How to improve Light Armor as an Archer

the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim

I play as an archer, which means sneaking and killing foes off at long range. Problem is, once a creature gets too close to me, I am in a world of troubles. (A random dragon encounter is fair game if I can snipe it off, but a random bear encounter is the thing I fear mostly. Three strikes of such a vicious beast and I drop dead.)

At short range, I use a one-hand sword with shield, but I do not want to put much perks into those skills, as I want to be a sneaky archer first.

Which leaves Light Armor. But to get certain perks I need some skill points, e.g., 30 points are required for the "Custom Fit"- and 40 for "Agile Defender 2/5"-perk. Yet I have no clue how to accumulate those points.

Many enemies won't even see me, so I seldom will be hit. Getting hits means getting skills point. Letting some enemies come close to me and let me hit me on purpose sometimes helps, but since I cannot stand much damage I mostly die erasing any hard earned process.

So is there a teacher for Light Armor like there is for other skills? And if not, how should I go on to improve the Light Armor skill?

Best Answer

There are three trainers for light armor (source):

  • Scouts-Many-Marshes | Located: Windhelm | Adept (0 - 50)
  • Grelka | Location: Riften | Expert (0 - 75)
  • Nazir | Location: Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary* | Master (0 - 90)

**Nazir eventually moves to the Dawnstar Sanctuary if you are doing the Dark Brotherhood quest*

@Layke outlines an effective way to use a trainer to level up without needing to worry about money, and also level up your pickpocketing skill at the same time. You just train, then pick pocket back your money, rinse and repeat.

A method to level light armor without making use of a skill trainer is to find a weak enemy (like a mud crab), and just let them attack you for awhile. If you use a healing spell to keep your health up, you shouldn't run into any problems. Using this method you'll be able to level up your Restoration skill as well.