Which Merchant Has the Most Gold in Skyrim? Top 5 Revealed

valentina kraljik game horizonByValentina Kraljik Published on
Merchants in Skyrim
Share:

Few things in Skyrim are as frustrating as being over-encumbered with gear and tressure and having no merchants with enough gold around to sell it. Wealth in Skyrim is relatively easy to acquire if you invest your time wisely and if you know the right people to visit after those trips through Falmer-infested dwarven ruins. 

In today’s post were going to bring you a list of merchants with the most gold in Skyrim. We’re aware that there are several ways through which you can increase the base gold of a merchant, but we’re not taking that into account since not all players wish to raise their speechcraft skill to 100 or even invest precious perk points in the speechcraft skill tree. We’re going to rank merchants based on their base gold only from lowest to highest. 

Let’s see which merchant has the most gold in Skyrim. 

5. Eorlund Gray-Mane

Eorlund Gray Mane
Eorlund Gray-Mane near Skyforge

Eorlund Gray-Mane is a Nord blacksmith currently residing in Whiterun. He can be found most of the time near the legendary Skyforge which he tends to. Since Eorlund is a blacksmith his inventory is filled with standard blacksmith merchandise. 

His base bartering gold is 1000, that’s the usual amount the blacksmiths have. The reason why he is on this list is due to his status as a trainer as well. Since the merchant’s inventory is shared with his personal inventory when it comes to gold, you can purchase training from Eorlund for x amount of gold, and that gold will be added to his base bartering gold as well.

I could have put any other trainer and merchant on this list but I picked Eorlund since he is in Whiterun, which you will visit often. Eorlund is master level smithing trainer so if you visit him later in the game for some late-game smithing training there’s potentially a lot of gold involved.

RELATED:

How to Get Out of Beast (Werewolf) Form in Skyrim? (PC, PS, Xbox, Switch)

4. Ghorza gra-Bago 

Ghorza
Ghorza gra-Bago working on grinding stone

One more blacksmith on our list. Ghorza gra-Bago is located near Hag’s Cure in Markarth. She tends to her forge with the help of her “useless” apprentice Tacitus Sallustius. Like Eorlund, Ghorza has 1000 base gold available for bartering which can be further added to if you go to her for some journeyman-level training.

The reason Ghorza is on this list is similar to Eorlund’s, she is located in Markarth which is a large city you will be visiting often after pillaging the nearby ruins. It’s just convenient. 

3. Fethis Alor 

Fethis
Fethis Alor in his house on Raven Rock

Fethis Alor is a dark elf general merchant living in Raven Rock, Solstheim. You might run into Fethis Alor during the quest “Pain in the Necklace” during which he tasks you with finding East Empire pendants. If Fethis is not in his store, he can be found in the Retching Netch where he drinks till late hours. 

When it comes to his goods, he will buy almost anything from you and also has a selection of general merchandise covering potions, gear, books, and miscellaneous items. Fethis’ base amount of gold is 1500 which makes him the third richest merchant in Skyrim. It’s important to note that Fethis is added with Dragonborn DLC and can be approached only after you’ve made your way to Solstheim as a part of a quest titled “Dragonborn”. 

2. Glover Mallory

Mallory
Glover Mallory working in front of his store

Glover Malloy is a blacksmith currently residing in Raven Rock, Solstheim. Glover is a brother of the infamous Delvin Mallory, a member of Thieves Guild with whom you crossed paths in the past if you’ve played through the Thieves Guild quest line. Glover Mallory is involved with 2 quests on Solstheim. An “Axe to Find” and “Paid in Full”. Both of those quests involve fetching items for him. 

Glover Mallory has a standard assortment of blacksmith merchandise. Even though he is a part of a thieves guild, he will not buy stolen goods from you. He has 2000 gold to barter with you and is the best choice when it comes to selling your expensive gear. 

