The Scorched Hammer is the blacksmith of Riften, sitting right beside the city’s marketplace. The smith, Balimund, works outside under a covered overhang, so you will usually hear the hammering before you see the shop. If you need weapons, armor or a place to craft in Riften, this is it.
What you’ll find
- Balimund – the resident smith and trader.
- Asbjorn Fire-Tamer – his adopted son and apprentice, found inside. He takes over the forge if Balimund dies; if both are lost, the smithy stays empty.
- Crafting stations: forge, grindstone, tanning rack and workbench, plus a wood chopping block across from the shop.
- A modest house interior with two back bedrooms – one with a safe, the other with some weapons.
- A cellar stocked with ingots, crafting materials and a strongbox.
Quests
Stoking the Flames – Balimund has a job for you. Help him out and the cellar’s supplies become available to you without any stealing involved.
Notable items
- The Armorer’s Challenge – a Smithing skill book.
- Eight iron ingots and three steel ingots, both restocking monthly, plus two iron ore.
- A safe (up to 500 gold) and a strongbox (up to 300 gold).
- The book Quite Pleased.
Tips
Finish Stoking the Flames early – free monthly iron and steel is a real boost for a Smithing build, and it saves you from sneaking around a cellar in a city full of thieves. Speaking of which: players sometimes find a few thieves scurrying around inside the shop as if trying not to be noticed. In Riften, that is practically local colour.
The outdoor forge setup makes the Scorched Hammer one of the most convenient places to level crafting – smelt, tan, sharpen and improve gear without walking more than a few steps. Pair it with the market stalls next door for supplies.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.