The Forgemaster’s Fingers

The Forgemaster’s Fingers are unique heavy gauntlets with 10 armor rating and a weight of 5. Their enchantment lets you improve weapons and armor 12% better at grindstones and workbenches – exactly what you would expect from gloves named after a forgemaster. They are also your ticket into the Orc strongholds if you are not an Orc yourself.

How to get it

The gauntlets are tied to the miscellaneous quest of the same name. Walk up to the gate of any Orc stronghold, such as Dushnikh Yal, Largashbur or Mzinchaleft, and the guard will stop you. Ask how you can convince them to let you in, and they will mention enchanted gauntlets hidden away and guarded by “dangerous men, beasts, or worse”.

• Travel to the radiant location marked on your map.
• Fight through the guards and find the gauntlets.
• Bring them back to the Orc chief, who names you Blood-Kin.

Being Blood-Kin opens every stronghold in Skyrim: you can trade with the Orc smiths for Orcish armor and weapons, train with the warriors and buy from the wise woman. You do not need this quest if you play an Orc, or if you have already become Blood-Kin another way, for example by helping Lash gra-Dushnikh after the Ainethach business.

Is it worth wearing?

As combat gear, no – 10 armor rating is low for heavy gloves. As a smithing tool, yes: slip them on before tempering and your upgrades come out better, then swap back to your real gauntlets. That swap trick costs nothing and adds up across a whole kit. Players who craft their own Fortify Smithing gear will eventually outgrow them, but early on they are a free boost.

Good to know

• Handing them over is part of the quest, so check whether you want to keep them before you talk to the chief.
• The guard’s dialogue makes clear this is the stronghold’s test of an outsider’s worth.

Stats

Stats from the Skyrim game files (Skyrim.esm and the official add-ons): base values before Smithing and perks. Where several versions exist (leveled copies), all are listed.