Skyrim - Add-ons

Add-ons are the official downloadable content released for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim by Bethesda Softworks. Five standalone add-ons exist, two of which were free and PC only, alongside the Creation Club catalogue of much smaller official Creations.

Which of them a player has depends entirely on the edition owned, and that is worth checking before following any crafting guide, because a recipe that appears to be missing is usually just content the player does not have installed. Legendary Edition and Special Edition both bundle Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn. Anniversary Edition adds every one of the seventy-four Creations on top. Neither free PC add-on carried over to Special Edition, and the High Resolution Texture Pack is redundant there in any case, since that release already uses high resolution assets.

For a crafting character the meaningful split is between the expansions and the Creations. Dawnguard and Dragonborn add whole new material tiers to the Smithing tree. Creations almost never add a perk of their own; they hang new sets off existing perks.

Dawnguard

The Dawnguard DLC is the first major add-on. It centres on a war between the Dawnguard, an old order of vampire hunters, and the Volkihar vampire clan. Lord Harkon leads the vampires and plans to use an Elder Scroll to blot out the sun forever.

The hero chooses a side early in the questline. Joining the Dawnguard leads to Fort Dawnguard and its crossbows. Joining the Volkihar grants the Vampire Lord form and its own perk tree. Werewolves gain a perk tree of their own as well.

Dawnguard also opens two new realms. The Soul Cairn is a plane of Oblivion where souls trapped in black soul gems end up. The Forgotten Vale is a hidden glacial valley in the mountains, home to Falmer and frost creatures. The add-on also brings three new shouts, Auriel's Bow, Dragonbone weapons and the Crossbow.

Hearthfire

The Hearthfire DLC is about building and running a home. The hero buys one of three plots of land, then designs and builds a house on it room by room. Lakeview Manor lies in Falkreath Hold, Windstad Manor in Hjaalmarch and Heljarchen Hall in the Pale.

A house can be fitted out with crafting stations, gardens, a library, shrines and more. A steward can be hired to buy materials and furnishings. A carriage driver and a personal bard can be hired too.

Hearthfire also brings adoption. Orphaned children can be adopted and raised in the new home, and they may even keep a pet. The add-on also adds new activities, such as baking, beekeeping, farming and fishing.

Dragonborn

The Dragonborn DLC is the last major add-on and is set on the island of Solstheim. The first Dragonborn, a dragon priest named Miraak, is taking control of the island's people. The story leads into Apocrypha, the realm of Hermaeus Mora, through the Black Books.

Solstheim is a large new region. Raven Rock is the island's main town, an old mining settlement on the coast. The Skaal Village and Thirsk Mead Hall lie in the snowy north, and the wizard Neloth lives at Tel Mithryn.

The add-on brings four new shouts. One of them, Bend Will, lets the hero tame and ride dragons, as Miraak does. Dragonborn also adds Stalhrim, Nordic, Chitin and Bonemold gear, the Staff Enchanter, and a way to reset perks with dragon souls.

Creations

Creations are smaller official add-ons sold through the Creation Club. They range from single weapons and armor sets to quests, player homes and new game systems.

The Anniversary Edition bundles every Creation together with the Special Edition. Owners of the Special Edition also receive a few Creations for free. These include Fishing, Survival Mode and Saints and Seducers.

Saints and Seducers is one of the larger Creations. It adds quests, a new dungeon and new sets of weapons and armor from the realm of Sheogorath. Its Amber and Madness materials, and its Golden and Dark gear, all fit into the existing Smithing tree.

All Add-ons