Skyrim:Forge

A forge and an anvil

Forges, Blacksmith Forges and Anvils are used to create armor, jewelry, and weapons out of raw materials (ingots, leather, etc.) in the original version of the game. If Hearthfire is installed, you can also create certain housebuilding materials. There is no functional difference between an anvil and a forge. Forging is controlled by your Smithing skill, and is the fastest way to gain Smithing experience. The types of equipment that you can craft depend upon which Smithing perks you have unlocked (with the exception of some specialty items that can be crafted at the Skyforge).

Forges can be found at every Blacksmith in Skyrim. They are also found in various other places throughout the province, including outside many mines and inside several dwarven ruins. The Forges category lists locations that contain forges.

Locations

In addition to all these individual places, every Imperial Camp and every Stormcloak Camp has an anvil.

Forged Items

The following table summarizes all of the types of items that can be crafted at forges. In most cases "Armor" means a complete set of armor (cuirass, boots, gauntlets, helmet, and shield). The same is true for "Weapons": most types are available for forging (daggers, swords, war axes, maces, greatswords, battleaxes, warhammers, bows, and arrows^{See Notes}). Details of every item and its materials are provided on the linked pages.

Items	Type	Materials	Requirement	Smithing Skill
Hide Armor	Light Armor	Leather, Leather Strips	None	0
Studded Armor	Light Armor	Iron Ingots, Leather, Leather Strips	None	0
Leather Armor	Light Armor	Leather, Leather Strips	None	0
Iron Armor	Heavy Armor	Iron Ingots, Leather Strips	None	0
Banded Iron Armor	Heavy Armor	Corundum Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips	None	0
Bone Hawk AmuletDG	Jewelry	Bone Hawk SkullDG, Bone Hawk FeathersDG, Leather Strips	None	0
Gold Jewelry	Jewelry	Gold Ingots, Gems	None	0
Silver Jewelry	Jewelry	Silver Ingots, Gems	None	0
Iron Weapons	Weapons	Iron Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (ArrowsDG only)	None	0
Imperial Armor	Heavy Armor	Steel Ingots, Leather, Leather Strips	Steel Smithing	0
Steel Armor	Heavy Armor	Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips	Steel Smithing	0
Steel Weapons	Weapons	Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (ArrowsDG only)	Steel Smithing	0
Elven Armor	Light Armor	Refined Moonstone, Iron Ingots, Leather, Leather Strips	Elven Smithing	30
Elven Gilded Armor	Light Armor	Refined Moonstone, Quicksilver Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips	Elven Smithing	30
Elven Weapons	Weapons	Refined Moonstone, Quicksilver Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (ArrowsDG only)	Elven Smithing	30
Scaled Armor	Light Armor	Corundum Ingots, Steel Ingots, Leather, Leather Strips	Advanced Armors	50
Steel Plate Armor	Heavy Armor	Corundum Ingots, Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips	Advanced Armors	50
Glass Armor	Light Armor	Refined Malachite, Refined Moonstone, Leather, Leather Strips	Glass Smithing	70
Glass Weapons	Weapons	Refined Malachite, Refined Moonstone, Leather Strips, Firewood (ArrowsDG only)	Glass Smithing	70
Dwarven Armor	Heavy Armor	Dwarven Metal Ingots, Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips	Dwarven Smithing	30
Dwarven Weapons	Weapons	Dwarven Metal Ingots, Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (ArrowsDG only)	Dwarven Smithing	30
Orcish Armor	Heavy Armor	Orichalcum Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips	Orcish Smithing	50
Orcish Weapons	Weapons	Orichalcum Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (ArrowsDG only)	Orcish Smithing	50
Ebony Armor	Heavy Armor	Ebony Ingots, Leather Strips	Ebony Smithing	80
Ebony Weapons	Weapons	Ebony Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (ArrowsDG only)	Ebony Smithing	80
Daedric Armor	Heavy Armor	Daedra Heart, Ebony Ingots, Leather Strips	Daedric Smithing	90
Daedric Weapons	Weapons	Daedra Heart, Ebony Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (ArrowsDG only)	Daedric Smithing	90
Dragonscale Armor	Light Armor	Dragon Scales, Iron Ingots, Leather, Leather Strips	Dragon Armor	100
Dragonplate Armor	Heavy Armor	Dragon Scales, Dragon Bones, Leather Strips	Dragon Armor	100
Dragonbone WeaponsDG	Weapons	Dragon Bone, Ebony Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (Arrows only)	Dragon Armor	100
