How to Enchant Equipment in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Bring an unenchanted item, a known enchantment, and a filled soul gem to an Arcane Enchanter. Select the item, effect, and soul gem, then review the result before crafting. To learn a new effect, disenchant an item that carries it. Disenchanting destroys that item, so use a spare or something you have already replaced.

1. Learn the effect from a piece you can spare

Open an Arcane Enchanter and check its Disenchant list. If you have a weapon or armor piece with a learnable enchantment, select it to see the effect. Confirm only when you are willing to lose the item. The effect becomes available for future crafting, so you do not have to find another copy of the same enchanted item every time you want to use it.

If an item is not listed, you may already know its effect or it may carry an enchantment that cannot be learned. Check your known list before searching for another copy. If you only need to improve one piece, choose the effect before spending a filled soul gem on something you do not intend to use.

2. Bring a filled soul gem

Check your inventory for a soul gem that already contains a soul. An empty gem does not supply the power needed to enchant equipment. You can buy or find filled gems, or fill an empty one by using Soul Trap and killing a compatible target before the effect expires.

For a valuable item, compare the preview with more than one soul gem if you have a choice. The soul inside the gem affects what you can get from the enchantment. Use smaller souls for early equipment you expect to replace and consider saving stronger souls for gear you plan to keep. The preview is a better check than the gem's name alone if it was filled with a smaller soul.

3. Apply the enchantment

1. Interact with the Arcane Enchanter and open the enchantment menu.
2. Select an unenchanted piece of equipment.
3. Pick a known effect that the selected item can accept.
4. Choose a filled soul gem and inspect the preview.
5. Adjust the magnitude and charge balance if offered, then confirm crafting.

Different effects work on different equipment slots. If you cannot select the effect after choosing an item, try another compatible slot before assuming the enchantment is missing. If you are enchanting a weapon, review how often you expect to use the effect. More strength can leave you with fewer uses before it needs charging again.

4. Check armor effects and recharge weapons

Equip the new armor or jewelry and check whether the effect is listed where you expect it. If you put a bonus on a piece you normally swap out, remember that you only benefit while wearing it. Test the setup with the equipment you actually plan to carry rather than looking at the enchantment in isolation.

Enchanted weapons can run out of charge. In your inventory, select the weapon and use the displayed Charge action, then choose a filled soul gem. If the weapon still deals ordinary damage but its effect stopped firing, check the charge before replacing it. Keep a spare filled gem if you depend on that effect for longer encounters.

5. Fix a missing item, effect, or gem

Check the three parts in order. The equipment must be eligible and unenchanted, the effect must be known and compatible, and the soul gem must contain a soul. If a weapon preview is blocked for a selected gem, reduce the magnitude or try a stronger filled gem. Review the charge result again before confirming.

When you are experimenting, keep the gear you already use until you have tested the new piece. A preview can tell you the strength of the enchantment, but it cannot tell you how often you will need it in the fights you play. Use the new item for a short stretch, then decide whether the same effect belongs on more of your equipment.

If you carry weapons with different effects, check their charge separately before leaving a city. Recharging the one you are about to use is more useful than spending a strong soul on a backup that already has enough charge.