the Adept level. Unlike Oblivion, there are no means to be trained all the way to level 100 in a skill.
Cost
The more advanced the training session is, the higher it will cost. The cost of training a skill up to level 51 can be calculated by:
10 * [skill level] + 50, but from level 51 onwards the training cost triples to 30*[skill level]+50
Trainers that are also merchants, such as Arcadia in Whiterun, add the gold paid to them for training into their inventory. One can easily recover gold spent on training by selling them items. The gold can also be pickpocketed back from the trainer, albeit difficult if its a large amount.
Proficiencies
The proficiency of trainers varies:
- Adept trainers can train up to level 50.
- Expert trainers can train up to level 75.
- Master trainers can train up to level 90.
Once the Dragonborn’s skill level reaches higher than the trainer’s level, the option for training disappears as there is no more that can be learned from this person.
Free training
- Main article: Free Skill Training (Skyrim)
There are several quests or tasks available that grant free skill increases as a reward. They function much like skill books and are treated in the same way as regular skill increases.
Exploit
Free training can be exploited if a follower is also a trainer. Upon completion of a training session, the option to trade items with a follower can be selected to access their inventory and take back the money that was just spent on training.
There are only six trainers who are followers:
- Aela the Huntress – Archery, up to level 75
- Athis – One-Handed, up to level 75
- Farkas – Heavy Armor, up to level 90
- Faendal – Archery, up to level 50
- Njada Stonearm – Block, up to level 75
- Vilkas – Two-Handed, up to level 90
Trainers
Alchemy
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Lami | Morthal | |
| Expert | Arcadia | Arcadia’s Cauldron in Whiterun | |
| Master | Babette | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary | Must be a member of the Dark Brotherhood |
Alteration
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | Dravynea | Kynesgrove | |
| Master | Tolfdir | College of Winterhold | Must have joined the College |
Archery
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Faendal | Riverwood | Potential follower |
| Expert | Aela the Huntress | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Must be part of Companions, Potential follower |
| Master | Niruin | The Ragged Flagon in Riften | Must have joined the Thieves Guild |
| Master | Sorine Jurard | Fort Dawnguard after completing A New Order | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard |
Block
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | Njada Stonearm | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Potential follower |
| Master | Larak | Mor Khazgur |
Conjuration
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Runil | Falkreath | |
| Expert | Phinis Gestor | College of Winterhold | Must have joined the College |
| Master | Falion | Morthal | |
| Master | Talvas Fathryon | Tel Mithryn | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn |
Destruction
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Wuunferth the Unliving | Windhelm | |
| Expert | Sybille Stentor | Blue Palace in Solitude | |
| Master | Faralda | College of Winterhold | Must have joined the College |
Enchanting
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | Sergius Turrianus | College of Winterhold | Must have joined the College |
| Master | Hamal | Markarth | |
| Master | Neloth | Tel Mithryn | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn |
Heavy Armor
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | Gharol | Dushnikh Yal | |
| Master | Farkas | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Only after Proving Honor. Potential follower |
| Master | Isran | Fort Dawnguard | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard |
| Master | Kuvar | Bujold’s Retreat | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn |
Illusion
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | Atub | Largashbur | |
| Master | Drevis Neloren | College of Winterhold | Must have joined the College |
Light Armor
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Scouts-Many-Marshes | The docks outside of Windhelm | |
| Expert | Grelka | Riften Marketplace | |
| Master | Nazir | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary | Must be member of the Dark Brotherhood |
Lockpicking
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | Ma’jhad | Khajiit Caravans | Travels between Windhelm and Solitude. |
| Master | Vex | Ragged Flagon in Riften | Must be a member of the Thieves Guild |
One-Handed
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Amren | Whiterun | |
| Expert | Athis | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Potential follower |
| Master | Burguk | Dushnikh Yal |
Pickpocket
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Ahkari | Khajiit Caravans | Route includes Dawnstar, Whiterun, and Riften. |
| Expert | Silda the Unseen | Windhelm, outside of Candlehearth Hall | |
| Master | Vipir the Fleet | Ragged Flagon in Riften | Must be a member of the Thieves Guild |
Restoration
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Keeper Carcette | Hall of the Vigilant | Is killed if The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard is installed. |
| Adept | Aphia Velothi | Raven Rock | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn |
| Expert | Colette Marence | College of Winterhold | Typically in The Arcanaeum and must have joined the College |
| Master | Danica Pure-Spring | Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun | Only after The Blessings of Nature |
| Master | Florentius Baenius | Fort Dawnguard | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard |
Smithing
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Ghorza gra-Bagol | Markarth | |
| Expert | Balimund | Riften | |
| Master | Eorlund Gray-Mane | The Skyforge in Whiterun | Must be part of the Companions |
| Master | Gunmar | Fort Dawnguard after completing A New Order | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard |
Sneak
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Khayla | Khajiit Caravans | Travels between Whiterun and Markarth. |
| Expert | Garvey | Markarth | |
| Master | Delvin Mallory | Ragged Flagon in Riften | Must be a member of the Thieves Guild |
Speech
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adept | Dro’marash | Khajiit Caravans | Travels between Riften and Dawnstar. |
| Adept | Revyn Sadri | Sadri’s Used Wares in Windhelm | |
| Adept | Ronthil | Castle Volkihar | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard |
| Expert | Ogmund | Markarth | Can be found in the Silver-Blood Inn |
| Master | Giraud Gemane | The Bards College inSolitude |
Two-Handed
| Trainer | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | Torbjorn Shatter-Shield | Windhelm | |
| Master | Vilkas | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Potential follower |
| Master | Fura Bloodmouth | Castle Volkihar | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard |
| Master | Wulf Wild-Blood | Skaal Village | Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn |
Bugs
- The Official Skyrim Game Guide incorrectly lists three NPCs as trainers, they are:
- Melaran (Alteration)
- Hermir Strong-Heart (Heavy Armor)
- Ahkari (Pickpocket)
- Trainer dialogue may disappear at random intervals, without explanation, making it impossible to train.