The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

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Hidden Knowledge

Hidden Knowledge

Learn the secrets of 5 Black Books

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How to unlock the Hidden Knowledge achievement in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition - Definitive Guide

BLACK BOOKS INTRODUCTION
There are 7 Black Books located across Solstheim, with 2 of them being acquired during the Main Questline.

You can choose any 5 books to pursue, and can find them at any time or in any order (with the exception of the 2 in the main questline).

Opening a Black Book transports the reader into a region in the realm of Apocrypha. Once the region has been traversed, a book awaits on a pedestal. Reading the book grants a unique power or ability, it is only after reading the book on the Pedestal you will get credit towards the achievement.


MAIN QUESTS
Black Book: Waking Dreams

Found in the Temple of Miraak during the main questline.

Note: While you acquire the book early in the Temple of Miraak, you will only learn it's secrets at the end of the main quest "At the Summit of Apocrypha".

Black Book: Epistolary Acumen

This Black Book is found at the end of the quest "The Path of Knowledge". This quest leads directly to the next quest "The Gardener of Men" where you must learn the secrets of this book.


FINDING ADDITIONAL BLACK BOOKS
After completing the main quest "The Gardener of Men", it is possible to ask Neloth for help discovering the remaining books, speaking to him (he lives in Tel Mithryn) will start the quest "Lost Knowledge", this quest is repeatable and will guide you to finding a random undiscovered book.

Alternatively, you can go directly to the Black Book without the help of Neloth and learn the secrets of all the remaining Black Books yourself. For the achievement you only need 5, so after completing the main quest you will only need to find 3 more.


BLACK BOOK LOCATIONS
Black Book: Untold Legends

After the word wall in Benkongerike. The passageway is at the top of a ramp formed by a fallen pillar to the left if facing the word wall.


Black Book: The Winds of Change

Bloodskal Barrow, accessed through Raven Rock Mine, after defeating Zahkriisos the Dragon Priest during the quest "The Final Descent".

This quest can be started by talking to Crescius Caerellius who will be encountered shortly after entering the Mine. The entrance to the mine can be found by heading North from the dock in Raven Rock.


Black Book: The Sallow Regent

In White Ridge Barrow. Reach the end of the dungeon and defeat Dukaan the Dragon Priest. This Book will be here along with a Word Wall for the new “Cyclone” Shout.


Black Book: The Hidden Twilight

Found in the locked room in Neloth’s house, which is located in Tel Mithryn.

After completing “The Path of Knowledge”, speak to Neloth and complete one side quest for him. After completing that, speak to him again to begin the quest "Reluctant Steward". Once you complete this quest you can unlock the door to his Staff Enchanter, in this room is the Black Book.

(When he asks you to find a new steward speak to Drovas Relvi at The Retching Netch in Raven Rock.)


Black Book: Filament and Filigree

The book can be found in Kolbjorn Barrow while completing the "Unearthed" quest (which is started after entering the Barrow). After defeating Ahzidal and confronting Ralis Sedarys, a passage to the southwest opens. Through that passage, the book is on a pedestal in the next chamber.

Note: This sidequest is quite long, so I don't recommend acquiring this book solely for the achievement.


You can use elderscrolls.wikia.com to find the locations of any places I have mentioned (it wouldn't let me embed their maps in the actual solution unfortunately)


RECOMMENDED BOOKS
If you would like to be efficient with this achievement I recommend collecting the following books:

Black Book: Waking Dreams - Found during the Main Quest

Black Book: Epistolary Acumen - Found during the Main Quest

Black Book: Untold Legends - Found in Benkongerike

Black Book: The Hidden Twilight - Completing a couple easy tasks for Neloth. You also gain access to a Staff Enchanter.

Black Book: The Winds of Change - Found during the quest "The Final Descent", this quest is required to unlock 2 other achievements.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special EditionRaven Rock OwnerThe Raven Rock Owner achievement in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition worth 47 pointsOwn a house in Raven Rock


The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special EditionDragon AspectThe Dragon Aspect achievement in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition worth 46 pointsLearn all 3 words of Dragon Aspect
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18 Dec 2016 13:29

6 Comments
good guide +1
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By Rainleaf on 19 Dec 2016 09:37
Thank you so much!
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By skye#9769 on 13 Mar 2018 09:24
I haven't completed the main quest of the dlc yet but allready found 5 books and completed them but now achievement popt up even reloaded the level any ideas?
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By BOSs dukenukem on 12 May 2020 17:37
Be sure you get the quest for each black book before reading it. I had to read 6 books because one of them was glitched somehow and don’t appear on my completed task.
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By on 24 Jun 2020 08:06
Reluctant steward quest is bugged big time
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By Julz D 01 on 11 Mar 2021 05:52
i needed six books for this to pop. My fifth book was the side quest for Neloth. after finding him his new steward ( Drovas Relvi ) and reading the book in his enchanting room achievement didn't pop, asked him if he knew of any more books and he directed me towards White Ridge Barrow where the achievement popped after completing the book mission/task
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By opTmizeD AnDy on 12 Mar 2022 21:17
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There are a total of 7 Black Books. Reading each one will take you into the realm of Apocrypha. Make your way through the various twisty paths and puzzles you encounter here, and you'll eventually reach another book at the end of the area. Read this book to gain a special power and return to Solstheim. (Some of the books will give you 3 options for a power to choose, so make sure to look at the green orbs hovering above the book for details on each one!)

Two of the Black Books will be encountered during Dragonborn's main story, so you'll need to track down at least 3 others. Most of the other 5 are linked to sidequests, but here are the locations of them all:

Waking Dreams - Main story (You pick up this book early on, but it doesn't actually count towards this achievement until you've finished the At the Summit of Apocrypha quest.)
Epistolary Acumen - Main story
Filament and Filigree - Kolbjorn Barrow (end of Unearthed sidequest)
The Hidden Twilight - Tel Mithryn (After finishing several sidequests for Neloth, he'll give you a key to the room containing the book.)
The Sallow Regent - White Ridge Barrow
The Winds of Change - Raven Rock Mine (You'll pick this one up since it's in the same area as one of the words for the Dragon Aspect shout and achievement.)
Untold Legends - Benkongerike

Credit to: alanp9
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15 Nov 2016 00:38

4 Comments
Would definitely help if you included images to each location.
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By bryan dot exe on 26 Nov 2016 16:17
Yeah, would definitely help if you would provide a screenshot of each location!
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By MrZweistein on 03 Dec 2016 12:34
Word of advice: Don't do Filament and Filigree as it has a very long quest attached to it.
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By Yazite on 23 Mar 2017 10:05
I've just finished my 5th book and no achievement. Might glitch on you as it asks for 'hidden powers' but the first book doesn't give you a perk.
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By KJT CD ACD on 18 Jun 2017 04:36
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There are a total of 7 Black Books in the game, two of which you get as part of the story. For the trophy, in addition to the two story ones, you need to find any three more Black Books, find and complete them.
Here is all the information on the Black Books and quests related to obtaining and completing them: https://tes.riotpixels.com/skyrim/dr...ck_books.shtml
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03 Dec 2016 19:30

1 Comment
One book is obtained after the "excavation" task.
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By feodosya777 on 05 Feb 2020 19:15
There are more than 5 books in the game. The choice of what you need is yours personally.
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05 Mar 2019 04:30