How Hard is it to 100 Percent Skyrim? An Epic Endeavor for the Dedicated
Simply put, reaching 100% completion in Skyrim is extremely difficult and requires a monumental time investment. Most dedicated players estimate it can take 200-300 hours or more to fully complete everything. You‘ll need to meticulously track progress across factions, storylines, side content, locations discovered, skills leveled, and items collected. It‘s a marathon, not a sprint.
But while grueling, with the right preparation and pacing, the 100% dream is achievable! As a passionate Skyrim expert with over 500 hours myself, I‘m going to break down exactly what it takes…
Step 1: Wrap Up All the Major Questlines
Completing all faction and story arcs can add up to 70+ hours alone:
- Main Quest
- Civil War
- Companions
- College of Winterhold
- Dark Brotherhood
- Thieves Guild
Take notes tracking branching choices and objectives along the way.
Step 2: Grind Through Every Side Quest and Location
Now comes the true test of endurance:
- 300+ locations total across Skyrim
- Dozens of hours rooting out hard-to-find places
- 200+ side quests – track carefully to avoid missing objectives
It‘s a mammoth undertaking requiring zen-like focus.
Step 3: Max Out Those Skills to 100
You‘re not done until those 18 skills are maxed out. Expect to spend 50+ hours grinding away:
- Telekinesis for magic
- Sneaking giants for combat
- Transmuting ore for smithing
The repetitive grind tests one‘s mettle.
Step 4: Collect ALL the Unique Items
No completionist skips Skyrim‘s rarest finds:
- 15 Daedric Artifacts
- Dragon Priest masks
- Unique display and follower treasures
Building out trophy hauls requires checking guides religiously.
Reaching 100% takes extreme patience – 250+ hours minimum. But while a massive time sink, exploring every inch of Skyrim offers immense satisfaction for dedicated wanderers. I highly recommend the challenge!
