Master Criminal Achievement - Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Achievements

	Master Criminal	20
	Bounty of 1000 gold in all nine holds

Rate this achievement	Average Rating (Based on 13 votes)

User Comments

	Comment #1 by d0ct0rscarecr0w Monday, October 03, 2011 @ 09:13:23 PM think it will be all at once?

	Comment #2 by Gilganomics Monday, October 03, 2011 @ 10:34:24 PM Sounds that way... Save & Load.

	Comment #3 by Problemo Tuesday, October 04, 2011 @ 05:27:20 AM STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM! NOBODY BREAKS THE LAW ON MY WATCH!

	Comment #4 by O0mix0O Tuesday, October 04, 2011 @ 06:45:16 AM Definitely doing this on a different save

	Comment #5 by samc1987 Tuesday, October 04, 2011 @ 05:56:20 PM looks like this is going to be the only "difficult" one to get cant wait to play this :)

	Comment #6 by Baron Chronus Wednesday, October 05, 2011 @ 03:56:04 PM yeah could well be a pain in the ass

	Comment #7 by General Redland Wednesday, October 05, 2011 @ 04:02:01 PM Easy as pie, so long as you use an alternate save line and don't mind the travel time. (You couldn't fast travel in the last game if the guards were after you.) I believe 1,000 gold penalties could be incurred in Oblivion by committing one murder in public view. If this doesn't work, just punch beggars or children (Which I think are confirmed to be in the game??? If not, use horses) until you have met the quota.

	Comment #8 by ServbotNamedSxE Thursday, October 06, 2011 @ 01:08:40 PM getting $1000 in fines is easy in oblivion. kill a guard or 2 after u steal a horse, then kill it and its original owner, run off to next town (or 'hold') and repeat. i don't see it as being hard though, more inconvienent. gonna try to do this before joining any guilds. dont wanna get booted out and pay more fines to get back in.

	Comment #9 by chris lailo Wednesday, October 12, 2011 @ 08:25:46 AM This achievement looks like they have changed the bounty system now, seeing as you have to get a 1000 gold bounty in DIFFERENT holds... so if you're wanted in one city/hold then you can actually escape and not be attacked by everyone once you're in another... awesome :)

	Comment #10 by TOC x InSaNiTy7 Thursday, October 13, 2011 @ 05:47:01 PM Yeahh, bounty's are for different cities now :) But if you kill off any witnesses quick enough your bounty disappears ;)

	Comment #11 by Tobiasrocks Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 04:46:03 AM @3 LOL !!!

	Comment #12 by xED5T3Rx Thursday, October 27, 2011 @ 03:34:06 AM i did sort of the same thing in fable 3 fun times

	Comment #13 by powerlesscheese Sunday, October 30, 2011 @ 12:42:24 AM Well, so much for naming my PC "Link."

	Comment #14 by Shikamaru FTW Saturday, November 12, 2011 @ 04:30:37 AM STOP, YOU HAVE VIOLATED THE LAW PAY THE COURT A FINE OR SERVE YOUR SENTENCE

	Comment #15 by REDR3V0LVER Monday, November 14, 2011 @ 12:02:45 AM this ones not hard. just visit all 9 cities and then save. go to each ones stable, kill a guard or 2 then run away and fast travel to the next one.

	Comment #16 by tadhp91 Wednesday, November 16, 2011 @ 03:39:00 PM Do you need to have an even 1000G bounty? I've visited all Nine holds and killedan NPC, but I have 1040G bounty, and the cheevo isn't unlocking. (40 for the assault and 100 for the murder)

	Comment #17 by Scaretaker Wednesday, November 16, 2011 @ 04:58:35 PM its my last achivement but dont work -.- made with lvl 52 story finished and with small guy ~20 and also didnt worked. wtf i do wrong >.

	Comment #18 by BKNaB Wednesday, November 16, 2011 @ 10:52:50 PM It needs to be 1,000 in each city not 1,000 overall. That's the only bit of confusion I'd be able to think of...

