Mastering Elven Weaponry: A Guide to Improvement in Skyrim
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So, you’ve stumbled upon a gleaming Elven sword or bow in the wilds of Skyrim and want to make it even more potent? Excellent choice! Elven weaponry, while not the absolute strongest in the game, offers a fantastic balance of speed, weight, and damage, especially in the early to mid-game. This guide will walk you through how to improve Elven weapons and answer some common questions.
The Core Mechanic: Smithing
The key to improving any weapon in Skyrim, including Elven arms, lies in the Smithing skill. This skill allows you to enhance weapons and armor at a Workbench (for weapons) or a Grindstone (for armor). Here’s a breakdown of the process specifically for Elven weapons:
- Gather Your Materials: For Elven weapons, you’ll need Refined Moonstone Ingots. These ingots are crafted at a smelter using Moonstone Ore. Moonstone Ore can be found in various mines throughout Skyrim.
- Locate a Grindstone: Grindstones are commonly found near forges in cities and towns. Whiterun, Riften, and Windhelm are good places to start.
- Interact with the Grindstone: Approach the grindstone and activate it. This will open the crafting menu.
- Select Your Elven Weapon: Scroll through the menu to find the Elven weapon you wish to improve (e.g., Elven Sword, Elven Bow, etc.).
- Improve the Weapon: If you have a Refined Moonstone Ingot in your inventory and your Smithing skill is high enough, the option to improve the weapon will be available. Select it to consume the ingot and enhance the weapon.
- The Elven Smithing Perk: This perk, unlocked at level 30 in the Smithing skill tree, is crucial. With this perk, you can improve Elven weapons twice as much, significantly increasing their damage output.
Beyond the Basics: Maximizing Your Improvements
While the above steps outline the core process, here are some advanced tips to maximize your weapon improvements:
- Level Up Your Smithing: The higher your Smithing skill, the better you can improve your weapons. This is a direct correlation. A weapon improved at Smithing skill 30 will be significantly weaker than the same weapon improved at Smithing skill 100. Leveling Smithing can be done by crafting items at the forge or improving existing weapons and armor. Iron daggers are a popular choice for quick leveling.
- Smithing Enchantments: Equip items with enchantments that fortify Smithing. These enchantments can be found on gloves, rings, necklaces, and armor. The higher the percentage of the enchantment, the better your improvements will be.
- Smithing Potions: Consume a potion that fortifies Smithing before improving your weapon. Combine this with Smithing enchantments for even more significant results. These potions can be bought, found, or crafted through alchemy.
- The “Fine” Threshold and Beyond: Don’t be discouraged if your early improvements only reach “Fine” quality. As you level your Smithing, you’ll be able to improve your weapons to “Superior,” “Exquisite,” and finally, “Legendary.”
- Unenchanted vs. Enchanted: If your Elven weapon is already enchanted, you’ll need the Arcane Blacksmith perk (Smithing level 60) to improve it. Without this perk, attempting to improve an enchanted weapon will revert its enchantments. It’s generally recommended to improve your weapon before enchanting it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the base materials needed to craft Elven weapons?
Elven weapons require a combination of Iron Ingots, Refined Moonstone, Leather, and Quicksilver Ingots at a forge. The exact recipe varies depending on the specific weapon.
2. When do Elven weapons start appearing in Skyrim?
Unenchanted Elven weapons begin to appear in Skyrim around level 19, while enchanted versions start appearing at level 20.
3. Is the Elven Smithing perk essential for improving Elven weapons?
While not strictly essential, the Elven Smithing perk dramatically improves the effectiveness of your weapon enhancements, effectively doubling the improvement bonus.
4. What is the best Elven weapon in Skyrim?
The “best” weapon is subjective and depends on your play style. However, the Elven Bow is a popular and effective choice due to its speed and accessibility. The Elven Mace is also a strong contender in the early to mid-game due to its base damage and attack speed.
5. How does the Arcane Blacksmith perk affect enchanted Elven weapons?
The Arcane Blacksmith perk (Smithing level 60) allows you to improve enchanted Elven weapons at a grindstone without removing the enchantment.
6. Can I improve a unique Elven weapon?
Yes, unique Elven weapons (if any exist in specific mods or the base game) can be improved like any other Elven weapon, provided you meet the necessary skill and perk requirements.
7. What happens if I improve an Elven weapon without the Elven Smithing perk?
You can still improve the weapon, but the improvement will be less significant compared to when you have the Elven Smithing perk.
8. Can I craft a potion to specifically improve Elven weapons?
No, there isn’t a potion specifically for Elven weapons. Instead, use potions that fortify your Smithing skill in general.
9. How does my character’s race affect Elven weapon improvement?
Your character’s race doesn’t directly affect the improvement process. However, some races have starting skill bonuses (e.g., High Elves with Illusion magic bonuses), which might indirectly impact your path to acquiring the necessary Smithing skill. The Games Learning Society can provide more insights into character development and skill progression in games.
10. Is it better to enchant a weapon before or after improving it?
It’s generally recommended to improve your weapon before enchanting it. If you enchant it first and don’t have the Arcane Blacksmith perk, improving it will remove the enchantment.
11. Where can I find Refined Moonstone Ingots if I can’t mine Moonstone Ore?
Refined Moonstone Ingots can sometimes be purchased from blacksmiths or found as loot in chests, although mining and smelting ore is the more reliable method.
12. What’s the maximum Smithing skill level in Skyrim?
The maximum Smithing skill level is 100.
13. Does the difficulty setting affect weapon improvement?
No, the difficulty setting only affects combat damage received and dealt, not the weapon improvement process.
14. Can I reset my Smithing skill after maxing it out?
Yes, using Dragonborn DLC, you can reset any skill and recover any perks you used in that tree.
15. Are there any glitches or exploits to improve Elven weapons more quickly?
While some glitches and exploits may exist, using them can detract from the intended gameplay experience. It’s best to focus on legitimately leveling your Smithing skill and utilizing the available perks and enchantments. For more on ethical gameplay and learning through gaming, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
Improving Elven weapons in Skyrim is a rewarding process that enhances your combat effectiveness and allows you to customize your arsenal. By mastering the Smithing skill, utilizing the appropriate perks, and gathering the necessary materials, you can transform your Elven arms into formidable tools in the Dragonborn’s journey.