Elder Scrolls
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Elder Scrolls
SkillEnchanting
For other uses, see Enchanting.
"Don't suppose you'd enchant my sword? Dull old blade could barely cut butter."
Hold Guard[src]

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 and armor.

Mechanics

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 was a magical law which stated that once an item was enchanted, it could not be enchanted again and could not accept another enchantment.[1] Arcane Enchanters can be found in all major cities, typically in the 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 and mages. Most houses the Dragonborn can own, 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.

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), and Wuuthrad.

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.
  • 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, a petty soul will do as well as a grand.

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, with some exceptions. Those are noted below, marked with two asterisks (**). 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. These are quest items, daedric artifacts, Amulets of the Nine Divines, and many, but not all, items with unique names. Staves also cannot be disenchanted.

Staff enchanting

With Dragonborn, the Dragonborn 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 a storm staff (a shock damage staff) will do.

Leveling

The following actions raise the Enchanting skill:

  • 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 increases with the value of the item. Each enchantment may only be learned once.
  • Enchanting items that do not currently possess an enchantment. Experience gained is constant, and does not depend on item value, enchant applied, or soul used.
  • 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. 
  • Complete the daedric quest for Molag Bal and Azura, and constantly recharge the mace of Molag Bal with Azura's Star (or the Black Star) respectively. Constantly recharging the weapon will boost your skill indefinitely.
  • Another and really easy and quick way to level up is to attain a weapon with the soul taking enchantment and enchant your preferred weapon of choice with it then stock up on a heap of soul gems and simply go around killing things as normal until you have a reasonable amount of filled gems. then go to the halted stream camp attain the the transmute ore spell and mine all the iron there and transmute it into gold then into ingots then craft the ingots into rings (not necklaces because you get more rings for the same smithing XP and price as the rings) then simply enchant the rings with any enchantment and you will level up quite quickly this also levels up your alteration, smithing and speech and also nets you a hefty amount of gold in the process while not taking as long as other less effective methods.
  • If you are on low level get "Turn Undead" enchantment and craft some dagger to enchant them. With 20%-30% better prices you get your gold back. If you are over level 22, it is very fast way to level up enchanting. Buy a Banish Daedra weapon, which is expensive, and enchant the daggers with this. Even with no better prices boost, you get make a lot of gold and level up enchanting very fast. Another valuable enchantments are Paralyze effect and Absorb Health. But the best way is to wait until level 22 and get the Banish effect.
  • Enchanting boots over and over again with the muffle enchantment is really good, because the size of the soul gem is irrelevant with muffle. Since everyone is Skyrim is wearing shoes, you can stock up a ton of them. Selling them is profitable too.
  • Probably the most efficient way to train Enchanting and additionally earning good amount of money is to enchant cheap items - most notably Hide Boots and Silver Rings - with Fortify Sneak enchantment. Along your travels around Skyrim, you should gather these cheap items and possess The Black Star by completing The Black Star (Quest) with going to Nelacar instead of Aranea. After acquiring these items and Fortify Sneak knowledge, you can soul trap any Men or Mer enemy, enchant Hide Boots or Silver Ring with Fortify Sneak, go back for another soul and repeat this process.

Books

Books that raise the Enchanting skill:

Quests

Trainers

Main article: Trainer (Skyrim)
Trainer Skill Level Location
Sergius Turrianus Expert College of Winterhold
Hamal Master (cap of skill level 90) After completing The Heart of Dibella quest, Temple of Dibella, Markarth.
Neloth DB Master Tel Mithryn

Perks

The following are 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
Enchanting tree

Enchanting perks tree

In addition to perks increasing enchanting powers, leveling Enchanting increases them. For every 10 levels, enchantments will be 1% stronger.

Enchantments

Weapon enchantments

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.

(**) The strength of these enchantments is determined by their strength on the original item they are learned from.

Apparel enchantments

Enchantment and item combinations that can be created at Arcane Enchanter
Enchantment Helmet Cuirass Gloves Boots 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.


Only certain items can be enchanted with certain enchantments. This is 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, except in the case of muffle and water breathing.


Usefulness

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 46% 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 35% Alchemy gear boost and 49% Enchanting potion boost. (Using Falmer helmets worn over circlets.)

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 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.
  • 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, they can have spells that cost no magicka. 25% Fortify (school) x 4 (chest, circlet, ring, necklace) = 100% spell cost reduction.

Bugs

This section contains bugs related to Enchanting (Skyrim). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

  1. Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
  2. If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template  360  /  XB1  ,  PS3  /  PS4  ,  PC  /  MAC  ,  NX  /  PS5  ,  XS  , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
  3. Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.

Achievements

Artificer
Make a smithed item, an enchanted item, and a potion
Points 10 Gamer points
Trophy
Bronze trophy


See also

Appearances

References

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