Skill Books are a great way of improving your skill bonuses in Oblivion. They’re particularly helpful at higher levels since a book can permanently increase a skill’s level by one point. We’ve scoured Cyrodiil’s nooks and corners for every Skill Book location in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, separated based on the skills they enhance. Here’s what you need to begin your book hunt.
Taking books when the icon turns red counts as a theft.
Table of Contents¶
If you want to jump to a specific section, click on the links below.
Using Skill Books¶
Reading Skill Books will raise the associated skill’s value by one. In areas with NPCs, you don’t have to pick up the book to read it. This will let you improve your skills without it counting as theft. But if you want to save its powers for later, you have no choice but to steal the book. In addition, the second copy of a book won’t give you the same skill bonus.
If you’re looking to get the most value out of Skill Books, consider hunting them down once you’ve spent a good amount of time building your skills. And once you start looking for them, grab the ones in easily accessible locations first unless you’re in areas exclusive to specific quests. Bear Season, Two Sides of the Coin, and Everything In Its Place are three quests that give you random books as rewards.
Some books can also be found in random loot within boss chests. Here are the locations where they have a chance of showing up:
- Miscarcand and Infested Mine’s boss chests have a chance of giving you Combat skill books.
- Ceyatatar Gorihame, Fort Rayles Hall of Winter, Echo Necromancer’s Chamber, and Silorn can have Magic skill books.
- The North Tunnel Sewers, Undertow Cavern, Telepe, Rockmilk Cave, Bloodmayne Cave Labyrinth, Bleak Mine, Flooded Mine, Bloodcrust Cavern, and Nornalhorst may offer you Stealth skill books.
As for fixed Skill Books, we’ve detailed them all in the following tables based on which skills they improve.
Read books to enhance skills in Oblivion.
Acrobatics¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| The Black Arrow v1 | Torbal the Sufficient’s House in Brindle Home, a village in the woods north of Skingrad. Look inside the chest near the bed. | Map Marker |
| A Dance in Fire v1 | Ganredhel’s House, opposite the Great Chapel of Arkay on the east side of Cheydinhal. | Map Marker |
| A Dance in Fire v4 | Enter Kvatch Castle and get the book from a table to the right as you enter the Great Hall during The Battle for Castle Kvatch quest. | Map Marker |
| Mystery of Talara v1 | Random loot. In the Shivering Isles expansion, you can find it in a chest on top of a mountain at The Laughing Coast. | Map Marker |
| Thief | On the bottom shelf on the upper floor of S’krivva’s House in the north of Bravil. Simply enter the gates and you’ll find this house. | Map Marker |
Alchemy¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| Calcinator Treatise | Under Lithnilian’s bed on the top floor of the Imperial Bridge Inn east of Bravil. Can also be found as random loot. | Map Marker |
| De Rerum Dirennis | The middle shelf on the upper floor of the All Things Alchemical shop on the northern side of Skingrad. | Map Marker |
| A Game at Dinner | A bookcase within the Chorrol Mages Guild on the north side of Chorrol. Head through the south door inside the Guild Hall and then the doorway to the east to find it. The book can also be found in Frostcrag Spire east of Bruma after purchasing the library area upgrade. | Map Marker |
| Mannimarco, King of Worms | A display case along the eastern wall on the first floor of the Mystic Archives of the Arcane University in the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| Song of the Alchemists | A bookshelf along the western wall on the first floor of the Lustratorium in the Arcane University. | Map Marker |
Alteration¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| Daughter of the Niben | A bookshelf in the northeast room of the Living Quarters in the Mages Guild of Skingrad. | Map Marker |
| The Dragon Break | The shelf of a table in the private quarters of Dovyn Aren’s House in the Elven Gardens District (Imperial City). | Map Marker |