Ancient Nord Armor	Heavy Armor	Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather, Leather Strips	Only at Skyforge after completing Glory of the Dead	0
Nord Hero Weapons	Weapons	Ancient Nord Weapons, Steel Ingots, Leather Strips	Only at Skyforge after completing Glory of the Dead	0
Housebuilding MaterialsHF	Other	Iron Ingots, Corundum Ingots	Hearthfire installed	0
Bonemold ArmorDB	Heavy Armor	Netch LeatherDB, Iron Ingots, Bone Meal	Steel Smithing	0
Improved Bonemold ArmorDB	Heavy Armor	Netch LeatherDB, Iron Ingots, Bone Meal, Netch JellyDB, StalhrimDB, Void Salts	Steel Smithing, finding the bonemold formula	0
Chitin ArmorDB	Light Armor	Netch LeatherDB, Iron Ingots, ChitinDB	Elven Smithing	30
Chitin ArmorDB	Heavy Armor	Netch LeatherDB, Corundum, ChitinDB	Elven Smithing	30
Nordic Carved ArmorDB	Heavy Armor	Ebony Ingots, Quicksilver Ingots, Leather Strips, Steel Ingots	Advanced Armors	50
Nordic WeaponsDB	Weapons	Quicksilver Ingots, Leather Strips, Steel Ingots	Advanced Armors	50
Stalhrim ArmorDB	Light Armor	StalhrimDB, Steel Ingots, Leather Strips	Ebony Smithing	80
Stalhrim ArmorDB	Heavy Armor	StalhrimDB, Quicksilver Ingots, Leather Strips	Ebony Smithing	80
Stalhrim WeaponsDB	Weapons	StalhrimDB, Leather Strips	Ebony Smithing	80
Shellbug HelmetDG	Heavy Armor	Shellbug ChitinDG, Iron Ingots	None	0
Arcane ArrowsCC	Weapons	Firewood, Fire Salts, Frost Salts, Void Salts	None	0
Bone ArrowsCC	Weapons	Firewood, Dragon Bone	Dragon Armor	100
Telekinesis ArrowsCC	Weapons	Firewood, Void Salts	Reading Telekinesis Arrows Research Notes	0
Soul Stealer ArrowsCC	Weapons	Firewood, Soul Gem Arrowheads	Completing Stealer of Souls	0
Soul Gem ArrowheadCC	Other	Soul Gem Fragment	Completing Stealer of Souls	0
BackpacksCC	Other	Corundum Ingot, Leather	None	0
Camping SuppliesCC	Other	Firewood, Leather	None	0
Nordic JewelryCC	Jewelry	Quicksilver Ingot, Stalhrim	Completing Nordic Jewelry (quest)	0
Animal AccessoriesCC	Other	Leather, Leather Strips	None	0
Corkbulb AmmunitionCC	Weapons	Firewood, Corkbulb Root	None	0
Bonemold AmmunitionCC	Weapons	Firewood, Bone Meal	None	0
Vigil ArmorCC	Heavy Armor	Iron Ingots, Steel Ingots, Leather Strips	Steel Smithing, completing Unholy Vigil	0
Spell Knight ArmorCC	Heavy Armor	Iron Ingots, Steel Ingots, or Ebony Ingots; Leather Strips	Completing Crypt of the Heart, Steel Smithing, Ebony Smithing	0, 80 (Ebony only)
Netch Leather ArmorCC	Light Armor	Leather Strips, Netch LeatherDB, Charcoal	Completing More Than You Can Chew	0
Amber ArmorCC	Light Armor	Refined Moonstone, Leather Strips, Refined AmberCC	Glass Smithing, completing Amber and Madness Smithing	70
Amber WeaponsCC	Weapons	Refined Moonstone, Leather Strips, Refined AmberCC, Firewood (Arrows only)	Glass Smithing, completing Amber and Madness Smithing	70
Madness ArmorCC	Heavy Armor	Ebony Ingots, Leather Strips, Madness IngotsCC	Ebony Smithing, completing Amber and Madness Smithing	80
Madness WeaponsCC	Weapons	Ebony Ingots, Leather Strips, Madness IngotsCC	Ebony Smithing, completing Amber and Madness Smithing	80
Dark ArmorCC	Light Armor	Daedra Heart, Ebony Ingots, Quicksilver Ingots, Leather Strips	Daedric Smithing, completing Golden and Dark Smithing	90
Dark WeaponsCC	Weapons	Daedra Heart, Ebony Ingots, Quicksilver Ingots, Leather Strips, Firewood (Arrows only)	Daedric Smithing, completing Golden and Dark Smithing	90
Golden ArmorCC	Heavy Armor	Daedra Heart, Gold Ingots, Refined Moonstone, Leather Strips	Daedric Smithing, completing Golden and Dark Smithing	90
Golden WeaponsCC	Weapons	Daedra Heart, Gold Ingots, Refined Moonstone, Leather Strips, Firewood (Arrows only)	Daedric Smithing, completing Golden and Dark Smithing	90
Silver ArmorCC	Heavy Armor	Silver Ingots, Iron Ingots, Leather Strips	Advanced Armors	50
Fishing RodsCC	Weapons	Iron Ingots, Steel Ingots, Orichalcum Ingots, Quicksilver Ingots, Dwarven Metal Ingots, Firewood	None (Imperial), quest completion (Argonian, Alik'ri, Dwarven)	30 (Dwarven Fishing Rod only)
Indoril ArmorCC	Heavy Armor	Gold Ingot, Netch Leather, Chitin Plates	Elven Smithing	30
Her Hand ArmorCC	Heavy Armor	Ebony Ingot, Gold Ingot, Netch Leather, Chitin Plates	Elven Smithing, killing Hand Kenro Hlan during Ghosts of the Tribunal (quest)	30
Remnant ArmorCC	Light Armor	Steel Ingots, Corundum Ingots, Leather Strips, Leather	Advanced Armors, completing Interception	50
Remnant WeaponsCC	Weapons	Steel Ingots, Corundum Ingots, Leather Strips	Steel Smithing, completing Interception	0

