- For other uses, see Enchanting.
Enchanting is a skill in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and is one of the six skills that falls under the Mage category. Enchanting is a type of arcane crafting, and is one of the three crafting skills of Skyrim. Enchanting allows the Dragonborn to add certain magical improvements and buffs to weapons, armor and jewelry.
Mechanics[]
- "Don't suppose you'd enchant my sword? Dull old blade could barely cut butter."
- ―Hold Guard[src]
The act of enchanting requires an item with no existing enchantments, a filled soul gem, knowledge of an enchantment, and the use of an arcane enchanter. The Law of the Firsts states that once an item is enchanted, it can not be enchanted again and can not accept another enchantment.[1] There are certain items that can be enchanted even though they already have an enchantment. These include the Amulet of the Gargoyle (in Dawnguard), Horksbane (from Dragonborn), the Silver Sword, Silver Greatsword, Wuuthrad, and the Longhammer.
To enchant an object, have that object and a filled soul gem in inventory and then activate an Arcane Enchanter. The enchanting menu will appear, with four tabs. The first tab is the Disenchant screen which lists all of the disenchantable objects the Dragonborn has in inventory. Selecting objects here will destroy them and add their enchantment to the Dragonborn's list of known enchantments. Objects with already known enchantments are greyed out. The next tab lists objects capable of being enchanted. Select the desired object here. The next tab lists the known enchantments, select the desired one, or if the Extra Effect perk has been obtained, two may be selected. Note that any numerical bonuses listed in this tab are the maximum, as if a grand soul was used. On the last tab, select a filled soul gem from the list. If a lesser gem is selected, the corresponding lesser bonus will be displayed. Press the Craft key to create the enchanted item.
Arcane Enchanters can be found in all major cities, typically in the Jarl's Palace or Longhouse, in the court wizard's quarters. They are also found in many locations that feature humanoid, magic-using enemies such as Necromancers, Vampires, and Mages. Most houses which the Dragonborn can buy, with the exception of Breezehome in Whiterun, can be equipped with an arcane enchanter. There is even one in Sinderion's Field Laboratory in Blackreach. Court Wizards can sell the Dragonborn enchanted items, as well as soul gems, and likewise, the Dragonborn can sell enchanted items and soul gems to them. There is no Court Wizard in Falkreath or Winterhold.
Racial bonuses[]
Altmer, Imperial, and Orsimer characters gain a + 5 bonus to enchanting at the start of the game.
Enchantment types[]
Enchantments fall into two categories based on type of item:
- Weapons have charged enchantments that cast a spell on the weapon's target when it strikes. Larger soul gems result in more charges on the enchantment, allowing for more strikes before the charge is depleted. Soul Gems, or the perk Soul Siphon, can be used to recharge depleted enchantments. Once depleted, a message on the top left of the screen will say "Your item has insufficient charge." The enchanting meter will appear either above the Dragonborn's Stamina or Magicka bar. If an enchanted weapon or artifact weapon does not have the full amount, a "Charge" option will appear in the weapon inventory, unless the item is fully charged. An exception to this is the dagger Keening.
- Armor and other apparel items cast a constant effect on the wearer as long as the item is worn. Larger soul gems create greater magnitude effects. Muffle and Waterbreathing, being all-or-nothing effects, are not dependent on the size of soul gem used, so a petty soul would do as well as a grand. Unlike weapons, armor/apparel enchantments are permanent and do not require recharging. However, the desired amount can only be modified by using a different type of soul gem.
Obtaining enchantments[]
The Dragonborn initially has no knowledge of enchantments. To learn an enchantment, a magic item with the enchantment that the Dragonborn wants to learn must be disenchanted at an arcane enchanter. The strength of the enchantment on the item does not affect the strength of the enchantment learned by disenchanting it. Disenchanting destroys the item but grants permanent knowledge of the base enchantment, allowing its use when enchanting. Some items cannot be disenchanted to learn their effects, including Quest Items, Daedric Artifacts, Amulets of the Nine Divines, Thieves Guild Armor, and many, but not all, items with unique names. Staves also cannot be disenchanted.
Staff enchanting[]
- One can create staves at the Atronach Forge in the base game, using brooms in place of non-enchanted staves.
- With Dragonborn, one can buy non-enchanted staves and enchant them with the Staff Enchanter. The Staff Enchanter is only on the island of Solstheim, and none exist in Skyrim. The staff enchanter in Solstheim is locked in a room that is only accessible after completing the Quest "Reluctant Steward" for Master Neloth. It can be found in Tel Mithryn, in the southeast part of the island. Enchanting staves increases the enchanting skill but enchanting perks are not applied. For example, the perk Storm Enchanter does not increase the amount of damage dealt by a storm staff (a shock damage staff). The same applies to Fire Enchanter and Frost Enchanter, respectively.
