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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition

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Speech

By
Scott Peers

This page details an overview of the Speech skill in Skyrim, including recommended perks, leveling tips, and where to find Speech trainers.

Speech, Skyrim.

Speech Overview

Speech determines the prices you get when buying and selling things, and determines your chances of success when attempting to persuade, bribe, or intimidate others. Speech perks also allow you to sell items to merchants who don’t peddle those wares, invest in a shop to increase their available gold, sell stolen items to merchants you’ve invested in, and even increase the money available to every merchant in the game.

Recommended Perks

As Speech is pretty much all about making more gold, you don’t necessarily need to spend any perks to increase combat effectiveness. But let’s not be hasty, I hear you say; what about the story and quest sides of Speech? Well… sadly even with a Speech score of 0 there was not a single situation where a Speech option was possible that couldn’t be overcome. Now, even with a score of 100 some characters will be unmoved by one attempt or another, but a character that isn’t moved by a Persuade attempt might be Intimidated, or failing that, Bribed. Since every quest can be done without spending any perks, why bother wasting perks? You’ll get enough gold without blowing perks in the Speech skill, and improving your Persuade/Bribe/Intimidate chances aren’t necessary.

Leveling Tips

There are really only two ways to level up Speech; succeed at Persuade/Intimidate/Bribe checks, or sell items. There are plenty of options to do the former throughout Skyrim, but aside from joining the Thieves Guild, committing minor crimes and getting caught, bribing your way out of trouble is the only somewhat reliable way to grind them, and even that’s limited.

Fortunately, you’ll generate tons of loot to sell when you’re performing the radiant quests for Vex and Delvin, and while leveling up the crafting skills. Just sell the items you steal or craft to Tonilia in the Thieves Guild (preferably after completing some of the quests to upgrade the Thieves Guild to increase her funds) to increase your Speech. Do so one item at a time, as this gets you more Speech experience than selling in bulk.

Speech Trainer Locations

Trainer Skill Level Location
Revyn Sadri Adept (Lv. 15 - 50) Windhelm, Sadri’s Used Wares
Dro’marash Adept (Lv. 15 - 50) Member of the wandering Khajiit caravan
Garvey Expert (Lv. 51 - 75) Markarth, The Warrens
Giraud Gemane Master (Lv. 76 - 90) Solitude, Bard’s College
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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Bethesda Softworks
  • Platforms,
    PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, XB 360, XB One
  • Genre
    Action RPG
  • Guide Release
    11 November 2021
  • Last Updated
    7 November 2021
    Version History
  • Guide Author
    Greg Wright

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Skyrim is the homeland of the Nords, a fierce and proud warrior people who are well suited for the bitter cold and mountainous terrain which defines the land. Now scarred by civil war, Skyrim faces its darkest days with the return of the legendary dragons and their leader, the World-Eater Alduin. The future of Skyrim and even the lands beyond hangs in the balance, as the people await the prophesized Dragonborn, a hero born with the power of The Voice and the only one who can contend with the dragons. You are that Dragonborn; your task is to investigate why the dragons are returning, and discover a way to defeat them. At the same time, you’re free to explore Skyrim at your own pace, uncovering its many wonders along the way.

Version 1.2

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