The only catch is, that Glover, like Fethis Alor, is a part of Dragonborn DLC and is available only after doing the “Dragonborn” quest which enables you to go to Solstheim. 

1. Dremora Merchant 

Dremora Merchant
Dremora Merchant summoned to Raven Rock

The best choice to sell your goods quickly is Dremora Merchant. This Merchant is not available as a part of a base game. He is added through Dragonborn expansion as well. Dremora Merchant is added through “Black Market” power, one of the reward options from the quest Black Book: Untold Legends.

Dremora Merchant can be summoned from anywhere, anytime even if you’re not on Solstheim making him a great choice to sell off your loot quickly in various situations. Even though there’s a lengthy questline involved in acquiring Dremora Merchant, he is totally worth it. He has a standard assortment of Leveled Weapons, Armor, and Arrows. 

RELATED:

How to Complete Bound Until Death Without Earning a Bounty in Skyrim?

What merchant has the best items in Skyrim?

The answer to this question depends on what you’re looking for. All merchants in Skyrim have more or less the same inventory that scales with your level. Dremora Merchant has objectively the best items in Skyrim since he is a stable and reliable source of Daedric items. Dremora Merchant can be a source of Dragonplate armor as well. 

Where can I find merchants in Skyrim?

Merchants can be found all over Skyrim, depending on what you’re looking for. All big cities such as Whiterun, Windhelm, Solitude, Riften, and Markarth have a plethora of merchants available covering everything from potions, food, and other supplies to weapons and armor.

Merchants can also be found in smaller towns and outposts (such as Orc Strongholds) and as a part of various guilds (College of Winterhold, Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood). Each shop in Skyrim has a wooden sign with the shop’s name so you can use this to orient yourself. 

And that’s it, we’ve covered the best merchants in Skyrim and given you a quick rundown on what to expect while bartering with them. Don’t forget you can always squeeze out a couple of septims more if you invest in a store with Investor perk and Master Trader perk. Both of which raise the merchant’s base gold for a hefty sum. 

valentina kraljik game horizon

Valentina Kraljik is a writer and editor at Game Horizon with a deep love for everything related to video games. With a degree in Information Sciences, she brings a well-informed and unique perspective to her work. Valentina's writing is known for covering a wide range of video game genres, but she truly shines in her expertise in open-world RPGs. From offbeat euro-jank games like "Gothic" to critically acclaimed titles like "The Witcher," Valentina is well-versed in this exciting genre. Her passion for imaginative storytelling is reflected in the topics she writes about, with favorites like "Disco Elysium," "Elder Scrolls: Morrowind," "World of Warcraft," and "Mass Effect" influencing her tastes in games. Even though nothing beats a good high-fantasy setting, she often wanders into the realm of first-person shooters, occasionally even hitting the target. With a commitment to objectivity and insightful analysis, Valentina strives to bring a fresh perspective to the subjects she covers, even when exploring genres that may be unfamiliar to her. Her blend of academic rigor and creative flair sets her apart in the world of media writing.

Starfield Beats Skyrim’s “Concurrent Players Record,” but the Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story

valentina kraljik game horizonByValentina Kraljik Published on
Starfield surpasses Skyrims concurrent player count
Share:

Bethesda’s most recent launch of Starfield promised to be the largest in the company’s history, just like the massive game itself. Even though the developers were criticized for some exploration aspects of the game, to put it plainly, lack of things to do on some planets and lack of diversity on the planets in general, the launch did manage to surpass another legendary game from Bethesda’s repertoire, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. 

Skyrim turns 12 years old in just a few short months, and around 12 years ago, it registered the peak concurrent players count of 287,411, according to SteamDB. Starfield managed to surpass that number a few times now, as 13 hours ago, the game registered a peak concurrent player count of 330,723 players in the game. 

Starfield playercount

Although the peak seems humble when compared to some other games, it’s important to note that Steam is not the only platform on which the game was released on. Due to lucrative deals, many players instead opted out to try out the game on Microsoft’s Game Pass, so what we’re seeing on Steam is a far cry from the real number of players. 

