Summary
- Alchemy skills in Skyrim allow players to brew valuable potions with common ingredients for easy alchemy leveling.
- Gathering ingredients in bulk is a convenient way to level up quickly at the alchemy table in Skyrim.
- Unique recipes like Potion of Resist Fire or Potion of Fortify Health offer high alchemy experience for skill progression.
In Skyrim, improving the alchemy skill can be beneficial in a multitude of ways. Not only does a higher alchemy level mean players can brew potions and poisons with better effects, but they can also choose perks that will allow them to sell potions for more, making it a great way to make money. Generally, the higher the value of the potion, the more it will improve the players' alchemy level. While the skill can be learned from books and NPCs, gathering ingredients in bulk while traveling can be a more convenient way to quickly gain experience at the alchemy table.
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There is an abundance of different potions, each beneficial to different builds (archer, warrior, mage), but for players who simply want to level their alchemy skill before making more advanced recipes, the following are the easiest and quickest to make with common and accessible ingredients. There's no need to risk taking on high-level enemies or waste time searching for rare ingredients.
The value and effects of these recipes are subject to change according to alchemy level and perks; the stats for these potions are according to level 25 alchemy with no skill tree perks.
Updated on February 9, 2025, by Rachael Phillips: Thirteen years after the release of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and with TES VI still on the horizon, alchemy remains a popular skill among players of all kinds of builds. Not only can potions replenish Health, Stamina, and Magicka, but they can also help improve other skills like archery or lockpicking, and offer invaluable buffs during combat. Whether players enjoy roleplaying as an alchemist, making money, or reaping the benefits of potions during their playthrough, it is worth learning some of the easier recipes in order to make the most of accessible ingredients.
25 Potion Of Fortify Enchanting
Ingredients: Blue Butterfly Wing, Snowberries
- Effects: Fortify Enchanting
- Value: 11
The Potion of Fortify Enchanting is a cheap and cheerful recipe; not the highest value by any means, but easily made in bulk. Snowberries, as their name suggests, can be found in snowy regions such as Dawnstar and Winterhold, while blue butterfly wings can be found all over Skyrim during the day.
With such abundant ingredients, this potion is simple to make for some initial alchemy experience. It's also particularly useful for players looking to level up their enchanting skill, as it temporarily improves enchantment strength.
24 Potion Of Fortify Lockpicking
Ingredients: Namira's Rot, Spider Egg
- Effects: Fortify Lockpicking
- Value: 18
Although it doesn't have a particularly high starting value, this Potion of Fortify Lockpicking has a simple recipe that not only provides the player with experience, but also with a practical effect. As the name suggests, it makes picking locks temporarily easier, which is especially handy when coming across a master level lock without a very high lockpicking level.
Unsurprisingly, Spider Eggs are most commonly found in spider nests, meaning there is a risk of running into eight-legged foes. However, these can be effectively slain with fire or brute force. For those looking to avoid conflict altogether, there is also a chance that alchemists will have some Spider Eggs for sale (or to steal).
23 Potion Of Restore Stamina
Ingredients: Large Antlers, Purple Mountain Flower
- Effects: Restore Stamina
- Value: 18
Not every fauna ingredient has to involve a risky battle; there is plenty of wildlife wandering Skyrim’s hills that offer some equally useful items. Male deer and elk, distinguished by their size, often drop Large Antlers, and can be found most commonly in meadows and forests. Ivarstead is a particularly hot spot for deer.
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Beyond the stamina restoring effects of large antlers, going hunting is a sure way to improve and level up players’ archery skills. That is, of course, if they don’t take the barbarian route and sprint around after game for a melee kill.
22 Potion Of Restore Magicka
Ingredients: Creep Cluster, Red Mountain Flower
- Effects: Restore Magicka
- Value: 18
Both Creep Cluster and Red Mountain Flowers feature in numerous recipes, so are useful to stock up on regardless of which potion players are planning to make. However, it is worth noting that when paired together they create a Potion of Restore Magicka.
