Leveling help + questions

[rpbraley868]

So my character is now level 55 and i find gaining new levels to be few and far between. Are there any exploits for certain skills i can use to gain levels quickly? These are my stats as of now

Spoiler:

COMBAT
---------
Smithing -100
Heavy Armor -26
Block -47
2handed - 20
1handed - 70
Archery - 83
Light Armor - 66

STEALTH
--------
Sneak -100
Lockpicking -100
Picpocket -83
Speech -72
Alchemy -35

MAGIC
--------
Illusion -100
Conjuration -29
Destruction -42
Restoration -40
Alteration -63
Enchanting - 88

Also, would using a weak weapon, say iron greatsword, level up my 2handed skill faster than say a daedric one because i do less damage thus hit more? or would it be the same?
Does blocking against say a dragon give more block xp than blocking against a skeever? (aka does amount of damage matter or is it just # of times hit)

[Gideon Dragontongue]

First of all: Stop using enchanted weapons, and any damage-boosting gear. You'll be doing less damage, but all of it will count towards your skill improvements. The weapon skills are based on the amount of damage you deal, regardless of any buffs or cast-on-strike effects.

I would suggest you start doing a lot more alchemy as well; here's the wiki's guide to gaining experience:

Alchemy experience gains are proportional to the gold cost of the potion being brewed. Details of the gold cost calculation are provided at Alchemy Effects. Fortify Alchemy enchanted apparel (Hand/Head/Ring/Amulet) with a high combined bonus (+100% or more) greatly increases the effectiveness of alchemy training. It is recommended to level Enchanting first for this purpose. +100% means double the value and thus twice as much skill XP per potion brewed. Get the Alchemist, Physician, Benefactor and Poisoner Perks as soon as they unlock while training. The most expensive single effects (using standard ingredients) are Paralyze, Damage Magicka Regen, Invisibility, and Slow. Since the effect costs are additive, a potion with more effects may have higher cost than a potion with one of these high value effects. Using the Giant's Toe ingredient to create a Fortify Health potion results in potions that cost 5.9 times more than standard Fortify Health potions, and are therefore even more valuable than Paralyze potions. This means that the most expensive potions (resulting in maximum xp gain) will always include Giant's Toe in some way. For example, according to this app, the most expensive potions that you can create will be

With Giant's Toe: Hanging Moss + Bear Claws + Giant's Toe or Blue Butterfly Wing + Blue Mountain Flower + Giant's Toe
Without Giant's Toe: Glow Dust + Glowing Mushroom + Hanging Moss or Creep Cluster + Large Antlers + River Betty

Rather than worry about which ingredients to buy, it is probably best just to buy ALL the ingredients from any alchemist merchant except the most expensive (Daedra Heart, Frost Salts, and Void Salts) because the money made back from selling potions will allow you to empty the merchant of all the ingredients they have, and all of gold they have too. Just work through the whole inventory making potions for max xp.

I personally have used all of the above techniques to great effect, and since you already have high Enchanting, this is the ideal time to begin working on your potion-making.

[OblivionDuruza]

I'd have a look at some of those lower level skills. Conjuration is quite easy to train, especially with bound weapon spells and necromantic arts (as I myself just recently discovered when addressing a similar 'issue' to yours in regards to levelling). As such, you can summon a weapon, and use it, and still train your weapon skill of choice, or rely on a high skill with that particular weapon in a tough fight.

I'd also switch some, if not all, of your Light Armour to high level Heavy Armour, and consider working in Two-handed weapons for the less strenuous fights.

[rpbraley868]

Thanks for the tips. I cant believe i forgot about the conjuration one.
I spent like 3 hours (real time) just fast travelling between alchemy shops buying all ingredients at each one over and over till i had about 400lbs of just ingredients lol. Only got me like 15 skill ups..... and another 3 hours trying to find merchants to sell all the potions to.

I suppose conjuration will be easiest, because don't u get xp just for casting near an enemy? I have Quiet Casting so i can simply Throw Voice then cast over and over.

[OblivionDuruza]

Yep, you get XP for casting near enemies, and even for being near enemies with a Bound Weapon. I'm now level 45 or so in Conjuration, coming from around level 15 only a few days ago, and I haven't been playing too extensively, and have not exclusively using Conjuration, mixing in Two-handed as well, which I've taken up 20 or so levels. This is at the mid-thirties in level though, so the tougher enemies seem to be giving off more XP.

[henryjones000]

You should do the Bard's College Quests. Joining the Companions lets you learn most combat skills for free.

[Mr.Argonian]

Alchemy is my favourite crafting skill, and one of the best ways to level it up is to make paralyze poisons. If you explore the swamps near Morthal for around 30 minutes you will end up with around 70 swamp fungal pods and 50 canis roots. Or if you aren't against exploits, you can use the restoration potion exploit, which a side effect of is that it willlevel your alchemy extremely quickly.

[Mattbott]

don't forget to choose the xp bonus power stones as well before you start.. the combat one would be good when you go on your heavy armour/2 handed training rampage

[Lymond]

Agree that Alchemy provides a prime level up opportunity for you. At level 55 you presumably can afford to buy out the stock of alchemist stores you visit. Use a couple of perks on alchemy and you are in business.

Do some adventuring with 2-hand weapon and heavy armor and you can do some leveling up and have some fun with it. You can level up your alteration by using a detect life spell while you are in wilderness or exploring caves.

[VictoriaCullen]

The best place I found for leveling Conjuration is the College of Winterhold. If you get Bound Sword or any of the Bound weapons and get a dragon to spawn there, you can hide behind the pillars and reapeatedly cast the spell whilst the mages fight the dragon.

[MaKo]

If you don't mind using exploits, Conjuration can be quickly raised by casting Soul Trap on dead bodies (creatures, animals, humans, etc).

[Lotet]

how about making echanted items with effects that reduce the cost of a spell. a Falmer Helmet can be worn with a Circlet to et it past 100% spell cost reduction, unless you've already leveled Enchanting to 100 with perks, then you won't need the Falmer Helmet. once that's done just cast expensive spells on a weak enemy. I suggest Mudcrabs because they won't get away. Destruction, unfortunately, will still take too long, try a Trainer between you levels.

also eat Venison Stew to replenish your stamina constantly then Shield Bash you enemies mercilessly.