Skyrim Combat tips

Based on the official guide:
By now, you should have skills that aid you in dispatching enemies through melee, ranged, or magical attacks. This section offers advice on maximizing your combat potential no matter how you decide to fight your foes.

General Advice

Don’t overlook your Shout or Powers; they can win the fight for you!
As you set off to explore the realm, you may be overwhelmed with the choices you can make. But remember this following sage advice, and you’ll thrive in the wilds of Skyrim!
Conserve your Resources: Your three statistics -- Health, Magicka, and Stamina -- are all resources you need to conserve.
If you sprint into battle (using Stamina), recast your spells right before heading into battle (Magicka), or push on after a difficult battle without pausing to recover your Health, you’re at a disadvantage.
Stop and wait for a moment (optionally swigging down a potion) to ensure all three stats have recovered fully before you continue.
Remember your Shouts and Powers: While most of your attention will be on the weapons, spells, or shield in your hands, remember that you have a third option at your disposal.
Shouts and Powers are among your most devestating abilities: they don’t cost anything to use, and they can dramatically turn the tide of battle in your favor. Make sure to Favorite them, and always know which one you have equipped.
Then call on them whenever you need a some additional offensive firepower.
Consumable Consumption: Do you find yourself struggling against a particularly troublesome set of foes?
Then stop, rummage around in your inventory, and see if you have an item that might help.
This could be a healing or fortifying potion, a poison for your weapon, or a Scroll with a powerful magic effect. Don’t hoard scrolls; use them!
Active Effects: It’s easy to forget about the Brain Rot you contracted a few hours ago, or not to notice when a blessing or buff has worn off.
Check the Active Effects list in the Magic menu every so often to ensure you know what is ailing or enhancing you.
The Favorites Menu: Discussed later in this chapter, the Favorites Menu not only allows you to quickly switch between weapons and spells, but opening it also pauses time without blocking your view, giving you time to consider your next move.
Save Early. Save Often! Although the game saves your progress automatically, it’s always prudent to make a save before trying something dangerous, like running down a hallway lined with swinging blades or investigating that ominous-looking tomb.
Tuning in the Difficulty: The System > Settings > Gameplay menu allows you to change the game’s difficulty at any time -- even during combat -- which you should try if you’re really struggling, or you’re having too easy a time. Adjust this to suit your preferences.

Melee Combat

To maximize your potential in melee combat, choose a weapon you like, learn its rhythm, improve the associated perks, and try to find (or forge) the most potent version of it that you can.
If you have problems effectively bringing down foes, be sure you know how to respond to and counter their attacks.
Choose your weapon: Early in your adventure, try out a variety of weapons and combat styles and see what works best for you.
Do you prefer one or two-handed weapons?
If you enjoy wielding a one-handed weapon, do you want a shield, spell, or another weapon in your free hand? Then figure out whether daggers (fast, lowest damage), swords, axes, or maces (slow, highest damage) are your favorite.
By learning what you’re most comfortable wielding, you can choose the perks that compliment that style.
The Rhythm of Combat: Once you’ve settled on a weapon or combat style, practice your tactics.
Remember that you and your opponent have a regular Attack, a Power Attack (holding the attack button down for a slower but more damaging strike), Block (raising your shield or weapon to deflect an enemy blow), and Bash (hitting your foe with a shield or the flat of a weapon).
Try to get a feel for how long it takes you to perform these actions with your chosen weapon, and how long it takes for your enemies to do the same.
As your sense of timing improves, you can better decide whether to attack or defend during a fight, and choose your tactics more strategically.
Observe and Counter: Combat involves more than just attacking.
You can take down enemies faster and more effectively by observing their actions and choosing the appropriate counter.
Block if your enemy uses a regular attack.
Bash if your enemy uses a Power Attack to quickly interrupt and stagger them.
Power Attack if your enemy is blocking to break their block and stagger them.
Attack swiftly if your enemy is staggered to cut them down.
Wearing a Cloak: The Destruction line of Cloak Spells (Flame, Frost, and Lightning) are ideal if you plan to engage in close combat -- even if you’re primarily a warrior with little interest in magic -- as they allow you to damage enemies with both your weapons and the cloak’s magical effects, without requiring much attention (or Magicka expenditure).
Cloak Spells also don’t damage your Followers, so there’s no need to worry in close quarters.



Skyrim Leveling Up tips

Skyrim Leveling Up tips

Character Advancement

Leveling Advice

Tactically Level Up during a particularly frightening combat, as shown.
As your skills increase, you gradually make progress towards gaining a level.

There are several aspects of this process worth taking a closer look at:
Improve what you use:

The Skills you use will improve naturally as you use them.
There is no need to go out of your way to improve a skill you never plan to use; this doesn’t level your character any faster, and won’t make your character any stronger or more effective.


Use what you improve: When selecting perks, be sure you’re ready to take full advantage of them.
For example, don’t purchase Adept-level Magic Perks until you have Adept-level spells to cast.


