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Steel weapons and heavy armor are low-quality items that are made using steel, an alloy of iron and corundum.

A pile of Steel Ingots

Several higher quality items are also crafted out of steel, including scaled armor, steel plate armor, ancient Nord armor, Nord hero, and Skyforge steel weapons. These higher quality items are not unlocked by the Steel Smithing perk; details on how to craft them are provided on their separate pages.

Overview [ edit ]

Name ID Steel Ingot 00 05ace5 1 20

1 steel ingot is obtained by smelting one corundum ore and one iron ore.

Steel Smithing is a Smithing perk that can be unlocked from the start of the game.

Steel Armor is level 6 heavy armor, made from steel ingots, iron ingots, and leather strips.

Steel weapons are level 2 weapons, made from steel ingots, iron ingots, and leather strips

Mineral Sources [ edit ]

In addition to the following guaranteed sources, the best random locations are:

Steel ingots may be sold by all blacksmith and general goods merchants starting at level 7.

There are a total of 44 steel ingots available in game, mostly at blacksmith shops. Only locations containing multiple steel ingots are included in the following list. Although most of these are owned, befriending the blacksmith may make it possible to freely take the ingots. The ore types necessary to make steel are also very common, with hundreds of ore veins for each; vein locations are detailed on the separate pages for iron ore and corundum ore.

Steel Smithing [ edit ]

Steel Smithing is the first perk in the Smithing skill's perk tree, and can be unlocked at the start of the game. It enables the crafting of two types of heavy armor, Imperial armor and steel armor, as well as steel weapons.

The Steel Smithing perk also causes tempering of steel weapons and armor to be twice as effective. This perk applies to both unenchanted steel gear and enchanted gear (generic armor, generic weapons, or custom), as long as the Arcane Blacksmith perk has been unlocked. Tempering of several other items is also improved by Steel Smithing, namely:





Imperial Light Armor [ edit ]

As of Patch Version 1.9, it is possible to craft Imperial light armor. The armor's rating is identical to fur armor. Imperial light armor does not appear in standard armor leveled lists, but is commonly used by soldiers. Tempering, however, requires one leather and it does not benefit from the Steel Smithing perk.

The studded Imperial armor has a higher value and differs slightly in appearance, but cannot be crafted or tempered. It also lacks the ArmorMaterialImperialLight keyword, which means you can't benefit from the Matching Set perk. This issue has been addressed by version 1.0 of the Unofficial Skyrim Patch; it can now be tempered with leather and benefits from the Matching Set perk. One of the official patches (?) adds the material keyword, but you still cannot temper it without the unofficial patch.

keyword, which means you can't benefit from the Matching Set perk.

A female Imperial wearing Imperial light armor

A male Nord wearing Imperial Light Armor

Name (ID) Raw Materials Delta Ratio Steel Leather Strips Imperial Light Armor

( 00 013ed9 ) 6 75 23 2 2 3 -0.3 6 0.95 1.09 Studded Imperial Armor

( 00 013ed8 ) 6 125 23 N/A N/A Imperial Light Boots

( 00 013ed7 ) 2 15 6 1 1 2 -1.2 -21 0.63 0.42 Imperial Light Bracers

( 00 013eda ) 1 15 6 1 1 2 -2.2 -21 0.31 0.42 Imperial Light Helmet

( 00 013edb ) 2 35 11 1 1 1 -1.1 2 0.65 1.06 Imperial Light Shield

( 00 013ab2 ) 4 40 19 2 0 2 1.8 -6 1.92 0.97 Totals (for craftable items, with shield): 15 180 65 7 5 10 Totals (for craftable items, without shield): 11 140 46 5 5 8

Imperial Armor [ edit ]

Imperial armor is the lowest-quality heavy armor in the game, with the armor rating of iron armor, but with the weight of steel, and only 80% of the base value of iron armor. Prior to Patch Version 1.9, only this version of Imperial armor could be crafted. Imperial armor does not appear in standard armor leveled lists, but is commonly used by soldiers.

