Smithing is an essential skill that every weapon-wieldingSkyrimplayer should investa lot of time developing. At maximum skill level, the Smithing skill lets players create some of the most powerful arms and armor available in the whole game - towards the end of the Smithing skill tree is the ability to create Ebony Ingots at a smelter.
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Ebony Ingots are primarily used inSkyrimto smith end-game gear and is combined with other materials to forge even more powerful equipment. It’s a great material for gold farmers, too, as it’s easy to create and can be sold for a large chunk of cash, provided you have the Perk of course.
Updated June 14, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: Ebony Ingots are one of the strongest materials in all of Skyrim, so much so that it’s actually used in three separate types of end-game smithing. There are a few candidates for Skyrim’s best place to get Ebony Ingots, but of all the locations in the game where Ores can be found, only three will refresh over time. This makes it quite the rare material, so it’s important to only mine and smelt as much as you need for a specific piece of armor or weapon. Smelting Ebony Ore into Ebony Ingots isn’t difficult at all, though players must first find a Smelter to refine the raw materials at.
What Are Ebony Ingots Used For?
Ebony Ingots are used when forging Ebony armor, Ebony weapons, and other Ebony items at a Forge or Anvil. It’s one of the highest-tier armor types available inSkyrim, and Ebony weaponsare almost unparalleled. In fact, some of the few weapons that do more damage than Ebony weapons are only available in the Creation Club orSkyrim Anniversary Edition.
It is also used in creatingDaedric and Dragonbone arms and armor, both of which aremore defensive than Ebonyon its own. However, Daedric smithing requires Daedra Hearts, and Dragonbone smithing requires Dragonbones. Ebony Ore on its own israrer and more valuablethan any other ore inSkyrim, though smelting it into ingots and then forging gear tends to be more efficient than selling the ores outright.
Where To Get Ebony Ingots in Skyrim
Like most Ingots inSkyrim, Ebony Ingots are created from Ebony Ore at aSmelter, which are usuallyfound aroundSkyrim’s forgesand crafting areas in major cities. To get Ebony Ore, players can eithermine it or buy it. There are a number of places out in the world where it can be found on the ground, on bodies, or in chests, but none are reliable, renewable sources of Ebony Ore.
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It’s possible to mine Ebony Ore anytime by equipping a pickaxe and heading to the Ebony mines ofSkyrim, but it only starts toappear in vendor inventories at around Level 25.
First, Mine Some Ebony Ore
Ebony Ore can be mined from rare Ebony Veins out in the world, usually found in mines and caves, but there are only three Ebony IngotSkyrimlocations that renew: Gloombound Mine in Eastmarch, Redbelly Mine in The Rift, andRaven Rock Mine in Solstheim.
There are lots of other places where Ebony Ore can be found as loot, but these three mines are the only place it can be harvested and not found as ground loot. Just be sure to equip a pickaxe and swing at the vein to speed up the mining process.
Then, Smelt Ebony Ore Into Ebony Ingots
Once you have enough Ebony Ore, head to the nearest major city andfind the Smelter. This isusually found near Blacksmithsand other crafting areas, for example in Whiterun the Smelter is right behind Warmaidensas players enter the city.
It takestwo Ebony Ore to make one Ebony Ingot, so when mining or purchasing Ore cut the amount you have in half to get the number of Ingots Smelting them will produce. Ebony Ingots can then be used to create either Ebony Armor, Daedric Armor, or Dragonbone weapons. To makeDaedric Armor you will need Daedra Heartsas well as Ebony Ingots, whileDragonbone weapons require Dragonbonesin their smithing recipes.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Editionis available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S
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