| The Lunar Lorkhan | Only accessible during the Through A Nightmare, Darkly quest from Kud-Ei in Bravil’s Mages Guild. Found behind a bed near an overturned table in Henantier’s Dreamworld. Can also be found in random loot. | Map Marker |
| Reality & Other Falsehoods | On the top of a bookshelf to the right side of the room on the second floor of the Southern Books store in Leyawiin. | Map Marker |
| Sithis | On a desk in the chapel hall of the Great Chapel of Zenithar in northwest Leyawiin. It can also be found in Deepscorn Hollow to the southeast of Leyawiin if you purchase the study area upgrade. | Map Marker |
Armorer¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| The Armorer’s Challenge | Purchase it from Phintias in the First Edition store in the Market District of the Imperial City. It can also be picked up from the bookcase to the right of the stairs on the second floor of the Fighters Guild in west Cheydinhal. | Map Marker |
| Cherim’s Heart of Anequina | On a desk in the private quarters of the First Edition store in the Market District of the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| Heavy Armor Repair | Random loot. In the Shivering Isles expansion, you can find it in two spots at Battlehorn Castle west of Chorrot. Look in the blacksmith’s house and the castle’s master bedroom after purchasing the library area upgrade. | Map Marker |
| Last Scabbard of Akrash | In the private quarters of A Fighting Chance in the Market District of the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| Light Armor Repair | On a shelf near the beds in the Castle Bravil Barracks on Bravil’s southeastern island. | Map Marker |
Athletics¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| The Argonian Account, Book 1 | Potential reward from the Bear Season quest. Also found in random loot. | Map Marker |
| Beggar | On a shelf within the great hall of Cloud Ruler Temple northwest of Bruma. You may have to progress in the main quest to access this area. | Map Marker |
| A Dance in Fire, v3 | On a bookcase in the attic of Uuras the Shepherd’s House near the west gate of Skingrad. | Map Marker |
| The Ransom of Zarek | In the cupboard in front of the blademaster of Arena Bloodworks in the Arena District of the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| The Red Kitchen Reader | On a desk in Baeralorn’s room in the private quarters of Castle Anvil. | Map Marker |
Blade¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2920, Morning Star | Reward for finishing The Wandering Scholar quest for the Fighters Guild. Can also be found in the Battlehorn Castle after getting the bedroom upgrade. It’s also present on a shelf in the healer’s private quarters in Castle Leyawiin. And you can get it in the northwest room of Castle Cheydinhal’s private quarters. | Map Marker |
| Battle of Sancre Tor | Can be obtained from the Bear Season quest or as random loot. It can also be found in a display case in the great hall of Castle Bravil. | Map Marker |
| Fire and Darkness | Can be obtained during The Ultimate Heist quest for the Thieves’ Guild. Get it from a side room in the second Hall of Epochs found in The Old Way Ayleid Ruin in the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| Song of Hrormir | Found in Branwen’s chest (Branwen has the key) in the Arena District of the Imperial City. It can also be found on a large case in the last room in the east wing of Castle Bravil’s private quarters. | Map Marker |
| Words and Philosophy | On a shelf in Modryn Oreyn’s house in southwest Chorrol. | Map Marker |
Block¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| A Dance in Fire v2 | On a table on the ground floor of the Guard House in the Elven Gardens District of the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| Death Blow of Abernanit | In a chest in the dining hall of the Fighters Guild in the center of Anvil. | Map Marker |
| The Mirror | On a shelf in a downstairs storage area in the Leyawiin City Watch Barracks. | Map Marker |
| The Warp in the West | On a desk in the great hall of Cloud Ruler Temple northwest of Bruma. You can also get it by asking for assistance from Brother Piner at Weynon Priory during the Deliver the Amulet quest. Can also be found in random loot and as a reward from the Bear Season quest. | Map Marker |
