Skyrim: Complete Guide To Alchemy Recipes (2024)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

By Devin Amlen

Published Jan 22, 2023

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has stood the test of time as one of the most well-known RPGs on the market, even 11 years later. Skyrim is host to many complex systems that keep the land of Tamriel feeling alive and busy - the Radiant Quest system ensures that every player has something to do and the Enchanting and Smithing systems provide a huge amount of customization to any piece of gear the player can get their hands on. However, the Alchemy system proves to be one of the more complex systems, being somewhat intimidating to the new player. There are a lot of mechanics that go into Alchemy, but it's a lot simpler than you may realize.

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Skyrim's Alchemy system can be broken down into several key components; ingredients, potions, and poisons. Ingredients are self-explanatory; they are items that are ingredients to be used in potions. Potions are items that affect the user; for example, a Potion of Restore Health will heal the user. This also applies to negative effects, which lead us to Poisons. Poisons are similar to Potions, but can be applied to weapons and arrows and will affect another target. A Poison of Weakness to Fire can be applied to an arrow to apply a debuff that makes the enemy weaker to fire damage. This is a large simplification of the Alchemy system, but rest assured; once you know the ins and outs of Alchemy, you'll be wondering how you ever thought this was complex at all.

Alchemy Mechanics

Skyrim: Complete Guide To Alchemy Recipes (6)

Alchemy may seem daunting at first, but it's actually quite simple. When using an Alchemy Table, which can be found in most cities, you will be prompted to choose from one of the following; an ingredients list or a recipe list. If you've already made a potion and want to make more, you can select it from the recipe list for easy brewing, provided you have the ingredients. The ingredients list, on the other hand, is where most of the magic will happen. You can select two or more ingredients and brew them into a potion - the effect of which you will discover after the fact. You can also brew poisons, which affect characters other than the Dragonborn and can be used to tip swords or arrows. Typical poisons have effects like Damage Stamina or Weakness to Shock - though some may have beneficial effects that can be prevented with the Purity perk.

Starting off, there will be a lot of trial and error. While there are a lot of potions you can make, there are also many recipes for disaster. However, this can be mitigated by taste-testing your ingredients. While in your inventory, go to your ingredients stash and use an ingredient. This will cause the Dragonborn to eat the ingredient and discover a potential effect it can grant - for example, an Abacean Longfin's primary effect is Weakness to Frost. An ingredient can have up to four potential effects, and starting off you will only be able to discover the primary effect of ingredients. By leveling up Alchemy, you can select the Experimenter perks (requires Alchemy 50, 70, and 90) to reveal more effects. Knowledge is power, and power is less failed potions. That said, eating potion ingredients will apply whatever effects they may grant to you - even if they are negative. Make sure to have some food or healing potions on standby in case you swallow a Nirnroot. If you don't feel like experimenting, recipes can be purchased from merchants or found as loot. Some recipes may be inaccurate, however.

Potion Recipes

Skyrim: Complete Guide To Alchemy Recipes (7)

Certain items and ingredients can only be obtained with DLC or Creation Club content.

* signifies that the item requires Dawnguard DLC.

** signifies that the item requires Hearthfire DLC.

† signifies that the item requires Dragonborn DLC.

‡ signifies that the item is Creation Club content in Anniversary Edition.

