Steel Armor is a heavy armor cuirass and part of the Steel Armor set. It has a base armor rating of 31 and weighs 35. Steel is a low-quality armor, one step above iron. Copies turn up from level 2 at merchants and on bandits.

Armor Enchantment

Any armor enchantment can be placed on a Steel Armor at an arcane enchanter.

Enchanted copies spawn with these effects:

Variant	Enchantment	Magnitude	Level
Steel Armor of Minor Alteration	Fortify Alteration	12	7
Steel Armor of Alteration	Fortify Alteration	15	9
Steel Armor of Major Alteration	Fortify Alteration	17	11
Steel Armor of Minor Conjuring	Fortify Conjuration	12	7
Steel Armor of Conjuring	Fortify Conjuration	15	9
Steel Armor of Major Conjuring	Fortify Conjuration	17	11
Steel Armor of Minor Destruction	Fortify Destruction	12	7
Steel Armor of Destruction	Fortify Destruction	15	9
Steel Armor of Major Destruction	Fortify Destruction	17	11
Steel Armor of Minor Health	Fortify Health	20	7
Steel Armor of Health	Fortify Health	30	9
Steel Armor of Major Health	Fortify Health	40	11
Steel Armor of the Minor Knight	Fortify Heavy Armor	12	7
Steel Armor of the Knight	Fortify Heavy Armor	15	9
Steel Armor of the Major Knight	Fortify Heavy Armor	17	11
Steel Armor of Minor Illusion	Fortify Illusion	12	7
Steel Armor of Illusion	Fortify Illusion	15	9
Steel Armor of Major Illusion	Fortify Illusion	17	11
Steel Armor of Minor Restoration	Fortify Restoration	12	7
Steel Armor of Restoration	Fortify Restoration	15	9
Steel Armor of Major Restoration	Fortify Restoration	17	11

Every armor enchantment is listed under Enchantment Effects.

Steel Armor Location

Blacksmiths and general goods merchants sell it from level 2, and enchanted copies appear from level 3. Chests and other random loot hold copies. Bandits and hired thugs wear it.

Gameplay Tips

Temper it at a workbench with one Steel Ingot. The Steel Smithing perk doubles the improvement.
Forge it with the Steel Smithing perk from 4 Steel Ingots, 1 Iron Ingot and 3 Leather Strips.
It comes with or without pauldrons, and both versions share the same armor rating.
Any mix of the Steel variants counts as a matched set for the Matching Set perk, which adds 25% armor.

Smithing Guide

Enchanted weapons require the Arcane Blacksmith Perk to upgrade.

Crafting

A Steel Armor is made at a forge with the Steel Smithing perk.

Material	Image	Amount
Steel Ingot		4
Iron Ingot		1
Leather Strips		3

Upgrades

A Steel Armor is improved at a workbench with one Steel Ingot per improvement. The Steel Smithing perk doubles the improvement, so each quality tier needs less Smithing skill. An enchanted copy can only be improved with the Arcane Blacksmith perk.

Quality	Smithing	With Perk	Armor
Fine	14	14	+2
Superior	31	22	+6
Exquisite	65	40	+10
Flawless	100	57	+13
Epic	134	74	+17
Legendary	168	91	+20

Armor Set

Steel Armor is part of the Steel set.

Name	Image	Slot	Armor	Weight

Armor Categories

All Chest Armor

Light Armor

Every light armor chest piece, with its armor rating, weight, set and upgrade material.

Name	Image	Armor	Weight	Value	Set	Upgrade	Perk	DLC

Heavy Armor

Every heavy armor chest piece, with its armor rating, weight, set and upgrade material.

Name	Image	Armor	Weight	Value	Set	Upgrade	Perk	DLC