Heavy Armor in Skyrim

This guide explains all the different types of heavy armor that the game has to offer. It talks about levels that you can obtain them at, how to craft them, and their stats.

NOTE: This does not go over special armors or DLC armors. This is only for craftable armors that you can get in the vanilla game through smithing or loot.

Also, you may not necessarily obtain armor sets in this order. It varies for different players. Sometimes, a lower tier armor will be harder to get than a higher tier one. (See Boss5423's comment below for an example)

All statistics are from The Elder Scrolls Wiki. Statistics are counted without the bonus of a shield as some armor sets do not come with a shield.

Iron Armor

Iron armor is the first set of heavy armor that you can get in Skyrim. It is quite common and it should serve you well until you get a set of steel armor. There is also a variant of this called Banded Iron armor, which has slightly better stats and different appearance.

Level Requirement: 1
Base Protection: 60
Base Weight: 46
Base Value: 235

Smithing: Iron Ingots and Leather strips are required. Corundum ingots are needed for tempering banded iron armor.

Steel Armor

Steel armor is the second set of armor that you can get in Skyrim. It is a visually pleasing armor with several variants influenced by Nordic and Imperial cultures. It is perhaps the most common armor in Skyrim as many Nord NPCs scattered throughout the gameworld have it equipped.

Level Requirement: 6
Base Protection: 72
Base Weight: 52
Base Value: 510

Smithing: Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, and Leather strips are required. Steel Smithing perk is also required.

Dwarven Armor

Dwarven armor is the third set of armor that you can get in Skyrim. It is a beautiful golden armor originally created by the Dwemer race, also known as dwarves. Not many NPCs run around with this on but it is common to find pieces of this armor in many Dwarven ruins.

Level Requirement: 12
Base Protection: 78
Base Weight: 75
Base Value: 770

Smithing: Dwarven Metal Ingots, Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, and Leather strips are required. Dwarven Smithing perk is also required.

Steel Plate Armor

Steel plate armor is the fourth set of armor that you can get in Skyrim. It is an iconic and visually appealing armor set that is appreciated by many Nords in Skyrim. The designs on the metal are heavily influenced by Nordic culture.

Level Requirement: 18
Base Protection: 87
Base Weight: 59
Base Value: 1175

Smithing: Corundum Ingots, Steel Ingots, Iron Ingots, and Leather strips are required. Advanced Armor perk is also required.

Orcish Armor

Orcish armor is the fifth set of armor that you can get in Skyrim. It is a belligerent looking green armor originally created by the Orsimer, also knows as Orcs. It is not a common armor and Orcs themselves are rarely seen wearing it.

Level Requirement: 25
Base Protection: 94
Base Weight: 57
Base Value: 1900

Smithing: Orichalcum Ingots, Iron Ingots, and Leather strips are required. Orcish Smithing perk is also required.

Ebony Armor

Ebony armor is the sixth set of armor that you can get in Skyrim. It is an elegant black armor and is also the third strongest in the game. The trims are influenced by Nordic culture.

Level Requirement: 32
Base Protection: 96
Base Weight: 62
Base Value: 2800

Smithing: Ebony Ingots and Leather strips are required. Ebony Smithing perk is also required.

Dragonplate Armor

Dragonplate armor is the seventh set of armor that you can get in Skyrim. It is a terrifying looking armor and is the second most powerful armor in the game. Unlike the other armor sets, this armor requires the parts of a slain dragon in order to be crafted. It is quite rare to find on its own.

Level Requirement: 40
Base Protection: 102
Base Weight: 64
Base Value: 5500

Smithing: Dragon bones, Dragon scales, and Leather strips are required. Dragon Armor perk is also required.

Daedric Armor

Daedric armor is the eighth set of armor that you can get in Skyrim. It is a very monstrous and evil looking armor and is also the most powerful armor in the game. This is commonly worn by Dremora but cannot be looted from their corpses. When the cuirass and gauntlets are worn, they give off a faint red glow.

Level Requirement: 48
Base Protection: 108
Base Weight: 81
Base Value: 6050

Smithing: Daedra Hearts, Ebony Ingots, and Leather strips are required. Daedric Smithing perk is also required.

[Vwadimiw Winnin']

*this method

[Vwadimiw Winnin']

It is still a cheap way to level it up, as I know it has been patched, I have played so much of this game on xbox 360 and pc as well. I use the is method all the time

[kittyzaaaaaaaaaaaa]

@Vladimir Winnin' Thats been patched ages ago, its all about the value that predicts the amount of exp earned. Ive found stealing silver ingots in dragonsreach and creating amethyst/garnet rings to be the most effective.

[Vwadimiw Winnin']

Just level up your smithing by crafting lots of iron daggers, it's a lot quicker.

[DzK_MrSappAttack]

like your guide now i know what level i need to be to find the armor i want thankyou

[catgirl toofies]

As a reply to Boss5423, the levels are correct. I think what you're saying is about Orcish weaponry - that appears much earlier than the armor. Dwarven weapons > Orcish weapons and Orcish armor > Dwarven armor.

[Vwadimiw Winnin']

Still, I respect your different opinion. Although having used both light and heavy armor equally, I do feel that light armor is better because of lower weight which means quicker speed and more mobility in combat. And, if all else fails. Run.

[Vwadimiw Winnin']

It does take a while to get heavy armor weightless; level 50 heavy armor I believe. Light Armor is really good late game especially. I had an armor rating of 500 or 600 with dragonscale armor. Light armor and dual maces are OP in my opinion.

[Flames99Fuse]

I agree that a light armor guide is almost required now, but I'd like to disagree with Vladmir. I don't do smithing because effort so idk if it's better in that field, but due to later perks, heavy armor you wear is weightless which removes the most important part of light armor, the lack of weight.

[Bladeranger]

Yeah haha I'll do it soon. First I need to fix up this one lol.