Forgemaster - Comprehensive Smithing Overhaul
🟡 Updated this year⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.8% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #23 of 39 Overhauls mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
DESCRIPTION
By separating what items you can craft from how much you can temper them, Smithing becomes a lot more flexible. To achieve the greatest accomplishments as a Smith, you must go out and explore instead of crafting a thousand iron daggers in a single spot. Smithing is all about gathering and processing resources so Forgemaster adds several perks to make that easier, among many other big and small changes intended to make Smithing more fun to play.
Anniversary Edition? Optional but supported.
Can be installed midgame? Yes.
Download, install, and endorse? Yes.
FEATURES
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[] Entirely redesigned perk tree with two paths: One to increase your tempering ability and one to improve resource gathering.
[
] Read Smithing Tomes to learn crafting, smelting ores and using materials effectively. Buy them from smiths or find them in hidden places.[] Compatible with other mods that assume the vanilla perk tree because the Smithing Tomes are implemented using the vanilla perks.
[] Crafting recipes revised for better consistency and resource use.
[] Crafting recipes for previously uncraftable armors, weapons and jewelry.
[] Ores, ingots, pelts, leathers, gems, and jewelry have new weights and prices that are balanced with each other.
[] Tempering is divided into tiers: Amateur, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster I to VI.
[] Tanning and smelting earn a small amount of experience.
[] Includes patches for Anniversary Edition and USSEP.
[] Optional patch to rename Corundum, Malachite, and Quicksilver to Copper, Glass, and Mithril.
PLUGINS
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[] Forgemaster.esp: The main file. You need this.
[
] Forgemaster - USSEP Patch.esp: Patch for the Unofficial Skyrim Patch.[] Forgemaster - AE Patch.esp: Patch for Anniversary Edition.
[] Forgemaster - Naming.esp: Renames Corundum, Malachite, and Quicksilver to Copper, Glass, and Mithril.
[] Forgemaster - Thaumaturgy Patch.esp: Patch for Thaumaturgy.
PERKS
Novice/Apprentice/Adept/Expert/Master Craftsman (20/40/60/80/100)
Can temper weapons and armor to Novice/Apprentice/Adept/Expert/Master quality.
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[] Master is equal to Legendary.
[]Skill level does not influence item quality.
Arcane Blacksmith (30)
Can temper enchanted weapons and armor.
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[] Unchanged from vanilla except the level requirement is lowered to 30.
Huntsman (30)
Felled animals and dragons yield more hide. Carrying capacity increases by 25 points.
[*] Animals drop an extra hide. Dragons d
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[] Unchanged from vanilla except the level requirement is lowered to 30.
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[] Master is equal to Legendary.
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[] Forgemaster.esp: The main file. You need this.
Forgemaster is a comprehensive Smithing overhaul for Skyrim that separates crafting from tempering, adds a redesigned perk tree with two paths, and introduces Smithing Tomes for learning recipes. It revises recipes, adds new craftable items, rebalances resources, and includes patches for AE and USSEP. With 73 endorsements and 8,821 downloads, it's a solid choice for players wanting deeper smithing mechanics.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Deep overhaul that makes smithing more than just grinding daggers—exploration and resource gathering matter.
- Compatible with vanilla perk tree assumptions, so it won't break other mods that rely on those perks.
- Includes patches for AE and USSEP right out of the box, plus an optional naming patch for lore-friendly materials.
⚠️ Cons
- Only 73 endorsements, so it's not as battle-tested as bigger overhauls like Complete Crafting Overhaul.
- The Smithing Tomes system might feel grindy if you don't enjoy hunting down books.
- Potential conflicts with other mods that alter smithing recipes or tempering—check your load order.
For Skyrim players who want a more involved smithing experience that rewards exploration and resource management. If you're tired of the vanilla grind and want a fresh perk tree with meaningful choices, this is for you. Skip if you prefer simple smithing or don't want to deal with learning tomes.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Install the USSEP patch if you use the Unofficial Skyrim Patch, and the AE patch if you have Anniversary Edition content.
- Use a mod manager like Vortex or MO2 to handle the ESP and patches—load order matters for compatibility.
- If you want the optional naming changes (Copper, Glass, Mithril), enable Forgemaster - Naming.esp but be aware it renames vanilla materials.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- Kamikaze
- Version
- 4
- Downloads
- 8,821
- Endorsements
- 73
- Category
- Overhauls
- Created
- 3/24/2024
- Updated
- 10/28/2025
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
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