Oblivion:Skill Books

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The first time you read a given Skill Book, your level in the associated Skill will be permanently increased by one point. If a major skill is increased, it will count towards leveling up; the skill increase will also contribute to the skill bonuses you receive next time you level up. Unlike Trainers, there is no limit to how many Skill Books you can read at one level (other than how many you are able to find).

You can open a Skill Book, read it, and acquire the skill bonus without it being considered theft. Theft only occurs if while reading it you select to "Take" the book. If you just close the book (putting it back where you found it) no crime is committed.

If you find a second copy of a Skill Book that you have already read, you will not receive any skill bonus for reading the second copy.

When you have reached Mastery in a skill (100 points), reading a unread skill book will not produce any effect: it will not increase your skill above 100 points; it will not increase the Skill Books Read counter in your character statistics either, and you will not even be alerted of the skill book discovery.

A potential way to maximize skill books bonuses is to delay reading books located

• in containers -- since you can transfer them in your inventory without reading them
• outside containers, in a permanent, non-hostile, easily accessible location (such as a Mages Guild bookshelf or the Arcane University)

until you have reached Expert status (75 to 99 points) in the relevant skill, since one extra skill point is much harder to gain when you're an Expert than when you're still a Novice. However, this advice does not work for skill books found outside containers during quests, as it is not possible to take them without opening, thus reading them first.

Twenty of the skill books (one in each skill, except for Speechcraft) are primarily found in random loot. This means that there is a small chance that one of these twenty books will appear in any boss-level chest in any dungeon, or in a variety of other chests with random contents. There are also two quests on which you will receive a random skill book as your reward:

• Bear Season: one of six combat skill books (except for Armorer).
• Two Sides of the Coin: one of seven stealth books, plus one of the thirteen other random skill books.

Remember that floors are given using the American style; thus "first floor" in the list means "ground floor" if you're British.