Potion	Effect	Primary Effect	Secondary Effect	Third Effect	Fourth Effect
Cure Disease	Removes all diseases.	Hawk Feathers	Mudcrab Chitin, Charred Skeever Hide	Felsaad Tern Feathers†, Juvenile Mudcrab‡	Spadefish‡, Vampire Dust
Cure Poison	Removes the effects of poisons.	N/A	N/A	Bittergreen Petals‡	Ambrosia‡
Damage Health	Deals X points of poison damage.	Poison Bloom*, Emperor Parasol Moss†, Crimson Nirnroot, Falmer Ear, Nirnroot, Human Flesh, Human Heart, Nightshade, Jarrin Root, River Betty, Imp Stool, Deathbell	N/A	Void Salts, Skeever Tail, Fine-Cut Void Salts,	Ectoplasm, Troll Fat, Red Mountain Flower, Small Antlers
Damage Magicka	Deals X points of Magicka damage.	Hagraven Feathers, Hanging Moss, Luna Moth Wing, Nordic Barnacle, Namira's Rot, Glow Dust	Human Heart, Jarrin Root	Trama Root†, Daedra Heart, Eye of Sabre Cat, Chaurus Eggs	Bittergreen Petals‡, Butterfly Wing
Damage Magicka Regen	Reduces Magicka regeneration by X% for X second(s).	Spriggan Sap	Chicken's Egg, Nightshade, Spider Egg, Glow Dust, Hawk's Egg**	Chaurus Hunter Antennae, Ancestor Moth Wing, Burnt Spriggan Wood†, Pygmy Sunfish‡, Blue Butterfly Wing, Hanging Moss, Human Heart	Blue Mountain Flower, Bear Claws, Jarrin Root
Damage Stamina	Deals X points of stamina damage.	Chaurus Hunter Antennae, Ancestor Moth Wing, Ash Creep Cluster†, Blue Butterfly Wing, Cyrodilic Spadetail, Blisterwort, Bone Meal, Giant's Toe, Canis Root, Spider Egg, Berit's Ashes	Crimson Nirnroot, Nirnroot	Jarrin Root, Rock Warbler Egg	Bog Beacon‡
Damage Stamina Regen	Reduces stamina regeneration by X% for X second(s).	Skeever Tail	Daedra Heart, Creep Cluster, Silverside Perch	Bungler's Bane‡, Wheat, Histcarp	Yellow Mountain Flower*, Frost Mirriam, Giant's Toe, Juniper Berries, Large Antlers
Fear	NPCs up to level X will flee from combat for X seconds.	N/A	Gleamblossom*	Cyrodilic Spadetail, Namira's Rot, Bog Beacon‡	Daedra Heart, Blue Dartwing, Powdered Mammoth Tusk, Poison Bloom*, Netch Jelly†
Fortify Alteration	Duration of Alteration spells are increased by X for 60 seconds.	N/A	Burnt Spriggan Wood†, Lyretail Anthias‡, River Betty	Grass Pod	Spriggan Sap
Fortify Barter	Decreases the cost of items purchased by merchants and increases the amount of gold received from merchants.	N/A	Butterfly Wing, Dragon's Tongue	N/A	Glassfish‡, Hagraven Claw, Tundra Cotton
Fortify Block	Increases Block skill by X points for X seconds.	N/A	Bleeding Crown, Honeycomb, Briar Heart, Pearl	Boar Tusk†, Aster Bloom Core‡, Tundra Cotton	Slaughterfish Scales
Fortify Carry Weight	Increases maximum carry weight by X for X seconds.	N/A	Trama Root†, Netch Jelly†, Juvenile Mudcrab‡	Poison Bloom*, Giant's Toe, Hawk Beak, Creep Cluster, Wisp Wrappings	Lyretail Anthias‡, Scaly Pholiota, River Betty
Fortify Conjuration	Increases duration of Conjuration spells by X%.	N/A	Charus Hunter Antennae, Ancestor Moth Wing, Blue Butterfly Wing, Blue Mountain Flower, Hagraven Feathers	Lyretail Anthias‡, Bone Meal, Berit's Ashes	Frost Salts, Lavender
Fortify Destruction	Increases strength of Destruction spells by X%.	N/A	Ectoplasm, Glowing Mushroom, Wisp Wrappings	Glow Dust	Ash Creep Cluster†, Beehive Husk, Nightshade
Fortify Enchanting	Increases strength of enchantments by X%.	N/A	Snowberries, Spriggan Sap	Spawn Ash†, Hagraven Claw	Chaurus Hunter Antennae, Ancestor Moth Wing, Stoneflower Petals‡, Blue Butterfly Wing
Fortify Health	Increases max health by X.	N/A	Boar Tusk†, Bear Claws, Wheat, Giant's Toe, Hanging Moss	Yellow Mountain Flower*, Ambrosia‡, Blue Mountain Flower	Glowing Mushroom
Fortify Heavy Armor	Increases Heavy Armor skill by X points for X seconds.	N/A	Goldfish‡, Bog Beacon‡, White Cap, Sabre Cat Tooth, Ice Wraith Teeth	Slaughterfish Scales	Thistle Branch