	Comment #19 by tadhp91 Thursday, November 17, 2011 @ 10:28:45 AM @ 18, referring to my earlier post #16, I have a 1040G bounty in each hold. So my question still stands, does it have to be an even 1000?

	Comment #20 by ixfubar Thursday, November 17, 2011 @ 12:08:22 PM If you are a werewolf its an automatic 1000 bounty for changing into one in town

	Comment #21 by Flamin B Friday, November 18, 2011 @ 09:00:25 PM No, it does not need to be even. I had bounties ranging from 1000 even to 3080. Are you sure you did all 9? If you have no bounty in one hold, it won't even list it. I suggest you count out all 9. Winterhold Whiterun The Rift The Reach The Pale Hjaalmarch Haafingar Falkreath Eastmarch

	Comment #22 by Flamin B Friday, November 18, 2011 @ 09:04:36 PM (Look under General Stats -> Crime, BTW)

	Comment #23 by shooter567 Saturday, November 19, 2011 @ 11:44:28 PM any one else getting "cannot fast travel while guards are pursuing you"?

	Comment #24 by kaosmace Sunday, November 20, 2011 @ 11:16:56 AM ok so the reason that this may not ding is that the guards in a hold aren't actively hunting you. i used the "i'm a thane" in whiterun and then they didn't attack me when i went back. killed a guard, they all attacked me and i dinged.

	Comment #25 by Flamin B Sunday, November 20, 2011 @ 03:54:07 PM @23 You can't fast travel when anyone nearby is aggressive towards you (red dots). Run away and you can fast travel once you're in the clear.

	Comment #26 by flechetteXXX Sunday, November 20, 2011 @ 04:33:03 PM This achievement is not as challenging as people might think or it initially sounds. The best way to do this is to have lycanthropy. Changing into a werewolf in front of a civilian is automatically a 1000 gold bounty. Fast travel to all the major cities and transform into a werewolf right outside the gates where there is always 2 guards watching and then you can sprint off into the wilderness before they can react or give chase. Once in the clear you can fast travel to the next city. If you don’t have lycanthropy you can murder a guard which is also an automatic 1000 gold bounty but may be a little more difficult to pull off and is much harder to escape the hold to fast travel.

	Comment #27 by Lord of Fate Monday, November 21, 2011 @ 05:29:53 PM The game doesn't save that you attained a bounty sometimes. I'm not sure why. I checked my status after I had gotten a 1000+ gold bounty in each hold and it said I did nothing in two holds and only had 125 in another, which was incorrect. So I went back and did it again in those holds that I needed and the achievement popped. You don't need exactly 1000 gold or anything, it's just some sort of glitch that doesn't save some of them. Just make sure to check your stats like Flamin B suggested.

	Comment #28 by IrritatedPuppy Saturday, November 26, 2011 @ 03:21:58 PM @23, just keep running, had the same problem

	Comment #29 by Vastaroth Sunday, November 27, 2011 @ 11:57:44 AM just tryed it 3 times today didn't popped. went to all 9 hols killed a guard checkt my log for the + 1000 and moved on. started at Markarth going clockwise finisd with Falkreath cecked the + 1000 at each hold didn't popped -..-" really annoying .

	Comment #30 by MCFC Blue Nose Sunday, November 27, 2011 @ 02:21:34 PM I found I didn't always get a bounty unless I changed as a werewolf in front of the guards

	Comment #31 by Al3x Tig3r Wednesday, November 30, 2011 @ 02:02:11 PM I've tried more than 3 times to get this achievement. I have more than 1000 gold of bounty in every hold, but this achievement doesn't unlock!

	Comment #32 by Murkin Muffley Thursday, December 01, 2011 @ 01:48:59 AM Will the fact that i am Thane of a bunch of the holds make it so i cannot get the bounty??? Im thinking i will get the bounty but the guards dont bother unless its over 2000, anyone know for sure??

	Comment #33 by Murkin Muffley Friday, December 02, 2011 @ 10:21:31 AM Just a follow up i got the cheevo yesterday and you can still get it if your Thane of that hold. Also the easiest way is def. to turn into a werewolf in front of a guard, but as a side not you must make sure that right after you do it says in the top left corner of the screen, 1000 bounty added to "whichever hold your in", just refer to #21 for the holds, thats the list i used.

