There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from swinging a weapon you forged with your own hands. Skyrim gives you that freedom, letting you smelt, hammer, temper, and enchant your way to god-tier destruction. Forget looting dusty draugr crypts or stealing Daedric relics. The true Dovahkiin knows the forge is where legends are born.
Here’s a look at the legendary weapons you can craft yourself, from humble beginnings at the grindstone to weapons that could make even Mehrunes Dagon nervous.
The Dragonbone Arsenal
Once you hit level 100 in Smithing and unlock the Dragon Armour perk, you can craft Dragonbone weapons – the heaviest and most powerful weapons in the base game.
Highlights:
- Found under the Dragon Armour perk.
- Requires Dragon Bones and Dragon Scales, so get hunting.
- Tougher than Daedric weapons, though a bit heavier.
Why it’s worth it:
They hit like a truck and look like something pulled from an ancient wyrm’s ribcage. Add a custom enchantment and suddenly your hand-forged Dragonbone Warhammer feels like divine justice.
Daedric Weapons (No Quest Required)
You don’t need to sell your soul to a Daedric Prince for a Daedric sword. With level 90 Smithing and the Daedric Smithing perk, you can forge your own right at the Skyforge or any blacksmith’s anvil.
Ingredients:
- Ebony Ingots
- Daedra Hearts (loot from Dremora or buy from Enthir at the College of Winterhold)
Pro tip: Combine Daedric weapons with Chaos Damage or Absorb Health enchantments. It’s brutal.
Why it’s worth it:
Daedric weapons are the ultimate flex, sleek, red-glowing death machines forged by your own hands. The game might throw one or two your way, but crafting them yourself just hits differently.
Stalhrim Weapons (Dragonborn DLC)
For those who ventured to Solstheim, Stalhrim is basically Skyrim’s frozen answer to vibranium. It’s used by the Skaal and requires the Ebony Smithing perk to work with.
Where to find it:
- Mine it from Stalhrim Deposits after freeing Baldor Iron-Shaper in the quest A New Source of Stalhrim.
- Craftable once you learn the secret from him.
Why it’s worth it:
Stalhrim boosts Frost enchantments, so if you love freezing your enemies mid-swing, this is your material. Plus, the weapons look like shards of enchanted ice, stylish and deadly.
Nord Hero Weapons
You can only craft these at the Skyforge in Whiterun after completing the Glory of the Dead quest for the Companions.
What you’ll need:
- Steel Ingots
- Leather Strips
- Ancient Nord weapons to upgrade into Nord Hero versions
Why it’s worth it:
They’re a lore-lover’s dream, relics of Skyrim’s heroic past. Sure, they’re not the most powerful, but they’re gorgeous and steeped in legend. Perfect for roleplay builds or anyone who likes to look good while shouting at dragons.
Ancient Nordic Pickaxe (Bonus Round)
Technically not a weapon of mass destruction, but it’s too iconic not to mention. You can’t craft it, but you can improve it at a grindstone and enchant it.
Why it’s worth it:
It lets you mine Stalhrim and still cave in a few skulls on the side. An unorthodox legend in its own right.
The Enchanter’s Touch: Making Your Own “Legendaries”
The real secret to crafting legendary weapons lies in stacking your bonuses:
- Craft your weapon at the forge.
- Fortify Smithing gear + potions.
- Temper it at the grindstone or workbench.
- Enchant it with dual effects (like Fire + Absorb Health).
Result: A weapon so overpowered it could make the Ebony Warrior reconsider his life choices.
Seven Swords Takeaway
Crafting legendary weapons in Skyrim isn’t just about power, it’s about identity. You’re not just the Dragonborn; you’re the blacksmith of destiny. The grind, the materials, the endless mining for that one Daedra Heart, it all pays off the first time your custom blade cuts through a Draugr Deathlord like butter.
So, dust off your Smithing gear, chug a Fortify potion, and light up that forge. Skyrim’s greatest weapons aren’t found in chests, they’re made by you.
