Unleash the Power: Ultimate Guide to Crafting Daedric Armor and Weapons in Skyrim

Daedric armor and weapons have been present in the Elder Scrolls series since Daggerfall. However, it is in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim that players are given the opportunity to personally craft their own Daedric gear. In fact, crafting is the primary method for players to obtain a complete set of Daedric equipment.

The significance of Daedric armor lies in its status as the supreme heavy armor within Skyrim. While Madness armor surpasses it, the only way to acquire Madness armor is through the Creation Club. As for weapons, dragonbone is the only superior option, but it requires the Dawnguard content in the game. Despite its exceptional performance, crafting Daedric gear demands relatively rare materials.

The Smithing Requirement

Crafting Daedric gear requires a certain level of magical skill, but players can easily achieve it by mastering the art of Smithing. By investing in the Daedric Smithing perk, which is located on the right side of the Smithing perk tree alongside other heavy armor perks, players can unlock the ability to create this powerful gear. However, obtaining this perk requires players to allocate a total of five perks in the Smithing tree and reach a skill level of 90.

While reaching such a high Smithing skill level may seem time-consuming, there are methods to expedite the process:

Crafting jewelry is possible for players of any skill level. When creating items, Smithing experience is gained based on the value of the jewelry produced. Therefore, the most efficient method to swiftly accumulate Smithing points is to gather gold and silver ingots, and then combine them with gems to fashion valuable jewelry.

For those seeking additional gold and silver ingots, the Transmute spell can be used to transform iron ore into silver ore, and silver ore into gold ore.

Of the weapon lists, bows have the best value to raw material ratio.

Eorlund Gray-Mane, the blacksmith of the Sky Forge, is a master trainer of Smithing.

The Raw Materials

Daedric armor and weapons require the same raw materials as ebony armor and weapons, with one crucial distinction: the crafting of each Daedric item necessitates the inclusion of a Daedra Heart.

Ebony ingots, on the other hand, are readily obtainable. When players achieve a certain level, blacksmith merchants throughout Skyrim will begin to offer ebony ingots, often in substantial quantities. While ebony ingots may be costly, the value is justified by the remarkable creations players can fashion with them.

Skyrim is also host to a number of ebony mines where players can obtain the unprocessed ore straight from the rock. The Gloombound Mine is situated just beyond the orc stronghold of Narzulbur, and players are able to freely enter it even if they have not yet established a friendly relationship with the orcs of Skyrim. Redbelly Mine can be found in the settlement of Shor's Stone, which lies north-northwest of Riften. Lastly, players who have the Dragonborn expansion installed can gain access to a sizable ebony mine near Raven Rock.

Daedra Hearts are more challenging to locate. While players can acquire Daedra Hearts by slaying Daedra, these otherworldly creatures are not as abundant in Skyrim compared to Oblivion. Instead, players should search the inventory section of apothecaries to find Daedra Hearts. Each day, apothecaries hold a small yet consistent chance of having multiple Daedra Hearts available.

A more reliable source of hearts can be found in Enthir, a member of the College of Winterhold. Enthir consistently offers two Daedra Hearts for sale whenever his inventory replenishes. Alternatively, players can produce Daedra Hearts by combining a black soul gem with a human heart using the upgraded Atronach Forge. However, black soul gems are equally scarce and costly as Daedra Hearts.

Players only require a single Daedra Heart per armor or weapon. Ebony ingots are used for reinforcing these items, similar to regular ebony equipment. Therefore, players have more flexibility to enhance and enchant daedric items, although careful planning is still advisable for utilizing each heart effectively.

The game, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, is currently accessible on various platforms including PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.