This article contains the specific regional price and supply patterns of many of [i]Trade Routes[/i]' item groups. If you are interested in these particulars, read on; however if you prefer a more immersive and spoiler-free experience, you may want to stop here and see for yourself in-game. The groups listed here include all ores, ingots, gems, soul gems, spell tomes, brand-name drinks and a handful of other important ingredient and food item groups which are involved in the long or short trade loops. [i]Trade Routes[/i] has many, many more regional pattern groups which cover all other ingredient, animal part, food and drink items, but they are not listed here because there are over a hundred of them and they have no particular gameplay impact other than regional flavor. Please refer to the [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/articles/232]FEATURE DETAILS article[/url] for an explanation of the terminology for price/supply level categories that is used here (Origin, Supply, Balanced, Demand, Destination). Any regions whose price/supply level is not specified are Balanced. Some regions are specified twice, once "(before)" and once "(after)"; these cases refer to the Quest Effects feature, where the price/supply of some items in some regions can change as a result of player actions. Each group is also tagged with a degree of price variance: major, moderate, minor or minimal. Items in a group with major variance will have the largest possible difference in price between their Origin and Destination regions, which means these items can be part of a long trade route between those regions, or a short trade route either between the Origin and any Demand region or between any Supply region and the Destination. Items with moderate price variance have their base price differentials scaled back one step: the ratio between their Origin and Destination price is the same as a major-variance item's Origin-Demand or Supply-Destination ratio, so they can be part of a short trade route but not a long trade route. Items with minor or minimal variance can probably never be profitably traded, even with their most extreme Origin-Destination price differential. [b][u][color=yellow]Amber Mead[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Falskaar [*][b]Demand[/b]: the Pale, the Reach, the Rift [*][b]Destination[/b]: Falkreath [/list]Produced in Falskaar and lacking any established mainland distribution network, so there aren't any other low-price regions. But prices are a little lower than they otherwise might be in the Rift, Solstheim and Wyrmstooth due to competition with the local drinks, and are unusually high in the Pale because the miners and dockworkers there love to drink. The highest price is in Falkreath due both to its distance from the source and to Valga Vinicia's apparent desire to stock every kind of mead in Skyrim. [b][u][color=yellow]Ashfire Mead[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Solstheim [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch, the Rift [*][b]Demand[/b]: Haafingar, the Reach [*][b]Destination[/b]: Falkreath [/list]Produced only on Solstheim, and only if the player helps to retake the mead hall. Unusually valued in Falkreath due to Valga Vinicia's desire for all kinds of exotic meads. [b][u][color=yellow]Black-Briar Mead & Reserve[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: the Rift, Whiterun (after) [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch, Whiterun (before) [*][b]Demand[/b]: Haafingar, the Reach, Falskaar, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Pale [/list]Initially produced in the Rift, but the player can cause it to be produced in Whiterun as well. The high price in the Pale is partly a gameplay compromise to create a long trade route from the Rift, but it's plausible that miners and dock workers on that icy coast would have a special taste for a good pint of mead in the evenings. Prices are a bit lower than they might otherwise be in Whiterun, Falskaar and Wyrmstooth due to competition with the local products. [b][u][color=yellow]Brimstone[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Wyrmstooth [*][b]Supply[/b]: Haafingar, the Pale [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, the Rift, Solstheim [*][b]Destination[/b]: Elsweyr [/list]Found only on Wyrmstooth, but not actively mined and doesn't have any apparent use anyway, so demand isn't as high as the other minerals that can be used by blacksmiths. [b][u][color=yellow]Cave Mushrooms - Bleeding Crown, Blisterwort, Fly Amanita, Glowing Mushroom, Imp Stool, Namira's Rot, White Cap[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Hjaalmarch [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Reach, the Rift, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, Winterhold, Solstheim, Elsweyr [*][b]Destination[/b]: