If you’re playing as a stealth-archer class in Skyrim, having a quiver full of strong arrows is a no-brainer.
While the Steel Arrows or the Ancient Nordic Arrow can serve you well during the early game, they will definitely fall short when it comes to late-game content or facing tougher enemies.
Now you might think getting the best arrows is easier said than done, and that’s true for the most part. The only downside of strong arrows is that they’re really hard to come by.
But don’t worry! I’ve prepared a step-by-step guide to help you through the entire process.
Note: The craftable arrows feature is not available in the base game. This feature was introduced in the Dawnguard expansion. So, you’ll have to install the Dawnguard DLC add-on to make your own arrows. Step 1: Gather Resources
Like any other craftable item, we’ll start with gathering the resource for arrows. There are mainly two resources that you’ll need to craft arrows i.e., Firewoods and Ingots.
There are a few exceptions, though, like the Daedric Arrows, Bone Arrows, and the Stalhrim Arrows, that require additional material. We’ll get into it later.
Firewood
Firewoods are relatively common resources that you can get very easily. All you need to do to gather up some firewood is to first find a woodcutter’s axe and then use it on a woodchopping block. This will give you a total of 6 Firewoods.
Furthermore, Firewood is also an infinite resource, meaning you can use the woodchopping block repeatedly and get your desired amount of Firewood.
For further guidance, refer to this guide, where I’ve dived deep into everything related to Firewood and some ways to speed up the overall process.
Ingot
The next resource that you’ll need is Ingot. The type of Ingot you use to create the arrow will determine the arrow’s type. For example, using an Ebony Ingot will get you an Ebony arrow, whereas using a Steel Ingot will give you Steel Arrows.
There are multiple ways to gather ingots. You can either buy it off from blacksmiths or craft one yourself by smelting ores at the Smelter.
You can follow this guide to learn more about making Ingot.
Step 2: Use the Blacksmith Forge
So after you collect enough Firewood and Ingots, we can proceed to craft some arrows. Head to the nearest Blacksmith forge. The most convenient forge location is Riverwood and the Warmaiden’s at Whiterun.
Interact with the Forge and select the arrow that you wish to craft. You’ll get 24 arrows in total every time you craft arrows.
What are the Best Arrows in Skyrim?
There’s no shortage of arrow types in the game. While most of the arrows will work fine against most enemies, if you’re looking for the absolute best arrow that complements the damage of your bow, then you should try the following arrows.
Bone Arrows
Right off the bat, these are the hardest-hitting arrows in the game. With a whopping base damage of 26, the Bone Arrow complements well with the strongest bow in the game, the Dragonbone Bow.
You cannot get these arrows from merchants or even as random loot. You can only obtain this arrow by crafting it at the Blacksmith forge.
To craft this arrow, you’ll first need to unlock the Dragon Armor perk from the Smithing skill tree after reaching level 100 in Smithing. After then, use a single unit of Firewood and 10 Dragon bones at the forge.
Daedric Arrow
It’s a no-brainer that every Daedric gears are one of the best in the game, and the Daedric Arrow isn’t an exception. It falls below the Bone arrow since it has a slightly low base damage of 24.
It’s also one of the most difficult arrows to obtain in the game. These arrows will start spawning in the world after you’ve reached level 25.
Fletcher occasionally sells these arrows and are even rarely used by elite bandits. You can also buy it from the Dremora merchant if you’ve unlocked it from Black Book: Untold Legends.
However, you’ll need to unlock the Daedric Smithing perk from the Smithing skill tree to craft these arrows. Then use a Firewood, an Ebony Ingot, and a Daedra Heart at the forge.
Ebony Arrow
Next on our list is the Ebony Arrow. While not as impressive as the Daedric Arrows in terms of damage, the Ebony Arrow is still very well-rounded in terms of availability and damage capability. The Ebony Arrow has a base damage of 20, putting it in the third spot.
Like the other arrows on your list, you’ll first need to unlock the Ebony Smithing perk from the Smithing tree and then craft the arrows using Firewoods and Ebony Ingots.
