Experience, not repetition
In Skyrim, swinging a sword raises One-Handed. In Enderal, skills never rise through use. The SureAI wiki explains that you earn experience points by completing quests, defeating enemies, reading about the world and discovering new locations. When you have enough experience, you level up.
What you get on level-up
Each level raises one of your attributes and gives you three kinds of points:
| Point type | Used for | Per level |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Points | Reading learning books for combat and magic skills | Several per level |
| Crafting Points | Reading crafting books for Workmanship skills (alchemy, enchanting, smithing and more) | 4 in Forgotten Stories |
| Memory Points | Unlocking perks in memory trees | 1 |
Some special learning books found in the world or given as quest rewards grant extra points.
Learning books
Points alone do nothing. You spend them by reading books: Apprentice, Adept, Expert and Master books for each skill. Each book read costs one point and raises the skill by one. Once a skill reaches the limit for a tier (for example level 25 for Apprentice books), you need the next tier.
You can buy books from merchants and trainers or find them while exploring. Practical advice:
- Buy a stack of books for your two or three core skills early.
- Do not spread points thinly across every skill.
- Use the Hero menu (H key by default) to see your available points.
Memory trees and classes
Memory Points are spent at meditation spots in memory trees, which work like Skyrim's perk trees. Each tree belongs to an archetype such as the Vagrant, the Sinistrope or, with Forgotten Stories, the Lycanthrope and Phasmalist.
Your class is determined by the two memory trees you have invested in most. That means classes are not chosen at the start; they emerge from your choices. A sneaky archer and a battle-mage are both reachable with the right investments.
Arcane Fever
Arcane Fever is Enderal's cost for power. The game describes it as a measure of your mental state. Some actions raise it, including certain spells and healing magic, and summons that are hurt or banished can add to it too. Effects appear as it climbs, and at 100% you die.
Managing it
- Watch the Fever value in the Hero menu.
- Carry remedies from alchemists that lower it.
- Do not rely solely on healing spells; mix in potions and food.
- Some memory perks change how much fever certain magic causes.
Fever is also part of the story: your character's unusual ability to learn is tied to it.
Beginner build tips
- Pick a direction by level 5. Choose one weapon or magic style and one armour type.
- Invest in a crafting skill that supports it: smithing for warriors, alchemy for Lycanthropes, enchanting for Phasmalists.
- Explore for XP. Discovering places and reading lore gives experience, so wandering is never wasted.
- Save often. Early fights are harder than in Skyrim.
For the classes added by the expansion, see What is Enderal: Forgotten Stories?
Ready to set out?
Enderal is free for Skyrim Special Edition owners on Steam and GOG.
