Skyrim: How To Get Daedric Armor And Weapons Without Smithing

Introduction

Hey guys, ever drooled over that menacing Daedric armor in Skyrim? You know, the one that makes you look like a total badass demon warrior? Well, let's face it, grinding Smithing to level 90 can be a real pain. But guess what? There are actually ways to snag that coveted Daedric gear without spending countless hours hammering away at an anvil. It's a game-changer, especially if you're like me and prefer adventuring to blacksmithing. This guide will show you how to get powerful Daedric equipment early, even if your Smithing skill is still in the single digits!

What is Daedric Armor and Weapons?

Daedric armor and weapons are the some of the most powerful gear you can find in Skyrim. They're crafted from Ebony Ingots and Daedra Hearts, giving them that distinctive black and red, evil-looking appearance. Daedric equipment offers the highest base armor rating and damage output of any non-unique set in the game, making them the go-to choice for warriors who want to crush their enemies and look good doing it. Think of it as the ultimate endgame gear, the kind of stuff legends are made of.

Why It’s Important to Learn This

Look, let's be real. Who doesn't want the best gear in the game? Daedric armor isn't just about looking cool; it significantly increases your survivability and damage output. This means you can take on tougher enemies, explore more dangerous areas, and generally dominate Skyrim without getting one-shotted by a frost troll. Plus, you don’t have to waste dozens of hours grinding smithing. According to various player forums and online discussions (Reddit, GameFAQs), many players consider Daedric armor a crucial step towards tackling high-level content like Legendary Dragons and the Ebony Warrior. Getting your hands on it early gives you a massive advantage and can seriously enhance your gameplay experience.

Step-by-Step Guide / How to Do It

Alright, let’s dive into the meat of this guide. There are a few methods to obtain Daedric gear without Smithing, and we'll cover each one in detail. Remember to save often, because luck plays a part in some of these methods!

Method 1: The Dremora Merchant (Requires the Dragonborn DLC)

This is arguably the most reliable method, but it requires the Dragonborn DLC. Here's how to do it:

1. Start the "The Sallow Regent" quest: This quest is part of the Black Book questline in the Dragonborn DLC. You'll find the Black Book "The Sallow Regent" in White Ridge Barrow, located on the northeastern coast of Solstheim.
2. Read the Black Book and choose the Secret Servant ability: Reading the book will transport you to Apocrypha, Hermaeus Mora's realm. Navigate the area until you reach the final chamber where you get to choose a power. Select "Secret Servant". This ability allows you to summon a Dremora Butler once per day.
3. Summon the Dremora Butler: Once you've learned the Secret Servant ability, you can summon the Dremora Butler anywhere in Skyrim or Solstheim. He'll act as a merchant, selling a random assortment of items.
4. Check his inventory for Daedric items: The Dremora Butler has a chance to sell Daedric weapons and armor. However, his inventory is random, so you might not find what you're looking for right away. His inventory scales to your level, so you'll have a higher chance of seeing Daedric items at higher levels (level 46+ is ideal). Save your game before summoning him. If he doesn't have the gear you want, load your save and try again. This is known as save-scumming, but hey, we're all about efficiency here!
5. Rinse and repeat: Keep summoning the Dremora Butler and checking his inventory until you find the Daedric items you desire. It might take a few tries, but it's a consistent way to get Daedric gear without Smithing.

Tips for the Dremora Merchant:

• Level Matters: The Dremora Merchant's inventory scales with your level. To have the highest chance of Daedric gear appearing, you should be at least level 46. If you are below that level, focus on leveling up through questing and exploration.
• Money, Money, Money: Daedric items are expensive! Make sure you have plenty of gold on hand to purchase them. Sell any valuable items you've collected, complete quests with monetary rewards, or try pickpocketing wealthy NPCs (if you're feeling sneaky).
• Save and Load: As mentioned, save your game before summoning the Dremora Merchant. If he doesn't have what you want, reload and try again. This will save you a lot of time and gold in the long run.
• Daily Reset: Remember you can only summon the Dremora Butler once per day (in-game time). If you're not having luck, sleep for 24 hours and try again the next day. This forces the game to reset the Dremora's inventory.

Method 2: The Atronach Forge (College of Winterhold Questline)

The Atronach Forge, located in the Midden Dark beneath the College of Winterhold, allows you to craft various items by combining specific ingredients. While it doesn't directly craft Daedric gear, you can use it to summon Dremora Lords who might have Daedric items. This method requires some luck and preparation.