The Imperial helmet that can be crafted is tagged with the ArmorMaterialImperialStudded keyword instead of the ArmorMaterialImperialHeavy keyword used by the other pieces. This means that the Steel Smithing perk has no effect when tempering it, and that it's impossible to get the Matching Set bonus while wearing it. This helmet is also mis-tagged with the ArmorLight keyword, meaning that it is controlled by Light Armor skill perks instead of Heavy Armor skill perks. This issue has been addressed by version 1.2 of the Unofficial Skyrim Patch; the official patch 1.9 fixes the material keyword, but it will still not be governed by the Heavy Armor skill perks without the Unofficial Skyrim Patch.

keyword instead of the keyword used by the other pieces. This means that the Steel Smithing perk has no effect when tempering it, and that it's impossible to get the Matching Set bonus while wearing it. This helmet is also mis-tagged with the keyword, meaning that it is controlled by Light Armor skill perks instead of Heavy Armor skill perks. A second (full-face) version of the Imperial helmet and the Imperial Officer's helmet are both considered part of the Imperial heavy armor set, and can be worn to get the Matching Set bonus. However, neither of these helmets can be crafted at forges.

All items (including the non-craftable Imperial helmets) can be tempered using one steel ingot, and having the Steel Smithing perk doubles the quality improvement.

A female Imperial wearing Imperial armor

A male Nord wearing Imperial armor

Name (ID) Raw Materials Delta Ratio Steel Leather Strips Imperial Armor

( 00 0136d5 ) 35 100 25 4 2 3 26.7 -9 4.22 0.92 Imperial Boots

( 00 0136d6 ) 8 20 10 2 1 2 3.8 -36 1.90 0.36 Imperial Bracers

( 00 0136d4 ) 4 15 10 2 1 2 -0.2 -41 0.95 0.27 Imperial Helmet (craftable)

( 00 013edc ) 5 50 15 2 1 1 0.9 -3 1.22 0.94 Imperial Helmet (full-face)

( 00 09610d ) 5 30 18 N/A N/A Imperial Officer's Helmet

( 00 0136cf ) 4 30 17 N/A N/A Imperial Shield

( 00 0135ba ) 12 50 20 4 0 2 7.8 -36 2.86 0.58 Totals (for craftable items, with shield): 64 235 80 14 5 10 Totals (for craftable items, without shield): 52 185 60 10 5 8

Steel Armor [ edit ]

A male Nord wearing steel armor

A male Nord wearing steel armor (alternate)

A female Imperial wearing steel armor

A female Imperial wearing steel armor (alternate)

Steel armor is another low-quality armor, but it is one notch better than iron armor and Imperial armor.

Each of the cuirass, boots, gauntlets, and helmet comes in two variants that have identical statistics, but differ in stylistic details.

Any combination of these items can be used interchangeably to create a set of armor that qualifies for the Matching Set bonus.

All items can be tempered using one steel ingot, and having the Steel Smithing perk doubles the quality improvement.

Name (ID) Raw Materials Delta Ratio Steel Iron Strips Steel Armor

( 00 013952 ) 35 275 31 4 1 3 29.7 179 6.60 2.86 Steel Armor

( 00 0f6f22 ) 35 275 31 4 1 3 29.7 179 6.60 2.86 Steel Shin Boots

( 00 0f6f21 ) 8 55 12 3 1 2 3.8 -18 1.90 0.75 Steel Cuffed Boots

( 00 013951 ) 8 55 12 3 1 2 3.8 -18 1.90 0.75 Steel Imperial Gauntlets

( 00 0f6f23 ) 4 55 12 2 1 2 0.8 2 1.25 1.04 Steel Nordic Gauntlets

( 00 013953 ) 4 55 12 2 1 2 0.8 2 1.25 1.04 Steel Helmet

( 00 013954 ) 5 125 17 2 1 2 1.8 72 1.56 2.36 Steel Horned Helmet

( 00 0f6f24 ) 5 125 17 2 1 2 1.8 72 1.56 2.36 Steel Shield

( 00 013955 ) 12 150 24 3 1 1 7.9 80 2.93 2.14 Totals (any one set, with shield): 64 660 96 14 5 10 Totals (any one set, without shield): 52 510 72 11 4 9

