Enchanting | Skyrim Wiki

How to Enchant in Skyrim

Enchanting in Skyrim requires 3 things, a learned enchantment, a filled soul gem and an appropriate item for the enchantment and can only be done at an Arcane Enchanter. The strength of the enchantment is increased based on the size of the filled Soul gem with additional bonuses from sources such as a Fortify Enchanting potion or through applicable perk bonuses from the Perk tree. With the Extra Effect perk players can place 2 enchantments on the item instead of just 1 enchantment.

To learn enchantments players have to bring items with an enchantment they have not learnt to the Arcane Enchanter. At the Arcane Enchanter there is an option to disenchant items and doing so will allow the player to learn enchantments from items if they have not already learnt it. This will destroy the item but the player will be able to learn and place the enchantment on other items of their choice often with stronger effects. 

Soul gems can be found filled or filled by the player attacking targets and soul trapping their gems into gems of the right size.

When enchanting, the item has to be appropriate for the enchantment for it to apply, not every enchantment can be placed on every type of equipment. Specific enchantments such as Muffled have to be placed on boots and weapon enchantments cannot go on armor. The armor or damage values of the items being enchanted has no effects on the strength of the enchantment effects. Check the list of enchantments to see what types of items specific enchantments can be applied to.

Skyrim Enchanting Materials

Enchanting in Skyrim needs filled soul gems as well as the learnt enchantment. The soul gems are destroyed after the enchantment is made so players should try to collect many large soul gems for enchanting their equipment. 

Soul gems can be found laying around the world of Skyrim and come in varying sizes ranging from petty soul gems to grand and even black soul gems. These gems may be found to be filled or unfilled. Gems can also be purchased through merchants with filled gems being much more expensive than unfilled ones. Humanoid races have grand souls that can only be placed in black soul gems or in the Daedric artifact The Black Star. 

To fill a gem the Soul Trap spell must be used before killing the target or by using a soul trap enchanted weapon on them. Players using bound weapons with a Soul Stealer perk will also apply soul trap on their enemies. After killing the enemy afflicted with the spell effect the soul will be drawn into a gem of appropriate size, and will fill up larger capacity gems if none of the right size are found. This makes it possible for large gems to be filled with small souls and have reduced effects when used for recharging enchantments and for enchanting. 

Skyrim Enchanting Skill Leveling

Enchantment skill gain is based on the task performed, there are 3 ways to increase Enchantment skill through enchanting. Levels can also be increased through the use of Trainers and by finding and using Skill Books. Players can also look for Pantea's Flute (Quest) to get a reward to gain 1 skill level in all magic skills, including enchanting. 

Learning a new enchantment will grant you experience based on the power of the enchantment, enchantments can only be learnt once. Players can quickly increase their enchanting levels early by finding and disenchanting random magic items they find during their travels. 

Enchanted weapons have charges that are consumed as the weapon is used. Recharging enchanted weapons will grant you experience based on the size of the soul gem used to recharge the weapon.

Enchanting items give a static amount of experience, the enchantment, item or soul does not affect the amount of experience gained. Therefore Fortify Enchanting potions do not increase skill gain. 

Skyrim Enchanting Tips

• Use Soul trap enchanted weapons or bound weapons with Soul Stealer perk to conveniently fill Soul gems without having to repeatedly use the Soul Trap spell.
• Be wary of using up grand and black soul gems on smaller souls as these are rare and expensive.
• In general small or low-leveled creatures will have smaller souls than large and high-leveled creatures. 
• Some houses can be installed with an Arcane Enchanter so players can store filled soul gems and do enchanting at home.