When discussing the topic of Alchemy, the old phrase “what does not kill you, makes you stronger” comes to mind. After downing a dreadfully tasting potion and feeling it burn your innards on the way down, a powerful effect is required to make it worth it.
Summary
This tome reveals the mysteries of alchemy. Alchemy can save money by crafting your own and bypassing the middleman, potions can last longer by unlocking the “Medicinal Use” passive. Ability slots can be freed up by replacing ability effects with potion equivalents. Completionist can unlock more achievement points by completing the alchemy achievement points. Selling potions can be profitable. The solvent determines the level of the potion and reagents can be found all over Tamriel and Obilivion. The intial trait can be determined by using the raw reagent but making potions with other reagents will identify those with compatible traits. Finally, a list of popular beginner recipes is also provided.
Tip: Looking for 3-Trait Potion Recipe List?
Contents
- Why Alchemy?
- How to Craft Alchemy Potions?
- Where to Get Materials?
- Solvents
- Reagents
- Popular Recipes
Why Alchemy?
There are a few good reasons to learn alchemy.
- Alchemy can reduce the cost of potions by making your own.
- Potions can last longer if you unlock the “Medicinal Use” passive in the alchemy skill line.
- Free up slots on your ability bar by using the effects on potions instead of ability ones (eg. weapon/spell critical, weapon damage, detection).
- Unlock alchemy achievement points
- Selling high level potions can be profitable.
How to Craft Alchemy Potions?
In order to make potions, crafter need only have access to an Alchemy table, the skill to handle the solvent(s, and ) some compatible reagents. The tables are found in most towns in the Alchemy shop and/or often in the Mages’ Guilds.
All inhabitants of Tamriel have knowledge of the most basic solvents (Natural Water and Clear Water) but the more advanced ones can be unlocked with some training (Solvent Proficiency). The solvents determine the “level” of the potion.
Each reagents have four effects (traits). However, a successful potion can only be made from at least two reagents with a minimum of one compatible effect (trait). Some reagents have side effects that may negate a positive effect of another. For example, ravage health effect will eliminate a restore heal effect.
A more experience crafter will be able to make batches of up to four potions at a time by perfecting their chemistry knowledge. Three reagent potions can be unlocked with becoming more familiar with laboratory use.
Where to Get Materials?
Reagents and solvents can be found all over Tamriel and on some planes of Oblivion. They often blend into their surrounding, but a special skill can be learned to heighten your awareness of the presence of materials nearby (Keen Eye: Reagents). Most reagents appear as plants and mushrooms. Other reagents are harvested from the corpses of various creatures. Solvents are found in bodies of water at sources of “pure water” and in various containers located in camps, ruins, and inhabited areas (backpacks , urns, vases, and water skins). Oils are found off the bodies of creatures. For example, I found some on some daedra at a random spawn.
Solvents
Solvents determine the level of the potion. When doing Alchemy Writs, the following tables will help determining the solvent required. Eg. Sip of Health would require a Natural Water as a solvent. The first table is for potions, the other poisons.
Alchemy Solvents
| Standard Solvents | Solvent Potency | Level | Potion Prefix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Water | 1 | 3 | Sip |
| Clear Water | 1 | 10 | Tincture |
| Pristine Water | 2 | 20 | Dram |
| Cleansed Water | 3 | 30 | Potion |
| Filtered Water | 4 | 40 | Solution |
| Purified Water | 5 | 50 | Elixir |
| Cloud Mist | 6 | CP50 | Panacea |
| Star Dew | 7 | CP100 | Distillate |
| Lorkhan’s Tears | 8 | CP150 | Essence |
Poison-Making Oils
| Poison Solvents | Solvent Potency | Level | Poison Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grease | 1 | 3 | I |
| Ichor | 1 | 10 | II |
| Slime | 2 | 20 | III |
| Gall | 3 | 30 | IV |
| Terebinthine | 4 | 40 | v |
| Pitch-Bile | 5 | 50 | VI |
| Tarblack | 6 | CP50 | VII |
| Night-Oil | 7 | CP100 | VIII |
| Alkahest | 8 | CP150 | IX |
Tip: Interested in poisons? Check out Poison-Making For The Savvy Assassin
Reagents
The following is a list of known reagents and their traits. The reagent’s basic trait can be learned by tasting the item. The other three traits can only be revealed through trial and error by identify reagents with similar traits. For example, combining Blessed Thistle with Columbine will reveal the Restore Stamina on both reagents.
