Heim - Smithing Tweaks and Lightweight Overhaul
⚪ Last updated 2022⚠️ 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
- 👍 0.4% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #42 of 143 Gameplay mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Heim - v. to forge, work at a forge/n. forge; forging in Dragon Language
Heim aims to bring a lightweight modification to smithing in Skyrim. I made it for myself after finding "Ars Metallica" mining XP too cheaty when building a hearthfire home. This is my first time ever doing anything in the CK.
Oh, sorry for the formating and typos
This is the breakdown of its features:
1. Using a tanning rack or a smelter will give you smithing XP (just like Ars Metallica).
2. In order to craft ingots, you need the corresponding perk (just like Ars Metallica; iron, silver and gold excluded)
3. New recipes have been introduced for vanilla items that could not be crafted otherwise (scroll down for a list).
4. For some items, you will need to complete specific quests (scroll down for the list).
5. The majority of the items that can be crafted in the game need, besides the corresponding perk and quests, a "Manual" in the inventory to be crafted.
6. Minimal modification to vanilla recipes, most notably, the high-tier ones (Ebony, Daedric and Dragonbone). These changes can be easily reverted in xedit.
7. Breakdown system for vanilla sets and clutter, inspired by immersive silver smelting by dann1telecom
8. Consistency check for all recipes, inspired by other mods (CCOR and Simple Smithing Overhaul) and by the breakdown system.
The Manuals
The most important feature of Heim is the creation of forging books that need to be bought and found in the world in order to craft things.
There are 16 books to be found in the world and 4 schematics:
1. Iron Armor Forging: enables iron weapons and armor.
2. Steel Forging: the same for steel
3. Advanced Armors: steel plate and scaled
4. Light Armor Crafting: hide, studded and leather armors
5 Dunmer Styles: bomemold and chitin.
6. Elven Styles: glass and elven.
7. On Orsimer Metallurgy: orcish
8. Blades Traditions and Techniques: blade set, dragonbone and dragonplate
9. The Blood of Lorkhan: Ebony set
10. Beyond Mundus: Daedric set
11. Kyne's Offspring: Nordic, Stalhrim, Old Nord, Nord Hero, Skyforgesteel and Wolf Armor
12. Imperial Legion Manual of Arms and Armours: imperial gear
13. Mighty Bows and how to craft them: all bows and arrows, except Daedric, Dragonbone and Imperial bows.
14. Notes on Dwemer Metallurgy: dwemer and falmer set (shellbug included).
15. Witch Hunters new and old: Dawnguard Equipment, silver sworlds and crossbows.
16. Radiant Jewelry: all gold/silver rings and amulets
17. Schematics for Forsworn, Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood
18. There's one schematic to be found in the starter area that enables the blacksmithing mini-quest itens without the books.
Some of these items will need, besides the perk and the b
Heim is a lightweight smithing overhaul for Skyrim that requires you to find forging manuals to unlock each category in the forge menu, acting as a decluttering option. It uses minimal edits for compatibility and has 185 endorsements, last updated in June 2022.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community-tested with 185 endorsements and over 48k downloads.
- Lightweight approach means less chance of breaking other mods.
- Adds a meaningful progression gate to smithing without overhauling everything.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in 2022, so may not be compatible with the latest Skyrim patches or mods.
- Requires hunting down manuals, which might slow down early-game smithing for some players.
- Potential conflicts with other mods that alter the forge menu or add new crafting categories.
For Skyrim players who want a fresh take on smithing progression and a cleaner forge menu. If you're tired of the vanilla 'everything unlocked' system and enjoy exploration-driven unlocks, this is for you. Skip if you prefer a full overhaul with new recipes and mechanics.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Use a mod manager like Vortex or MO2 to install and manage this mod easily.
- Check the mod's description page for any patches or compatibility notes with popular mods like Ordinator or Complete Crafting Overhaul.
- If you're using Skyrim Special Edition, make sure the mod version matches your game version.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- CSTCN
- Version
- 1.4
- Downloads
- 48,056
- Endorsements
- 185
- Category
- Gameplay
- Created
- 8/20/2021
- Updated
- 6/7/2022
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
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Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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