Fortify Illusion	Increases effectiveness of Illusion spells by X%.	N/A	Dwarven Oil, Scaly Pholiota, Taproot	Glassfish‡, Dragon's Tongue	Mora Tapinella
Fortify Light Armor	Increases Light Armor skill by X points for X seconds.	N/A	Felsaad Tern Feathers†, Ash Hopper Jelly†, Aster Bloom Core‡, Beehive Husk, Hawk Feathers, Luna Moth Wing	Honeycomb	Skeever Tail
Fortify Lockpicking	Makes locks X% easier to pick.	N/A	Spadefish‡, Pine Thrush Egg, Namira's Rot	Ashen Grass Pod†, Spider Egg	Falmer Ear
Fortify Magicka	Increases maximum Magicka by X.	N/A	Emperor Parasol Moss†, Blister Pod Cap‡, Histcarp, Jazbay Grapes, Tundra Cotton	Stoneflower Petals‡, Ectoplasm, Red Mountain Flower, Salmon Roe**	Void Salts, Briar Heart, Fortify Magicka
Fortify Marksman	Increases damage from bows by X%.	N/A	Elves Ear, Juniper Berries	Angelfish‡, Canis Root	Spider Egg
Fortify One-Handed	Increases damage from one-handed weapons by X%.	N/A	Stoneflower Petals‡, Canis Root, Small Pearl, Rock Warbler Egg	Bear Claws, Hawk Feathers	Pearlfish‡, Hanging Moss
Fortify Pickpocket	Pick-pocketing is X% more likely to be successful.	N/A	Blue Dartwing, Slaughterfish Egg	Spadefish‡, Orange Dartwing	Nordic Barnacle
Fortify Restoration	Restoration spells are X% stronger for X seconds.	N/A	Yellow Mountain Flower*, Salt Pile, Cyrodilic Spadetail, Small Antlers	Small Pearl	Pygmy Sunfish‡, Abecean Longfin
Fortify Smithing	Increases Smithing skill by X points for X seconds.	N/A	N/A	Pearlfish‡, Glowing Mushroom, Spriggan Sap, Sabre Cat Tooth	Blisterwort
Fortify Sneak	Increases the effectiveness of sneaking by X%.	N/A	Abecean Longfin, Frost Mirriam, Purple Mountain Flower, Powdered Mammoth Tusk	Beehive Husk	Ashen Grass Pod†, Hawk Feathers, Human Flesh
Fortify Stamina	Increases maximum stamina by X.	Boar Tusk†	Garlic, Lavender, Large Antlers, Chaurus Eggs	N/A	Torchbug Thorax, Slaughterfish Egg
Fortify Two-Handed	Increases Two-Handed weapon damage by X%.	N/A	Fly Amanita, Troll Fat	N/A	Emperor Parasol Moss†, Angler Larvae‡, Juvenile Mudcrab‡, Dragon's Tongue
Frenzy	NPCs up to level X will attack anyone nearby.	N/A	Blisterwort, Falmer Ear	Fly Amanita, Hagraven Feathers, Troll Fat	Human Heart, Boar Tusk†
Invisibility	Become invisible for X seconds.	Vampire Dust	Ash Creep Cluster†, Glassfish‡, Bittergreen Petals‡	Crimson Nirnroot, Nirnroot, Ice Wraith Teeth	Blister Pod Cap‡, Luna Moth Wing, Chaurus Eggs
Lingering Damage Health	Target takes X points of poison damage per second for X seconds.	Angler Larvae‡	Imp Stool, Mora Tapinella, Slaughterfish Scales	Slaughterfish Egg	Orange Dartwing, Scathecraw†
Lingering Damage Magicka	Target takes X points of Magicka damage per second for X seconds.	N/A	Torchbug Thorax, Hagraven Claw, Swamp Fungal Pod, Pygmy Sunfish‡	Purple Mountain Flower	Wheat
Lingering Damage Stamina	Target takes X points of Magicka damage per second for X seconds.	Bittergreen Petals‡	N/A	Butterfly Wing, Nightshade, Small Antlers	Lingering Damage Stamina, Hawk's Egg**
Paralysis	Paralyzes the target for X seconds.	Netch Jelly†	Human Flesh	Briar Heart, Imp Stool, Swamp Fungal Pod	Canis Root, Gleamblossom*, Aster Bloom Core‡
Ravage Health	Reduces maximum health by X.	Scathecraw†	Skeever Tail, Eye of Sabre Cat, Giant Lichen	Silverside Perch	Cyrodilic Spadetail, Jazbay Grapes
Ravage Magicka	Reduces maximum Magicka by X.	N/A	Grass Pod, Orange Dartwing, Red Mountain Flower	Frost Mirriam, Lavender, Scathecraw†, Alocasia Fruit‡	White Cap, Spawn Ash†
Ravage Stamina	Reduces maximum stamina by X.	Spawn Ash†	Deathbell, Bee, Thistle Branch, Scathecraw†, Bungler's Bane‡	N/A	Bone Meal, Honeycomb, Berit's Ashes