	Comment #34 by PrinceOfThralls Friday, December 02, 2011 @ 10:44:39 AM Skyrim is out now for a long time and the Bethesda Idiots still havn't fixed this dumb achievement for non-english players. Seems like they don't even try to...wtf man, can't get my 1000GS in this game because of this shit. Bethesda REALLY does suck.

	Comment #35 by Space Marine 1A Sunday, December 04, 2011 @ 09:30:47 PM Do not Bring Shadowmare. Stupid horse refuses to run and prevents fast travel

	Comment #36 by Erydan Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 03:33:51 AM http://forums.bethsoft.com/index.php?/topic/1266583-master-criminal-achievement-bug/ just wrote an e-mail about this to bethesda. maybe it will help... this cheevo is glitched for non-english-versions only

	Comment #37 by Chimchim19 Tuesday, December 06, 2011 @ 07:06:03 PM The most simple way to accomplish this is to murder one guard in each hold then escape them and repeat while retaining your bounty

	Comment #38 by Norwegian 420 Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 08:17:21 AM Just got this one. Simple. Kill a couple of guards in each hold and run like a african coke dealer. Riften Windhelm Winterhold Solitude Morthal Markarth falkreath whiterun dawnstar

	Comment #39 by brutalhabit Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 11:27:58 PM Won't unlock for me either. Yay.

	Comment #40 by DENSAN59 Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 08:56:20 PM Just did it. Unlocked for me. You had to really pay attention because if there was only one guard outside a city the bounty would be taken away because no witnesses were left. And don't have a companion with you because they will continue to attack the other guards which also voids the bounty because of the witness issue.

	Comment #41 by WrathsFury Sunday, December 11, 2011 @ 08:50:54 AM Just did it. Pretty fun to run around and shoot people

	Comment #42 by Dropped Monday, December 12, 2011 @ 11:12:23 PM @#35 lol. Bethesda sucks because there is a glitchy achievement? You sir are retarded. They made perhaps the greatest game I have ever played and you judge them on an achievement? Lolololol have a cry.

	Comment #43 by jandrobandro Tuesday, December 13, 2011 @ 09:59:10 PM @43 I totally agree... This is my last achievement besides the one about skill books and it sounds great :)

	Comment #44 by TOMIT2112 Sunday, December 18, 2011 @ 09:46:23 AM after each one check crime in the pause menu to see for 1000 bounty the towns are as follows: 1.Riften (The Rift) 2.Windhelm (Eastmarch) 3.Winterhold 4.Solitude (Haafingar) 5.Marthal (Hjaalmarch) 6.Markarth (The Reach) 7.Falkreath 8.Whiterun 9.Dawnstar (The Pale)

	Comment #45 by OMGmyFACE Tuesday, December 20, 2011 @ 01:04:18 AM One guard death is an easy 1000 bounty. Kill one, run until there's no one hostile around, fast travel to another hold (provided you went to them via a carriage ride or wandering around), repeat. Easy and fun.

	Comment #46 by sccrbsbll330 Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 05:44:56 PM When I did this, I killed one of the guards outside each of the cities and ran, then crouched when I was out of sight of them. You will leave combat shortly, but may not be able to fast travel for a minute. I kept getting the "can't fast travel while guards are pursuing you" message. Just keep running and try again in a little bit.

	Comment #47 by Cuthred Friday, December 30, 2011 @ 12:05:33 PM this achievement is bugged imho ... the game will tell you there is a bounty of 1000 gold on your head - but if a guard catches you while commiting the crime and you will tell him to rather die than go to jail, the 1000 bounty will be lost.

	Comment #48 by a dying animal Friday, December 30, 2011 @ 02:28:29 PM To save time knowing when you can fast travel just keep pressing "back" when running, if the wait screen doesn't appear then you can't fast travel yet.

