In the harsh land of Skyrim, having the right gear is important to any player's survival. And often, the best way to make sure the Dragonborn's gear is right for them is to make it themselves. Still, even mid-level smiths can have trouble boosting the power of their armor and weapons.

Luckily, Alchemy comes to the rescue. Potions are the easiest way to access a temporary, but significant, boost in this crafting skill. Though it might seem daunting at first, players can quickly master the basics to brew a potion of Fortify Smithing. Here's how to craft these concoctions, to help the hero of Skyrim bulk up their steel and ebony.

Updated February 21, 2023, by Demaris Oxman: Skyrim's Anniversary Edition added a plethora of free content from the Creation Club, expanding players' experience of this fantasy world even more. Among the items added in these Creations were several new alchemical ingredients, including a few that players can use in Fortify Smithing potions. These potions can help players buff their Smithing skill to new heights, achieving untold numbers in both damage and armor. With the new resources available, this guide has been updated to include all Fortify Smithing ingredients added in the free Creation Club content in the Anniversary Edition.

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The Fortify Smithing Effect

Skyrim character smithing

As most players can guess, potions with the Fortify Smithing effect will increase the amount by which they can improve armor and weapons at a Workbench or Grindstone, respectively. The player's skill in Alchemy will determine how much the player's Smithing improvements increase.

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To make stronger potions, players must raise their Alchemy skill level. The best way to do this is simply by making as many potions as possible, or to purchase training sessions from certain NPCs. Additionally, if players are looking for a peak Alchemist build, they may consider picking one of the races that receive bonuses to the skill: Bosmer, Breton, Khajiit, or Dunmer.

Fortify Smithing Ingredients

Clockwise from top left: spriggan sap, sabre cat, blisterwort patch, glowing mushrooms

A rare effect in Skyrim, only four ingredients can be used to create Potions of Fortify Smithing. Fortunately, they're not too hard to come by. These four items can be found in various locations throughout the world. The Dragonborn can also purchase them at reasonable prices from alchemical merchants — or steal them, if they are so inclined.

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  • Blisterwort: As one of Skyrim's most common mushrooms, these grow abundantly in plenty of caves throughout the world.
    • Blackreach is a good source of these mushrooms, as well as several other fungi and alchemical ingredients.
    • Halldir's Cairn, located southwest of Falkreath, is another good source.
    • Chillwind Depths, south of Dragon Bridge, has high numbers of Blisterwort.
  • Glowing Mushroom: These luminescent fungi are common in caves, Dwemer ruins, and other underground areas. Players can spot them easily due to their distinctive light.
    • Tovald's Cave, northeast of Shor's Stone, is a veritable treasure trove of these fungi, boasting hundreds.
    • The basement of Honninbrew Meadery contains dozens. Players access this area during the Thieves' Guild quest "Dampened Spirits."
    • Early in the game, players can find a decent number at the exit for Bleak Falls Barrow.
  • Sabre Cat Tooth: Face down the fearsome creatures, and rip teeth from their mouths. Sabre Cats roam the wilderness around Whiterun and Winterhold. Their cousins, the Vale Sabre Cats in the Dawnguard DLC, drop this item as well.
    • Greenspring Hollow in Whiterun Hold is home to several of these fierce felines. Low-level players should take care, as they can be quite fierce in numbers.
  • Spriggan Sap: Though its name suggests otherwise, this item will never be found as loot from Spriggans. Instead, players must purchase (or steal) this ingredient from alchemy shops.
    • If the player purchases a home and furnishes it with an alchemy lab, the lab will come equipped with certain ingredients, usually including Spriggan Sap.
    • A few can be found throughout the College of Winterhold, in the Hall of Countenance and the Arch-Mage's quarters. Unlike those in purchasable homes, these samples respawn every few in-game days.
  • Dreugh Wax: Added in the Rare Curios creation, this item can be purchased from Khajiit Caravans.
  • Gold Kanet: Like Dreugh Wax, this item is added with Rare Curios. Like all ingredients in this add-on, it is available for purchase from Khajiit Caravans.
  • Pearlfish: Added with the Fishing creation, players can catch this fish in the rivers near Riverwood. The best chance to catch a Pearlfish takes in temperate, rainy weather.

Combining Effects

Potion using Giant's Toe, Glowing Mushroom, and Blisterwort

Though valuable on its own, the price of a Fortify Smithing potion increases greatly when the recipe incorporates other effects. Players can grind these out to increase their alchemy skill, and sell them off to make a healthy profit. Additionally, keep in mind effects that work well with Fortify Smithing. The Dragonborn can use the following recipes to create potions that come in useful in a variety of scenarios.

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  • Mixing Blisterwort and Glowing Mushroom alone produces only the Fortify Smithing effect; however, adding a Giant's Toe to that mixture brings out the Damage Stamina and Fortify Health effects in those ingredients. This creates a much more valuable potion that players can sell for a profit — and also raises the Alchemy skill by a great deal more.
  • Combining Blisterwort and Sabre Cat Tooth with a Sabre Cat Eyeball creates a potion of Fortify Smithing, Restore Health, and Restore Stamina, perfect for improving armor after a tough fight. Sabre Cat eyeballs are found in the same locations as Sabre Cat Teeth — that is to say, on Sabre Cat carcasses.
  • Spriggan Sap and Dreugh Wax both bear the Fortify Enchanting effect. Thus, combining these two ingredients creates a potion perfect for any Skyrim crafting sessions. Adding a third ingredient can also add a third effect, increasing the potion's value:
    • Add Grass Pod or River Betty for Fortify Alteration
    • Add Blisterwort, Fly Amanita, or Troll Fat for Frenzy
    • Add Creep Cluster, Dwarven Oil, or Jazbay Grapes for Weakness to Magic.
    • Add Blue Mountain Flowers or Glow Dust for Damage Magicka Regen.
  • Blisterwort boasts Frenzy, one of the more valuable of Skyrim's alchemical effects. Combining Blisterwort, Glowing Mushroom, and a Boar Tusk creates a potion of Frenzy, Fortify Smithing, and Fortify Health — not the most practical mixture, but fairly valuable for players trying to earn some gold. Those interested in making it can find Boar Tusks by hunting wild boars on the island of Solstheim.

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