1. Join the College of Winterhold: If you haven't already, travel to the College of Winterhold, located in the northeastern corner of Skyrim. Speak to Faralda at the entrance and pass her test to gain entry. It can be any magic spell, like Firebolt. If you don't know any spells, she'll sell you one.
2. Progress through the College of Winterhold questline: You need to complete the quest "Conjuration Ritual Spell" to gain access to the Atronach Forge recipes. This quest becomes available after reaching a Conjuration skill of 90 and speaking to Phinis Gestor, the Conjuration trainer at the College.
3. Obtain the Sigil Stone: During the "Conjuration Ritual Spell" quest, Phinis Gestor will send you to find the Sigil Stone. This stone is essential for crafting powerful items at the Atronach Forge, including the recipe to summon a Dremora Lord. The Sigil Stone is located on the roof of the Midden, within the Atronach Forge area.
4. Gather ingredients for summoning a Dremora Lord: To summon a Dremora Lord at the Atronach Forge, you need the following ingredients:
   • 1 Daedra Heart (can be found on dead Dremora, in some alchemy shops, or as a rare drop from certain enemies)
   • 1 Empty Grand Soul Gem (filled with a Grand soul, such as a Mammoth or a Giant)
   • 1 Ruined Book (found throughout the College of Winterhold or in other dungeons)
   • Human Heart (can be found in some dungeons, on Forsworn enemies, or purchased from certain merchants)
5. Place the ingredients in the Atronach Forge and activate it: Place the ingredients into the offering box in the center of the Atronach Forge. Then, activate the lever to attempt to summon a Dremora Lord. This will summon a hostile Dremora Lord that must be defeated. These Dremora Lords occasionally carry Daedric Weapons, though this is not guaranteed.
6. Defeat the Dremora Lord and loot its corpse: The Dremora Lord will attack you immediately. Be prepared for a tough fight. Once defeated, loot its corpse. There's a chance it will have Daedric weapons or armor.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6: Keep summoning Dremora Lords and looting their corpses until you find the Daedric gear you want. This method relies on luck, so be patient.

Tips for the Atronach Forge:

• Conjuration Skill: While you don't need to grind Smithing, a decent Conjuration skill is essential for this method. Aim for at least level 90 Conjuration to access the quest and learn the Dremora summoning recipe.
• Daedra Hearts: Daedra Hearts can be tricky to find. A reliable source is the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon, where Dremora respawn regularly. Another option is Enthir at the College of Winterhold, who sometimes sells them. You could also check in on the alchemy shop in Whiterun; it's known to sometimes have Daedra Hearts.
• Grand Soul Gems: Filling Grand Soul Gems can be a challenge. The easiest way is to use the Soul Trap spell on a Mammoth or Giant, then kill it. Azura's Star or the Black Star are reusable soul gems that can make this process easier.
• Prepare for a Fight: Dremora Lords are tough opponents. Make sure you have good armor, weapons, and healing potions before attempting to summon them. Consider using summons of your own to distract the Dremora Lord.

Method 3: Quest Rewards (Rare and Level-Dependent)

Certain quests in Skyrim have a very small chance of awarding Daedric items as quest rewards. This method is highly unreliable but worth mentioning for completion's sake. You're more likely to get this reward at level 46+.

1. The "The Ebony Warrior" quest: (Dragonborn DLC) At level 80 you can come across an Ebony Warrior who is looking for a worthy death. This battle is considered to be the hardest fight in Skyrim, but the loot will be worth it with him fully equipped in Daedric Armor.
2. Radiant Quests: Some radiant quests (quests that repeat indefinitely) offered by members of the Thieves Guild, the Dark Brotherhood, or the Companions have a small chance to reward leveled items, including Daedric gear. These quests usually involve stealing, killing, or retrieving items.
3. The "Pieces of the Past" quest: This is the quest given by Silus Vesuius when you first reach Dawnstar. While the reward for this quest is Mehrunes' Razor, completing it might make Dremora spawns more frequent in future encounters.

Tips for Quest Rewards:

• Don't Rely on It: This method is not a reliable way to obtain Daedric gear. It's more of a happy accident if it happens.
• Focus on Other Methods: Prioritize the Dremora Merchant or the Atronach Forge methods for consistent results.

Method 4: Loot and Chests (RNG Based)

Daedric items can also be found as random loot in chests and on enemies throughout Skyrim. However, this method is highly dependent on your level and luck.

