Scaled Armor (Skyrim)

"That's fine scale armor you've got on there. Shiny.""

- City Guard

Scaled Armor is a set of light armor with four pieces in all. Scaled Armor is relatively common to find, residing in leveled containers across Skyrim. The set is brown, containing other muted earth tones. Fur and horns also decorate the suit. Each piece, minus the helmet, can be crafted using smithing amenities, and each piece can be improved with Corundum Ingots.

Variants
There is also an alternative version of the cuirass, the Scaled Horn Armor, which is identical to the stats of the original but can neither be crafted, nor improved.

Compared with other sets
It provides less armor rating than Glass Armor but more than Elven Armor while being heavier in weight than the latter. Elven Gilded Armor, when wearing the full set, reaps benefits equal to that of Scaled Armor. The scaled armor seems to be an upgraded version of the studded armor, as it has extra protection, and looks similar.

Acquisition
An easy way to obtain Scaled Armor early on is by killing Fultheim the Fearless during the Dark Brotherhood quest "With Friends Like These...", as he always wears it, regardless of the Dragonborn's level.

Scaled Helmets are often found being worn by Stormcloak soldiers during the Civil War questline regardless of level.

Smithing
Scaled Armor can be crafted at a Forge with the Advanced Armors perk which is available with a Smithing skill of 50 or above. The required materials to craft it are Corundum Ingot, Leather, Leather Strips and Steel Ingot. Scaled armor can be crafted in the steel section of the forge menu.

Scaled Horn Armor cannot be crafted.

Improving
Scaled Armor can be improved at a Workbench with one Corundum Ingot per piece. This increases the armor rating provided by the item. The factor of the improvement is modified by the Smithing skill and Advanced Armors perk. The alternative version of the cuirass can not be improved.