Sneak is the skill of moving through Skyrim without anyone noticing you. Crouch and your character becomes harder to see and hear, and a higher Sneak skill makes you harder still to detect. It belongs to the Stealth skills, so the Thief Stone speeds up its progress, and it is the heart of every thief, assassin and stealth archer build.
The payoff goes far beyond avoiding fights. Attacks made while undetected become sneak attacks that multiply your damage – with the right perks a dagger strike can finish almost anything in one blow. Sneak also helps you pick locks and pockets without being caught, slip past guards and trigger fewer traps. Very few skills change the way you play as completely as this one.
How Sneak works
Detection
When you crouch, an eye icon appears on screen. A closed eye means no one has noticed you; a half-open eye means someone is searching; a fully open eye means you have been spotted. Whether you are detected depends on your Sneak skill, how much noise you make, how well lit you are, whether you are in an enemy’s line of sight and how far away you are. Moving slowly in the shadows is far safer than running across a torchlit hall. Heavy boots and armor add noise, while the Muffle spell reduces it and Invisibility hides you from sight.
Sneak attacks
Attacking a target that has not detected you deals a sneak attack for multiplied damage. Melee and bow sneak attacks both get a bonus, and the perk tree raises these multipliers dramatically – especially for daggers. A sneak attack also tends to leave you hidden if the target dies, so a careful archer can clear an entire room one by one.
How the skill rises
Sneak gains experience while you move in sneak mode close to people who would be hostile or alert if they saw you, without being detected. Successful sneak attacks also train it. Crouching in an empty field does nothing – there has to be someone nearby to sneak past.
Sneak perk tree
The Sneak tree has 9 perks with 13 ranks in total. Required levels are the Sneak skill level needed for each rank.
| Perk | Ranks | Skill level | Requires | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stealth | 5 | 0 / 20 / 40 / 60 / 80 | – | Rank 1: You are 20% harder to detect when sneaking. Rank 2: You are 25% harder to detect when sneaking. Rank 3: You are 30% harder to detect when sneaking. Rank 4: You are 35% harder to detect when sneaking. Rank 5: You are 40% harder to detect when sneaking. |
| Backstab | 1 | 30 | Stealth | Sneak attacks with one-handed weapons now do six times damage. |
| Muffled Movement | 1 | 30 | Stealth | Noise from armor is reduced 50%. |
| Deadly Aim | 1 | 40 | Backstab | Sneak attacks with bows now do three times damage. |
| Light Foot | 1 | 40 | Muffled Movement | You won't trigger pressure plates. |
| Assassin's Blade | 1 | 50 | Deadly Aim | Sneak attacks with daggers now do a total of fifteen times normal damage. |
| Silent Roll | 1 | 50 | Light Foot | Sprinting while sneaking executes a silent forward roll. |
| Silence | 1 | 70 | Silent Roll | Walking and running does not affect detection. |
| Shadow Warrior | 1 | 100 | Silence | Crouching stops combat for a moment and forces distant opponents to search for a target. |
Perk guide
Stealth is the entry perk: each rank makes you harder to detect while sneaking, from 20% at rank 1 to 40% at rank 5 (ranks unlock at Sneak 20, 40, 60 and 80). It is useful at every rank, so take it as you go.
The offensive branch is what makes Sneak famous. Backstab (Sneak 30) makes one-handed sneak attacks deal six times damage. Deadly Aim (Sneak 40) raises bow sneak attacks to three times damage – the core perk for stealth archers who also invest in Archery. Assassin’s Blade (Sneak 50) makes dagger sneak attacks deal a total of fifteen times normal damage, turning even a modest dagger into a one-hit kill.
The movement branch keeps you hidden. Muffled Movement (Sneak 30) halves the noise from your armor and is essential if you wear anything heavier than cloth. Light Foot (Sneak 40) stops you triggering pressure plates – a dungeon lifesaver. Silent Roll (Sneak 50) lets you sprint while sneaking with a silent forward roll, ideal for crossing lit gaps. Silence (Sneak 70) means walking and running no longer affect detection, after which only light, line of sight and your skill matter.
At Sneak 100, Shadow Warrior lets you crouch mid-combat to stop combat for a moment and force distant opponents to search for you – an escape button and a way to set up another sneak attack.
Suggested order: Stealth 1, Backstab or Muffled Movement depending on whether you fight first or sneak first, then Deadly Aim (archers) or Assassin’s Blade (dagger users), Light Foot, Silent Roll, Silence and the remaining Stealth ranks. Backstab is worth taking even for pure archers, since it is the prerequisite for Deadly Aim.
How to level Sneak fast
- Sneak everywhere in dungeons. Crouch-walking past enemies who have not spotted you is the main source of experience.
- Use sneak attacks. Open every fight with a sneak attack from a bow or dagger – it trains Sneak alongside Archery or One-handed.
- Circle a stationary enemy. Sneaking slowly around someone who has not noticed you, out of their line of sight, steadily builds experience.
- Stand under the Thief Stone – Stealth skills level 20% faster while it is active.
- Join the stealth factions. The Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood constantly send you into places where sneaking is the best approach.
- Train with the experts: Khayla teaches up to 50, Garvey up to 75 and Delvin Mallory of the Thieves Guild in Riften up to 90.
- Read the skill books, such as Three Thieves and Sacred Witness, for free skill increases.
Trainers
| Trainer | Trains up to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Khayla | Journeyman (up to 50) | |
| Garvey | Expert (up to 75) | |
| Delvin Mallory | Master (up to 90) |
Each trainer can teach up to five levels per character level, and training costs more gold the higher your skill is.
Sneak skill books
Reading each of these books for the first time raises Sneak by one level:
Tips and notes
- The Shrouded Gloves from the Shrouded armor set double one-handed sneak attack damage, and the bonus stacks with Assassin’s Blade for enormous dagger hits.
- Sneak works best in darkness – avoid casting Candlelight or carrying a torch when you want to stay hidden.
- The Muffle spell and the Muffled Movement perk both cut the noise you make, so Sneak and Illusion make a strong combination. Invisibility goes even further.
- Light Foot is just as useful for warriors as thieves – Nordic ruins are full of pressure plates.
Perk tree, required levels and trainer levels from the Skyrim LE 1.9 master files (AVIF AVSneak, PERK and CLAS records).
