Can You Rebuild the Thieves Guild in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, absolutely! You can indeed rebuild the Thieves Guild in Skyrim to its former glory, ultimately becoming the Guild Master. The process involves a series of quests and missions, designed to restore the guild’s influence and prestige in various holds of Skyrim. It’s a rewarding and engaging questline for those who enjoy the roguish aspects of the game.
Restoring the Thieves Guild: A Step-by-Step Guide
The journey to restoring the Thieves Guild isn’t just about completing the main questline. It requires dedication to side activities that demonstrate your commitment to the organization’s resurgence.
Understanding the Restoration Process
The core of the restoration relies on completing radiant quests in four specific holds: Whiterun, Markarth, Windhelm, and Solitude. These quests are offered by Delvin Mallory and Vex within the Thieves Guild. The goal is to accumulate enough influence in each of these holds to unlock a “special job.”
Radiant Quests: The Building Blocks
Before diving into the special jobs, you must first undertake five radiant quests in each target hold. These quests are randomly generated and fall into various categories:
- Burglary: Stealing specific items from marked locations.
- Heist: Involving a bit more planning, often requiring you to navigate guarded areas.
- Numbers: Shaking down merchants for protection money.
- Fishing: Planting items on unsuspecting targets.
You can have one active quest from both Delvin and Vex at any given time, allowing you to tackle two cities simultaneously.
The Special Jobs: The Cornerstone of Restoration
Once you’ve successfully completed five radiant quests within a single hold, talk to Delvin Mallory. He will then offer you a “special job,” a more elaborate and story-driven questline specific to that hold. These special jobs are crucial because they directly impact the Thieves Guild’s standing in that city. The four special jobs are:
- Imitation Amnesty (Whiterun): Framing a prominent merchant to sow discord.
- Silver Lining (Markarth): Undermining a competing criminal enterprise.
- Summerset Shadows (Windhelm): Dealing with a rival guild attempting to establish a foothold.
- The Dainty Sload (Solitude): Disrupting a smuggling operation that threatens the guild’s interests.
Completing the Main Questline
It’s important to note that you can’t become the Guild Master until you’ve completed the Thieves Guild main questline. The radiant and special quests are interwoven with the primary narrative. You must progress through the main storyline until you reach a certain point (usually after completing the quest “Blindsighted”).
The Final Steps: Becoming Guild Master
After completing all four special jobs and the Thieves Guild main questline, you will trigger a final quest that solidifies your position as the Guild Master. This involves a ceremony and the official recognition of the restored Thieves Guild.
The Rewards of Restoration
Restoring the Thieves Guild isn’t just about the title. It brings tangible benefits:
- Improved Guild Hall: The Ragged Flagon Cistern becomes noticeably more opulent, with upgraded furnishings and decor.
- New Merchants: Additional vendors set up shop in the Ragged Flagon, providing more opportunities to buy and sell stolen goods.
- Increased Fence Gold: Each fence throughout Skyrim receives an extra 1000 gold to trade with each city you control.
- Nightingale Armor Improvement: Enhanced perks and bonuses, reflecting your dedication to Nocturnal.
- The Guild Master’s Armor: A unique and powerful set of armor, befitting your status.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rebuilding the Thieves Guild
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate the intricacies of restoring the Thieves Guild:
1. How many jobs does it take to restore the Thieves Guild?
It takes a minimum of five radiant jobs in each of the four targeted holds (Whiterun, Markarth, Windhelm, and Solitude) to unlock the special job for each hold.
2. In which cities can the Thieves Guild be restored?
The Thieves Guild can be restored by completing special jobs in Whiterun, Markarth, Windhelm, and Solitude.
3. What happens if I fail a radiant quest?
Failing a radiant quest results in a small fine and potentially affects your relationship with the quest giver (Vex or Delvin). You can simply take another quest to continue your progress.
4. Is it possible to restore the Thieves Guild and keep the Skeleton Key?
Technically, yes, but it’s not recommended. Keeping the Skeleton Key means not completing the “Darkness Returns” quest, which is required to become the Guild Master. The unbreakable lockpick is tempting, but the long-term benefits of restoring the guild are far greater.
5. What happens if I destroy the Thieves Guild?
Destroying the Thieves Guild is possible by siding with the Companions during a specific questline. However, you forfeit all benefits associated with the Thieves Guild, including quests, vendors, and the possibility of becoming the Guild Master. You get a different questline in return with it’s own rewards.
6. Which Thieves Guild quests pay the most?
Delvin’s quests generally offer a higher base reward (500 gold) compared to Vex’s. The most profitable approach is to take Delvin’s quests and then fence any additional loot you acquire during the mission.
7. Can you marry Brynjolf?
While many players wish it were possible, Brynjolf is not a marriage candidate in the standard version of Skyrim. Mods are available that can alter this.
8. How long does it take to restore the Thieves Guild?
The time required depends on your playstyle and dedication. It can take anywhere from several hours to several days of gameplay, depending on how quickly you complete quests and travel between cities.
9. What’s behind the locked door in the Thieves Guild (the vault)?
Behind the locked door is the Thieves Guild vault, where the guild stores its accumulated wealth. Unfortunately, restoring the guild doesn’t visually refill the vault to its former glory. It’s mostly for show.
10. Does doing extra radiant jobs after the special quests do anything?
Yes, completing extra radiant jobs after completing the special quests does provide minimal benefits, mostly visually with new decorations being added to The Ragged Flagon.
11. What are the best tips for efficiently completing radiant quests?
Focus on accepting quests in the hold that you’re actively working to restore. Use fast travel to minimize travel time. Leverage your stealth skills to avoid detection and combat.
12. Can a Skeleton Key unlock anything?
The in-game Skeleton Key acts as an unbreakable lockpick, capable of opening almost any lock, regardless of skill level.
13. How do I make the Thieves Guild great again?
By completing the main Thieves Guild storyline, 5 side quests in Whiterun, Markarth, Windhelm and Solitude; then completing the 4 special side quests from Delvin.
14. Why can’t I return the Thieves Guild to its former glory?
If you cannot start the quest for a city, you haven’t completed the correct number of side quests. If you cannot advance within the main questline, you are too early in the main storyline.
15. Can you refill the Thieves Guild vault?
Unfortunately, no. The Thieves Guild vault does not refill visually when the guild is restored to its former glory.
Restoring the Thieves Guild is a satisfying accomplishment in Skyrim. It’s a testament to your skills as a thief and your dedication to the organization. So grab your lockpicks, sharpen your dagger, and get ready to rebuild one of Skyrim’s most iconic factions. You may even learn something new in the process! Research from the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) highlights how engaging questlines can enhance learning and problem-solving skills within games.