Alchemy in Skyrim is the art of brewing potions and poisons by combining ingredients with matching effects. Perks in this skill allow discovering more effects by eating; increase the effectiveness of created potions and poisons; remove the positive effects from poisons and the negative effects from potions; and allow you to gather twice as many ingredients from plants. The alchemy skill tree has 9 perks and it requires 15 perk points to complete. An alchemist can create magical potions and deadly poisons.
Alchemy in Skyrim
Skyrim Alchemy Guide
How to do Alchemy in Skyrim
Alchemy allows players to interact with an Alchemy Lab to create poisons and potions. Bring alchemical ingredients to the Alchemy lab and select a few to attempt a creation. Depending on the shared effects of the chosen ingredients, positive effect potions or negative effect poisons will be created. Multi-effect potions can also be created when the chosen ingredients have multiple shared effects. The strength of the potions and poisons is based on the Alchemy level of the player as well as any Alchemy bonuses they have from abilities and enchantments.
When using the Alchemy lab players can create potions and poisons in 2 different ways. It is possible for players to find recipes in the world that show what effects some combination of ingredients will have, known recipes will be shown below the ingredients tab. After successfully combining ingredients to make new potion or poison effect, the recipe will be recorded in the same list.
Without an already known recipe players will have to combine alchemical ingredients with shared effects to successfully create potions or poisons. When an ingredient is selected, it will grey out all other ingredients where a combination has previously been attempted and failed. This can help with quickly sorting through lists of ingredients in game as well as help players keep track and remember the ingredient combinations that have failed when trying to find new potion recipes. After selecting the ingredients a potion of unknown effect will be created and the recipe will be updated and recorded if the potion or poison is successful.
Failing to craft a potion will use up the ingredients and also will not give any skill experience.
Skyrim Alchemy Ingredients
Alchemical ingredients are required to make potions and poisons at the alchemy lab. Alchemical ingredients can be found all around the world as many things can have alchemical properties, from planted wheat to wild mushrooms, fish and even bees. Some ingredients can also be grown in a garden or greenhouse in the player's house, or simply purchased from the various vendors across Skyrim, while others may require some hunting.
All ingredients have 4 different alchemical effects that players can reveal by eating or by successfully creating a potion with the effect. Eating the ingredient will give the first effect that the ingredient possesses, levels in the Experimenter perk will increase the number of effects that the player will learn by eating and will reveal all 4 effects at the maximum level. Knowing the ingredient effect is not required or necessary for crafting potions successfully however can be of great help and assistance when attempting to make new potion or poison effects.
Mixing ingredients with shared effects will create potions of those effects, by carefully selecting the right ingredients players can create potions and poisons with effects that they wish even without prior recipe knowledge through finding and understanding the ingredient effects. Players may also choose to mix ingredients in a completely random way to find some number of recipes and use them as a starting point for their Alchemy journey.
Skyrim Alchemy Skill Leveling
The alchemy skill can be leveled up through crafting potions and poisons. Levels can also be increased through the use of Trainers or by finding and using Skill Books. There are also quests around Skyrim that can help with Alchemy. One such quest is A Return To Your Roots (Quest) where the reward gives the player an ability that grants a 25% chance to duplicate the potion being crafted.
The skill gain for Alchemy increases based on the value of the potion or poison that you craft. This is affected by Alchemy perks such as Physician and Benefactor or Poisoner. The Fortify Alchemy bonus from enchanted armor will also increase the skill gain.
Bring a large amount of alchemical ingredients to an Alchemy Lab and craft the expensive potions to quickly level Alchemy skill.
Skyrim Alchemy Tips
Some tips for player looking to do some Alchemy
- Look around and pick up as many alchemical ingredients during your travels as possible, they usually are low in weight and can become a good starting point for Alchemy
- Look for similarities in Alchemy ingredients in where they are from, type of ingredient etc. to help with finding shared effects when creating potions by guessing ingredient mixtures
- Use equipment with Fortify Alchemy to increase the effect and value of potions and poisons will also increase the skill gained
- Some houses can be installed with an Alchemy Lab so players can both store alchemical ingredients as well as perform Alchemy in the same location
Skyrim Alchemy Ingredients
Each ingredient has a total of four available effects. Eating the ingredient always allows you to discover an ingredient's first effect; the Experimenter perk causes additional effects to be discovered when you consume an ingredient. Additional effects can be discovered by experimenting to see what ingredient combinations successfully yield potions. Below are all the Alchemy ingredients with all their effects, search and sort through for their effects in the table below.