| Warrior | On a shelf on the east side of Countess Alessia Caro’s chamber in Leyawiin Castle. It can also be found in Battlehorn Castle west of Chorrol after the bedroom upgrade. | Map Marker |
Blunt¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| The Importance of Where | On a table in the Bravil Castle Dungeon southeast of Bravil. | Map Marker |
| King | On a shelf in the Anvil Castle Royal Quarters. Can also be found in Battlehorn Castle west of Chorrol after the bedroom upgrade. | Map Marker |
| The Legendary Sancre Tor | On a shelf on the third floor of Vilena Donton’s house in north Chorrol. Head to the door on your right and you will find the shelf to the left. | Map Marker |
| Mace Etiquette | Random loot and a potential reward from the Bear Season quest. | Map Marker |
| Night Falls on Sentinel | Goblin Jim’s Cave north of Skingrad. | Map Marker |
Conjuration¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2920, Frostfall | On a desk in Anvil’s Chapel of Dibella. Head downstairs and unlock the door to the Chapel Hall. Then head straight and open a door to the east. In the small bedroom past the door, you will spot the book on a desk. | Map Marker |
| 2920, Hearth Fire | On a shelf in Bruma’s Great Chapel of Talos. Head downstairs and unlock the door to the Chapel Hall. Look to the left of the table and you will find the book in a shelf. | Map Marker |
| The Doors of Oblivion | Under a desk in Ancotar’s alchemy lab in Fort Caractacus north of the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| Liminal Bridges | In a display case in the west wall of the second floor of the Mystic Archives in the Imperial City’s Arcane University. | Map Marker |
| Mythic Dawn Commentaries 1 | Get it from Mythic Dawn agents or their houses. You can also find the book during The Path of Dawn quest. | Map Marker |
| The Warrior’s Charge | Part of random loot. | Map Marker |
Destruction¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| The Art of War Magic | On a shelf in Leafrot Cave east of Bravil. | Map Marker |
| The Horrors of Castle Xyr | On a shelf in the northwest side of the third floor of Bravil’s Mages Guild. The building lies on the west side of Bravil. | Map Marker |
| A Hypothetical Treachery | On a shelf in the northwest side of Hassildor’s room in the Lord’s Manor in Skingrad Castle. | Map Marker |
| Mystery of Talara v3 | Found in random loot. | Map Marker |
| Mythic Dawn Commentaries 2 | Get it from Tar-Meena in the Arcane University during The Path of Dawn quest. You can also get it from Mythic Dawn agents. | Map Marker |
| Response to Bero’s Speech | On a bookshelf against the east wall of the Mystic Archives in the Imperial City’s Arcane University. | Map Marker |
Hand to Hand¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| Ahzirr Traajijazeri | On a barrel in the training room of the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary under the Abandoned House in Cheydinhal. It can also be found in the back of the training room behind the stairs of J’Ghasta’s house in southeastern Bruma. | Map Marker |
| Immortal Blood | Can be found in the bandit camp outside Vilverin, northeast of the Imperial City. Deepscorn Hollow with the study upgrade and J’Ghasta’s house in southeastern Bruma also have this book. It can also be found on a basement bookshelf in Seridur’s house while pursuing the Order of the Virtuous Blood quest given by Ralsa Norvalo in the Temple District of the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| Master Zoaraym’s Tale | Potential reward from the Bear Season quest or can be found as random loot. | Map Marker |
| Way of the Exposed Palm | On the ground under a mushroom in the Black Balconies of Fieldhouse Cave northeast of Leyawiin. It lies in a room south of the Black Balconies of Fieldhouse zone. | Map Marker |
| The Wolf Queen v2 | On a shelf against the south wall of Hassildor’s room in the Lord’s Manor of Skingrad Castle. | Map Marker |
Heavy Armor¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2920, MidYear | On a shelf upstairs in the Fire and Steel store near Chorrol’s south gate. | Map Marker |
| Chimarvamidium | On a shelf in the Imperial Legion Offices Barracks in the Imperial City’s Prison District. | Map Marker |