Starfield also hadn’t managed to dethrone Bethesda’s other giant, Fallout 4. At one point 8 years ago, the game registered an all-time peak of 472,962 concurrent players, as the interest in the game was enormous.

Starfield’s number look humble, at least on Steam, but it’s important to take into account that the franchise is also rather new, and players really don’t know what to expect considering an overwhelming amount of both positive reviews and criticism of some of the game aspect’s that were supposedly overhyped. 

RELATED:

15 Best Two-Handed Weapon Mods for Skyrim Barbarians

In any case, we don’t expect Starfield to fall off the radar anytime soon. The developers have announced the release of modding tools, scheduled to launch sometime in 2024. Even in the absence of official modding tools, its modding community is thriving, with thousands of mods already uploaded and ready to improve the game in several aspects that the players found lacking.

One thing that ensures the longevity of most Bethesda games is its modding fanbase, and we have no doubt that Starfield will see some drastic unofficial upgrades in the next several months and, due to them, perhaps even dethrone Fallout 4. 

valentina kraljik game horizon

Valentina Kraljik is a writer and editor at Game Horizon with a deep love for everything related to video games. With a degree in Information Sciences, she brings a well-informed and unique perspective to her work. Valentina's writing is known for covering a wide range of video game genres, but she truly shines in her expertise in open-world RPGs. From offbeat euro-jank games like "Gothic" to critically acclaimed titles like "The Witcher," Valentina is well-versed in this exciting genre. Her passion for imaginative storytelling is reflected in the topics she writes about, with favorites like "Disco Elysium," "Elder Scrolls: Morrowind," "World of Warcraft," and "Mass Effect" influencing her tastes in games. Even though nothing beats a good high-fantasy setting, she often wanders into the realm of first-person shooters, occasionally even hitting the target. With a commitment to objectivity and insightful analysis, Valentina strives to bring a fresh perspective to the subjects she covers, even when exploring genres that may be unfamiliar to her. Her blend of academic rigor and creative flair sets her apart in the world of media writing.

The Elder Scrolls VI Is Still 5+ Years Away & Might Not Be Available on PlayStation, Says Microsoft’s Mike Spencer

valentina kraljik game horizonByValentina Kraljik Published on
The Elder Scrolls VI Is Still 5 Years Away Might Not Be Available on PlayStation Says Microsofots Mike Spencer
Share:

It’s been 11 and a half years since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released, and despite the game being re-released numerous times and content being added both officially and through the modding community, fans are eagerly awaiting tidbits of news regarding the so-far unnamed sixth installment in the franchise.

Bad news came last week when during the Activision Blizzard FTC Trial, Microsoft’s Mike Spencer announced that the game might still be 5+ years away. 

In December of last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its intention to block Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a deal worth $68.7 billion. Recently, a federal court in California issued a temporary restraining order, as requested by the FTC, which effectively halts the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal for the time being.

Last week, the FTC was seeking a preliminary injunction against Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. If successful, it would prevent the completion of the acquisition while the FTC conducts its review of the transaction’s compliance with U.S. antitrust laws.

RELATED:

Skyrim on Console vs. PC: Which Version Should You Get?

The granting of a preliminary injunction would have a significant impact on Microsoft and Activision Blizzard’s plans, potentially even jeopardizing the deal. The acquisition was initially expected to close by July 18, 2023. If the injunction is imposed, the parties would either have to renegotiate or face the possibility of the deal falling through.

An evidentiary hearing between Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, and the FTC is scheduled for August 2, which is after the upcoming deadline in July.

During the hearing, Mike Spencer mentioned the probable Elder Scrolls VI release window 

“It’s many years away, but it’s a game we have announced we would begin working on. “I think we’ve been a little unclear on what platforms it will launch on, given how far out the game is. It’s difficult for us right now to nail down exactly what platforms that game will launch on.”