Quick Search of All Alchemy Ingredients
Click the header to sort the table.
Name | Primary Effect | Secondary Effect | Tertiary Effect | Quaternary Effect |
---|---|---|---|---|
Weakness to Frost | Fortify Sneak | Weakness to poison | Fortify Restoration | |
Damage Stamina | Fortify Conjuration | Damage Magicka Regen | Fortify Enchanting | |
Damage Stamina | Invisibility | Resist Fire | Fortify Destruction | |
Restore Health | Fortify Light Armor | Resist Shock | Weakness to Frost | |
Resist Fire | Weakness to Shock | Fortify Lockpicking | Fortify Sneak | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Health | Fortify One-Handed | Damage Magicka Regen | |
Restore Stamina | Ravage Stamina | Regenerate Stamina | Weakness to Shock | |
Resist Poison | Fortify Light Armor | Fortify Sneak | Fortify Destruction | |
Damage Stamina | Resist Fire | Fortify Conjuration | Ravage Stamina | |
Weakness to Fire | Fortify Block | Weakness to Poison | Resist Magic | |
Damage Stamina | Frenzy | Restore Health | Fortify Smithing | |
Damage Stamina | Fortify Conjuration | Damage Magicka Regen | Fortify Enchanting | |
Resist Shock | Fortify Pickpocket | Restore Health | Fear | |
Restore Health | Fortify Conjuration | Fortify Health | Damage Magicka Regen | |
Fortify Stamina | Fortify Health | Fortify Block | Frenzy | |
Damage Stamina | Resist Fire | Fortify Conjuration | Ravage Stamina | |
Restore Magicka | Fortify Block | Paralysis | Fortify Magicka | |
Weakness to Fire | Fortify Alteration | Damage Magicka Regen | Slow | |
Restore Health | Fortify Barter | Lingering Damage Stamina | Damage Magicka | |
Damage Stamina | Fortify One-Handed | Fortify Marksman | Paralysis | |
Restore Stamina | Cure Disease | Resist Poison | Restore Health | |
Weakness to Poison | Fortify Stamina | Damage Magicka | Invisibility | |
Damage Stamina | Fortify Conjuration | Damage Magicka Regen | Fortify Enchanting | |
Resist Magic | Damage Magicka Regen | Waterbreathing | Lingering Damage Stamina | |
Restore Magicka | Damage Stamina Regen | Fortify Carry Weight | Weakness to Magic | |
Damage Health | Damage Stamina | Invisibility | Resist Magic | |
Damage Stamina | Fortify Restoration | Fear | Ravage Health | |
Restore Health | Damage Stamina Regen | Damage Magicka | Fear | |
Damage Health | Ravage Stamina | Slow | Weakness to Poison | |
Resist Fire | Fortify Barter | Fortify Illusion | Fortify Two-Handed | |
Weakness to Magic | Fortify Illusion | Regenerate Magicka | Restore Magicka | |
Restore Magicka | Fortify Destruction | Fortify Magicka | Damage Health | |
Restore Magicka | Fortify Marksman | Weakness to Frost | Resist Fire | |
Damage Health | Fortify Magicka | Regenerate Health | Fortify Two-Handed | |
Restore Stamina | Ravage Health | Damage Magicka | Restore Health | |
Damage Health | Frenzy | Resist Poison | Fortify Lockpicking | |
Restore Health | Fortify Light Armor | Cure Disease | Resist Magic | |
Weakness to Frost | Resist Fire | Restore Magicka | Regenerate Magicka | |
Resist Fire | Fortify Two-Handed | Frenzy | Regenerate | |
Resist Frost | Fortify Sneak | Ravage Magicka | Damage Stamina Regen | |
Weakness to Fire | Resist Frost | Restore Magicka | Fortify Conjuration | |
Resist Poison | Fortify Stamina | Regenerate Magicka | Regenerate Health | |
Weakness to Shock | Ravege Health | Weakness to Poison | Restore Magicka | |
Damage Stamina | Fortify Health | Fortify Carry Weight | Damage Stamina Regen | |
Resist Magic | Fear | Regenerate Health | Paralysis | |
Damage Magicka | Damage Magicka Regen | Fortify Destruction | Resist Shock | |
Resist Shock | Fortify Destruction | Fortify Smithing | Fortify Health | |
Resist Poison | Ravage Magicka | Fortify Alteration | Restore Magicka | |
Resist Magic | Lingering Damage Magicka | Fortify Enchanting | Fortify Barter | |
Damage Magicka | Fortify Conjuration | Frenzy | Weakness to Shock | |
Damage Magicka | Fortify Health | Damage Magicka Regen | Fortify One-Handed | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Light Armor | Fortify Carry Weight | Resist Shock | |
