Skill trainers | Listings TES V: Skyrim Guide
Last update: 05 December 2019
This page of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim guide includes the list of skill trainers in the in-game world. We also explain the importance of reaching coaches, and whether their services are free.
Basic information
Visiting skill trainers is a very interesting way of developing main character's skills. The biggest advantage of this method is that unlike with skill books you don't have to waste a lot of time exploring the world for new items, because you can always to return to the same person. It's worth mentioning here that completing lessons and increasing skills counts towards the progress needed to advanced to higher experience levels, so you can also work on improving the speed in which your character gets stronger. As for the disadvantages, one of them are the costs. Each lesson costs a lot of gold (typically a few hundred coins), so you must be rich in order to ensure that you can use trainer's help on a regular basis. An even important disadvantage is that you're allowed to take up to five lessons per one experience level (you can complete all five lessons with the same trainer or choose different trainers). Thankfully each time you've advanced to a higher experience level this limit is reset and you can participate in the next set of five lessons.
Each of the trainers has only one area of expertise and you can ask that person for training by choosing the correct dialogue option. The trainers themselves can be divided into three groups. Adept trainers can assist you in developing skills up to 50 points, expert trainers can assist you in developing skills up to 75 points and master trainers can assist you in developing skills up to 90 points. You should also know that interacting with some of the trainers is possible only if you're a member of the same organization (Dark Brotherhood for example).
If one of the trainers has died for some reason, then you're out of luck, because that person won't be replaced by anyone else. As a result it's wise to watch out for them, especially if a trainer can also become your follower (Companions members can join you). It's also important to know that even if you've asked a trainer to become your follower you can still ask him for lessons, without having to send that person away to their home (sadly this doesn't mean that you don't have to pay for training).
List of trainers
Important - Make sure to consult the World Maps chapter of this guide for additional help with finding the locations where trainers are stationed (you must first find the map of the correct sector and then the number mentioned in the text). It's best to buy lessons during the day, because some trainers go to sleep at night.
TRAINER'S NAME | TRAINER'S AREA OF EXPERTISE | TRAINER'S LEVEL | LOCATION |
Lami | Alchemy | adept | Morthal - Thaumaturgist's Hut (1; 49) |
Arcadia | Alchemy | expert | Whiterun - Arcadia's Cauldron (5; 31) |
Babette | Alchemy | master | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (7; 14) or Dawnstar Sanctuary (2; 05) |
Melaran | Alteration | adept | Blue Palace (1; 26) |
Dravynea | Alteration | expert | Kynesgrove - Braidwood Inn (4; 19) |
Tolfdir | Alteration | master | College of Winterhold (3; 05) |
Faendal | Archery | adept | Riverwood (8; 03) |
Aela the Huntress | Archery | expert | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) |
Niruin | Archery | master | Riften - The Ragged Flagon (9; 13) |
Njada Stonearm | Block | expert | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) |
Larak | Block | master | Mor Khazgur (1; 27) |
Runil | Conjuration | adept | Falkreath - Hall of the Dead (7; 15) |
Phinis Gestor | Conjuration | expert | College of Winterhold (3; 05) |
Falion | Conjuration | master | Morthal - Falion's House (1; 49) |
Wuunferth the Unliving | Destruction | adept | Palace of the Kings (3; 25) |
Sybille Stentor | Destruction | expert | Blue Palace (1; 26) |
Faralda | Destruction | master | College of Winterhold (3; 05) |
Sergius Turrianus | Enchanting | expert | College of Winterhold (3; 05) |
Hamal | Enchanting | master | Markarth - Temple of Dibella (6; 08) |
Hermir Strong-Heart | Heavy Armor | adept | Windhelm (3; 26) |
Gharol | Heavy Armor | expert | Dushnikh Yal (6; 36) |
Farkas | Heavy Armor | master | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) |
Atub | Illusion | expert | Largashbur (9; 20) |
Drevis Neloren | Illusion | master | College of Winterhold (3; 05) |
Scouts-Many-Marshes | Light Armor | adept | Windhelm - Docks (3; 26) |
Grelka | Light Armor | expert | Riften (9; 13) |
Nazir | Light Armor | master | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary (7; 14) or Dawnstar Sanctuary (2; 05) |
Ma'jhad | Lockpicking | expert | Khajiit Caravan |
Vex | Lockpicking | master | Riften - The Ragged Flagon (9; 13) |
Amren | One-Handed | adept | Whiterun (5; 31) |
Athis | One-Handed | expert | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) |
Burguk | One-Handed | master | Dushnikh Yal (6; 36) |
Ahkari | Pickpocket | adept | Khajiit Caravan |
Silda the Unseen | Pickpocket | expert | Windhelm (3; 26) |
Vipir the Fleet | Pickpocket | master | Riften - The Ragged Flagon (9; 13) |
Keeper Carcette | Restoration | adept | Hall of the Vigilant (2; 25) |
Colette Marence | Restoration | expert | College of Winterhold (3; 05) |
Danica Pure-Spring | Restoration | master | Whiterun - Temple of Kynareth (5; 31) |
Ghorza gra-Bagol | Smithing | adept | Markarth (6; 08) |
Balimund | Smithing | expert | Riften - The Scorched Hammer (9; 13) |
Eorlund Gray-Mane | Smithing | master | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) |
Khayla | Sneak | adept | Khajiit Caravan |
Garvey | Sneak | expert | Markarth (6; 08) |
Delvin Mallory | Sneak | master | Riften - The Ragged Flagon (9; 13) |
Dro'marash | Speech | adept | Khajiit Caravan |
Revyn Sadri | Speech | adept | Windhelm - Sadri's Used Wares (3; 26) |
Ogmund | Speech | expert | Markarth - Silver-Blood Inn (6; 08) |
Geraud Gemane | Speech | master | Solitude - Bards College (1; 24) |
Torbjorn Shatter-Shield | Two-Handed | expert | Windhelm (3; 26) |
Vilkas | Two-Handed | master | Whiterun - Jorrvaskr (5; 31) |