Haafingar [/list]These fungi are found in caves throughout Skyrim, although they're more numerous in Hjaalmarch, the Reach, the Rift and Wyrmstooth and somewhat rare in Eastmarch, Haafingar, Winterhold and Solstheim. Still, their price variance is set to moderate rather than minor mostly as a gameplay compromise to create a short trate route from Hjaalmarch to Haafingar. [b][u][color=yellow]Corundum & Steel[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Eastmarch [*][b]Supply[/b]: Falkreath, the Rift, Elsweyr, Falskaar [*][b]Demand[/b]: Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, the Reach [*][b]Destination[/b]: Solstheim [/list]The price of steel follows corundum, being its more expensive ingredient. Active mines are in Eastmarch (Goldenrock) and Falskaar (Amber Creek), and there is also an overrun mine in Falkreath (Knifepoint). Even so, price variance is only moderate since it's found in the wilderness in almost every hold, and it could arguably even be lower except that it makes a good short route from Eastmarch to Solstheim, where demand is higher because of its use in light stalhrim and heavy chitin armor. [b][u][color=yellow]Dwarven Metal[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: the Reach [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Pale, Winterhold, Solstheim, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, Hjaalmarch, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Whiterun, Elsweyr [/list]The only source is salvage from Dwemer ruins, of which Markarth itself is the most explored, but many are also found in Skyrim's northeastern mountains. Demand outweighs the supply in regions with no ruins at all (there is one in Falskaar but the player is the only one to explore it), but price variance is still only moderate since the sources aren't localized as much as most metals. [b][u][color=yellow]Ebony[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Solstheim (after) [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch, the Rift, Solstheim (before), Wyrmstooth (after) [*]Balanced: Wyrmstooth (before), ... [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, Haafingar, the Pale, Elsweyr, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Reach [/list]Skyrim does have an active ebony mine in Eastmarch (Gloombound), but that's controlled by the orc stronghold of Narzulbur so its output doesn't get into general circulation as much as other mines. There's also technically one in the Rift (Redbelly), and although the Unofficial Patch changes it to iron as was intended, the Rift still has cheaper imported supplies from volcanic Morrowind. So the greatest supply comes from Solstheim, at least after the player re-opens Raven Rock Mine. The player can also re-open Gronndal Grove on Wyrmstooth but the effect doesn't spread far since Wyrmstooth is so remote, and the EEC ships the ebony through Solitude to the rest of the empire rather than the rest of Skyrim. [b][u][color=yellow]Frost River Mead[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Hjaalmarch [*][b]Supply[/b]: Haafingar, the Reach [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, Solstheim [*][b]Destination[/b]: Falkreath [/list]The Frost River Meadery that produces this brew would have been on the border of Hjaalmarch and Haafingar, but it was cut from the game. If restored by installing the Cutting Room Floor mod, the mead fetches a high price in Falkreath to meet Valga Vinicia's need for more imported meads. [b][u][color=yellow]Gems[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Solstheim (after) [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch, the Reach, the Rift, Solstheim (before) [*][b]Demand[/b]: Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Winterhold [/list]Gems don't vary as much in price because they can be found in any mineral vein, so there is some supply from any kind of mine. But Solstheim's special geodes produce the most concentrated supply, the Reach has an unusually large number of active mines, and the Thieves Guild fences a lot of stolen gems in the Rift, driving the price down there. Haafingar and Hjaalmarch have no active mines at all, and demand is higher than usual in Winterhold for use in enchantable jewelry and magical apparatus. [b][u][color=yellow]Gold[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: the Reach (after) [*][b]Supply[/b]: Falkreath, Haafingar, the Reach (before) [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, the Pale, Solstheim [*][b]Destination[/b]: Winterhold [/list]The only mine is in the Reach (Kolskeggr), after the player clears it. Demand is higher than usual in Winterhold, for use in enchantable jewelry and magical apparatus. [b][u][color=yellow]Heart Stone[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Solstheim [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch, the