Cure Disease | Fortify Light Armor | Fortify One-Handed | Fortify Sneak | |
Resist Magic | Damage Magicka Regen | Waterbreathing | Lingering Damage Stamina | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Magicka | Damage Stamina Regen | Waterbreathing | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Block | Fortify Light Armor | Ravage Stamina | |
Damage Health | Paralysis | Restore Magicka | Fortify Sneak | |
Damage Health | Damage Magicka | Damage Magicka Regen | Frenzy | |
Weakness to Frost | Fortify Heavy Armor | Invisibility | Weakness to Fire | |
Damage Health | Lingering Damage Health | Paralysis | Restore Health | |
Damage Health | Damage Magicka | Damage Stamina | Damage Magicka Regen | |
Weakness to Magic | Fortify Magicka | Regenerate Magicka | Ravage Health | |
Weakness to Fire | Fortify Marksman | Regenerate Health | Damage Stamina Regen | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Stamina | Slow | Damage Stamina Regen | |
Resist Magic | Fortify Stamina | Ravage Magicka | Fortify Conjuration | |
Damage Magicka | Fortify Light Armor | Regenerate Health | Invisibility | |
Weakness to Fire | Resist Frost | Restore Magicka | Regenerate Magicka | |
Restore Magicka | Lingering Damage Health | Regenerate Stamina | Fortify Illusion | |
Restore Stamina | Cure Disease | Resist Poison | Resist Fire | |
Damage Magicka | Fortify Lockpicking | Fear | Regenerate Health | |
Paralysis | Fortify Carry Weight | Restore Stamina | Fear | |
Damage Health | Damage Magicka Regen | Lingering Damage Stamina | Fortify Destruction | |
Damage Health | Damage Stamina | Invisibility | Resist Magic | |
Damage Magicka | Waterbreathing | Regenerate Health | Fortify Pickpocket | |
Restore Stamina | Ravage Magicka | Fortify Pickpocket | Lingering Damage Health | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Block | Restore Magicka | Lingering Damage Health | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Lockpicking | Weakness to Poison | Resist Shock | |
Damage Health | Slow | Fortify Carry Weight | Fear | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Sneak | Weakness to Fire | Lingering Damage Stamina | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Sneak | Lingering Damage Magicka | Resist Frost | |
Restore Magicka | Ravage Magicka | Fortify Magicka | Damage Health | |
Damage Health | Fortify Alteration | Slow | Fortify Carry Weight | |
Restore Health | Fortify One-Handed | Damage Stamina | Weakness to Poison | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Heavy Armor | Fortify Smithing | Weakness to Poison | |
Restore Stamina | Waterbreathing | Fortify Magicka | Regenerate Magicka | |
Weakness to Magic | Fortify Restoration | Slow | Regenerate Magicka | |
Weakness to Magic | Fortify Illusion | Regenerate Stamina | Fortify Carry Weight | |
Ravage Health | Ravege Stamina | Ravage Magicka | Lingering Damage Health | |
Restore Stamina | Damage Stamina Regen | Ravage Health | Resist Frost | |
Damage Stamina Regen | Ravage Health | Damage Health | Fortify Light Armor | |
Resist Poison | Fortify Pickpocket | Lingering Damage Health | Fortify Stamina | |
Resist Poison | Lingering Damage Health | Fortify Heavy Armor | Fortify Block | |
Weakness to Poison | Fortify Restoration | Lingering Damage Stamina | Damage Health | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify One-Handed | Fortify Restoration | Resist Frost | |
Resist Fire | Fortify Enchanting | Resist Frost | Resist Shock | |
Ravage Stamina | Resist Fire | Fortify Enchanting | Ravage Magicka | |
Damage Stamina | Damage Magicka Regen | Fortify Lockpicking | Fortify Marksman | |
Damage Magicka Regen | Fortify Enchanting | Fortify Smithing | Fortify Alteration | |
Resist Shock | Lingering Damage Magicka | Paralysis | Restore Health | |
Weakness to Magic | Fortify Illusion | Regenerate Magicka | Restore Magicka | |
Resist Frost | Ravage Stamina | Resist Poison | Fortify Heavy Armor | |
Restore Stamina | Lingering Damage Magicka | Weakness to Magic | Fortify Stamina | |