Steel Weapons [ edit ]

Steel weapons are low-quality weapons, better than only iron. They appear in leveled lists starting at level 2 (enchanted varieties at level 3). All items except ammunition can be tempered using one steel ingot, and having the Steel Smithing perk doubles the quality improvement. Ammunition can only be smithed if the Dawnguard add-on has been installed.

There is no "steel bow", only steel arrows. The bow found at similar levels is the hunting bow. Although the hunting bow cannot be crafted, it is generally treated as a steel weapon; however, it isn't tempered by steel ingots - instead, it is tempered with leather strips. Its tempering is enhanced by the Steel Smithing perk, making it one of the best bows in the game - the Long Bow has no tempering perk, so it can't smith to nearly as high a damage level, but most bows that exist in the game are slower than the hunting bow. See further discussion here.

The Dawnguard add-on adds a crossbow and an enhanced crossbow which are both treated as steel weapons. They can be smithed if you have the Steel Smithing perk, and tempering them is enhanced by the Steel Smithing perk.

Name (ID) Crit.

Speed Reach Raw Materials Delta Ratio Steel Iron Strips Other Steel Dagger

( 00 013986 ) 2.5 18 5 2 1.3 0.7 1 1 1 0.4 -12 1.19 0.60 Steel Sword

( 00 013989 ) 10 45 8 4 1 1 2 1 1 6.9 -5 3.23 0.90 Steel War Axe

( 00 013983 ) 12 55 9 4 0.9 1 2 1 2 8.8 2 3.75 1.04 Steel Mace

( 00 013988 ) 14 65 10 5 0.8 1 3 1 1 9.9 -5 3.41 0.93 Steel Greatsword

( 00 013987 ) 17 90 17 8 0.7 1.3 4 2 3 10.7 -13 2.70 0.87 Steel Battleaxe

( 00 013984 ) 21 100 18 8 0.7 1.3 4 1 2 15.8 7 4.04 1.08 Steel Warhammer

( 00 01398a ) 25 110 20 10 0.6 1.3 4 1 3 19.7 14 4.72 1.15 Steel Arrow

( 00 01397f ) 0 2 10 N/A 1 1 Firewood

Makes 24 arrowsDG -6 23 0.00 1.92 CrossbowDG

xx 000801 14 120 19 9 1 1 3 3 Firewood -4 45 0.78 1.60 Enhanced CrossbowDG

xx 00f19e 15 200 19 9 1 1 1 Crossbow +

2 Corundum -1 0 0.94 1.00 Steel BoltDG

xx 000bb3 0 1 10 N/A 1 1 Firewood

Makes 10 boltsDG -6 -15 0.00 0.40 Exploding Steel Bolt of FireDG

xx 00f1a0 0 15 14 N/A 10 Steel Bolts, 1 Fire Salts

Makes 10 bolts -0.3 -20 0.00 0.71 Exploding Steel Bolt of IceDG

xx 00f1bb 0 15 14 N/A 10 Steel Bolts, 1 Frost Salts

Makes 10 bolts -0.3 -70 0.00 0.42 Exploding Steel Bolt of ShockDG

xx 00f1bc 0 15 14 N/A 10 Steel Bolts, 1 Void Salts

Makes 10 bolts -0.3 -95 0.00 0.35

‡ This item can only be acquired or crafted by siding with the Dawnguard . See Ancient Technology for details.

¥ Attacks with this crossbow ignore 50% of armor. The Enhanced Crossbow has an additional property:

Notes [ edit ]