	Comment #49 by DerHirni Sunday, January 01, 2012 @ 01:20:41 PM Nice, thanks for the tip, #49

	Comment #50 by shavron Sunday, January 01, 2012 @ 06:12:24 PM Just got this today and encountered an interesting bug. I had a bounty of 1000+ in each hold and then went to my last one, Windhelm. I kill a civilian and the achievement didn't pop. I went to the statistic menu and saw that it put the assault charge on Windhelm, but not the murder. So I killed another one. When the achievement still didn't pop I looked at the statistics again and noticed that Whiterun was at over 3000 bounty. I killed another person and when I went back to the stats Whiterun had shot up again. I just reloaded an earlier save and it put the bounty in the right hold. TL;DR: if it's not unlocking make sure it's assigning the bounty to the right hold.

	Comment #51 by XxUSMCxX hidden Sunday, January 01, 2012 @ 09:47:50 PM I just ran into a town than used storm shout, I waited a minute and someone died

	Comment #52 by PikeySA Wednesday, January 04, 2012 @ 04:19:51 PM I was also puzzled about this one not unlocking... until I realised I'd missed Dawnstar. The Crime list only shows existing bounties, so I was looking and thinking that I had over 1000 for all holds. For all those of you moaning that this doesn't unlock, check how many holds you have bounties in, chances are it'll be 8. Then check comment #45 above and check which one you've missed. It unlocked for me as soon as I murdered a guard in Dawnstar.

	Comment #53 by Yyelo Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 02:32:28 AM I tried getting this achievement today, i just killed one guard, and if anyone else came after me, i killed them too. Until no one else came up to me, and traveled to the next hold. When i had finished, i had a bounty of 1040-10000 in each town. No achievement.

	Comment #54 by green ran9er Tuesday, January 10, 2012 @ 11:04:08 AM I have like 10,000 bounty in every hold and didn't get the achievement.. wtf. I'm kind of pissed. I have been running into a lot of glitches is Skyrim lately. I can't finish the Thieves Guild achievement either. This is annoying. I just want my Dang achievements!!!! Anybody know a way around this problem. I'd at least like to get the 100 bounty one before I box this game back up and give up completely.

	Comment #55 by snipeye Wednesday, January 11, 2012 @ 09:14:15 PM Did twice doesn't work

	Comment #56 by Afflicted Ace Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 09:59:07 PM Got it first try. Each hold I attacked had a different bounty, some were 1000 and others were 3000+. Most basic tip is: Make sure you have 9 (As in nine, not eight, or seven). Check #45 #49 for more in depth help.

	Comment #57 by Erydan Friday, January 20, 2012 @ 03:42:33 AM http://www.bethblog.com/2012/01/19/news-on-the-creation-kit-and-game-updates/ -> Master Criminal achievement/trophy unlocks properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian ********* finally!

	Comment #58 by Hitomis Freund Friday, January 20, 2012 @ 12:47:30 PM Is there any way to see how much bounty you currently have in each hold?

	Comment #59 by Naberios Saturday, January 21, 2012 @ 03:48:22 AM @54 Sounds like you killed all the witnesses. I believe they still need to be hostile towards you.

	Comment #60 by zarda1 Tuesday, January 24, 2012 @ 01:23:16 AM i killed two gaurds in winterhold. thats all there was in the whole city and because they were both dead i guess the bounty didn't count and i had to search everywhere to find one more to kill. my tip would be to just injure on one of the guards and make sure you get into a fight and try to run off and then kill the few that fallow. check your stats too.

	Comment #61 by Holy Zangetsu Tuesday, January 24, 2012 @ 07:45:18 AM @58 Great news!! I couldnt unlock it so far in the german version, hope it will work now...

	Comment #62 by Ash2X Tuesday, January 24, 2012 @ 09:48:35 AM Still not working in the german version...

	Comment #63 by Holy Zangetsu Saturday, January 28, 2012 @ 07:00:33 AM @63 just realized it too. I hope they will fix it soon, my last missing achievement...

	Comment #64 by Psygaud Thursday, February 02, 2012 @ 12:28:37 AM When I did this I would just kill an NPC while there was a guard around then run away and fast travel as soon as possible to the next place and repeat. A couple times I had to go back to a hold I thought I had already gotten the bounty because it only registered as an assault or something, also if you kill someone and the only witness has a low responsibility rating then they won't report it to the guards and you won't gain a bounty.