ID	Book Name	Skill	Where this book can be found
000243CD	The Black Arrow, v 1	Acrobatics	Torbal the Sufficient's House in Brindle Home, in a chest
000243CB	A Dance in Fire, v1	Acrobatics	Ganredhel's House in Cheydinhal, on a table upstairs
000243CC	A Dance in Fire, v4	Acrobatics	Kvatch castle, on a table on your right as you enter the second section of the Great Hall (only accessible after The Battle for Castle Kvatch)
000243CE	Mystery of Talara, v 1	Acrobatics	Only found in random loot. (In Shivering Isles it's located on a chest on top of a mountain north of the letter "T" in The Laughing Coast)
000243CA	Thief	Acrobatics	S'Krivva's House in Bravil, on a second-floor shelf
00073A5F	Calcinator Treatise	Alchemy	Imperial Bridge Inn, under Lithnilian's bed May also be found in random loot
000243D2	De Rerum Dirennis	Alchemy	All Things Alchemical in Skingrad, on a second-floor shelf
000243CF	A Game at Dinner	Alchemy	Chorrol Mages Guild, on a first-floor bookcase. Frostcrag Spire after buying the alchemy lab area upgrade (mod-specific).
000243D0	Mannimarco, King of Worms	Alchemy	Arcane University's Mystic Archives, in a first-floor display case (look for a brown book)1
000243D1	Song of the Alchemists	Alchemy	Arcane University's Lustratorium, in a first-floor bookshelf against the west wall (look for an off-white book)1
000243D4	Daughter of the Niben	Alteration	Skingrad Mages Guild, in the living quarters, on a bookshelf in the northeast room (look for a little brown book)
000243D5	The Dragon Break	Alteration	Dovyn Aren's House in Elven Gardens District, in the bedroom 3
000243D8	The Lunar Lorkhan	Alteration	Henantier's Dream World, only available during the quest Through A Nightmare, Darkly May also be found in random loot
00073A69	Reality & Other Falsehoods	Alteration	Southern Books in Leyawiin, on a second-floor shelf
000243D6	Sithis	Alteration	Leyawiin Chapel Hall, on a desk in the office Deepscorn Hollow after buying the study area upgrade (mod-specific)
000243D9	The Armorer's Challenge	Armorer	For sale in The First Edition, Imperial City Market District Can be pickpocketed from Phintias, owner of The First Edition Fighters Guild in Cheydinhal, on top of second-floor bookcase to the right of the stairs, you have to jump up to see the book, it is colored like the shelf, on the right side.
000243DC	Cherim's Heart of Anequina	Armorer	The First Edition, Imperial City Market District, on a desk in the second-floor bedroom
00073A68	Heavy Armor Repair	Armorer	Battlehorn Castle after buying the library area upgrade (mod-specific). May also be found in random loot
000243DA	Last Scabbard of Akrash	Armorer	A Fighting Chance in Imperial City Market District, in the bedroom3
00073A67	Light Armor Repair	Armorer	Bravil Castle Barracks, on a shelf
000243E2	The Argonian Account, Book 1	Athletics	Only found in random loot
000243E1	Beggar	Athletics	Cloud Ruler Temple, on a shelf in the great hall
000243DF	A Dance in Fire, v3	Athletics	Uuras the Shepherd's house in Skingrad, on a third-floor (attic) bookcase
000243DE	The Ransom of Zarek	Athletics	Arena Bloodworks, in a cupboard to Owyn's right
000243E0	The Red Kitchen Reader	Athletics	Anvil Castle Private Quarters, on a desk
000243E4	2920, Morning Star (v1)	Blade	Cheydinhal Castle Private Quarters Leyawiin Castle Steward's and Healer's Private Quarters Reward for the Fighters Guild quest The Wandering Scholar Battlehorn Castle after buying the bedroom area upgrade (mod-specific).
00073A61	Battle of Sancre Tor	Blade	Bravil Castle Great Hall, in a locked display case May also be found in random loot
000243E5	Fire and Darkness	Blade	The Hall of Epochs during The Ultimate Heist, in a chest
000243E6	Song of Hrormir	Blade	Imperial City Arena District, in Branwen and Saliith's chest; Branwen has the key3 Bravil Castle Private Quarters East Wing
000243E3	Words and Philosophy	Blade	Modryn Oreyn's House in Chorrol, on a shelf
000243EA	A Dance in Fire, v2	Block	Guard House in Elven Gardens District, on a ground floor end-table
000243E8	Death Blow of Abernanit	Block	Anvil Fighters Guild Dining Hall, in a chest
000243E9	The Mirror	Block	Leyawiin City Watch Barracks, on a shelf in a downstairs storage room
000243EC	The Warp in the West	Block	Cloud Ruler Temple, on a desk in the great hall (only accessible after Dagon Shrine) Brother Piner at Weynon Priory has a copy; he will give it to you if you ask him for "Assistance" during Deliver the Amulet in the Main Quest May also be found in random loot
000243EB	Warrior	Block	Countess Alessia Caro's chamber in Leyawiin Castle, in a cupboard on the right hand side of the room Battlehorn Castle after buying the bedroom area upgrade (mod-specific).
000243EE	The Importance of Where	Blunt	Bravil Castle Dungeon, on a table
