Skills are the bread and butter of Skyrim, the one thing that truly defines a character. The skills in Skyrim can be roughly divided into three: Mage, Warrior, and Thief. While you can make your own mix of whatever skills you'd best like to use during your adventures, specializing in a certain skill category is always more beneficial in the long run.
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In order to progress in your skills, you need to actually practice them. If you'd like to speed up the process, however, there are tons of trainers stationed all around Skyrim willing to train you in exchange for coin.
Updated February 24, 2022 by Erik Petrovich: Trainers in Skyrim can be incredibly useful for players who have the gold to spare. Every level, players are able to use a Trainer to increase one of their skills by one point, for a fee of course. These trainers vary in level themselves, and most won't be able to train players at relatively low levels. Before heading out to find one of these trainers, be sure to check that their skill matches your own. If you want to train Destruction at level 80, for example, you won't be able to get any help from an Adept-level Trainer. Additionally, there are some restrictions for Training in Skyrim, which ultimately makes the system balanced as players become better at a skill.
20 Training Skills In Skyrim
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to using Trainers in Skyrim, especially if you plan to use them to max out a skill as fast as possible. Skills cost increasing amounts of gold to train as players level up, to the point that training one or two Skill Points can cost more than 10,000 gold. However, this is also when leveling skills is most difficult as there is more XP required to rank up. Try to avoid training your main skills until at least after level 50, and instead use Trainers to level the skills you won't use too often but still come in handy, like Lockpicking or Block.
Additionally, there is a limit to the number of times you can train every level. Players can only use the services of a Trainer five times every level, which carries over across NPCs and skills. This means you can't get five skill ups for every Skill every level. However, leveling up a skill with a Trainer still counts towards overall player level progression. Because of this, leveling up while training skills is a very common occurrence, essentially letting you improve a skill 10 times in a single session if you're close enough to the next player level.
19 Alchemy
- Adept Trainers: Lami (Morthal)
- Expert Trainers: Arcadia (Whiterun), Milore Ienth (Raven Rock, Solstheim)
- Master Trainers: Babette (Dark Brotherhood)
Alchemy allows you to brew powerful poisons or useful cures and potions. Arcadia in Whiterun not only runs an ingredient store but also gives Expert level training. In Morthal, Lami can give you Adept level training.
If you're an assassin of the Dark Brotherhood, young vampire Babette can teach you at Expert level. Owners of the Dragonborn DLC can head to Raven Rock and speak to Milore Ienth for Expert level training.
18 Alteration
- Expert Trainers: Dravynea (Kynesgrove)
- Master Trainers: Tolfdir (College of Winterhold)
Alteration is the art of bending reality, through magical armor or candlelight spells. Only two experts in Skyrim can train you in this school. If you're at the college, you can simply speak to Tolfdir who can train you at Master level.
You can also head to Kynesgrove and talk to Dravynea, who can train you in Alteration at Expert level.
17 Archery
- Adept Trainers: Faendal (Riverwood)
- Expert Trainers: Aela the Huntress (Companions)
- Master Trainers: Niruin (Thieves Guild), Sorine Jurard (Fort Dawnguard)
Archery will serve any ranged fighters well, both in battle and when hunting for game. Four trainers can be found in Skyrim, not counting Angi at Angi's Camp who gives a special quest related to Archery. In Riverwood, Faendal can give you Adept level training.
For Expert level training, head over to Whiterun and seek out Aaela the Huntress among the Companions. Niruin in Riften, in The Ragged Flagon, provides you with Master level training. Finally, Sorine Jurard located in Fort Dawnguard will give you Master level training if you happen to own the Dawnguard DLC.
16 Block
15 
- Expert Trainers: Njada Stonearm (Companions)
- Master Trainers: Larak (Mor Khazgur, Orc Stronghold)
Block is the art of using your shield to defend against attacks. There are only two trainers in all of Skyrim, but they're easy to find. Njada Stonearm in Whiterun, a member of the Companions, will provide you with Expert level training.
Larak, found in Mor Khazgur, will also give you Master level training, however, you'll need to access the Orsimer strongholds by proving yourself.