Regenerate Health	Regenerate X% health per second.	Angelfish‡	Ambrosia‡	Juniper Berries, Luna Moth Wing, Nordic Barnacle, Vampire Dust, Gleamblossom*, Emperor Parasol Moss†	Garlic, Namira's Rot, Alocasia Fruit‡
Regenerate Magicka	Regenerate X% Magicka per second.	N/A	N/A	Dwarven Oil, Garlic, Jazbay Grapes, Taproot	Garlic, Fire Salts, Moon Sugar, Salmon Roe**
Regenerate Stamina	Regenerate X% stamina per second.	Juvenile Mudcrab‡, Alocasia Fruit‡	Angler Larvae‡	Bee, Scaly Pholiota, Mora Tapinella	Fly Amanita
Resist Fire	Reduces Fire damage taken by X%.	Ashen Grass Pod†, Fly Amanita, Dragon's Tongue, Snowberries	Spawn Ash†, Angelfish‡, Bone Meal, Fire Salts, Berit's Ashes	Ash Creep Cluster†	Elves Ear, Mudcrab Chitin
Resist Frost	Reduces Frost damage taken by X%.	Thisle Branch, Frost Mirriam, Slaughterfish Scales	Pearlfish‡, Frost Salts, Hawk Beak, Moon Sugar	Snowberries	Goldfish‡, Purple Mountain Flower, Silverside Perch, Small Pearl
Resist Magic	Reduces Magic damage taken by X%.	Gleamblossom, Aster Bloom Core‡, Chicken's Egg, Hagraven Claw, Lavender, Tundra Cotton, Hawk's Egg*	Void Salts, Fine-Cut Void Salts	N/A	Felsaad Tern Feathers†, Bungler's Bane‡, Bleeding Crown, Crimson Nirnroot, Nirnroot, Wisp Wrappings
Resist Poison	Reduces Poison damage taken by X%.	Yellow Mountain Flower*, Beehive Husk, Garlic, Grass Pod, Troll Fat, Slaughterfish Egg	N/A	Thistle Branch, Falmer Ear, Mudcrab Chitin, Charred Skeever Hide	N/A
Resist Shock	Reduces Shock damage taken by X%.	Blue Dartwing, Glowing Mushroom, Swamp Fungal Pod	N/A	Ash Jopper Jelly†	Hawk Beak, Pearl, Pine Thrush Egg, Snowberries, Glow Dust
Restore Health	Restores X health.	Felsaad Tern Feathers†, Ash Hopper Jelly†, Spadefish‡, Ambrosia‡, Blue Mountain Flower, Butterfly Wing, Daedra Heart, Wheat, Rock Warbler Egg	N/A	Blisterwort, Blue Dartwing	Eye of Sabre Cat, Charred Skeever Hide, Imp Stool, Swamp Fungal Pod
Restore Magicka	Restores X Magicka.	Glassfish‡, Lyretail Anthias‡, Blister Pod Cap‡, Bog Beacon‡, Elves Ear, Ectoplasm, Briar Heart, Mora Tapinella, Creep Cluster, Red Mountain Flower	Vampire Dust	Frost Salts, Fire Salts, Human Flesh, Pearl, White Cap, Moon Sugar	Dwarven Oil, Giant Lichen, Grass Pod, Taproot
Restore Stamina	Restores X stamina.	Goldfish‡, Pearlfish‡, Pygmy Sunfish‡, Bee, Bear Claws, Eye of Sabre Cat, Honeycomb, Histcarp, Hawk Beak, Mudcrab Chitin, Orange Dartwing, Pearl, Pine Thrush Egg, Large Antlers, Charred Skeever Hide, Torchbug Thorax, Purple Mountain Flower, Silverside Perch, Wisp Wrappings, Small Pearl, Sabre Cat Tooth, Powdered Mammoth Tusk, Salmon Roe**	N/A	Netch Jelly†	N/A
Slow	Cuts movement speed by 50% for X seconds.	Bungler's Bane‡	Poison Bloom*	Salt Pile, Deathbell, Large Antlers, River Betty	Trama Root†, Burnt Spriggan Wood†
Water breathing	Breathe underwater for X seconds.	N/A	Nordic Barnacle, Salmon Roe**	Chicken's Egg, Hawk's Egg**, Angler Larvae‡, Goldfish‡	Histcarp, Angelfish‡
Weakness to Fire	Increases Fire damage taken by X%.	Burnt Spriggan Wood†, Bleeding Crown, Frost Salts, Juniper Berries, Moon Sugar	N/A	Powdered Mammoth Tusk	Ice Wraith Teeth
Weakness to Frost	Increases Frost damage taken by X%.	Abecean Longfin, Fire Salts, White Cap, Ice Wraith Teeth	N/A	Elves Ear	Ash Hopper Jelly†
Weakness to Magic	Increases Magic damage taken by X%.	Salt Pile, Dwarven Oil, Scaly Pholiota, Jazbay Grapes, Taproot	N/A	Torchbug Thorax	Creep Cluster, Rock Warbler Egg
Weakness to Poison	Increases Poison damage taken by X%.	Small Antlers, Chaurus Eggs	N/A	Bleeding Crown, Abecean Longfin, Giant Lichen, Pine Thrush Egg	Deathbell, Sabre Cat Tooth
Weakness to Shock	Increases Shock damage taken by X%.	Trama Root†, Stoneflower Petals‡, Void Salts, Giant Lichen, Fine-Cut Void Salts	Ashen Grass Pod†	N/A	Bee, Hagraven Feathers

