...if so, how do you tell know the classification of unique items, especially since daedric and ebony both use ebony ingots? for example, if i want to improve the mace of molag bal or the nightingale blade (ebony ingot) should i wait until i get the daedric smithing perk to improve it, or is the ebony smithing perk sufficient?

I have 100 smithing skill but just want to improve my unique items, i don't really care about crafting. i would just take the perks if it helps with unique items such as dragon priest masks, daedric artifacts, etc...

Good question. I am on mobile or I would look it up for u but goto uesp.net and look at smithing

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No they aren't.

And "smithering" makes me lol

Well, I have upgraded the NIghtengale Bow and Nightengale Blade with ebony ingots. I did not need the Ebony Smithing perk, just the Arcane Blacksmith perk. The wiki says that Molag Bal can be upgraded the same way.

Edited to add: The wiki states that Molag Bal is not affected by ebony smithing perks. I don't know if it's the same for the NIghtengale stuff.

As far as I kno daedric weapons can't be upgraded but weapons you get from normal quests can

You can upgrade and improve any weapon or armor in the game with out the perk that corresponds with the item.

The Ebony and Daedric perks only give you the ability to create the weapons and armor using the forge and you can improve these things even more. But as far as needing the perk to improve weapons, you don't need it. You can improve anything in the game without the perks. The perks just makes it so you can craft the items youself and makes it so you can improve items of that category to an even higher state,

For example, I'm level 44 and have a smithing skill of about 75. I just found a Dragon Plate Helmet in a dungeon. My Smithing skill isn't at 100 so I can't get the perk that lets me craft Dragon items but I was still able to improve the Dragon Plate Helmet to (Exquisite) using a dragon bone. However, if I did have the perk, I would be able to improve my Dragon Helmet to (Epic) or even (Legendary) status which is the highest.

And Tiptapslap, you actually can upgrade and improve Daedric items that were rewarded to you after completing a Daedric quest. You need the perk that lets you improve enchanted items. With this perk you can upgrade pretty much any enchanted armor or weapon in the game. I just upgraded Dawnbreaker to (Epic) status and improved Red Eagle's Bane to (Legendary). Red Eagle's Bane isn't a Dadric Artifact but just a weapon you find after finishing the quest where you find the secret of Red Eagle's Tomb To be able to improve enchanted weapons you need the particular perk for it.

you can upgrade them. you just wont be able to double upgrade them with any perks. its just normal upgrading as if you didnt have perks.

You can upgrade a few items fully. Click the link in my signature.

One thing to note even with 100 skill most unique items can't be upgraded to legendary. You need to use smithing potions to push you skill up past 100 to get them to legendary.

i think a unique item like chillrend would benefit from the glass smithing perk wouldn't it?...but with regard to daedric artifacts and dragon priest masks i haven't tested whether or not the smithing perks (ebony, daedric, etc.) affect them but it seems like everyone is saying they dont. And most of the daedric artifacts can be improved. I only know of 2 thata can't

I also thought you could only upgrade weapons once, so i waited until i had enough skill points to get up to the daedric smithing perk to improve my items to legendary...i guess it saved me some ingots in the end

I probably wouldve been fine with just stopping at arcane blacksmithing, but then again i was able to create some pretty strong weapons and armor with a neclace and ring of peerless smithing plus a shirt and gloves with 20% better smithing. After using them with neclaces/rings of the peerless knight and extreme wielding i had to raise the difficulty...i still prefer using my upgraded unique items though.

haha smithering...