How to Improve Smithing in Skyrim

6 Pro Tips to Help You Get Better at Smithing

1. Crafting Items

To get better at Smithing, you’ll need to practice by crafting items. There are several methods to help you level up.

Iron Dagger Method:

• Craft Iron Daggers until you reach level 30 Smithing.

• Each dagger requires 1 Iron Ingot and 1 Leather Strip.

• At higher levels, switch to crafting Dwarven Bows for faster leveling.

Dwarven Bow Method:

• Requires the Dwarven Smithing perk (level 30).

• Each bow needs 2 Dwarven Metal Ingots and 1 Iron Ingot.

• Collect Dwarven metal from Dwemer ruins (e.g., Mzulft, Nchuand-Zel).

Jewelry Crafting:

• You can start crafting jewelry at any level, you just need the right materials

• Transmute Iron Ore to Silver, then to Gold for maximum efficiency.

• Mine or purchase Iron Ore, and collect Gems from various locations.

• High-value items like Gold Diamond Necklaces provide significant experience.

In order to transmute Iron Ore to Silver and then Gold, you’ll have to first obtain the Transmute spell in the Halted Stream Camp, located north of Whiterun.

2. Tempering/Improving Items

Once you’ve had practice crafting items, you can further improve your Smithing abilities by tempering items. As you use items, they become worn and less durable. Tempering items improves their durability and returns them to their original state.

Workbench Improvements:

• Focus on improving high-value armor pieces like Daedric or Dragon armor.

• The higher the base value of the item, the more experience you gain.

• Use ingots of the same type as the armor (e.g., Iron Ingots for Iron Armor).

Grindstone Tempering:

• Improve weapons, especially those with high base values.

• Daedric and Dragon weapons offer the most experience when improved.

3. Reading Books

You can also improve Smithing ability by reading skill books. Each book read increases Smithing skill by one point but can only be read once for the effect.

• "The Armorer's Challenge": Found in Alftand, Lost Knife Hideout, and other locations.

• "Heavy Armor Forging": Locations include Liar's Retreat and Movarth's Lair.

• "Light Armor Forging": Can be found in Embershard Mine and Halted Stream Camp.

• "The Last Scabbard of Akrash": Locations include Riften Jail and Dawnstar Barracks.

• "Cherim's Heart of Anequina": Found in various locations including Dragonsreach.

4. Training with Trainers

Training with a trainer is a great way to get better at Smithing. You can train 5 times per level, but the cost increases with each level, becoming quite expensive at higher levels.

Smithing Trainers:

• Ghorza gra-Bagol in Markarth (up to level 50)

• Balimund in Riften (up to level 75)

• Eorlund Gray-Mane in Whiterun (up to level 100)

• Gunmar in Fort Dawnguard (up to level 100)

5. Perks, Potions, and Enchantments

Perks, potions, and enchantments can enhance your smithing ability, especially when you combine them.

Perks: Unlock perks like Steel Smithing, Elven Smithing, etc., to craft better items and improve them more effectively.

• Focus on perks that align with the armor and weapons you use most.

• The "Arcane Blacksmith" perk allows improvement of magical weapons and armor.

• "Advanced Armors" and "Dragon Armor" perks are crucial for crafting the best gear.

Potions: Use Fortify Smithing potions to enhance item improvement. Ingredients include Blisterwort, Glowing Mushroom, Sabre Cat Tooth, and Spriggan Sap.

• Combine Blisterwort + Glowing Mushroom for a basic Fortify Smithing potion.

• Add Sabre Cat Tooth or Spriggan Sap for stronger potions.

• With high Alchemy skill, create potions that boost Smithing by up to 130%.

• Potion potency increases by 20% at each alchemy level from 1-5

Enchantments: Apply Fortify Smithing enchantments to gear to increase improvement effectiveness.

• Enchant a full set: Helmet, Gauntlets, Ring, and Necklace with Fortify Smithing.

• With 100 Enchanting and relevant perks, each piece can provide up to 25% boost.

• Combine enchanted gear with potions for maximum Smithing effectiveness.

6. Experience Boosts

Experience boosts ways to further gain experience and level up your skills in the game. Naturally, as you level up, your Smithing abilities will increase.

• Standing Stones: Each Standing Stone grants your character a unique ability or bonus. You can only have the effects of one Standing Stone active at a time, but you can switch between them by visiting different stones. The exception to this rule is if you wear the Aetherial Crown, which allows you to benefit from two Standing Stones simultaneously.

  • The Warrior Stone: Increases combat skills experience by 20%.

  • The Mage Stone: Increases magic skills experience by 20%.

  • The Thief Stone: Increases stealth skills experience by 20%.

  • The Lover Stone: Increases all skills experience by 15%.

• Well Rested Bonus: Sleeping in a bed you own provides a 10% experience boost to all skills.

• Aetherial Crown: Allows you to have two Standing Stone effects active simultaneously, potentially stacking experience boosts.

• Skill-Specific Methods:

  • Some quests and actions provide direct skill increases, which count towards leveling.

  • Certain NPCs can provide free skill boosts upon completing favors.

• Oghma Infinium: A unique book that gives five extra skill points to every skill in one skill group of your choosing.

• Guardian Stones: Located near Riverwood, these are typically the first Standing Stones players encounter and offer a 20% boost to a group of skills (combat, magic, or stealth)

Forging Your Path to Smithing Mastery

As you've journeyed through this comprehensive guide on improving your Smithing skills in Skyrim, you've uncovered the secrets to rapidly advancing from a novice craftsman to a master blacksmith. Whether you've chosen to craft Iron Daggers by the dozen, delve into the lucrative world of jewelry crafting, or strategically use trainers and experience boosts, each method offers a unique path to achieving Smithing mastery.

By combining these strategies with a keen eye for resource management and a dash of creativity, you'll be well on your way to forging the most legendary armor and weapons the world of Skyrim has ever seen.

As you continue to explore the frozen wilderness, conquer dragons, and unravel ancient mysteries, your enhanced Smithing skills will be your greatest ally. So, don your apron, sharpen your tools, and let the hammer strike true—your journey to Smithing greatness awaits!

For additional Skyrim tips, check out our other guides:

• How to Build a House in Skyrim

• How to Cure Vampirism in Skyrim