Don’t take Enchanting Perks unless you’re planning on Enchanting something in the immediate future.
Patience and Perks: If you aren’t sure which perk to choose when you Level up, or find yourself a few Skill points away from a perk you really want, it is usually better to save the choice for later.


This gives you more flexibility and allows you to change your mind. Remember, once you select a perk, you can’t take it back!
Tactical Leveling: Leveling up fully restores your Health, Magicka, and Stamina.

This can literally save your life if you find yourself bereft of potions during a difficult battle.
For example, if you gain a level while exploring a dungeon, you may want to wait and level up during the final (or most difficult) fight.




Conversely, there’s no point in hoarding Levels; once you begin leveling up, you must claim all of the levels you’ve earned.

Skyrim Trainers Part 5

Restoration

Expert Trainer: Keeper Carcette, in the Hall of the Vigilant.
Expert Trainer: Colette Marence, of the College of Winterhold.
Master Trainer: Danica Pure-Spring, of Whiterun.

Alteration

Journeyman Trainer: Melaran, of Solitude.
Expert Trainer: Dravynea, of Kynesgrove, in Eastmarch.
Master Trainer: Tolfdir, of the College of Winterhold.

Enchanting

There is no Journeyman Trainer for this Skill.

Expert Trainer: Sergius Turrianus, of the College of Winterhold.

Master Trainer: Hamal, or Markarth.

That was it for all the trainers keep coming back for more guides.




Skyrim Trainers Part 4

Alchemy

Journeyman Trainer: Lami of Morthal.
Expert Trainer: Arcadia, of Whiterun.
Master Trainer: Babette, of The Dark Brotherhood.

Magic Skills: The Path of Sorcery

Illusion

There is no Journeyman Trainer for this Skill.
Expert Trainer: Atub, of Largashbur in The Rift.
Master Trainer: Drevis Neloren, of the College of Winterhold.

Conjuration

Journeyman Trainer: Runil of Falkreath.
Expert Trainer: Phinis Gestor, of the College of Winterhold.
Master Trainer: Falion of Morthal.

Destruction

Journeyman Trainer: Wuunferth the Unliving, of Windhelm.
Expert Trainer: Sybille Stentor of Solitude.
Master Trainer: Faralda, of the College of Winterhold.

Go to page 5 for more



Skyrim Trainers Part 3

Lockpicking

There is no Journeyman Trainer for this Skill.
Expert Trainer: Majhad of the Khajiit Caravans.
Master Trainer: Vex, of The Thieves Guild, in Riften.

Pickpocket

Journeyman Trainer: Ahkari, of the Khajiit Caravans.
Expert Trainer: Silda the Unseen, of Windhelm.
Master Trainer: Vipir, of The Thieves Guild, of Riften.

Speech

Journeyman Trainer #1: Dro’marash of the Khajiit Caravans.
Journeyman Trainer #2: Revyn Sadri of Windhelm.
Expert Trainer: Ogmund the Skald, of Markarth.
Master Trainer: Geraud Gemaine, of The Bards College in Solitude.
Go to page 4 for more



Skyrim Trainers Part 2

Archery

Journeyman Trainer: Faendal, of Riverwood.
Expert Trainer: Aela the Huntress, of The Companions in Whiterun.
Master Trainer: Niruin, of The Thieves Guild, in Riften.

Stealth Skills: The Path of Shadow

Light Armor

Journeyman Trainer: Scouts-Many-Marshes of Windhelm.
Expert Trainer: Grelka of Riften.
Master Trainer: Nazir, of The Dark Brotherhood.

Sneak

Journeyman Trainer: Khayla, of the Khajiit Caravans.
Expert Trainer: Garvey, of Markarth.
Master Trainer: Delven Mallory, of The Thieves Guild, in Riften.

Skyrim Trainers Part 1

Combat Skills: The Path of Might

Smithing

Journeyman Trainer: Ghorza of Markarth.
Expert Trainer: Balimund of Riften.
Master Trainer: Eorlund Gray-Mane of Whiterun.

Heavy Armor

Journeyman Trainer: Hermir Strongheart of Windhelm.
Expert Trainer: Gharol of Dushnikh Yal, in The Reach.
Master Trainer: Farkas of The Companions, in Whiterun.

Block

There is no Journeyman Trainer for this Skill.
Expert Trainer: Njade Stonearm of The Companions, in Whiterun.
Master Trainer: Larak of Mor Khazgur, in The Reach.

Two-Handed

There is no Journeyman Trainer for this Skill.
Expert Trainer: Torbjorn Shatter-Shield of Windhelm.
Master Trainer: Vilkas, of The Companions, in Whiterun.

One-Handed

Journeyman Trainer: Amren of Whiterun.
Expert Trainer: Athis of The Companions in Whiterun.
Master Trainer: Burguk, of Dushnikh Yal in The Reach.