Skyrim’s Septims: More Than Just Shiny Coins

What is gold good for in Skyrim? Simply put, gold, or Septims, is the lifeblood of your Skyrim adventure. It’s the key to unlocking a vast array of opportunities, from acquiring powerful gear and training essential skills to establishing yourself as a homeowner and impacting the game’s economy. While you might start your journey scrounging for every coin, understanding how to effectively utilize your wealth is crucial to becoming a true Dragonborn legend. Septims allow players to unlock the richest and most compelling aspects of the game.

The Multifaceted Uses of Gold in Skyrim

Gold in Skyrim isn’t just a number in your inventory; it’s a passport to progress. Here’s a breakdown of its most significant applications:

• Purchasing Homes and Land: Dreaming of settling down in the snowy peaks of Winterhold or the bustling city of Solitude? You’ll need gold. Buying homes allows you to store items, display trophies, and even start a family. Building your own homestead with the Hearthfire DLC provides even more customization options, but requires significant investment in materials and gold. Acquiring land parcels is a critical step to building an empire.
• Acquiring Gear and Weapons: Forget relying solely on loot drops. The best weapons and armor often come with a price tag. From enchanted Daedric armor to finely crafted Elven blades, investing in quality gear will dramatically improve your combat prowess. Don’t forget consumables like potions and scrolls, essential for surviving challenging encounters.
• Training Skills: Want to master archery, enchanting, or smithing? Trainers scattered across Skyrim offer lessons, but they don’t come cheap. Higher-level training can cost thousands of gold per level, making it a significant investment. Training is often the fastest way to level up crucial skills for combat and crafting.
• Smithing and Alchemy Materials: Creating powerful weapons, armor, and potions requires resources. While some can be found in the wild, many essential ingredients and ores must be purchased from vendors. Gold allows you to acquire rare and potent materials that are difficult to find.
• Enchanting: Enhance your weapons and armor by adding magical properties. Paying an enchanter to add specific effects or buying soul gems to do it yourself will give you an edge in combat.
• Bribing Guards: Find yourself on the wrong side of the law? A well-placed bribe can get you out of a sticky situation, especially if you’re a member of the Thieves Guild. A small amount of gold can save a life, or at least some jail time.
• Investing in Businesses: The Dragonborn can visit several shops across Skyrim and a new dialog option will appear: “I’d like to make an investment in your business.” The Dragonborn can then pay them 500 gold on the spot, and from then on they’ll have 500 more gold than usual at the start of each day.
• Decorating your Homes: Once you have a house, you will want to decorate it and make it your own. This costs gold, but can really add to the aesthetic of the game.
• Flaunting your riches: You can flaunt your riches to impress people, and show them you are a master of Skyrim.
• Playing Minigames: You can play drinking games, arm wrestling, and other little side games in Skyrim for gold.

Skyrim Septims: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How much money is considered “rich” in Skyrim?

There’s no definitive answer, but 20,000 gold is a comfortable starting point. With that amount, you can purchase a decent house, invest in training, and upgrade your gear. However, truly wealthy players aim for hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of gold.

2. What are the best ways to make money early in the game?

Early on, focus on looting dungeons and selling everything you don’t need. Completing quests for the Jarls is another good way. Don’t overlook mining ores and selling them or using them for smithing. Alchemy is also extremely profitable.

3. Should I keep or sell enchanted items?

Don’t sell enchanted items unless you already know the enchantment. Disenchanting them at an enchanting table will destroy the item but teach you the enchantment, allowing you to apply it to other gear. This is invaluable for customizing your character.

4. Who is the best merchant to sell items to?

Early game, any merchant is fine. However, Riverwood Trader is a top choice because once you invest with them, they will have 10000 gold to barter with. Also, after restoring the Thieves Guild, fences will have 4000 gold. There are many merchants in Riften to sell to.

5. Is it safe to carry all my gold?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe. Gold doesn’t weigh anything in Skyrim, and it can’t be stolen from you. Even if you’re arrested, your gold remains untouched.

6. What should I prioritize buying first: a house, training, or gear?

This depends on your playstyle. A house is a good early investment for storage and crafting. If you’re struggling in combat, prioritize upgrading your gear. Training is beneficial but can be expensive, so focus on skills you use frequently.

7. How do I get started with alchemy for profit?

Start by collecting ingredients from the environment. Experiment with combining different ingredients to discover their properties. Once you know valuable potion recipes, you can farm or purchase ingredients in bulk and sell the resulting potions for a significant profit. Alchemy is a core mechanic for economic advantage, a concept explored by experts like those at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org who study the intersection of games and learning.

8. What is the best house to buy in Skyrim?

This is subjective, but Proudspire Manor in Solitude is considered one of the best due to its central location, size, and access to crafting stations. However, it’s also one of the most expensive. Honeyside in Riften is also good due to its close proximity to several merchants.

9. How does investing in businesses work?

By taking the Investor perk in the Speech skill tree, you can invest 500 gold in certain shops. This permanently increases the merchant’s available gold, allowing you to sell more valuable items at once.

10. Can I make money through crafting?

Yes, crafting is a highly profitable endeavor. Smithing daggers from iron ingots, creating jewelry from precious metals, and brewing valuable potions are all excellent ways to generate income. The amount of gold you will make depends on the item and skill level.

11. What are some of the most expensive items in Skyrim?

Some of the most expensive items are Daedric weapons and armor with powerful enchantments, such as those of Annihilating or Revival. Unique artifacts and rare books can also fetch high prices.

12. How do I restore the Thieves Guild to its former glory?

By completing a series of quests for Delvin Mallory and Vex in the Ragged Flagon, you’ll restore the Thieves Guild’s influence in various holds. This unlocks new merchants and opportunities within the guild, making it a highly profitable venture. This quest line also opens the Riverwood Trader up to more gold for trading.

13. Is it worth buying horses in Skyrim?

Horses are useful for traversing the vast landscape quickly, but they can be vulnerable in combat. Shadowmere and Arvak are stronger options that cannot be permanently killed.

14. What’s the Crown of Barenziah, and why is it important?

The Crown of Barenziah is a unique item that requires collecting 24 unusual gems scattered across Skyrim. Restoring the crown grants the “Prowler’s Profit” ability, significantly increasing the chance of finding gems in containers. This is a fantastic way to boost your wealth.

15. Is there any way to get “infinite” money in Skyrim?

While there isn’t a true infinite money glitch, some players exploit the pickpocket skill tree to steal back gold spent on training. This can be difficult and time-consuming but effectively eliminates the cost of training. Others invest in alchemy and create very strong and expensive potions.

Mastering Skyrim’s Economy

Ultimately, mastering Skyrim’s economy is about understanding its various systems and identifying opportunities for profit. Whether you choose to be a shrewd merchant, a skilled craftsman, or a cunning thief, gold is the key to unlocking your full potential as the Dragonborn. So, hoard your Septims, invest wisely, and watch your wealth grow as you conquer the land of Skyrim.