1. Reach level 46 or higher: Daedric items don't start appearing as random loot until you reach level 46. This is a crucial requirement for this method to work.
2. Explore high-level areas: Dungeons, caves, and forts inhabited by tough enemies (such as Draugr Deathlords, Forsworn, or bandits) have a higher chance of containing valuable loot, including Daedric items. Look for boss chests at the end of dungeons. These chests have a significantly higher chance of containing rare items.
3. Check weapon and armor racks: Weapon and armor racks in dungeons and forts sometimes spawn leveled items. Keep an eye out for these, as they might contain Daedric gear.
4. Loot dead enemies: Sometimes, high-level enemies like Draugr Deathlords, Bandit Chiefs, or even powerful mages will be wearing or wielding Daedric equipment. Be sure to loot their corpses after defeating them.

Tips for Loot and Chests:

• Thief Stone: Activating the Thief Stone before entering a dungeon will boost your skills, making it easier to find and pick locks on chests.
• Luck of the Draw: Finding Daedric items this way is largely down to chance. Don't get discouraged if you don't find anything right away. Keep exploring and looting!
• High-Level Dungeons: Focus on exploring dungeons with a high difficulty rating. These dungeons are more likely to contain valuable loot and challenging enemies that might be carrying Daedric gear.
• Merchant Reset: Check the inventories of blacksmiths and general goods merchants regularly. They sometimes sell Daedric items, although this is rare.

Tips & Tricks to Succeed

• Level Up: As mentioned several times, your character level is crucial for obtaining Daedric gear without Smithing. Aim to reach at least level 46 as quickly as possible. Focus on completing quests, exploring dungeons, and engaging in combat to level up efficiently.
• Money Management: Daedric items are expensive. Save your gold and sell any valuable items you don't need. Invest in the Speech skill tree, particularly the Haggling perk, to get better prices from merchants.
• Enchanting: Even if you get Daedric gear, enchanting it can make it even more powerful. Learn enchanting by disenchanting items with magical effects. Then, use soul gems to enchant your Daedric gear with beneficial effects, such as increased damage, magic resistance, or carry weight.
• Potions and Poisons: Don't underestimate the power of potions and poisons. Use fortify skill potions to temporarily boost your combat abilities. Apply poisons to your weapons to deal extra damage over time.
• Followers: A strong follower can be a valuable asset in combat. They can distract enemies, deal extra damage, and carry your loot. Hire a mercenary from a tavern or recruit a follower from a questline (like Lydia from the main quest).

Tools or Resources You Might Need

• The Dragonborn DLC: As mentioned earlier, the Dremora Merchant method requires the Dragonborn DLC.
• Grand Soul Gems: You'll need Grand Soul Gems (filled with Grand souls) for the Atronach Forge method. Azura's Star or the Black Star are reusable soul gems that can make this process easier.
• Daedra Hearts: Daedra Hearts are essential for the Atronach Forge method and can be found on dead Dremora, in some alchemy shops, or as a rare drop from certain enemies.
• Skyrim Wiki and other online resources: Websites like the UESP Wiki and Fandom Wiki are invaluable resources for Skyrim players. They contain detailed information about quests, items, locations, and more.

Conclusion & Call to Action

So there you have it, guys! Several ways to get your hands on that sweet Daedric armor and weaponry without ever touching a smithing hammer. Whether you prefer the reliable Dremora Merchant, the chance-based Atronach Forge, or the thrill of random loot, there's a method for every playstyle. Getting Daedric gear early in the game is a huge power boost, allowing you to tackle tougher challenges and look like a true Dragonborn badass. So, get out there, explore Skyrim, and claim your Daedric destiny! What are your favorite methods for obtaining powerful gear in Skyrim? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below! And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

FAQ

Q: What level do I need to be to get Daedric armor and weapons? A: You'll need to be at least level 46 for Daedric items to start appearing as random loot or in the Dremora Merchant's inventory.

Q: Is the Dremora Merchant the most reliable method? A: Yes, the Dremora Merchant is generally considered the most reliable method for obtaining Daedric gear without Smithing, but you need the Dragonborn DLC.

Q: Where can I find Daedra Hearts? A: Daedra Hearts can be found on dead Dremora, in some alchemy shops, or as a rare drop from certain enemies. A reliable source is the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon.

Q: How does the Atronach Forge work? A: The Atronach Forge is a crafting station in the Midden Dark beneath the College of Winterhold. You can use it to summon Dremora Lords, who might carry Daedric items, by combining specific ingredients.

Q: Can I find Daedric gear in chests? A: Yes, Daedric items can be found as random loot in chests, but this is highly dependent on your level and luck. Explore high-level areas and look for boss chests.