Guides / The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Helgen

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition guide · The opening escape from the dragon attack

Helgen is the starting town where the player character is brought as an Imperial prisoner to be executed before a sudden dragon attack disrupts the beheading. You must flee the town through collapsing ruins alongside either Ralof, a Stormcloak rebel, or Hadvar, an Imperial soldier. Escaping through Helgen Keep serves as the tutorial for basic combat, stealth, lockpicking, and resource management.

Region: Falkreath Hold
Getting there: south of Riverwood along the road leading through the mountains
Connects to: Helgen Keep, Falkreath Hold
Related quests: Unbound
Services and people: Ralof · Hadvar
Enemy types: Imperial Soldiers · Stormcloaks · Frostbite Spiders · Bear

Don't miss 0/3

From the Torturer: Mage Hood, Novice Robes of Destruction, Spell Tome: SparksFrom the Torturer in the Helgen Keep torture room, look along the east wall to find the central upright prisoner cage.How: Pick the cage's Novice lock using lockpicks taken from the nearby knapsack or Torturer, then search the dead Novice Mage inside.Missable because: permanently locked out once you exit Helgen Keep into the open world during "Unbound", as the internal keep cells become permanently inaccessible.

Achievements here

UnboundEscape Helgen Keep alongside either Hadvar or Ralof during the opening quest. The achievement unlocks once you exit the cavern beneath the keep.

Achievement guide and roadmap →

Items

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Iron War Axe: Inside Helgen Keep, taken off of dead Imperial soldiers or Stormcloaks depending on your guideLongbow: On an equipment rack near the target dummies inside the keep's subterranean barracks areaIron Arrow: Sitting in quivers and lying on barrels and tables near the archery targets inside the keepLockpick: In the knapsack and on the wooden table inside the torture room, and on the torturer's assistantMinor Healing Potion: In various wooden barrels and on shelves throughout Helgen Keep's corridorsMinor Magicka Potion: On the table near the cages inside the torture roomMinor Stamina Potion: Found on shelves and inside chests in the keep's storage rooms

Enemies

Imperial Soldier

Steal / drop Imperial armor, Imperial sword, Imperial shield

Fought only if you choose to enter Helgen Keep with Ralof

Stormcloak Soldier

Steal / drop Stormcloak armor, Iron weapons

Fought only if you choose to enter Helgen Keep with Hadvar

Frostbite Spider

Weak to FireSteal / drop Frostbite Venom

Encountered in a natural cavern inside the lower depths of Helgen Keep

Bear

Weak to FireSteal / drop Bear Pelt

Sleeping near the cavern exit of Helgen Keep; can be sneaked past or killed

Tips

Choose Hadvar if you want early access to free ingots and gear from the Riverwood blacksmith later, or choose Ralof for early access to free supplies from a lumber mill owner.
You can use your companion inside Helgen Keep to safely level up Sneak, One-Handed, Two-Handed, or Archery by repeatedly striking them from behind, as they cannot die or turn permanently hostile here.
Crouch and walk slowly behind the sleeping bear in the cave to avoid combat entirely and train your early Sneak skill.
Loot all the bodies of the first dead soldiers you encounter so you have a full set of light or heavy armor to equip before moving forward.

Not listed for this area: secrets, shops and people.

Riverwood

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