- Creation Club With Skyrim Anniversary Edition Creation Club content, there is a staff enchanting table in the homesteads of Myrwatch and Bloodchill Manor.
Leveling[]
The following actions raise the Enchanting skill.
It should be noted that some enchantments such as Banish Daedra, Fortify Destruction, Paralyze, Fortify Sneak and Absorb Health produce remarkably more valuable enchantments which can be turned around and sold to buy soul gems and other raw materials to accelerate the leveling process. However, the skill increase gained from the act of enchanting itself is strictly dependent on the size of the soul used and not on the enchanting effect chosen.
Also note that obtaining either Azura's Star or The Black Star will save a lot of money on buying soul gems to enchant with and can be substituted for any use of a soul gem below.
- Disenchanting items yields Enchanting experience as well as the ability to use that enchantment on other items, but destroys the item in the process. Skill gain from disenchanting is based on the power of the enchantment, not necessarily the value of the item. Each enchantment may only be learned once.
- Using a soul gem to recharge weapons (Soul Siphon does not count). Skill gains from recharging weapons are based on size of soul used, regardless of actual charge gained. To recharge an enchanted weapon, select the weapon in the items menu and press the button specified (generally the button for activating powers and shouts) and select a filled soul gem. The larger the soul, the more a weapon is recharged. The soul gem will be destroyed.
- The Daedric quests for Molag Bal and Azura have infinitely rechargeable objects as their rewards. Constantly recharging the Mace of Molag Bal, Azura's Star and/or The Black Star will boost the skill indefinitely.
- One of the most efficient ways to train Enchanting and additionally earning a good amount of money is to enchant cheap items. After acquiring these items, some soul gems and knowledge of at least one enchantment effect, the Dragonborn can Soul Trap an enemy, enchant the cheap items, sell them, obtain new raw materials and repeat this process.
- An advanced approach to enchanting cheap items is as a follows. Obtain a weapon with the Soul Trap enchantment. Use it or enchant the preferred weapon of choice with Soul Trap, stock up on soul gems and then soul trap until a reasonable amount of them are filled. Afterwards, go to the Halted Stream Camp and acquire the Transmute Mineral Ore spell. Mine iron from any source, transmute it into gold, and then smelt the ore into ingots. Craft the ingots into rings and then simply enchant the rings with any enchantment. Sell the rings to any merchant and repeat. If more Iron Ore to Transmute is needed, buy it from a blacksmith or mine more. This technique also levels up to Alteration, Smithing and Speech, and produces a plentiful amount of gold in the process.
- Enchanting boots with the muffle enchantment can prove to be beneficial, as the size of the soul gem is irrelevant with muffle and so the skill gain is a constant.
- Another method is available if Dragonborn is installed or the game version is the special edition. Travel to Tel Mithryn and complete the quest "From the Ashes" upon arriving. Make sure to obtain the Conjure Ash Guardian spell tome at the end of the quest once it is available. Summon the Ash Guardian, use Soul Trap on it, and kill it. Regardless of whether it is summoned friendly or hostile (depending on whether the Dragonborn has a Heart Stone in their inventory), the Ash Guardian is the only creature the Dragonborn can summon that can be affected by Soul Trap. The Ash Guardian's soul is size Greater.
Books[]
Books that raise the Enchanting skill:
- A Tragedy in Black
- Catalogue of Armor Enchantments
- Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments
- Enchanter's Primer
- Twin Secrets
- Oghma Infinium
Quests[]
- Find Pantea's Flute for Pantea Ateia in the Bards College in Solitude. This also increases Alteration, Illusion, Conjuration, Destruction, and Restoration.
Trainers[]
- Main article: Trainers (Skyrim)
Trainer | Skill Level | Location |
---|---|---|
Sergius Turrianus | Expert (cap of skill level 75) | College of Winterhold |
Hamal | Master (cap of skill level 90) | After completing the quest "The Heart of Dibella," Temple of Dibella, Markarth. |
Neloth DR | Master (cap of skill level 90) | Tel Mithryn |
Perks[]
Enchanting tree perks[]
The following are enchanting perks that become available to select as the skill is leveled up.
