Crafting helmets in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim isn’t just about adding protection; it’s about unlocking powerful perks, roleplaying style, and late-game efficiency. Whether you’re a new Dragonborn or a min-maxing veteran, this guide covers everything: requirements, materials, best smithing perks, and which helmets are worth crafting.
Why Craft Helmets in Skyrim?
- Defense: A helmet adds a significant armor rating, especially when upgraded at a workbench.
- Enchanting Potential: Crafting your own helmet lets you add custom enchantments (like Fortify Archery or Magicka).
- Smithing Leveling: Helmets are quick to forge and excellent for grinding Smithing XP.
- Aesthetic & Roleplay: From fur hoods to Daedric helms, your helmet defines your look.
Materials You’ll Need
Crafting requirements vary by helmet type, but the common resources include:
- Iron Ingots & Leather Strips (Iron/Steel helmets)
- Corundum, Steel, and Dwarven Ingots (Dwarven/Orcish)
- Quicksilver & Moonstone (Elven/Glass)
- Ebony Ingots & Daedra Hearts (Ebony/Daedric)
- Dragon Bones & Scales (Dragonbone/Dragonscale)
Pro tip: Always carry a pickaxe. Mining ore veins early saves gold later.
Crafting Requirements
- Forge Access: Use any blacksmith forge (Whiterun’s Warmaiden’s is accessible early).
- Smithing Perks: Unlock higher-tier helmets via the Smithing skill tree:
- Steel Smithing (20): Steel Helmet
- Dwarven (30): Dwarven Helmet
- Orcish (50): Orcish Helmet
- Ebony (80): Ebony Helmet
- Daedric (90): Daedric Helmet
- Dragon (100): Dragonbone/Dragonscale Helmets
- Workbench Upgrades: Improve armor rating using ingots and the Arcane Blacksmith perk (to improve enchanted helmets).
Best Helmets to Craft
Helmet | Material Requirement | Armor Rating | Notes |
Iron Helmet | 2 Iron Ingots, 2 Leather Strips | 15 | Cheap starter option. |
Steel Helmet | 3 Steel Ingots, 2 Leather Strips | 17 | Great early defense. |
Dwarven Helmet | 2 Dwarven Metal Ingots, 1 Iron Ingot | 21 | Efficient mid-game craft. |
Ebony Helmet | 3 Ebony Ingots, 2 Leather Strips | 23 | Heavy late-game piece. |
Daedric Helmet | 3 Ebony Ingots, 1 Daedra Heart, 2 Leather Strips | 23 | Best heavy helmet in vanilla Skyrim. |
Dragonscale Helmet | 3 Dragon Scales, 2 Leather Strips | 17 | Top light helmet. |
Related: How to Get Gold Early in Skyrim Without Cheats: Best Legal Methods for Beginners
Fast Leveling Trick with Helmets
- Spam craft Iron Daggers until patch 1.5 made it less efficient? True. But helmets remain an underrated method. Iron and leather are cheap, and helmets give better XP scaling than daggers post-patch.
- Combine helmet crafting with Transmute Mineral Ore (Apprentice Alteration spell) to turn iron into silver/gold → jewelry for even more smithing XP.
Enchantments to Use on Helmets
Once you’ve crafted your helmet, enchant it for maximum efficiency:
- Fortify Archery (Light Helmets) → boosts ranged DPS.
- Fortify Magicka/Destruction (Cloth/Light Helmets) → caster sustain.
- Fortify Heavy Armor/Smithing (Heavy Helmets) → tank optimization.
Crafting helmets in Skyrim isn’t just about defense; it’s a pathway to stronger builds, faster Smithing progression, and unique customization. From basic Iron to legendary Daedric and Dragonbone, every step up the smithing tree brings new power and style. Master the materials, perks, and enchantments, and you’ll forge helmets that not only protect but define your Dragonborn’s journey.
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