Rift, Winterhold [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, Haafingar [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Reach, Elsweyr [/list]Heart Stone is one of many items found only on Solstheim, although some of them might also reasonably be imported from Morrowind into Eastmarch and the Rift. There is technically a Heart Stone mine (Broken Tusk) but it's overrun by rieklings, so the local supply isn't as high as it might be with an active mining operation. Prices are highest in the Reach since it's furthest away. [b][u][color=yellow]Honningbrew Mead[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Whiterun (before) [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch, the Rift, Whiterun (after) [*][b]Demand[/b]: Haafingar, the Pale, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Destination[/b]: Winterhold, Elsweyr [/list]Only produced in Whiterun (unless the player helps shut them down), and prices are a bit lower than they might otherwise be in the Rift and Falskaar due to competition with the local products. The price variance isn't as high as for some other single-source items, however, since the Honningbrew Meadery is so centrally located. If the player causes the takeover of the meadery, all supply disappears and prices increase everywhere. [b][u][color=yellow]Iron[/color][/u][/b] [i](minimal variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Falkreath, the Rift (after) [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Reach, the Rift (before), Elsweyr [*]Balanced: the Rift (after), ... [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, Winterhold, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Destination[/b]: Haafingar, Solstheim [/list]The price variance of iron is minimal since almost every hold has an iron mine, but the one in Falkreath (Embershard) is among the biggest. Eastmarch and Haafingar are the only holds with no primary iron mine (Gloombound is mostly ebony), and demand is high on Solstheim due to its use in bonemold and light chitin armor. [b][u][color=yellow]Malachite[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Eastmarch [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Rift, Whiterun [*][b]Demand[/b]: Hjaalmarch, Winterhold, Elsweyr, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Haafingar [/list]The only mine is in Eastmarch (Steamscorch), and the Rift also gets cheap imports from volcanic Morrowind. The high price in Winterhold is partly a gameplay compromise to create a short trade route from Eastmarch, although one might imagine that malachite is useful for some kinds of magical apparatus, having similar refractive qualities to glass while being less brittle. Haafingar is furthest from the supply, and demand is also higher there since the Thalmor need it to upgrade their soldiers' armor. [b][u][color=yellow]Marsh Plants - Deathbell, Giant Lichen, Swamp Fungal Pod[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Hjaalmarch [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Pale, Whiterun, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, the Rift, Solstheim [*][b]Destination[/b]: Falkreath, Falskaar [/list]These are some of the few ingredients with a major price variance since they are actually only ever found in one area in the base game: the marshes and swamps around Morthal, although Wyrmstooth also has a good supply from some marshy areas of its own. The high prices in Falkreath and Falskaar are partly a gameplay compromise to create the long route from Hjaalmarch (which really has no other reasonably exportable resources), although neither hold has any marshy areas and one could imagine Falkreath's obsession with death to extend to a fascination with deathbell, at least. [b][u][color=yellow]Moonstone[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Haafingar (after) [*][b]Supply[/b]: Falkreath, Haafingar (before), the Reach [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, Winterhold, Solstheim [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Rift, Elsweyr [/list]The mine is actually technically in the Reach (Soljund's, which the player must clear), but they're already known for silver and gold while Haafingar doesn't seem to produce anything in particular. So Haafingar gets moonstone partly as a gameplay compromise, although it's reasonable that the Thalmor influence in Solitude might draw most of Soljund's output to the north. The Rift is furthest away from the source and the Khajiit are obsessed with all things even tangentially related to the moons. [b][u][color=yellow]Orichalcum[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Falkreath [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Reach, the Rift, Wyrmstooth (after) [*]Balanced: Wyrmstooth (before), ... [*][b]Demand[/b]: the Pale, Winterhold [*][b]Destination[/b]: Eastmarch [/list]There are two