The Blackguard Armor Set is regarded as one of the best armor sets for thieves and other sneak build characters in Skyrim Special Edition. Though the armor itself may not boast strong stats, the enchantments it comes with give players a major boost to their sneaking-related skills.

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The set is acquired after players have progressed a fair way into the Thieves Guild quest and have access to Solstheim. Glover Mallory, the blacksmith in Raven Rock, awards players with the set after doing a few quests for him. However, players can acquire the set much earlier in the game by using a few exploits.

Loot Everything At Helgen

A Tower in the City of Helgen

The Blackguard Armor set is found on the island of Solstheim and players will need about 250 gold to buy passage to the region. Since players will have no gold as they start the game, they must loot everything they possibly can during their escape from Helgen. They will come across several soldiers on the way which they need to defeat. Players can loot them after they do so and then sell off these items to the blacksmith or general goods merchant in Riverwood. The soldiers' equipment will yield enough gold for players to hire a carriage ride to Windhelm and then hire a ship to Solstheim.

Acquire Some Wooden Plates

Wooden Plate Inventory View

Wooden plates are typically found in taverns and some NPC homes throughout the game. As players will arrive in Riverwood, they can visit the Sleeping Giant Inn to gather some wooden plates. Players only need one for the process to work, but having a few extra plates can be useful in case something goes wrong. They must take care not to get caught taking the plates as the game counts taking them as stealing. In case of being caught, the inn owner will be hostile to players and guards can arrest players. After players have a few wooden plates, they must go to Whiterun and hire a carriage to take them to Windhelm.

Buy Passage To Solstheim

Captain Gjalund Takes Players to Solstheim

Players can get to Solstheim via a ship that they can hire in Windhelm. They will need to get to Windhelm first which they can do so via carriage found outside the city of Whiterun. The carriage driver charges players 50 gold for the ride. Once players arrive at Windhelm, they must make their way to the docks and find Captain Gjlalund Salt-Sage. Players can talk to him, pay his fee, and travel to Solstheim.

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The region is added as part of the Dragonborn DLC and is typically reserved for players who have completed the main quest. However, players can still access the area as a level one character.

Wait For Glover To Leave And Enter His House

The Door To Glover Mallory's House in Solstheim

Once players arrive at Raven Rock, one of the first things they will see is Glover Mallory working at his forge. He starts work around 8 am in game-time and works till 9 pm. After a long, hard day at work, he typically goes to The Retching Netch to have a nice drink and unwind. This gives players ample opportunity to infiltrate his house and get the Blackguard set.

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Once Mallory is gone, players will need to pick the lock at his house and enter. Players must make sure that there aren't any guards around before attempting to do so as getting caught will have adverse effects. They must also buy some lockpicks from the general goods merchants in Riverwood and Whiterun. The traders in the Khajiit caravans typically also have lockpicks that players can buy.

Enter Glover's Basement

View From Inside Glover Mallory's Basement

The Blackguard Armor Set is located in Glover's basement and players will need a key to get inside. Players can attempt to pickpocket Glover for the key but at level one, they will not have the sufficient skill level to successfully do so. In order to get inside, players must drop a wooden plate from their inventory and hold it up to eye level using the interact key. Players must then sprint into the door while the wooden plate is suspended in front of them. After a few tries, players will manage to clip through the door and into the basement. In some cases, the plate may clip through the door leaving players outside where they were sprinting. They can take out another plate and try again with a new plate. In the event they run out, players can use the wooden plate present in the room.

Loot The Armor Set

The Blackguard Armor Set in Glover Mallory's Basement

Once players have clipped through the door, they will be free to loot the Blackguard Armor Set displayed in a case. Players can also find some very useful loot in the room that will provide a significant boost in their journey. Moreover, the items in the room restock after about five to seven in-game days allowing players to farm them multiple times. However, the weapons placed on the racks can only be looted once and will not respawn. Players can also find a letter addressed to the Thieves Guild member Sapphire revealing that Glover is her father. The letter can be given to her after players join the Thieves Guild and talk to her. After players have looted everything they need, they can leave using the same method they used to get inside.

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