Perk (Ranks) | Requirements | Description |
---|---|---|
Enchanter (5) | Enchanting 0/20/40/60/80 | New enchantments are 20/40/60/80/100% stronger (+20% per rank) |
Soul Squeezer | Enchanting 20 Enchanter |
Soul gems provide extra magicka for recharging |
Fire Enchanter | Enchanting 30 Enchanter |
Fire enchantments on weapons and armor are 25% stronger |
Soul Siphon | Enchanting 40 Soul Squeezer |
Death blows to creatures, but not people, trap 5% of the victim's soul, recharging the weapon |
Frost Enchanter | Enchanting 40 Fire Enchanter |
Frost enchantments on weapons and armor are 25% stronger |
Insightful Enchanter | Enchanting 50 Enchanter |
Skill enchantments on armor are 25% stronger |
Storm Enchanter | Enchanting 50 Frost Enchanter |
Shock enchantments on weapons and armor are 25% stronger |
Corpus Enchanter | Enchanting 70 Insightful Enchanter |
Health, magicka and stamina enchantments on armor are 25% stronger |
Extra Effect | Enchanting 100 Storm Enchanter or Corpus Enchanter |
Can put two enchantments on the same item |
In addition to perks increasing enchanting powers, leveling Enchanting increases them. For every 10 levels, enchantments will be 1% stronger.
Perks from other trees[]
The following perks from other trees affect weapon enchantments. Note that while there are weapon effects from the Alteration and Conjuration schools, there are no relevant perks that enhance effects from those schools.
Perk (Ranks) | Requirements | Description |
---|---|---|
Augmented Flames (2) | Destruction 30/60 Novice Destruction |
Fire enchantments do 25% more damage (50% for second rank) |
Augmented Frost (2) | Destruction 30/60 Novice Destruction |
Frost enchantments do 25% more damage (50% for second rank) |
Augmented Shock (2) | Destruction 30/60 Novice Destruction |
Shock enchantments do 25% more damage (50% for second rank) |
Master of the Mind | Illusion 90 Rage Quiet Casting |
Illusion enchantments work on undead, daedra and automatons. |
Necromage | Restoration 70 Regeneration |
All enchantments are 25% stronger and 50% longer against undead |
Enchantments[]
Weapons[]
There are 18 weapon enchantments available. The enchantments wear out after successive use, and to keep the enchantment in effect, it has to be "refilled" by using soul gems to add more uses. The larger the soul used, the more uses given via recharging.
Apparel[]
There are 38 apparel enchantments available. The types of enchantments allowed on apparel are determined by what part of the body the apparel is covering. Unlike weapon enchantments, apparel enchantments do not require recharging and stay enchanted indefinitely. The strength of the enchantment is dependent on the size of soul used to enchant it and the enchanter's perks and skill, except for muffle and water breathing.
Enchantment | Head | Chest | Hands | Feet | Shield | Amulet | Ring |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fortify Alchemy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Alteration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Alteration and Magicka Regen | Yes | ||||||
Fortify Archery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Barter | Yes | ||||||
Fortify Block | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Carry Weight | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Conjuration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Conjuration and Magicka Regen | Yes | ||||||
Fortify Destruction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Destruction and Magicka Regen | Yes | ||||||
Fortify Healing Rate | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
Fortify Health | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Heavy Armor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Illusion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Illusion and Magicka Regen | Yes | ||||||
Fortify Light Armor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Lockpicking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Magicka | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Magicka Regen | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
Fortify One-Handed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Pickpocket | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Restoration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Restoration and Magicka Regen | Yes | ||||||
Fortify Smithing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Sneak | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Stamina | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Stamina Regen | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
Fortify Two-Handed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Fortify Unarmed | Yes | Yes | |||||
Muffle† | Yes | ||||||
Resist Disease | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Resist Fire | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Resist Frost | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Resist Magic | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
Resist Poison | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Resist Shock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
Water Breathing† | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
† This enchantment's magnitude is not affected by the size of the soul used. |
Usefulness[]
Click to show |
---|
|
Method for maximum strength potions and enchantments[]
- Prerequisites: Level 100 in Alchemy and Enchanting, five perks in alchemist, one perk in Benefactor, five perks in Enchanter, one perk in Insightful Enchanter, three pieces each head and hand apparel with no enchantments, three rings with no enchantments, three amulets with no enchantments, and twelve grand souls.
- Craft a set of Fortify Alchemy gear.
- Craft several potions of Fortify Enchanting at 30% boost.
- Craft a new set of Fortify Alchemy gear at 28% boost with the aid of the potions.
- Craft several potions of Fortify Enchanting at 32% boost using the new set of gear.
- Craft a final set of Fortify Alchemy gear at 29% boost with the aid of the potions.
- Vampires that have the Restoration perk Necromage, can reach up to 33% Alchemy gear boost and 42% Enchanting potion boost. Vampires that have the Restoration perk Necromage, and while Enchanting wear Ahzidal's boots and any three other Relics of Ahzidal, can reach up to 49% Enchanting potion boost with the Seeker of Sorcery boost and 39% Alchemy gear with Seeker of Shadows.