000243F0	King	Blunt	Anvil Castle Royal Quarters, on a shelf Battlehorn Castle after buying the bedroom area upgrade (mod-specific).
00073A62	The Legendary Sancre Tor	Blunt	Vilena Donton's house in Chorrol, on the third floor (take the stairs going up to the left, not the locked door to the right)
00073A66	Mace Etiquette	Blunt	Only found in random loot
000243EF	Night Falls on Sentinel	Blunt	Goblin Jim's Cave
000243F5	2920, Frostfall (v10)	Conjuration	Anvil Chapel Hall, on a desk
000243F4	2920, Hearth Fire (v9)	Conjuration	Bruma Chapel Hall, on a shelf
000243F2	The Doors of Oblivion	Conjuration	Fort Caractacus, under a desk in Ancotar's "alchemy lab" Anvil Mages Guild, on a second-floor bookshelf (near the bottom) Cloud Ruler Temple, on a desk in the great hall (only accessible after Blood of the Divines)
00073A60	Liminal Bridges	Conjuration	Arcane University Mystic Archive, in a second-floor display case against the west wall (look for a brown book) 1
00022B04	Mythic Dawn Commentaries 1	Conjuration	Acquired during The Path of Dawn in the Main Quest Can also be found on many Mythic Dawn agents or in their houses
000243F6	The Warrior's Charge	Conjuration	Only found in random loot
000243FA	The Art of War Magic	Destruction	Leafrot Cave (along the Panther River), on a shelf
000243F7	The Horrors of Castle Xyr	Destruction	Bravil Mages Guild, on a third-floor shelf
000243F9	A Hypothetical Treachery	Destruction	Skingrad Castle Lords Manor, on a shelf in the northwest corner of Hassildor's room.
000243FB	Mystery of Talara, v 3	Destruction	Only found in random loot
00022B05	Mythic Dawn Commentaries 2	Destruction	Given to you by Tar-Meena during The Path of Dawn in the Main Quest Can also be found on many Mythic Dawn agents or in their houses
000243F8	Response to Bero's Speech	Destruction	Arcane University Mystic Archives, on a first-floor bookshelf against the east wall (look for a blue book) 1
000243FE	Ahzirr Traajijazeri	Hand to Hand	Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood sanctuary, on a barrel next to M'raaj-Dar's usual chair in the training room J'Ghasta's house in Bruma (On a table in the back of the secret training room accessible via a trap door located behind the stairs.)
000243FC	Immortal Blood	Hand to Hand	The bandit camp outside Vilverin Seridur's house in the Imperial City Temple District, on a basement bookshelf (available by doing the The Order of the Virtuous Blood quest) J'Ghasta's house in Bruma Deepscorn Hollow after buying the study area upgrade (mod-specific)
00024400	Master Zoaraym's Tale	Hand to Hand	Only found in random loot
00073A6A	Way of the Exposed Palm	Hand to Hand	Black Balconies of Fieldhouse in Fieldhouse Cave, on the ground (hiding under a Cairn Bolete)
000243FD	The Wolf Queen, v2	Hand to Hand	Skingrad Castle, inside the Lord's Manor on a shelf against the south wall of Hassildor's room
00024402	2920, MidYear (v6)	Heavy Armor	Fire and Steel in Chorrol, on a shelf
00024403	Chimarvamidium	Heavy Armor	Imperial City Prison District Barracks, on a second-floor shelf3
000A915C	Fighters Guild History, 1st Ed.	Heavy Armor	Chorrol Fighters Guild, in a locked first-floor display case Arcane University Mystic Archives, in a first-floor display case1 Anvil Fighters Guild, in a third-floor display case
00024401	Hallgerd's Tale	Heavy Armor	Chorrol Fighters Guild, in a chest in the tower
00024405	History of the Fighters Guild	Heavy Armor	Battlehorn Castle after buying the library area upgrade (mod-specific). May also be found in random loot. (Note that this the standard edition of this book; there is also a more expensive first edition, see above)
00024404	How Orsinium Passed to Orcs	Heavy Armor	Bruma Castle Lords Manor, on a desk
00024407	The Argonian Account, Book 3	Illusion	Arcane University Mystic Archives, upstairs, south wall, right bookshelf, above the Novice Alembic1
00024408	Incident in Necrom	Illusion	Willow Bank in Cheydinhal, on a second floor chest of drawers
0002440A	Mystery of Talara, v 4	Illusion	Fort Caractacus, under the desk in Ancotar's "alchemy lab" May also be found in random loot
00022B06	Mythic Dawn Commentaries 3	Illusion	Acquired from Gwinas (or Phintias) during The Path of Dawn in the Main Quest More copies will be found afterwards, in the Sunken Sewers during The Path of Dawn and in Lake Arrius Caverns during Dagon Shrine
00024409	Palla, volume 1	Illusion	Arkved's Tower, on a table next to Vaermina's Orb in the final room (available during Vaermina's daedric quest)
00024406	The Wolf Queen, v3	Illusion	Bruma Mages Guild, on a desk in the southeast basement room (look for an orange book)
0002440C	Ice and Chitin	Light Armor	Ahdarji's house in Leyawiin, in a second-floor chest
0002440D	Lord Jornibret's Last Dance	Light Armor	Bleak Flats Cave, on a table