Beetle Scuttle
Found on Thunderbugs and other large beetles.
- Breach (Lower Spell Resist)
- Increase Armor
- Protection
- Vitality
Blessed Thistle
- Restore Stamina
- Increase Weapon Power
- Speed
- Ravage Health
Blue Entoloma
- Ravage Magicka
- Cowardice (Lower Spell Power)
- Restore Health
- Invisible
Bugloss
- Increase Spell Resist
- Restore Health
- Cowardice (Lower Spell Power)
- Restore Magicka
Butterfly Wing
Found on butterflies.
- Restore Health
- Lingering Health (Sustained Restore Health)
- Uncertainty (Lower Spell Critical)
- Vitality
Clam Gall
Found on Giant Clams in Summerset.
- Ravage Magicka
- Breach
- Vulnerability
- Lingering Health (Sustained Restore Health)
Columbine
- Restore Health
- Restore Magicka
- Restore Stamina
- Unstoppable
Corn Flower
- Restore Magicka
- Increase Spell Power
- Ravage Health
- Detection
Dragon’s Bile
- Heroism
- Invisible
- Vulnerability
- Vitality
Dragon’s Blood
- Lingering Health
- Heroism
- Restore Stamina
- Defile
Dragonthorn
- Increase Weapon Power
- Restore Stamina
- Fracture (Lower Armor)
- Weapon Crit
Emetic Russula
- Ravage Health
- Ravage Magicka
- Ravage Stamina
- Entrapment (Stun)
Fleshfly Larva
- Ravage Stamina
- Gradual Ravage Health (Creeping Ravage Health)
- Vulnerability
- Vitality
Imp Stool
- Maim (Lower Weapon Power)
- Ravage Stamina
- Increase Armor
- Enervation (Lower Weapon Crit)
Lady’s Smock
- Increase Spell Power
- Restore Magicka
- Breach (Lower Spell Resist)
- Spell Critical
Luminous Russula
- Ravage Stamina
- Lower Weapon Power
- Restore Health
- Hindrance (Reduce Speed)
Mountain Flower
- Increase Armor
- Restore Health
- Maim (Lower Weapon Power)
- Restore Stamina
Mudcrab Chitin
Found on mudcrabs. Drop rate infrequent.
- Increase Spell Resist
- Protection
- Increase Armor
- Defile
Namira’s Rot
- Spell Critical
- Speed
- Invisible
- Unstoppable
Nightshade
- Ravage Health
- Gradual Ravage Health (Creeping Ravage Health)
- Protection
- Defile
Nirnroot
- Ravage Health
- Uncertainty (Lower Spell Crit)
- Enervation (Lower Weapon Crit)
- Invisible
Powdered Mother of Pearl
Found on Giant Clams in Summerset.
- Restore Health
- Increase Spell Resist
- Vitality
- Protection
Scrib Jelly
Found on Kwarma and scribs. Stonefalls is home to many Kwarma. Drop rate is common.
- Ravage Magicka
- Vulnerability
- Speed
- Lingering Health (Sustained Restore Health)
Spider Egg
Found on spiders of all sizes including the passive little ones. Drop rate is common.
- Hindrance (Reduce Speed)
- Lingering Health (Sustained Restore Health)
- Invisible
- Defile
Stinkhorn
- Fracture (Lower Armor)
- Ravage Health
- Increase Weapon Power
- Ravage Stamina
Torchbug Thorax
- Fracture (Lower Armor)
- Detection
- Enervation (Lower Weapon Critical)
- Vitality
Violet Coprinus
- Breach (Lower Spell Resist)
- Ravage Health
- Increase Spell Power
- Ravage Magicka
Water Hyacinth
- Restore Health
- Spell Critical
- Weapon Critical
- Entrapment (Stun)
White Cap
- Cowardice (Lower Spell Power)
- Increase Spell Resist
- Ravage Magicka
- Detection
Wormwood
- Weapon Critical
- Hindrance (Reduce Speed)
- Detection
- Entrapment (Unstoppable)
Popular Recipes
Two Reagent Recipes
The following are a collection of popular recipes for two reagent recipes. Unless otherwise stated, any combination of the reagent provided with work without unpleasant side-effects.