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Fortify Restoration

Skyrim: Complete Guide To Alchemy Recipes (8)

You didn't hear this from Dualshockers, but there is an exploit that can get you potions that have absolutely ridiculous effects. The effect of Fortify Restoration sounds self-explanatory - it makes your Restoration effects stronger, right? Well, yes, but it also has another effect. Everything in the "Active Effects" section of the Magic Menu is considered by Skyrim to be a Restoration effect. This includes things like racial bonuses, status conditions... and even armor enchantments. While there isn't a Potion of Fortify Alchemy, there are Fortify Alchemy enchantments you can put on helmets, rings, amulets, and boots. You may be able to see where this is going.

First, obtain a helmet, amulet, ring, and boots of your choice. The material doesn't matter. Find a piece of enchanted armor that has the Fortify Alchemy effect, and disenchant it if you don't already have Fortify Alchemy. Enchant your helmet, amulet, ring, and boots with Fortify Alchemy, ideally with the highest-level soul gems you can find. This exploit can be performed at any time during the game, but it's recommended to do it when you have some levels in Enchanting so you get the most out of Fortify Alchemy. Then, make sure to collect as many ingredients as you can that have the Fortify Restoration effect - see the table above for details. Some recommended ingredients are Salt Piles and Cyrodilic Spadetails - these ingredients can be found in barrels around the Riften Fishery, though you may have to steal them if you don't help the local fishmonger with her Skooma problem.

Once you have your enchanted armor and ingredients, put your armor on and go to an Alchemy Table. Prepare a Fortify Restoration potion, then exit the Alchemy Table. Take your armor off, then drink the Fortify Restoration potion and put your armor back on. In Active Effects, you should notice that the numbers displayed in your armor's Fortify Alchemy effects have gone up a bit. It may not be a big difference now, but be patient. Repeat the process of brewing a Fortify Restoration potion, taking your armor off, drinking the potion, and then re-equipping the armor as many times as you like. You'll begin to notice that the descriptions of the potions you brew begin to get out of hand very quickly.

Once you are satisfied, brew some Fortify Enchanting potions (Snowberries and Blue Butterfly Wings are common ingredients), and make sure to enchant a spare piece of jewelry with Fortify Alchemy. The massive buffs you can get from the Fortify Restoration loop are temporary and will disappear after 30 seconds. However, anything you make during this time - such as the Fortify Enchanting potion - will not change and keep whatever ludicrous bonus you put on it. By enchanting a piece of jewelry with a massively boosted Fortify Alchemy enchant, you can easily produce god-tier items without having to go through the process of brewing Fortify Restoration potions.

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