IGN

“As I said with Elder Scrolls 6, it’s so far out it’s hard to understand what the platforms will even be at this point. It’s the same team that’s finishing Starfield, which comes out this September. So we’re talking about it being likely five-plus years away.”

Spencer’s words did little to quell the worry that Bethesda’s most famous franchise won’t be available on Play Station, and the fans that once welcomed healthy competition in the form of PS exclusives are now calling for fairer release practices. 

In any case, considering everything we’ve heard, there’s going to be quite some time before we hear & see anything solid related to Elder Scrolls VI. 

Bethesda is usually delaying its flagship IP as long as possible to ensure the best experience possible for fans, and considering the probable scope of the game and technologies involved in making it; it’s not surprising that the game is taking so long. 

valentina kraljik game horizon

Valentina Kraljik is a writer and editor at Game Horizon with a deep love for everything related to video games. With a degree in Information Sciences, she brings a well-informed and unique perspective to her work. Valentina's writing is known for covering a wide range of video game genres, but she truly shines in her expertise in open-world RPGs. From offbeat euro-jank games like "Gothic" to critically acclaimed titles like "The Witcher," Valentina is well-versed in this exciting genre. Her passion for imaginative storytelling is reflected in the topics she writes about, with favorites like "Disco Elysium," "Elder Scrolls: Morrowind," "World of Warcraft," and "Mass Effect" influencing her tastes in games. Even though nothing beats a good high-fantasy setting, she often wanders into the realm of first-person shooters, occasionally even hitting the target. With a commitment to objectivity and insightful analysis, Valentina strives to bring a fresh perspective to the subjects she covers, even when exploring genres that may be unfamiliar to her. Her blend of academic rigor and creative flair sets her apart in the world of media writing.

How Do You Use the Investor Perk in Skyrim?

valentina kraljik game horizonByValentina Kraljik Published on
how to use investor perk in Skyrim
Share:

A significant part of Skyrim’s gameplay revolves around its economy, and economy, in turn, is mostly influenced by your speech skill that can, when raised enough, help you accumulate quite the wealth. One of the most important speechcraft perks you can acquire is the so-called “Investor” perk, but some players have trouble utilizing this perk to the fullest due to the various bugs. So, we created this guide to explain how to use the “Investor” perk effectively in Skyrim. 

Investor perk will allow you to invest 500 gold in merchants to raise their overall gold available for bartering by 500 gold. All you need to do is navigate to the “I want to invest in your business” option while you are navigating through the dialogue options. However, You should consider that some merchants are affected by a bug that allows you to invest in their store for an infinite amount of times without ever remembering that you already invested in them. Their overall gold, however, will never increase. 

Now that we’ve covered how to use the investor perks, it’s time to analyze it in a bit more detail. If you’re interested in how to unlock the perk and how to utilize it the best, stay with us and keep reading!

What speech level do you need to be to unlock Investor perk? 

Generally, you will level speech every time you trade with the merchants or interact with other NPCs via special dialogue options such as bribe, threaten, etc., and it shouldn’t be too hard to max out speech in the mid-game, as there are various effective guides on how to do it. But luckily for you, you don’t have to be a master level in speech to unlock the Investor Perk. You just need to spend a lot of points in the skill tree and be fairly proficient at it. 

investor perk skyrim

RELATED:

Which Merchant Has the Most Gold in Skyrim? Top 5 Revealed

You can unlock the Investor perk as soon as you hit level 70 in speech, and if you’ve previously unlocked the “Merchant” perk, that allows you to sell any type of item to any kind of merchant. This is among the most useful perks in the tree, so generally, everybody who decides to orient their character to, well, the speech will strive to get this perk as soon as possible. It makes flipping goods faster than usual, but it also causes your “go-to” merchants to be drained of funds relatively quickly, and this is where the Investor perk comes on. 

What does Investor perk do & how to use it? 

