Sneak

 is one of the stealth / thieving skills in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It affects the player's ability to remain unseen and stealthily attack targets.

Crouch to enter sneak mode by using the key on the PC,  on the PS3 or  on the Xbox. While sneaking, your current stealth state is displayed on the reticle:


 * A closed eye means that no one can see you.
 * An opening eye means that enemies have become alert and are searching for you.
 * A fully open eye means that someone has detected you.
 * If the reticle displays DETECTED, an enemy has spotted you and is about to attack.
 * If the reticle displays HIDDEN, enemies have lost track of you and stopped searching.

If you attack while the eye is partially closed, your attack is considered a Sneak Attack and does additional damage.

Your ability to sneak successfully is determined by a number of factors: Note: There is an exploit due to a glitch at High Hrothgar. If you sneak up on the Greybeards while they are sitting and you are undetected, slash at them with a dagger, and your sneak will level up every 1 to 4 slashes.
 * Movement: You are hardest to detect while motionless, and easier to spot while moving.
 * Line of Sight: Enemies are much less likely to detect you if they can't see you.
 * Light Level: The darker it is, the harder it is for enemies to see you.
 * Sound: Attacking and casting spells makes noise, which may alert enemies to your presence. Heavier weapons make more noise. Spells produce both sound and light.
 * Armor: Heavier armor makes more noise when moving.

Enemies will react to other sounds in the environment, like arrow impacts or traps. You can sometimes use this to your advantage to lure an enemy out of position.

Trainers

 * Khayla
 * Garvey
 * Delvin Mallory

Free skill boosts

 * Inge Six Fingers provides a +1 Sneak reward (as well as +1 to all other stealth skills) for completing "Finn's Lute"
 * Noster Eagle-Eye provides a +1 Sneak reward for finding his helmet
 * Stands-In-Shallows provides a +1 Sneak reward for getting the Double-Distilled Skooma

Skillbooks

 * 2920, Last Seed, v8
 * Legend of Krately House
 * The Red Kitchen Reader
 * Sacred Witness
 * Three Thieves
 * Oghma Infinium (Path of Shadow only)

Achievements

 * Thief - Pick 50 locks and 50 pockets.

Schleichen