14 Conjuration
- Adept Trainers: Runil (Falkreath)
- Expert Trainers: Phinis Gestor (College of Winterhold)
- Master Trainers: Falion (Morthal), Talvas Fathryon (Tel Mithryn, Solstheim)
If you'd like apparitions from other planes to assist you in battle, Conjuration is for you. Runil in Falkreath will give you the basics at Adept level. After that, join the College of Winterhold to speak with Phinis Gestor, who will train you at Expert level.
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In Morthal, Falion can also train you at Expert level, and if you own the Dragonborn DLC, Talvas Fathryon in Tel Mithryn can train you at Master level.
13 Destruction
- Adept Trainers: Wuunferth the Unliving (Windhelm)
- Expert Trainers: Garan Marethi (Castle Volikhar), Sybille Stentor (Solitude)
- Master Trainers: Faralda (College of Winterhold)
Destruction magic consists of devastating, elemental spells. In Windhelm, Wuunferth the Unliving, found within the Palace of Kings, can train you at Adept level. Owners of Dawnguard can speak to Garan Marethi in Castle Volkihar for Expert level training.
In Solitude's Blue Palace, Sybille Stentor can also train you at Expert level. Finally, members of the College can speak to Faralda, who can train you at Master level.
12 Enchanting
- Expert Trainers: Sergius Turrianus (College of Winterhold)
- Master Trainers: Hamal (Markarth), Neloth (Tel Mithryn, Solstheim)
Enchanting allows you to add powerful boosts to your weapons and gear. If you're a member of the College, Sergius Turrianus can train you at Expert level. In Markarth, Hamal can train you at Master level.
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Finally, owners of the Dragonborn DLC can head to Tel Mithryn and speak with Neloth who can train you at Master level.
11 Heavy Armor
- Expert Trainers: Gharol (Dushnikh Yal, Orc Stronghold)
- Master Trainers: Farkas (Companions), Isran (Fort Dawnguard), Kuvar (Bujold's Retreat, Solstheim)
Heavy Armor is great for blocking tons of damage at close range. You can find an Expert level trainer Gharol in Dushnik Yal. After completing the quest Proving Honor, Farkas in Whiterun becomes a Master level trainer.
If you have the Dawnguard DLC, Isran in Fort Dawnguard is a Master level trainer. Alternatively, if you own the Dragonborn DLC, Kuvar located in Bujold's Retreat is a Master level trainer as well.
10 Illusion
- Expert Trainers: Atub (Largashbur, Orc Stronghold)
- Master Trainers: Drevis Neloren (College of Winterhold)
Illusion is a school of magic focused on tricking the enemy's mind and senses. Only two trainers exist in Skyrim, and are not necessarily easy to access either.
If you're a member of the College of Winterhold, Drevis Neloren can teach you at Master level. Alternatively, if you have access to Orsimer strongholds, you can speak to Atub at Largashbur for Expert level training.
9 Light Armor
- Adept Trainers: Scouts-Many-Marshes (Windhelm)
- Expert Trainers: Grelka (Riften)
- Master Trainers: Nazir (Dark Brotherhood)
If speed is your thing and you want to be light on your feet, Light Armor is ideal for you. Outside of Windhelm, you'll find an Argonian named Scouts-Many-Marshes who can give you Adept level training.
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In Riften, Grelka offers Expert level training should you head to the marketplace. If you're already part of the Dark Brotherhood, you can also seek out Nazir, who'll be happy to train you at Master level.
8 Lockpicking
- Expert Trainers: Ma'jhad (caravan on the road from Windhelm to Solitude)
- Master Trainers: Vex (Thieves Guild)
No doors or chests will remain inaccessible should you invest in Lockpicking. Easy enough to level on its own due to how many locked chests there are in the world, only two trainers exist in all of Skyrim.
Vex from the Thieves Guild will train you at Master level, provided you're a member of the Guild. If you happen to come across a Khajiit caravan, a Khajiit named Ma'jhad will also offer Expert level training.
7 One-Handed
- Adept Trainers: Amren (Whiterun)
- Expert Trainers: Athis (Companions)
- Master Trainers: Burguk (Dushnukh Yal, Orc Stronghold)
If you'd like to overwhelm your enemies with speed, One-Handed is perfect. In Whiterun, Amren can provide you with Adept level training.