Investor perk allows you to invest 500 gold in merchants that can be found all over Skyrim. The perk is not limited to a type of merchant since you can invest in alchemists, smiths, or general merchants. It really doesn’t matter as long as the merchant in question is not affected by a bug. You can find a list of all investable merchants here, but keep in mind that the bugs that affect various merchants can be fixed with the Unofficial Skyrim Patch at any given time.

As soon as you activate the perk, the first time you wander into a shop and activate the dialogue with the merchant, you will get the following choice “I would like to invest in your business.” As soon as you click on that line, the money will be subtracted from your inventory immediately, and the merchant’s gold will be raised by that amount (500 gold). 

It’s a pretty useful perk to have, but most people are just not willing to invest in it early on in the game. Luckily the legendary skills allow you to acquire all perks eventually if you’re persistent enough and willing to grind. 

You can invest only once in any given merchant.

Bugs that affect the Investor perk 

Most of the players get confused by the perk since the option to invest is not present for at least 1/3 of the game’s merchants, and it’s mostly due to random bugs affecting them. So if the option to invest is missing, there is a really large chance that the merchant in question is simply “un-investable” due to a bug and not by design. You can resolve most of those issues by using various unofficial patches. 

Some bugs are more bizarre in nature, like the one affecting Angeline Morrard in Angeline’s Aromatics. This apothecary will allow you to invest in its store endlessly; as long as you have the funds, the merchant seemingly forgets about it, but, there’s a catch, her base gold will never rise. It will always stay at the pre-investment levels, which results in all your investments being lost forever.

RELATED:

Most Valuable Enchantments in Skyrim (Ranked)

It’s probably best to avoid investing in Angeline if you don’t plan on installing the Unofficial Patch. 

Ghorza gra-Bagol, an orc smith that can be found near Understone Keep, has the option to invest in her, but the only dialogue option is to refuse the investment making it impossible to raise her standard gold by 500. 

You can install Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch to fix this bug, or you can simply “dispose” of Ghorza and wait for her apprentice, Tacitus Sallustius, to take over the store. In this case, you should be able to invest in the store without any issues. 

What is the difference between the Investor perk and Master Trader perk? 

Both the Investor perk and Master Trader perk allow you to raise the standard gold of merchants in Skyrim by 500 and 1000 gold, respectively, but there are some differences between the two perks. Namely, the Master Trader perk is significantly harder to acquire because it requires you to be level 100 in speech and it requires you to have almost all other prior perks activated. 

master trader perk skyrim

Master Trader perk will also add 1000 gold to all merchants, but it doesn’t require you to invest your own gold in traders. The game does it automatically, meaning it doesn’t cost you anything. It’s a useful perk to have, and it will allow you to accumulate wealth rapidly, but it might take some time for you to get there, and most players don’t want to prioritize speech in early or mid-game.

And by the time you are ready to invest all those points in speech, you might already be rich beyond your wildest dreams, so the perk might appear to be useless. 

valentina kraljik game horizon

Valentina Kraljik is a writer and editor at Game Horizon with a deep love for everything related to video games. With a degree in Information Sciences, she brings a well-informed and unique perspective to her work. Valentina's writing is known for covering a wide range of video game genres, but she truly shines in her expertise in open-world RPGs. From offbeat euro-jank games like "Gothic" to critically acclaimed titles like "The Witcher," Valentina is well-versed in this exciting genre. Her passion for imaginative storytelling is reflected in the topics she writes about, with favorites like "Disco Elysium," "Elder Scrolls: Morrowind," "World of Warcraft," and "Mass Effect" influencing her tastes in games. Even though nothing beats a good high-fantasy setting, she often wanders into the realm of first-person shooters, occasionally even hitting the target. With a commitment to objectivity and insightful analysis, Valentina strives to bring a fresh perspective to the subjects she covers, even when exploring genres that may be unfamiliar to her. Her blend of academic rigor and creative flair sets her apart in the world of media writing.