Special Forges

Smithing Forges

• Skyforge: It is the first special forge most players see, located adjacent to Jorrvaskr in Whiterun on elevated ground. A building-sized statue of an eagle overlooks the forge. There are no workbenches in this forge. However, once the Glory of the Dead quest has been completed, the Skyforge becomes one of the only two forges in the game that can produce Ancient Nord armor and Nord Hero weapons. Its blacksmith, Eorlund Gray-Mane describes the forge as having become more "awake." The player still cannot produce the eponymous Skyforge Steel weaponry.
• Lunar Forge: Located at the Silent Moons Camp northwest of Whiterun, this forge is, for all intents and purposes, ordinary. The only interesting features of the location are the Notes On The Lunar Forge found on the forge's workbench, and several random weapons bearing the Silent Moons Enchant(ment). As the author of the notes discovered, the forge itself cannot confer any enchantment to anything.
• 
  Gunmar's Forge:^DG Available from the Dawnguard expansion pack, this forge is located in Fort Dawnguard. After completing the A New Order quest (i.e., recruiting Sorine Jurard and Gunmar) and completing six Ancient Technology quests, this forge becomes one of the only two places where the player can produce:
  • Dwarven Crossbow^DG
  • Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow^DG
  • Crossbow^DG
  • Enhanced Crossbow^DG
  • Exploding Steel Bolt of Fire
  • Exploding Steel Bolt of Ice
  • Exploding Steel Bolt of Shock
  • Exploding Dwarven Bolt of Fire
  • Exploding Dwarven Bolt of Ice
  • Exploding Dwarven Bolt of Shock

The Expanded Crossbow Pack and Elite Crossbows DLCs from the Creation Club have significantly undermined the value of Gunmar's forge because they enable the player to acquire more advanced crossbows elsewhere or create them at ordinary forges. (See their articles for details.)

• 
  All Forge:^CC The Myrwatch DLC of the Creation Club adds the Myrwatch Gallery, wherein lies an inconspicuous anvil. Despite its lacking appearance, from the All Forge, the player can produce everything that was once exclusive to Skyforge and Gunmar's forge. Nevertheless, the player still needs to complete the pre-requisite quests mentioned above.

Other Forges

The following forges are not smithing forges. Rather, they have their own unique products.

• Atronach Forge: This magical conjuring apparatus, located in the Midden under the College of Winterhold, can conjure staves, spell tomes, scrolls, Daedric items, or hostile creatures in exchange for "offerings."
• 
  Aetherium Forge:^DG Available from the Dawnguard expansion pack, it can be found after reading a book called The Aetherium Wars and completing the Lost to the Ages quest. This forge can only be used once to create one of three unique items:
  • Aetherial Crown
  • Aetherial Shield
  • Aetherial Staff

Notes

• Arrows and bolts can only be crafted after installing the Dawnguard add-on. Bolts can only be crafted if you join the Dawnguard; see the Ancient Technology quest walkthrough for more information.^{[verification needed — is this true in Anniversary Edition?]}
• Crafting bolts is less resource-friendly than crafting arrows, as the same recipe for example: 6 firewood (the maximum amount created from one "use" of a chopping block) and 6 Dwarven metal ingots creates 144 arrows, or just 60 crossbow bolts. Arrows also have more value than bolts, often 1-2 gold more than the bolt version. If smithing on a budget (or early game, when you often have little money), arrows will be more cost effective than bolts.
• If an Anvil and Forge are in close proximity to each other, you will automatically use the Anvil, even if you activated the Forge.

Bugs

• Sometimes, when entering the forging interface (regardless of its being from an Anvil or Forge), the long piece of metal you're supposed to be striking on the anvil ends up sticking out of your left hand, and you will appear to be striking nothing. If it happens at a Forge, you'll then dip the cold end of the metal rod into cold water. Once this bug happens, every time you enter the smithing menu, the bug will appear again. This is only a graphics glitch and doesn't affect the ability to smith at all. ^?
  • Having a shield and a one-handed weapon equipped can also cause the aforementioned animation glitch to occur. Solution:Unequip the shield, then draw and sheath the one-handed weapon. The animation should now function properly.
• If you jump into a forge, you will be set on fire, which will slowly increase your Destruction skill. This does not happen with the Skyforge, however.
  • The Unofficial Skyrim Patch, version 1.2, addresses this issue. This no longer gives you Destruction experience at any forge.

See Also

• Books about forging:
  • Heavy Armor Forging
  • Light Armor Forging