Dwarven Smithing Perk
| Dwarven Smithing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Skill Requirement | 30 |
| Perk Requirement | Steel Smithing |
| Tempering Material | Dwarven Metal Ingot |
| Improvement | Doubled |
| Perk ID | 000CB40E |
Dwarven Smithing is the first step on the heavy armour branch of the Smithing tree in Skyrim. It needs skill level 30 and Steel Smithing, and it lets you forge Dwarven armour and weapons as well as doubling their improvement at a grindstone or workbench.
It shares its level requirement with Elven Smithing, and the two perks are the fork in the tree: Dwarven leads through Orcish and Ebony to Daedric Smithing, while Elven runs up the lighter side.
The Dwemer Scrap Advantage
Dwarven Metal Ingots are the cheapest high-tier smithing material in the game, and that is what makes this perk unusually good for levelling. Rather than mining ore, you smelt them from Dwemer scrap metal, which litters every Dwemer ruin in the form of bent scrap, large scrap, solid metal, plate metal, bowls and struts. A single ruin can leave you carrying enough scrap to push Smithing several levels at no cost beyond the trip.
Dwarven bows are the usual choice for grinding, since they are worth enough to give solid skill gains per craft while costing only a few ingots each.
Progression
Orcish Smithing follows at level 50, then Ebony at 80 and Daedric at 90. The heavy branch is one perk longer than the light one, but it ends with the strongest weapons in the base game, and Daedric armour has the highest armour rating of any set that does not require add-on content.
Smelting
Dwarven metal ingots are the exception among smithing materials: they come from no ore at all. Instead you smelt the scrap metal that litters every Dwemer ruin, which is why this is the cheapest high tier material in the game.
Tempering Quality
Skill needed to reach each tier, with and without the perk.
| Quality | No perk | With perk |
|---|---|---|
| Fine | 14 | 14 |
| Superior | 31 | 22 |
| Exquisite | 65 | 40 |
| Flawless | 100 | 57 |
| Epic | 134 | 74 |
| Legendary | 168 | 91 |
Heavy Armour Branch
| Perk | Skill |
|---|---|
| Steel Smithing | None |
| Dwarven Smithing | 30 |
| Orcish Smithing | 50 |
| Ebony Smithing | 80 |
| Daedric Smithing | 90 |
Items Crafted
The Dwarven Smithing perk unlocks these weapons and armor pieces at the forge.
Improved Twice as Much
The Dwarven Smithing perk doubles the improvement of these weapons and armor pieces.
Smithing Perk Categories