	Comment #65 by Erydan Thursday, February 02, 2012 @ 12:37:23 PM the long-awaited patch will go live soon: As an update to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 users, we’re submitting 1.4 to the console manufacturers this week. When these updates are available, we’ll let everyone know. http://www.bethblog.com/2012/02/01/1-4-update-now-on-steam/ let's hope it will go live the next few days so we finally can 1000 this game :D

	Comment #66 by Erydan Thursday, February 02, 2012 @ 12:39:06 PM @63+64 please take your time and have a look at the blog (see the link in my comment? ;)). #58 was an announcement w/ patch notes for the upcoming patch. noone said it was already live...

	Comment #67 by Distractor08 Wednesday, February 08, 2012 @ 05:13:10 PM here is what I did to make it nice and quick. 1) Go chop a person's head off to automatically get the $1,000 bounty 2) I am a warrior/wizard who specializes in destruction and restoration. There is a skill in the restoration category that allows healing magic restore stamina as well, it helps greatly since I don't have to spend my level ups on stamina at all. 3) Use the shout whirlwind sprint to get a couple steps ahead of the guards chasing you. Usually 2 will be enough to get away. 4) Rinse and repeat. Happy killing innocents :)

	Comment #68 by LizardKingv666 Thursday, February 09, 2012 @ 12:39:38 PM Unlocks now in the german version. Installed the patch today and got the achievement on the first try. If you don't know where to get bounty of 1000 Gold look at your stats.

	Comment #69 by Harthugaut Friday, February 10, 2012 @ 10:37:21 AM @69: Loaded my old save and still got no stats concerning the bounty in the different towns. Do I need a new char?

	Comment #70 by RGC Harlequin Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 04:11:43 PM So is this all at once? I had 1000 in about 6 holds, but paid them off.

	Comment #71 by ProudGreek Saturday, February 18, 2012 @ 03:49:54 AM honestly, one of the easiest achievements in the game. wander into the town (or outside in the stables), slaughter some niggers, make sure you leave one to run his mouth off. Gap it until you can fast travel, rinse and repeat. Highly recommend starting with Solitude, working anticlockwise and finishing with Whiterun (just fast travel to the dragonreach and there will be 4 or 5 guards ripe for the kill). Make sure to get Falkreath, Morthal, Dawnstar and Winterhold!!

	Comment #72 by randomgirlk23 Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 03:20:43 PM Easiest way for this is Stormcall in a city and let that do all the work, it should kill the guards and you can make your escape easily. If that fails have a horse waiting for you to make a quick getaway.

	Comment #73 by multipedslinky Thursday, April 05, 2012 @ 01:55:05 PM easier way is to turn into a wearwolf and you get 1000 bounty in each nine hold instantly

	Comment #74 by DAS LOVE GLOVE Thursday, April 12, 2012 @ 05:35:24 AM do i have to have a 1000 dead on or can it be over i have more then a 1000 in all holds but still nothing

	Comment #75 by illusiion Friday, April 13, 2012 @ 09:22:25 AM @74 yes but then you dont get the fun of running around killing everyone. :P

	Comment #76 by DJent777 Tuesday, April 17, 2012 @ 08:02:50 PM I HATE crime achievements, so much. they are so annoying...

	Comment #77 by zDooLeY Wednesday, April 18, 2012 @ 11:23:22 AM The only difficulty in this is the time it'll take to do it all..

	Comment #78 by AFX Acid Thursday, May 03, 2012 @ 06:37:46 PM I had been sitting at 950 for a few months, I was getting bored of Skyrim. Then, on a whim, after hearing so much about it, I bought Game of Thrones on blu-ray. Now I play Skyrim again :D Just got my pain in the ass Thieve's Guild cheevo, and Master Criminal will wrap it up. AND DAWNGAURD!!!

	Comment #79 by ForeverHeavy Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 04:58:39 PM Probably the most fun I've had with this game. It's weirdly satisfying for your character to become a massive sociopath for at least an hour.