0002440B	The Rear Guard	Light Armor	Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood sanctuary, in a chest in the training room
0002440E	The Refugees	Light Armor	The First Edition book store in the Imperial City Market District, on the first bookshelf to the left of the door Cloud Ruler Temple, on a desk in the great hall (only accessible after Blood of the Divines)
0002440F	Rislav The Righteous	Light Armor	Deepscorn Hollow after buying the study area upgrade (mod-specific) May also be found in random loot
00024531	The Black Arrow, v 2	Marksman	Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood Living Quarters, in Teinaava's chest May also be found in random loot
00024411	A Dance in Fire, v5	Marksman	Regner's house in Bruma, on a table downstairs
00024530	Father of the Niben	Marksman	Bravil Castle Lord's Manor North Wing, on a shelf in the room opposite the entrance
00024410	The Gold Ribbon of Merit	Marksman	Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood sanctuary, in a chest in the training room Deepscorn Hollow after buying the study area upgrade (mod-specific)
0002452F	Vernaccus and Bourlor	Marksman	For sale at Renoit's Books in Chorrol, in plain sight on a shelf
00024534	2920, Sun's Height (v7)	Mercantile	Black Horse Courier office, Imperial City Market District
00024532	The Buying Game	Mercantile	Fathis Ules' house in the Elven Gardens District 3.
00024535	A Dance in Fire, v6	Mercantile	Casta Scribonia's house in Chorrol, on an upstairs shelf
00024536	A Dance in Fire, v 7	Mercantile	Only found in random loot
00024533	The Wolf Queen, v4	Mercantile	The Office of Imperial Commerce in the Imperial City Market District
00024538	2920, Sun's Dawn (v2)	Mysticism	Skingrad Chapel Hall, on a desk in a side room (look for a purple book) 2
00073A63	Before the Ages of Man	Mysticism	Arcane University's Chironasium, on a first floor Altar of Enchanting, against the southwest wall 1
00024539	The Black Arts On Trial	Mysticism	Mystic Emporium in the Imperial City Market District, on the desk (also for sale)
00024537	The Firsthold Revolt	Mysticism	Cheydinhal Mages Guild, on a basement bookshelf, one above the bottom shelf, next to the crystal ball
00022B07	Mythic Dawn Commentaries 4	Mysticism	Acquired from Raven Camoran during The Path of Dawn
00073A6B	Souls, Black and White	Mysticism	Fort Cuptor Battlemains, on the stone slab next to a bed, slightly under a coffin leaning against the slab May also be found in random loot
0002453F	2920, Rain's Hand (v4)	Restoration	Bravil Chapel Hall, on a shelf
0002453E	The Exodus	Restoration	Skingrad Chapel Hall, on a bookshelf in the southwest room (look for a brown book) 2
00024540	Mystery of Talara, v 2	Restoration	Only found in random loot
0002453D	Notes on Racial Phylogeny	Restoration	Chorrol Chapel Hall, in a chest
0002453C	Withershins	Restoration	Leyawiin Mages Guild, on a second-floor bookshelf (east room), top shelf (look for a green book)
00073A65	Advances in Lock Picking	Security	For sale at Mach-Na's Books in Cheydinhal Can be pickpocketed from Mach-Na Fingerbowl Cave, on a necromancer's altar
00024541	The Locked Room	Security	Smuggler's Cave under Anvil Castle, in a chest
00073A64	Proper Lock Design	Security	Dareloth's house in the Waterfront District, on a desk (available once you become Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild)
00024545	Surfeit of Thieves	Security	Only found in random loot
00024542	The Wolf Queen, v1	Security	Dro'shanji's house in Bravil, on a second-floor shelf
00024547	2920, Last Seed (v8)	Sneak	City-Swimmer's house in Bravil, on a dresser
00024549	Legend of Krately House	Sneak	Cloud Ruler Temple, on the rightmost bookcase in the east wing, top shelf
0002454A	Purloined Shadows	Sneak	Only found in random loot
00024548	Sacred Witness	Sneak	Lake Arrius Caverns Shrine Living Quarters, in a chest (only available after starting the Dagon Shrine quest) Deepscorn Hollow after buying the study area upgrade (mod-specific)
00024546	The Wolf Queen, v6	Sneak	Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood sanctuary
0002454D	2920, Second Seed (v5)	Speechcraft	Imperial Palace, on a bookshelf in the Imperial Battlemage's quarters, top shelf (only available during The Ultimate Heist)
0002454B	Biography of the Wolf Queen	Speechcraft	Armand Christophe's house in Waterfront District, in a chest 3 Reward for completing the Caught in the Hunt quest
0002454C	The Wolf Queen, v5	Speechcraft	Hastrel Ottus' house in the Imperial City Temple District
0002454E	The Wolf Queen, v7	Speechcraft	Cheydinhal Castle, in the Lord's Quarters, on the bookshelf to the right

¹ You need to complete the Mages Guild Recommendation Quests to reach this location
² If someone sees you here you are Trespassing
³ Taking this book is theft!