| Fighters Guild History, 1st Ed. | On a display case in the first floor of both the Imperial City’s Mystic Archives and the Fighters Guild in Chorrol. It can also be found in the third floor of the Anvil Fighters Guild in a display case. | Map Marker |
| Hallgerd’s Tale | In a chest in the tower of the Chorrol Fighters Guild. | Map Marker |
| History of the Fighters Guild | Potential Bear Season quest reward and can be obtained from random loot. You can also get it from Battlehorn Castle west of Chorrol after buying the library upgrade. | Map Marker |
| How Orsinium Passed to Orcs | On a desk in a room upstairs on the west side of the hallway in the Lord’s Manor of Bruma Castle. Enter the Great Hall and open the locked door to the left to head here. | Map Marker |
Illusion¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| The Argonian Account, Book 3 | On a bookshelf above the Novice Alembic in the Mystic Archives’ first floor in the Imperial City’s Arcane University. | Map Marker |
| Incident in Necrom | On a chest of drawers upstairs in the Willow Bank in Cheydinhal. | Map Marker |
| Mystery of Talara v4 | Under a desk in Ancotar’s alchemy lab in Fort Caractacus north of the Imperial City. Can also be found as random loot. | Map Marker |
| Mythic Dawn Commentaries 3 | Obtained from Gwinas or Phintias during The Path of Dawn quest. Can also be found in the Sunken Sewers under the Imperial City and the Lake Arrius Caverns north of Cheydinhal. | Map Marker |
| Palla, volume 1 | On a table near Vaermina’s Orb in Arkved’s Tower southwest of Cheydinhal during Vaermina’s Daedric quest. | Map Marker |
| The Wolf Queen v3 | On a desk in the southeast area of the basement (Living Quarters) of the Bruma Mages Guild in the north side of the city. | Map Marker |
Light Armor¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| Ice and Chitin | In a chest on the second floor of Ahdarji’s House in Leyawiin. | Map Marker |
| Lord Jornibret’s Last Dance | On a table in Bleak Flats Cave northwest of Skingrad. | Map Marker |
| The Rear Guard | In a chest in the training room of the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary under the Abandoned House in Cheydinhal. | Map Marker |
| The Refugees | On a bookshelf in the First Edition store in the Imperial City’s Market District. It can also be found on a desk in the great hall of the Cloud Ruler Temple northwest of Bruma. | Map Marker |
| Rislav The Righteous | Get it from random loot or in Deepscorn Hollow southeast of Leyawiin after buying the study upgrade. It can be found on top of the bookshelf in the west room of Deepscorn Bastion. | Map Marker |
Marksman¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| The Black Arrow v2 | Teinaava’s chest in the living quarters of the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary under the Abandoned House in Cheydinhal or random loot. | Map Marker |
| A Dance in Fire v5 | On a table downstairs in Regner’s house in the southern side of Bruma. | Map Marker |
| Father Of The Niben | On a shelf in the room opposite the entrance of the Lord’s Manor North Wing in Bravil Castle. Can also be obtained from Melisi Daren in Battlehorn Castle southeast of Leyawiin after buying the Trophy Hall upgrade. | Map Marker |
| The Gold Ribbon of Merit | In a chest in the training room of the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary under the Abandoned House in Cheydinhal. It can also be found in Battlehorn Castle southeast of Leyawiin after buying the study upgrade. | Map Marker |
| Vernaccus and Bourlor | On a shelf at Renoit’s Books in Chorrol. | Map Marker |
Mercantile¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2920, Sun’s Height | Found in the Black Horse Courier office in the Imperial City’s Market District. It’s on a desk behind the counter. | Map Marker |
| The Buying Game | Found in the first floor of Fathis Ules’ house in the Elven Gardens District of the Imperial City. It can be found on the floor next to a bookshelf. | Map Marker |
| A Dance in Fire v6 | On a shelf upstairs in Casta Scribonia’s house in the western area of Chorrol. | Map Marker |
| A Dance in Fire v7 | Found in random loot. | Map Marker |
| The Wolf Queen v4 | On the counter of the Office of Imperial Commerce in the Imperial City’s Market District. | Map Marker |