While there are other more potent recipes for this potion involving Dwarven Oil and Fire Salts, this one is a quick, easy way to get the benefits without the hassle of exploring dangerous Dwarven ruins.
21 Potion Of Fortify Heavy Armor
Ingredients: Thistle Branch, White Cap
- Effects: increase HA skill by 9 points for 60 seconds
- Value: 40
White Caps are slightly more uncommon than other fungi such as Mora Tapinella and Fly Amanita, but still grow in masses in caves. When paired with the common Thistle Branch (found all across Skyrim's roadsides), players can brew the Potion of Fortify Heavy Armor.
This is a useful potion for players going for a tank build as it will temporarily increase the heavy armor skill, bolstering the players’ defense against attacks, conveniently making collecting ingredients from dangerous places somewhat easier.
20 Potion Of Resist Magic
Ingredients: Garlic, Lavender, Tundra Cotton
- Effects: Resist Magic
- Value: 42
Tundra cotton can be found all around Whiterun, including outside of homes and stores, so players do not need to travel far to find it. They should also keep an eye out on their travels, as it can be found on plains where snow and trees don’t obstruct its growth.
For those frequently snooping in hostile mage's caves and picking fights with magical creatures, the Potion of Resist Magic will come in very handy; it will temporarily reduce the amount of damage taken from magic attacks.
19 Potion Of Fortify Magicka
Ingredients: Red Mountain Flower, Tundra Cotton
- Effects: Fortify Magicka
- Value: 51
The Potion of Fortify Magicka offers a surprising amount of alchemy experience, considering how common the ingredients required to make it are. It is also particularly handy for players looking for a temporary magicka boost.
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Like the Tundra Cotton, Red Mountain Flowers are found all over Skyrim, particularly around Riften, but also frequently along most paths. They are also sold by vendors more often than many other ingredients, making this recipe a firm staple for traveling alchemists.
18 Potion Of Fortify Conjuration
Ingredients: Bone Meal, Lavender
- Effects: Fortify Conjuration, Damage Stamina
- Value: 56
If players don't mind going the extra mile, they can take on skeletons to get the bone meal ingredient for a Potion of Fortify Conjuring. Although this requires engaging in combat, skeletons are a low level enemy with weak health pools, making them totally tackle-able for players just starting out.
The plus side to this recipe is that the Lavender can be swapped out for a number of other common ingredients, such as Blue Mountain Flower or Frost Salts. This makes it great for players who collect whatever ingredients they stumble across and might already have in their inventory, and mages looking to hone their conjuring skills.
17 Potion of Resist Fire
Ingredients: Dragon's Tongue, Purple Mountain Flower, Snowberries
- Effects: Resist Fire
- Value: 65
Although not as common as the blue variety, the Purple Mountain Flower can still easily be harvested from mountains below the snow line, often without needing to deviate from the paths. Likely dangers include bears, wolves, and sabre cats, but these typically don't attack in groups, which makes them easier to handle.
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While not yielding as much experience as some other potions, for a recipe that uses easier-to-find, common ingredients, Potion of Resist Fire can be made in high quantities to increase the alchemy skill with barely any effort.
16 Potion Of Resist Fire (Alternative Recipe)
Ingredients: Bone Meal, Fly Amanita
- Effects: Resist Fire
- Value: 65
Players looking for a simple single effect potion while leveling up their melee might want to try this alternative to the above Potion of Resist Fire. This recipe only has two ingredients but, like the Potion of Fortify Conjuring, requires a bit of bone crunching. Fortunately, players won't need to venture far; Skeletons can be found in each city's Hall of the Dead (though often accompanied by Draugr).
This is a particularly useful potion to make early in the game for a helping hand when fighting fire dragons while still at a low level. Not only will making lots of these potions speed up alchemy leveling, but arm the player with a useful inventory for magic battles.