	Comment #80 by vintagegamer24 Monday, July 09, 2012 @ 03:00:29 PM #45 is the best way to go. Changed into wolf in front of guards outside of town, and then ran like hell. As soon as i was far enough, i advanced time 22 hours than fast traveled to my next location. Once I got to my new location I was able to use Beastform again. Got this achievement in about 10-15 minutes.

	Comment #81 by txlonestar wolf Wednesday, July 18, 2012 @ 08:33:59 AM Dawnstar(The Pale) doesn't show up in your menu, i had already went to dawnstar but since there was a dragon & i didn't know it, it didn't register me killing the guard, when i went back and killed the guard again the achievement popped

	Comment #82 by Snoes777 Thursday, July 26, 2012 @ 02:10:25 PM if you captured solitude or windhelm with stormcloaks or the imperials that hold goes away I did it and there were only 8 holds. Hjaalmarch was gone. So go back to an earlier save. I hope this helps, goodluck.

	Comment #83 by KimikoAmaya Thursday, July 26, 2012 @ 09:23:44 PM Did this as a Vampire Lord after finishing half the Dawnguard Storyline and only going as far as capturing Whiterun for the Stormcloaks. Serana makes this ridiculously easy as your backup.

	Comment #84 by KimikoAmaya Thursday, July 26, 2012 @ 11:30:22 PM And of course if you summon one of two dragon pals to help out in the major towns as air support, this only takes 30 mins.

	Comment #85 by Mr x Resorto Sunday, August 19, 2012 @ 12:11:10 AM Pretty easy achievement, just make a save before hand then go to each city listed and kill a guard and make sure it says 1000 bountry added, then run a way till you can wait (tap back button) and then fast travel to the next city on the list sometimes this wouldn't work for me because the guards were "pursing me" so I would just run to the next one. This took about an hour (mostly loading screens).

	Comment #86 by IGotTheWaffles Tuesday, October 02, 2012 @ 07:47:16 AM Right so, for the people still wanting this cheevo. the best way to do this is to kill a guard in view of another guard and then run. WARNING! if the guard starts talking to you you've done it wrong MAKE SURE THE GUARDS ARE ATTACKING YOU!! once the guards are attacking run away out of the city and make haste for the nearest mountain or so, (if you have shadowmere fantastic if not fine) If you have a horse (do not steal one!) ride it up the nearest mountain and try not to kill it. then make your way down the otherside (easiest way to get rid of guards) once you have done this, fast travel to the nearest hold do the same and make sure that you have exactly 1000 gold, i didn't get this the first time due to the fact in Solitude i had 1005, if you have a bounty, talk to a guard and pay it off,

	Comment #87 by IGotTheWaffles Tuesday, October 02, 2012 @ 07:48:29 AM persuade your way out or simply go to jail. then kill the guards, once all 9 holds have 1000 bounty (check in general stats < crime) then cheevo should pop. MAKE SURE ITS 1000 GOLD NO MORE NO LESS!

	Comment #88 by IGotTheWaffles Tuesday, October 02, 2012 @ 08:26:27 AM as a side note, whilst running away spam back (if you're good at multitasking) once the box appears to wait, you can successfully fast travel, the 9 holds are: Solitude Whiterun Morthal Falkreath Markarth Dawnstar Riften Winterhold Windhelm

	Comment #89 by videogamenerd22 Thursday, February 21, 2013 @ 11:58:43 AM It took a while, but I got it.

	Comment #90 by tayboone Friday, March 01, 2013 @ 10:35:21 AM Be careful while attempting this if you have completed a majority of the game. I was master of all the guilds and in Riften and Dawnstar, when I killed a guard, ran away and teleported to another place, the Thieves in Riften killed the witnesses and reduced my bounty to 0, and something happened in Dawnstar too that removed the witnesses. So make sure you check your bounties in the general stats > crime menu to make sure your bounties are still standing.

	Comment #91 by HareJordan23 Sunday, March 24, 2013 @ 06:13:29 PM if you're in sneak mode when killing the guard you dont have to worry about running just fast travel quickly to your next location