Mysticism¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2920, Sun’s Dawn | On a desk in a side room of Skingrad’s Chapel Hall. Enter the area, head through the door on the left, and look at the desk. | Map Marker |
| Before the Ages of Man | On a first floor Altar of Enchanting in the Chironasium of the Arcane University in the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| The Black Arts On Trial | On the desk of the Mystic Emporium store in the Imperial City’s Market District. | Map Marker |
| The Firsthold Revolt | On a basement bookshelf in the Cheydinhal Mages Guild. | Map Marker |
| Mythic Dawn Commentaries 4 | Found on Raven Camoran during The Path of Dawn quest. | Map Marker |
| Souls, Black and White | On a stone slab next to a bed in Fort Cuptor Battlemains east of Bravil. Head to the northwest room and look to the left of the bed to spot the book. It can also be found in random loot. | Map Marker |
Restoration¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2920, Rain’s Hand | On a shelf in Bravil’s Chapel Hall. | Map Marker |
| The Exodus | On a bookshelf in the north room of Skingrad’s Chapel Hall. Head to the room on the right after entering this area. | Map Marker |
| Mystery of Talara v2 | Found in random loot. | Map Marker |
| Notes on Racial Phylogeny | In a chest in Chorrol’s Chapel Hall. Head down the stairs and then head south to an intersection. Here, take the stairs to the west and you’ll spot the chest. | Map Marker |
| Withershins | On a bookshelf in the northwest room of the Leyawiin Mages Guild’s second floor. | Map Marker |
Security¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| Advances in Lock Picking | Purchase it from Mach-Na’s Books in Cheydinhal. Can also be found on a necromancer’s altar in Fingerbowl Cave north of the Imperial City. | Map Marker |
| The Locked Room | In a chest inside Smuggler’s Cave under Anvil Castle. Climb up to the right after entering this location to spot the chest. | Map Marker |
| Proper Lock Design | On a desk in Dareloth’s house in the Waterfront District of the Imperial City. You’ll be able to enter this location after becoming the Guildmaster of the Thieves’ Guild. | Map Marker |
| Surfeit of Thieves | Found in random loot. | Map Marker |
| The Wolf Queen v1 | On a shelf upstairs in Dro’shanji’s house in the eastern side of Bravil. | Map Marker |
Sneak¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2920, Last Seed | On a dresser in City-Swimmer’s house on the northeast side of Bravil. | Map Marker |
| Legend of Krately House | On the rightmost bookcase in the east wing of Cloud Ruler Temple northwest of Bruma. | Map Marker |
| Purloined Shadows | Found in random loot. | Map Marker |
| Sacred Witness | In a chest in the Shrine Living Quarters of Lake Arrius Caverns during the Dagon Shrine quest. It can also be found in Deepscorn Hollow to the southeast of Leyawiin if you purchase the study area upgrade. The book can also be obtained from a bookcase in the Duke’s Quarters. This location is in the New Sheoth Palace, available as a part of the Shivering Isles expansion. | Map Marker |
| The Wolf Queen v6 | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary under the Abandoned House in Cheydinhal. Look for the book on the shelf to the left of the door to the Living Quarters. | Map Marker |
Speechcraft¶
| Book Name | Location | Map Marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2920, Second Seed | On a bookshelf in the Imperial Battlemage’s Chambers within the Imperial Palace during The Ultimate Heist quest. | Map Marker |
| Biography of the Wolf Queen | In a chest in Armand Christophe’s house in the northern side of the Imperial City’s Waterfront District. It can also be obtained by finishing the Caught in the Hunt quest from Ursanne Loche in Bravil. | Map Marker |
| The Wolf Queen, v5 | Can be found on a table in Hastrel Ottus’ house in the Imperial City’s Temple District. | Map Marker |
| The Wolf Queen, v7 | On a bookshelf in the Lord’s Quarters in Cheydinhal Castle. | Map Marker |
That covers every Skill Book location in Oblivion. Use them to speed past the endgame grind to max out your skills.
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