The final set of gear will not improve the results of a Fortify Enchanting potion, but will improve the results for other potions. Additional potions can be brewed to improve enchantments of all types. One common application is to enchant a set of Fortify Smithing gear and combine it with a maximum strength Fortify Smithing potion to improve weapons and armor.
There is an alternative that is the exploit of the use of Fortify Restoration potions, which improves several status, including Fortify Enchanting. Also, there is an added ability called Seeker of Sorcery from the Dragonborn DLC which makes enchanting 10% more effective. The ability can be gained at the completion of the quest "Black Book: The Sallow Regent." It goes very well with Ahzidal's Armor set, as it increases skill in Enchanting by 10.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Some enchantment and item combinations that cannot be created at the arcane enchanter can be found in enchanted loot.
- PC PS3 A space or special character (e.g. !@#$%^&*) in front of the item's name will sort it at the top of the appropriate inventory list. Likewise, starting an item with lower case letters puts it at the bottom of the list.
- Once an enchantment is selected for an item, it will remain in place until the enchanter is exited or the item is enchanted.
- For single enchantments that have a pair of effects, e.g. Fiery Soul Trap or Fortify <spell school> and magicka regeneration, the second effect is constant and the number of charges, if applicable, is based on the first effect.
- Enchantments are affected by perks from their relevant magic school e.g. shock damage is affected by enhanced shock including enchantments with damage effects that are secondary. Drain and damage effects are all Destruction school effects.
- Having a higher enchantment level slightly raises the Dragonborn's defense against enchanted weaponry. This can be anywhere from 1%-15% and does not show as an active effect.
- Guards may ask to have their weapons enchanted. This cannot actually be done, as it is simply a line spoken by the guard when the Dragonborn's Enchanting skill is high enough.
- Even with the Extra Effect perk, an enchantment cannot be added to an already enchanted item. Any enchantments must be placed the first time an item is enchanted.
- Extra Effect cannot be used to put the same enchantment twice (for example, for stacking purposes) on the same item.
- Vampires, with the Necromage perk from Restoration and the Extra Effect perk, can get 50% spell cost reduction on a single piece of clothing by enchanting it with the "Fortify (school)" and "Fortify (school) and Magicka Regen."
- If the Dragonborn has 100 Enchanting and Extra Effect perk, they can have spells from two schools that cost no magicka. 25% Fortify (schools) x 4 (chest, circlet, ring, necklace) = 100% spell cost reduction.
- If the Dragonborn has two enchantments of a different school on a weapon, they must have 100% cost reduction in both schools for the charge to be infinite. Destruction is perhaps the best school to do this with, as it allows powerful spells like fireball and incinerate to be cast for free, as well as allowing one to put fire, frost, or storm damage on a weapon for infinite charges.
- If the Dragonborn uses a potion that fortifies a certain school of magic it can further increase the power of their weapon enchants as long as the potion lasts. A fortify destruction potion will increase the damage done by any destruction school enchant. A fortify illusion potion will increase the level of NPC affected by a fear weapon enchant. A potion of fortify conjuration will increase the amount of time one has to kill an enemy to fill a soul gem per strike. A potion of fortify restoration will increase the power of the turn undead enchant and all armor enchants.
- Gear with a 1,740% boost to Alchemy will allow the production of Potions of Fortify Enchanting with an enchanting boost of 276%, which will give 100% off the magicka cost of any given school of magic in a single enchantment.
- Like using ingots to improve items with Smithing, stolen gems used in enchanting do not cause the enchanted object to become stolen. Enchanting a stolen object stays stolen, regardless of the gem being stolen or not.
- There are technically two enchantments each for Absorb Health, Absorb Magicka and Absorb Stamina. One is the standard type acquired by disenchanting most random loot with each of the respective enchantments, the other is found when disenchanting the Drainheart Sword, Drainspell Bow and Drainblood Battleaxe respectively. With the Extra Effect perk, the two enchantments of the same name and effect can be put together for a stacking effect.
- Creation Club Staff Enchanter is accessible in Myrwatch gallery.
Bugs[]
This section contains bugs related to Enchanting (Skyrim). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:
|
Click to see the list of bugs encountered |
---|
|
Achievements[]
Artificer Make a smithed item, an enchanted item, and a potion | |
Points | 10 |
Trophy |
See also[]
External links[]
Appearances[]
- The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- The Elder Scrolls Travels: Stormhold
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- The Elder Scrolls Online
References[]
Skills in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | |
---|---|
The Mage |
|
The Thief | |
The Warrior |