Thieves Guild Quests in Skyrim: A Complete Guide

Introduction: Why Join the Thieves Guild in Skyrim?

The Skyrim Thieves Guild Quests offer players one of the most exciting and rewarding questlines in the game. Whether you’re after gold, powerful stealth gear, or the prestigious title of Guildmaster, the Thieves Guild in Skyrim has it all. This guide provides a complete walkthrough for every major quest in the Thieves Guild questline, ensuring you can become the ultimate master thief.


1. How to Join the Thieves Guild in Skyrim

Your journey begins in Riften, a bustling city home to the Thieves Guild. The first step to joining the guild involves an encounter with Brynjolf in the marketplace.

Steps to Join the Guild:

  1. Head to Riften.
  2. Speak to Brynjolf during the day in the marketplace.
  3. Complete the quest “A Chance Arrangement”, where you’ll need to steal and plant Madesi’s Ring on Brand-Shei without getting caught.

2. Walkthrough of Key Skyrim Thieves Guild Quests

During your journey through the Skyrim Thieves Guild quests, you’ll uncover hidden secrets and betrayals.

The Thieves Guild questline is filled with stealthy heists, betrayals, and intrigue. Here’s a detailed guide on the key quests:

A Chance Arrangement

  • Objective: Pickpocket Madesi’s Ring and plant it on Brand-Shei.
  • Tip: Time your movements carefully. Make sure to crouch (sneak mode) and wait for distractions to avoid getting caught by guards.

Loud and Clear

  • Objective: Infiltrate Goldenglow Estate and burn three beehives while clearing out Aringoth’s safe.
  • Tip: Use Stealth to avoid combat. You only need to burn three beehives, not all of them, to complete the quest.

Dampened Spirits

  • Objective: Sabotage Honningbrew Meadery by poisoning the brewing vat.
  • Tip: Focus on stealth during infiltration. Poison the brewing vat without alerting the guards to stay undetected.

Scoundrel’s Folly

  • Objective: Track down Gulum-Ei and gather information on his betrayal.
  • Tip: Stay out of sight while following Gulum-Ei through Solitude. Use your Sneak skill to tail him unnoticed.

Speaking With Silence

  • Objective: Travel to Snow Veil Sanctum with Mercer Frey to confront a traitor.
  • Tip: Prepare for combat. The sanctum is filled with Draugr and traps, so sneaking and tactical takedowns are essential.

3. How to Become Guildmaster

After progressing through the main questline, you’ll eventually be able to claim the title of Guildmaster.

Steps to Becoming Guildmaster:

  1. Complete the main Thieves Guild questline up to “Darkness Returns”.
  2. Complete side jobs (Burglary, Shill, etc.) for Delvin Mallory and Vex to restore the guild’s influence in Skyrim’s cities.
  3. Complete the quest “Under New Management” to officially become the Guildmaster.

4. Best Gear Earned from Skyrim Thieves Guild Quests

Joining the Thieves Guild grants you access to some of the best gear in Skyrim. Here are the most notable rewards:

Nightingale Armor

  • How to Obtain: Earned during the quest “Trinity Restored”.
  • Attributes: Boosts your Sneak, Illusion, and provides Frost Resistance.

Nightingale Bow

  • How to Obtain: Received during the quest “Blindsighted”.
  • Attributes: Powerful bow that deals both Frost and Shock damage.

Guildmaster’s Armor

  • How to Obtain: Earned after completing “Under New Management”.
  • Attributes: Improves Carry Weight, Pickpocket, Lockpicking, and Sneak.

Skyrim Thieves Guild quests

5. Tips for Stealth and Combat

To succeed in the Thieves Guild, mastering stealth is crucial. Here are some tips to help you through the questline:

5.1 Maximize Your Sneak Skill

  • Maximizing your stealth in the Skyrim Thieves Guild quests is crucial for completing the missions without detection.
  • Train Sneak early in the game by sneaking around cities and dungeons.
  • Invest in perks like Backstab and Deadly Aim to increase damage from sneak attacks.

5.2 Use Sneak Attacks

  • Whenever possible, initiate combat with a Sneak Attack using a dagger or bow. This will maximize your damage and keep you hidden.

5.3 Use Illusion Magic

  • If you have the ability to cast Illusion spells, use Muffle and Invisibility to stay undetected, especially during tricky infiltration missions.

6. Maximizing Gold from Side Jobs

Once you’ve completed the main questline, you can continue taking side jobs from Delvin Mallory and Vex to boost the guild’s influence and earn gold.

6.1 Types of Jobs:

  • Burglary Jobs: Steal a specific item from a location.
  • Shill Jobs: Plant evidence to frame a target.
  • Heist Jobs: Break into a business and rob its safe.

6.2 Earning More Gold:

  • Focus on cities like Whiterun, Windhelm, Solitude, and Markarth to restore the Thieves Guild’s influence and unlock more lucrative jobs.

For more detailed lore on the Thieves Guild, visit the Thieves Guild page on Skyrim Wiki.

Discover more about Skyrim’s rich questlines and game features on the official Skyrim website.

Conclusion: Master the Thieves Guild in Skyrim

By following this guide, you’ll not only complete the Thieves Guild questline, but also unlock some of the best stealth gear in the game, including the Nightingale Armor and Guildmaster’s Armor. Whether you prefer sneaking past enemies or taking them down from the shadows, the Thieves Guild questline offers a rich and rewarding experience.

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