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Definitive 100% Walkthrough · Updated 2026

Skyrim Complete Guide

Fus Ro Dah — Become the Dragonborn

The complete guide to The Elder Scrolls V. Master the main quest, learn every Dragon Shout, claim all 15 Daedric Artifacts, absorb the power of the Standing Stones, rise through every faction, and reach 100% with our interactive trackers.

PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch · Switch 2Reviewed Every fact sourced

Anniversary EditionAction RPGOpen WorldBethesda · 2011
November 11, 2011Release
Dawnguard · Hearthfire · DragonbornDLC
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100% Trackers

20 · Tracker

Dragon Shouts (20)

Track all 20 shouts and their Words of Power.

 13 · Tracker

Standing Stones (13)

Collect every Guardian Stone across the province.

 15 · Tracker

Daedric Artifacts (15)

Claim all 15 artifacts for the Oblivion Walker feat.

 10 · Tracker

Dragon Priest Masks (10)

Find every mask to unlock the legendary Konahrik.

 18 · Tracker

Skills Mastered (18)

Push all 18 skills to 100 and mark your mastery.

 15 · Tracker

Unique Weapons (15)

Hunt down 15 iconic named weapons across Skyrim.

 7 · Tracker

Black Books (7)

Read all 7 Black Books of the Dragonborn DLC.

 Guide

Achievements

Which ones are missable, which need a separate save, and a clean order to chase all 75.

 Guide

Interactive Map

A schematic interactive map of all 13 Standing Stones across the holds of Skyrim.

Getting Started

Guide

Races & Builds

All 10 playable races, their powers and the best picks for warrior, mage and stealth archer builds.

 Guide

Skills & Perks

Master all 18 skills, plan perk trees, and hit Legendary the smart way.

 13 · Tracker

Standing Stones

All 13 Guardian Stones, their bonuses, and which to grab first.

Main Quest Walkthrough

Guide

1. Unbound

Escape the dragon attack on Helgen with Ralof or Hadvar.

 Guide

2. Bleak Falls Barrow

Recover the Golden Claw and the Dragonstone for Farengar.

 Guide

3. Dragon Rising

Slay your first dragon at the Western Watchtower and absorb its soul.

 Guide

4. The Way of the Voice

Climb the 7,000 Steps to High Hrothgar and train with the Greybeards.

 Guide

5. Diplomatic Immunity

Infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy to uncover the truth about the dragons.

 Guide

6. Alduin's Bane

Read the Elder Scroll and learn Dragonrend atop the Throat of the World.

 Guide

7. The Fallen

Trap the dragon Odahviing in Dragonsreach to reach Sovngarde.

 Guide

8. Dragonslayer (Finale)

Journey to Sovngarde and defeat Alduin the World-Eater once and for all.

Guilds & Questlines

Guide

Guilds & Factions

Every major Skyrim faction: the Companions, College of Winterhold, Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood, the Civil War and the Bards College — how to join and what you earn.

 Guide

The Companions

Full walkthrough of the Skyrim Companions questline in Whiterun: become a Werewolf, cleanse Kodlak's soul and rise to Harbinger with Wuuthrad.

 Guide

College of Winterhold

Full walkthrough of the Skyrim College of Winterhold: uncover the Eye of Magnus, retrieve the Staff of Magnus and become Arch-Mage.

 Guide

Thieves Guild

Full walkthrough of the Skyrim Thieves Guild in Riften: rebuild the Guild, expose Mercer Frey, become a Nightingale and claim the Skeleton Key.

 Guide

Dark Brotherhood

Full walkthrough of the Skyrim Dark Brotherhood: join the assassins, survive Astrid's betrayal and complete the contract to kill the Emperor.

 Guide

Civil War

Skyrim Civil War guide: the differences between siding with the Stormcloaks or the Imperial Legion, the campaign quests and rewards for each path.

Expansions & Deep Dives

Guide

Dawnguard DLC: Serana

Vampires vs the Dawnguard, the Soul Cairn, and Auriel's Bow.

 Guide

Dragonborn DLC: Miraak

Travel to Solstheim, learn Bend Will, and defeat the first Dragonborn.

 Guide

Houses & Hearthfire

Every player home to buy, plus building your own homestead.

 Guide

Alchemy Guide

Best potion recipes, poison combos and money-making tricks.

 Guide

Smithing & Enchanting

The full crafting loop to forge legendary, game-breaking gear.

 Guide

FAQ

Quick answers about this guide, its checklists and how progress is saved.
Chapter 1

Story & Setting

The year is 4E 201. The Dragon Alduin, the World-Eater, has returned to devour the world — and only the Dragonborn can stop him.

🐉

The Dragonborn

Born with the blood and soul of a dragon, you can absorb dragon souls and learn the Thu'um — the Voice — to shape the world with words of power.

⚔️

Civil War

Skyrim is torn between the Imperial Legion and Ulfric Stormcloak's rebellion. Your allegiance shapes the province's fate.

🌌

Alduin's Return

Prophesied in the Elder Scrolls, the return of the World-Eater heralds the end of days. Sovngarde itself is at stake.

Chapter 4

Dragon Shouts (Thu'um)

There are 20 Dragon Shouts, each made of 3 Words of Power found on Word Walls across Skyrim. Track every one you've learned.

Open the Dragon Shouts Tracker (20)
Chapter 5

Collectibles & Power

CollectionTotalReward
Dragon Shouts20Unlock the power of the Voice
Standing Stones13Permanent passive bonuses
Daedric Artifacts15Oblivion Walker achievement
Dragon Priest Masks10Powerful unique headgear + Konahrik
Unique Weapons15Named, one-of-a-kind armaments
Black Books (DLC)7Permanent Apocrypha powers
Chapter 6

Guilds & Factions

Five major questlines, each with its own rewards, storyline and leadership to claim.

Explore All Factions

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