Still in Whiterun, Athis, a member of the Companions, can give you Expert level training. If you have access to the Orsimer strongholds, you can head over to Dushnik Yal and seek Master level training from Burguk.
6 Pickpocket
- Expert Trainers: Silda the Unseen (Windhelm)
- Master Trainers: Vipir the Fleet (Thieves Guild)
Other people's belongings are now yours, through Pickpocketing. Risky to practice, it's also hard to find someone who'll actually train you.
In the Thieves Guild, Vipir the Fleet will train you at Master level. In Windhelm, you can also ask Silda the Unseen to train you at Expert level. She'll usually be wandering around Candlehearth Hall.\
5 Restoration
- Adept Trainers: Keepr Carcette (Hall of the Vigilant, near Dawnstar), Aphia Velothi (Raven Rock, Solstheim)
- Expert Trainers: Colette Marence (College of Winterhold)
- Master Trainers: Danica Pure-Spring (Whiterun), Florentius Baenius (Fort Dawnguard)
Restoration is defensive, healing magic that can support you and your companions in battle. For Adept level training, you can either speak to Keeper Carcette in Hall of the Vigilant or Aphia Velothi in Raven Rock if you own the Dragonborn DLC.
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At the College, Colette Marence can train you at Expert level. In Whiterun, Danica Pure-Spring in the Temple of Kynareth will train you at Master level after completing the quest The Blessings of Nature. Finally, in Fort Dawnguard in the Dawnguard DLC, Florentius Baenius will train you at Master level.
4 Smithing
- Adept Trainers: Ghorza gra-Bagol (Markarth)
- Expert Trainers: Balimund (Riften)
- Master Trainers: Eorlund Gray-Mane (Companions), Gunmar (Fort Dawnguard)
Smithing allows you to create better armor and weapons. There are four Smithing trainers in all of Skyrim. Ghorza gra-Bagol is Adept level, and found in Markarth. In Riften, you'll find Balimund, who's Expert level.
In Whiterun, Eorlund Gray-Mane is a Master level trainer for those who are members of the Companions and in Fort Dawnguard in the Dawnguard DLC, Gunmar is a Master level Smithing trainer.
3 Sneak
- Adept Trainers: Khayla (caravan on the road from Whiterun to Markarth)
- Expert Trainers: Garvey (Markarth)
- Master Trainers: Delvin Mallory (Thieves Guild)
An ideal skill for those who prefer to travel the shadows, Sneak is a staple for thieves. Head over to Riften's Ragged Flagon and speak to Delvin Mallory, who can train you at Master level. In Markarth, seek out Garvey who can give you Expert level training.
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If you happen to catch a Khajiit caravan, try and find a Khajiit known as Khayla, who can train you in Sneaking at Adept level.
2 Speech
- Adept Trainers: Dro-marash (caravan on the road from Riften to Dawnstar), Revyn Sadri (Windhelm)
- Expert Trainers: Ronthil (Castle Vokihar), Ogmund (Markarth)
- Master Trainers: Giraud Gemane (Solitude)
While Speech is easy to level up by bartering with vendors, there are also five trainers in Skyrim to help you. In Windhelm, Revyn Sadri can train you at Adept level. If you find a Khajiit caravan, seek out a Khajiit named Dro'marash, who can also train you at Adept level.
In Markarth, Ogmund from the Silver-Blood Inn will train you at Expert level. Giraud Gemane in Solitude's Bards College can train you at Master level. Finally, owners of the Dawnguard DLC can ask Ronthil in Castle Volkihar to train them at Expert level.
1 Two-Handed
- Expert Trainers: Torbjorn Shatter-Shield (Windhelm)
- Master Trainers: Vilkas (Companions), Fura Bloodmouth (Castle Volkihar), Wulf Wild-Blood (Skaal Village, Solstheim)
Two-Handed swords are a classic choice for a fighter. To level up fast, you can find Torbjorn Shatter-Shield in Windhelm who can provide you with Expert level training. In Whiterun, Vilkar, a member of the Companions, will also train you at Master level.
Owners of the Dawnguard DLC can find Fura Bloodmouth in Castle Volkihar for Master level training and those with the Dragonborn DLC should find Wulf Wild-Blood in Skaal Village for Master level training.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S
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