Three skill lines are helpful when committed to a life of crime: Legerdemain, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood.
Legerdemain
The Legerdemain skill line appears under the World Skills once the player has successfully stolen an item. Improve Legerdemain rank through fencing goods, pickpocketing, and picking locks.
Legerdermain Passive Abilities
| Skill | Effect | Rank I | Rank II | Rank III | Rank IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improved Hiding | Reduces the Stamina cost of Sneaking. | 1 | 6 | 11 | 16 |
| Light Fingers | Increases the chance of a successful pickpocketing. | 2 | 7 | 12 | 17 |
| Trafficker | Increases the number of items sold and laundered to a Fence each day. | 3 | 8 | 13 | 18 |
| Locksmith | Improve chance of forcing locks. | 5 | 9 | 14 | 19 |
| Kickback | Reduces Bounty price willingly paid to guards and Fences. | 6 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
Thieves Guild
The Thieves Guild skills show up under the Guild header once Quest: Partners in Crime is begun or interacting with a thieves trove. Improve Thieves Guild rank by committing crimes on the tip board, completing heists, and aiding guildmates.
Thieves Guild Passive Abilities
| Skill | Effect | Rank I | Rank II | Rank III | Rank IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finders Keepers | Thieves Troves, found throughout Tamriel, can only be opened by members of the Thieves Guild. | 1 | — | — | — |
| Swiftly Forgotten | Decreases bounty after three minutes and Heat decreased after three seconds | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
| Haggling | Increases value of items sold at a Fence. Does not apply to laundering. | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Clemency | When a guard accosts you, you may use Clemency once per day. If used, the guard will not arrest you or take your money and stolen goods. Additionally, guards will not attempt to accost you for one minute after you use Clemency unless you commit other crimes. | 4 | — | — | — |
| Timely Escape | When you have a Bounty and are in combat, you have a chance to spot a “Footpad” in a town with a Refuge. Interacting with the Footpad will transport the player safely into the nearest Refuge. | 7 | — | — | — |
| Veil of Shadows | Decreases the detection range of witnesses and guards by 10%. Witnesses are thus less likely to notice crimes, while guards won’t challenge until they get closer. | 10 | — | — | — |
Dark Brotherhood
The Dark Brotherhood skills show up in Guild skills after you receive the Blade of Woe Passive Ability by completing Quest: Voices in the Dark. Improve Dark Brotherhood rank by completing Gold Coast story quests, performing contracts, and fulfilling Sacraments.
Dark Brotherhood Passive Abilities
| Skill | Effect | Rank I | Rank II | Rank III | Rank IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blade of Woe | Call the weapon of the Dark Brotherhood to your hand and deliver a killing blow to an unsuspecting target. Experience from this target is reduced by 75%. This ability does not work on players or difficult targets. | 1 | — | — | — |
| Scales of Pitiless Justice | Bounty and Heat resulting from a witnessed murder or assault are reduced. | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
| Padomaic Sprint | Grants Major Expedition, increasing your movement speed for a short time after killing a Justice NPC. | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Shadowy Supplier | A contact from the Brotherhood (located in the Sanctuary) provides beneficial items for assassins once per day. | 4 | — | — | — |
| Shadow Rider | Aggression radius from hostile monsters is decreased by 50% while mounted. | 7 | — | — | — |
| Spectral Assassin | Grants 15% chance of being shrouded when you use the Blade of Woe, shielding you from being witnessed and receiving a Bounty. | 10 | — | — | — |