Level Up Before Whiterun

Ever want to get to level up SUPER quickly to reach that halfway point for the Dragonborn DLC at a fast pace, or even just to give yourself a small push in difficulty? I gotchu.

Choosing your race.

In most playthroughs, I choose the Breton race simply due to the resistance to magic that runs through their blood. On top of having a borderline broken passive, they also level up very efficiently in combat stats, as they have a base 15 points in every tree. You can clearly do this with other classes that are not particularly renowned for combat, such as the High Elf.

Your first skill point!

Your first skill point will be in Sneak.

As you jump out of the tower in the beginning of the game, make sure you don't stop moving. Sprint past Alduin as he lands to kill Torolf. Alduin will actually fly up, without going through with the animation, and land on the stone wall to the left, just at the drop off. Here, you want to use your sneak button, and remain still in the dropoff until Alduin isn't detecting you anymore. Unless you chose a race that already has 20 base points in Sneak, you should be awarded a skill point.

Through Helgen Keep.

You typically want to go with Hadvar into the keep, as siding with him results in more enemies within Helgen Keep. During this phase of the process, you want to get hit as many times as possible while wearing armor, as well as block as many times as you can, and of course killing the most enimies you can without assistance.

Getting hit while wearing armor will raise your profeciency in wearing that type of armor. So say, after you get hit X amount of times in light armor, you will be awarded a skill point in light armor. So let 'em swing!

Most races don't have a high base skill level for block, making it easy to farm skill points in for those sweet, sweet level ups. Remember, you don't need a shield to block.

As you advance through the Keep, run past Hadvar and clear the dungeon without him, as he will just get in the way and drain your XP for hitting enimies yourself, granting more skill points. I recommend using a basic iron sword, as you'll get as many hits in as you can, giving you more XP, while also doing a more reasonable amount of damage than a flimsy dagger.

Notes:
Don't forget to pick the lock in the torturer's chambers: that's right, an easy skill point!
Eat all unknown alchemical ingredients; if enough are consumed, you will be granted an alchemy skill point.
When you come to find the bear sleeping just before the exit into Skyrim, make sure to sneak attack her, as it will most likely contribute another point into sneak for your cause.

Standing Stones and Embershard Mine.

After you escape Helgen Keep with Hadvar (or Ralof), run down the trail to the three standing stones. Accept the blessing of the warrior and make your way to Embershard Mine. Eliminate the bandit keeping watch just in front of the entrance. If you've been getting as many skill points as possible up until this point, there is a high chance he has a steel weapon equipped. Good gear for near future use.

Enter the mine and be ready to clear it. Beware the trip wire that will release a pile of boulders on your head! You should come across two bandits with gear similar to the outside guard. Eliminate them and head up to the wooden deck with a lever that releases the bridge to progress. DO NOT GO BACK AROUND!!! From the lever, jump onto the bridge. Two more bandits will spawn, letting you farm more XP and get more loot. They will not spawn if you loop around.

Just around the corner should be a jail cell carved into the cave, and a treasure room guarded by another bandit. Eliminate the bandit and take their key; it's your loot now. Just across the cave from the treasure room is a locked door. Pick the lock for progress towards your next level. As you progress further there will be a large open area filled with four bandits. Eliminate the bandits and take the spoils, but be aware of two things:
There is a skill book that will give you a free skill point in smithing on top of a workbench in the initial smithing area of the large cave.
There is a novice locked chest along a small cliff in the cave, picking it will get you the remainder of points you need to level up the skill, just backing off of the earlier cell door.

To Riverwood.

As you exit the mine, turn to the left and go along the trail to find two wolves. They make easy point farms. After you have dealt with them, go to Riverwood and talk with Alvor; Hadvar's uncle. Take all the goods you can from him, and maybe even more within his home. Sell them off and keep the gold for this next, terribly exploitive use.

Find either Sven or Faendal. Ask them about Camilla Valerius and follow through with their request. BUT make sure you side with Faendal. He is a very powerful follower that will aide you for the rest of your leveling pre-Whiterun. With Faendal as your follower, ask him to train you in archery. Pay him as much as you can, then access his inventory and take the gold back. Rinse and repeat!

To Whiterun!

As you begin to depart to further your adventure, take the bridge on the east side of Riverwood across the river. Instead of heading to Whiterun, go up the mountain to Bleak Falls Barrow. On the way, you should find a wolf, a small bandit camp with three bandits; one weilding an axe or sword, another using a hunting bow, and the last in (almost) full iron armor with an iron shield. I typically give that armor to Faendal to make him much more durable, as well as a steel melee weapon.

As you approach Bleak Falls Barrow, you might begin to be shot at by bandits inhabiting the outdoor area of the tomb. Three bandits in light armor; not a problem. Enter the tomb to find the carcasses of two more bandits, and another two bandits conversing about a "golden claw". Eliminate them and head through the dungeon, keeping in mind that only the first burial urn has any form of loot in it. You will eventually come to a point that a Bandit Outlaw - a high(ish) level enemy - will try to unlock the gate to venture further, only to trigger a trap and end his own life. Do not let him, as he can soak up lots of damage, boosting your combat stats a fair amount. After you have dealt with him, unlock the gate with the combination lock to the left. The correct order is Snake-Snake-Whale. As you enter that next area, there will be a skill book, Thief, and a chest with moderately low level loot in it. Proceed through the dungeon.

Soon you will hear Arvel the Swift calling out for help to his friends. Approach him and kill the giant spider that appears. As you cut him down, simply kill him there and loot his body, as he will have the golden claw you will need later. There is no punishment for killing him. Keep going deeper until you come to a room of draugr, followed by a pressure plate trap. Sneak past the trap and look for a sleeping Restless Draugr and sneak attack him for an easy skill point.

At this point, there isn't anything special. There is a locked chest at the bottom of a pit that you can unlock, but it won't reward you with an immidiate skill point. Simply clear the dungeon as usual; open the puzzle door with the golden claw using the pattern Bear-Moth-Owl, and learn the word Fus. This will trigger the boss fight and you should be able to kill him without a sweat. Loot his body, take the Dragonstone, and any enchanted gear along the way for skill points soon!

Final Step.

You should now be in Skyrim again, roaming the outdoors. To be honest, just find the fastest way to Whiterun you can and continue with Alvor's quest (Before the Storm). Disenchant all of the enchanted gear you have looted or been awarded by the Jarl to increase skill points in your enchanting tree. He will tell you to follow him and talk to Farengar Secret-Fire. Assuming you have chosen a race that is already familiar with the arcane arts, you will be able to trigger dialouge that humors Farengar, meaning you don't have to wait for the Jarl to talk to him to continue the quest. Give him the Dragonstone that you have preemptively fetched for him and continue with your journey!

Note:
If you chose a race that doesn't have a base skill of 20 in Speech, then persuade the guard at the gate into Whiterun, as it will level up your speech skill.

[Obp1972]

Thaths fine, thanks

[violagoof3]

FYI there are are two more chests besides the main one at the word wall... one is behind the word wall, the other is to the far left of the stairs that lead out to Skyrim :)

[Pilky]

i thought youd just say to not go to whiterun

[Finn ™]

ok