Health
- Bugloss ,Water Hyacinth, Luminous Russula, Blue Entoloma, Mountain Flower, Columbine
Note: The following combinations will produce undesirable side-effects
- Bugloss / Blue Entoloma (Ravage Spell Power), Luminous Russula / Columbine (Ravage Weapon Power)
Magicka
- Bugloss, Columbine, Corn Flower, Lady Smock
Stamina
- Columbine, Mountain Flower, Blessed Thistle
Health + Magicka
- Bugloss, Columbine
Health + Stamina
- Columbine, Mountain Flower
Magicka + Stamina
- none
Detection
- Cornflower, Wormwood
Invisibility
- Nirnroot, Blue Entoloma, Namira’s Rot
Immovability
- Nirnroot, Namira’s Rot, Columbine
Speed
- Blessed Thistle, Namira’s Rot
Spell Critical
- Lady’s Smock, Water Hyacinth, Namira’s Rot
Spell Power + Magicka
- Cornflower, Lady’s Smock
Weapon Critical
- Dragonthorn, Water Hyacinth, Wormwood
Weapon Power + Stamina
- Blessed Thistle, Dragonthorn
Three Reagent Recipes
The following are a collection of popular recipes for three reagent recipes. Unless otherwise stated, any combination of the reagent provided with work without unpleasant side-effects.
Tip: Full list of three reagent recipes
Health + Magicka + Stamina
- Bugloss, Columbine, Mountain Flower
- Columbine, Lady’s Smock, Mountain Flower
- Bugloss, Columbine, Dragonthorn
Magicka Users
- Bugloss, Lady’s Smock, Water Hyacinth (Health, Magicka, Spell Crit)
- Cornflower, Lady’s Smock, Water Hyacinth (Magicka, Spell Damage, Spell Crit)
- Cornflower, Lady’s Smock, Namira’s Rot (Magicka, Spell Damage, Spell Crit)
- Columbine, Lady’s Smock, Water Hyacinth (Health, Magicka, Spell Crit)
Stamina Users
- Blessed Thistle, Dragonthorn, Namira’s Rot (Stamina, Weapon Damage, Speed)
- Blessed Thistle, Dragonthorn, Water Hyacinth (Stamina, Weapon Damage, Weapon Crit)
- Blessed Thistle, Dragonthorn, Wormwood (Stamina, Weapon Damage, Weapon Crit)
- Columbine, Dragonthorn, Water Hyacinth (Health, Stamina, Weapon Crit)
- Dragonthorn, Mountain Flower, Water Hyacinth (Health, Stamina, Weapon Crit)
Crowd Control Immunity
- Columbine, Dragonthorn, Wormwood (Stamina, Weapon Crit, Immune to knockback and disabling effects)
- Columbine, Mountain Flower, Namira’s Rot (Health, Stamina, Immune to knockback and disabling effects)
- Columbine, Mountain Flower, Wormwood (Health, Stamina, Immune to knockback and disabling effects)
- Bugloss, Columbine, Namira’s Rot (Health, Magicka, Immune to knockback and disabling effects)
- Bugloss, Columbine, Wormwood (Health, Magicka, Immune to knockback and disabling effects)
- Columbine, Lady’s Smock, Namira’s Rot (Magicka, Spell Crit, Immune to knockback and disabling effects)
- Blessed Thistle, Columbine, Namira’s Rot (Stamina, Speed, Immune to knockback and disabling effects)
- Blue Entoloma, Columbine, Narmira’s Rot (Health, Immune to knockback and disabling effects, Invisibility)
Related
- UESP Alchemy Calculator, UESP
- ESO Alchemy Trait Research Curriculum
- “Potion Maker“, ESOUI.com
- Quickly Discover Every Alchemical Reagent’s Traits, Sunshine Daydreams (Includes Dark Brotherhood content).