mines in the Reach (Dushnikh Yal and Mor Khazgur) but the orcs keep most of the supply for their own use, so Falkreath (Bilegulch) produces the most general supply. The player can also re-open Wyrmstooth's Frostvein mine, which in fact contains orichalcum even though all the in-game lore and dialogue implies that it should be a corundum mine. Demand is highest in Eastmarch because the orc stronghold there (Nazulbur) has no orichalcum mine of their own; the low price in the Rift is partly a gameplay compromise to create the short route to Eastmarch, but it is at least adjacent to the main source in Falkreath. [b][u][color=yellow]Quicksilver[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: the Pale [*][b]Supply[/b]: Haafingar, Hjaalmarch [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, the Rift [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Reach, Solstheim [/list]The only mine is in the Pale (in Dawnstar), and demand is high on Solstheim due to its use in heavy stalhrim armor. The high price in the Reach is partly a gameplay compromise to create the long route from the Pale, although it's not so far fetched that the region known for silver is also interested in quicksilver. Likewise Haafingar needed a short trade route to the Reach, although this is also not a huge compromise since they're fairly close to the source anyway. [b][u][color=yellow]Silver[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: the Reach (after) [*][b]Supply[/b]: Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, the Reach (before), Elsweyr [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, the Rift [*][b]Destination[/b]: Winterhold [/list]There are technically three separate silver mines and all of them are in the Reach, so the supply is naturally greatest there. Demand is higher in Winterhold since the mages use it for jewelry and also study its magical properties (vs. werewolves and undead). Silver is also interesting since it's one of the only groups whose related quest (Sanuarach Mine) has two possible outcomes: the Reach will become an Origin either way, but if the mine is added to the Silver-Blood monopoly then the price of silver will increase everywhere due to the reduced competition. [b][u][color=yellow]Skooma & Moon Sugar[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Elsweyr [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch (before), the Rift (before) [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch (after), the Pale, Winterhold, Falskaar, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Rift (after) [/list]Mainly produced in Elsweyr, but also produced in Eastmarch (Cragslane Cavern) and sold in the Rift. If the player intervenes, the price rises dramatically in the Rift because the supply is gone but the customer base is still there and in dire need of a fix. [b][u][color=yellow]Soul Gems, empty[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Winterhold, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch, the Pale [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, the Reach, Elsweyr [*][b]Destination[/b]: Hjaalmarch [/list]Only found naturally in the geodes of Blackreach and Dimfrost, which are accessible from northeastern Skyrim and Wyrmstooth, respectively. Falkreath, Falskaar and Wyrmstooth have no resident mages to sell them, but Wyrmstooth is a source and demand is lower in Falskaar because the people there disdain magic in general and necromancy in particular. Demand is highest in Hjaalmarch because of the master conjurer there, although this is also a bit of a gameplay compromise (because Hjaalmarch has no blacksmith or general goods merchants, so there are very few other options for imports); likewise for the Reach, there is a conjurer (Calcelmo) to drive up demand, but it also creates a short trade route from Wyrmstooth. [b][u][color=yellow]Soul Gems, filled[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Hjaalmarch (before) [*][b]Supply[/b]: Falkreath, Hjaalmarch (after), Winterhold [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, Haafingar, Elsweyr [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Reach [/list]Filled soul gems don't vary in price quite as much as their empty counterparts since they can theoretically be produced by any practicing conjurer. Still, the master conjurer in Morthal (Falion) is the primary source (unless the player rats him out), and some are also produced by the conjuration trainer in Falkreath (Runil) and all the mages of the College. The need for enchantments for the civil war effort has driven demand up somewhat in Eastmarch and Haafingar, and the Reach is the furthest from all the various sources. [b][u][color=yellow]Spell Tomes, all schools[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Winterhold [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Wyrmstooth [/list][i]Trade