Weakness to Shock | Fortify Carry Weight | Damage Magicka | Slow/li> | |
Resist Poison | Fortify Two-Handed | Frenzy | Damage Health | |
Resist Magic | Fortify Magicka | Fortify Block | Fortify Barter | |
Invisibility | Restore Magicka | Regenerate Health | Cure Disease | |
Weakness to Shock | Resist Magic | Damage Health | Fortify Magicka | |
Restore Health | Fortify Health | Damage Stamina Regen | Lingering Damage Magicka | |
Weakness to Frost | Fortify Heavy Armor | Restore Magicka | Ravage Magicka | |
Restore Stamina | Fortify Destruction | Fortify Carry Weight | Resist Magic | |
Resist Poison | Fortify Restoration | Fortify Health | Damage Stamina Regen |
Skyrim Alchemy Skill Perks
Perk Points in Skyrim
Players gain 1 perk point every time they level up their character. A player will need 251 perk points to get every perk to the maximum level which is achieved at level 252.
Before spending perk points to get the bonuses from the perk, the player must first unlock the perk. Perks can be unlocked on their respective skill trees by having enough levels in the skill as well as the prerequisite perks leading to the perk. All skills have their base perks unlocked with perks further into the tree being unlocked as points are invested and levels gained.
Perks can have multiple levels to them giving increasing bonuses with more perk points invested in them. Different skill trees will need different number of perk points to fully unlock all the perks in each tree. Players may want to check and consider the number of perk points they need for their builds and at what level they will need to be to unlock everything they want to have.
Reclaiming Perk Points in Skyrim
There are 2 ways that players can reclaim the spent perk points in Skyrim that are quite difficult to get to so players do still want to be careful with their perk points. At level 100 players can set the skill to be Legendary. This will refund all perks invested into that tree as well as set the skill back to level 15. This will also allows players to increase the skill experience once again and gain new levels and more perk points.
Alternatively players who have completed the Dragonborn main questline will be able to reclaim points repeatedly by using the Black Book: Waking Dreams. This will require them to have a dragon's soul from hunting a dragon.
Click the header to sort the table.
Perk | Rank | Skill LVL. | Perk Requirement | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alchemist (1) | 1 | - | - | Potions and poisons you make are 20% stronger. |
Alchemist (2) | 2 | 20 | - | Potions and poisons you make are 40% stronger. |
Alchemist (3) | 3 | 40 | - | Potions and poisons you make are 60% stronger. |
Alchemist (4) | 4 | 60 | - | Potions and poisons you make are 80% stronger. |
Alchemist (5) | 5 | 80 | - | Potions and poisons you make are twice as strong. |
Physician | - | 20 | Alchemist | Potions you mix that restore Health, Magicka or Stamina are 25% more powerful. |
Benefactor | - | 30 | Physician | Potions you mix with beneficial effects have an additional 25% greater magnitude. |
Experimenter (1) | 1 | 50 | Benefactor | Eating an ingredient reveals first two effects. |
Experimenter (2) | 2 | 70 | - | Eating an ingredient reveals first three effects. |
Experimenter (3) | 3 | 90 | - | Eating an ingredient reveals all its effects. |
Poisoner | - | 30 | Physician | Poisons you mix are 25% more effective. |
Concentrated Poison | - | 60 | Poisoner | Poisons applied to weapons last for twice as many hits. |
Green Thumb | - | 70 | Concentrated Poison | Two ingredients are gathered from plants. |
Snakeblood | - | 80 | Experimenter or Concentrated Poison |
50% resistance to all poisons. |
Purity | - | 100 | Snakeblood | All negative effects are removed from created potions, and all positive effects are removed from created poisons. |
Fly Amanita has the effect "Regenerate Stamina." It is currently listed on this data base as only "Regenerate."
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