Routes[/i] actually has slightly different patterns for spell tomes of each school of magic since the base game already limits the availability of higher level tomes to the respective practitioners of each school, which are scattered all over. But a few patterns apply to tomes of all schools: the College in Winterhold is clearly the primary source for spell tomes in Skyrim, and prices are higher in Falskaar, Falkreath and Wyrmstooth because those holds have no resident mages to supply any tomes. Of those, however, demand in Wyrmstooth is the highest due to recent events, and as a gameplay compromise to create a long route from Winterhold. [b][u][color=yellow]Spell Tomes, Alteration[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Winterhold [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Rift [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, the Pale, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Wyrmstooth [/list]The court wizard of Riften (Wylandriah) is the only non-College source for Adept level Alteration spells. The high price in the Pale is mostly a gameplay compromise to create a short route from Winterhold, although Alteration is at least the school whose non-College supplier is the furthest from the Pale. [b][u][color=yellow]Spell Tomes, Conjuration[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Winterhold [*][b]Supply[/b]: Hjaalmarch, the Reach, Solstheim [*][b]Demand[/b]: Eastmarch, Falkreath, the Rift, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Wyrmstooth [/list]Outside of the College, Adept level Conjuration spells can be purchased from the resident wizard of Morthal (Falion), the scholar of Markarth (Calcelmo), and the conjurer of Tel Mithryn (Talvas Fathryon). Eastmarch and the Rift are the furthest from those secondary sources. [b][u][color=yellow]Spell Tomes, Destruction[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Winterhold [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch, Whiterun, Solstheim [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, Haafingar, the Reach, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Wyrmstooth [/list]Outside of the College, Adept level Destruction spells can be purchased from the court wizards of Windhelm (Wuunferth) and Whiterun (Farengar), and the conjurer of Tel Mithryn (Talvas Fathryon). In the base game they are also offered by Madena in Dawnstar, but this is probably a bug; see the Restoration group. [b][u][color=yellow]Spell Tomes, Illusion[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Winterhold [*][b]Supply[/b]: Haafingar [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, the Rift, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Wyrmstooth [/list]The court wizard of Solitude (Sybille Stentor) is the only non-College source for Adept level Illusion spells, which also makes for a convenient short trade route to Wyrmstooth. [b][u][color=yellow]Spell Tomes, Restoration[/color][/u][/b] [i](major variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Winterhold [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Pale [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, the Reach, Falskaar [*][b]Destination[/b]: Wyrmstooth [/list]In the base game there is no non-College source for Adept level Restoration spells, but dialogue suggests that the resident mage in Dawnstar (Madena) was intended to offer them instead of Destruction spells, and the Unofficial Patch does indeed make this change. [b][u][color=yellow]Stalhrim[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Solstheim [*][b]Supply[/b]: Eastmarch [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, Haafingar [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Reach, Elsweyr [/list]Found only on Solstheim, but even after the player discovers the new source, nobody actually sets up mining operations so the overall price variance still isn't especially high. Still, prices are highest in the Reach and Elsweyr since they're the furthest away. [b][u][color=yellow]Volcanic Plants - Creep Cluster, Dragon's Tongue, Jazbay[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Eastmarch [*][b]Supply[/b]: the Rift, Winterhold, Wyrmstooth [*][b]Demand[/b]: Haafingar, Hjaalmarch [*][b]Destination[/b]: the Reach [/list]These ingredients have a moderately high price variance since they are only found in the volcanic areas of Eastmarch (and Wyrmstooth, if installed); prices rise further from this source. [b][u][color=yellow]Wyrmstone[/color][/u][/b] [i](moderate variance)[/i] [list] [*][b]Origin[/b]: Wyrmstooth [*][b]Supply[/b]: Haafingar, the Pale [*][b]Demand[/b]: Falkreath, the Rift [*][b]Destination[/b]: Elsweyr [/list]Found very commonly in the wilderness, but only on Wyrmstooth. It cannot be crafted so demand isn't as high as for other metals, however it is thought to have some magical properties.