It never hurts to have a little extra HP going into a fight, especially in a world fraught with dragons and draugr. To make their Dragonborn a little stronger as they face the dangers of Skyrim, players can whip up potions of Fortify Health, keeping their legendary hero hale and hearty.
Alchemy in Skyrim, though, can appear a little intimidating to newcomers. With dozens of ingredients and tons of overlapping effects, it's tricky to keep track of what brews work best. To that end, here's a quick guide to the game's Fortify Health alchemical ingredients, and the best ways players can combine them.
The Fortify Health Effect
In Skyrim, Fortify Health potions temporarily increase the drinker's maximum HP, making them vital in fights against enemies that hit hard. The player's level in the Alchemy skill determines how great this increase is; a higher level means a bigger increase in HP.
Players can increase their Alchemy level by grinding out potions, or by purchasing training from certain NPCs. Additionally, the Thief Stone's bonus makes all Thief skills, including Alchemy, level 30% faster.
Ingredients
Any alchemical adventure in Skyrim starts with the right ingredients. The following items (except the DLC-exclusive ingredients) can all be purchased or stolen from alchemy shops in towns throughout the realm. However, those who wish to save coin (or jail time, if they choose to steal) may consider tracking down the following reagents on their own.
- Bear Claws: Found as loot from killed bears.
- Blue Mountain Flower: These are common throughout Skyrim, and grow wild throughout Whiterun, the Rift, Haafingar, and Falkreath.
- Boar Tusk: Exclusive to the Dragonborn DLC, players can find this ingredient on the Bristlebacks that roam Solstheim.
- Giant's Toe: Players may find this as loot from killed giants; however, this can be a dangerous endeavor. Lower-level players in particular are better off buying or stealing this item.
- Glowing Mushroom: Common in underground areas such as caves and Dwarven ruins.
- Hanging Moss: Players can find this hanging from stony buildings or ruins. It's common in and around Solitude, and grows plentifully in Eldergleam Sanctuary.
- Wheat: Grown as a crop on farms throughout Skyrim, especially near Windhelm and Whiterun.
- Yellow Mountain Flower: Found in the Dawnguard DLC, these flowers grow only in the Ancestor Glade and the courtyard at Castle Volkihar.
Compatible Effects
Restore Health is one of the best effects to combine with Fortify Health. As luck would have it, both Blue Mountain Flower and Wheat bear this effect; combine the two for an invigorating brew. Magically inclined players can also add lavender to this mixture to achieve a Fortify Conjuration effect.
Meanwhile, archers and power attackers can take advantage of Restore Stamina. Combine Bear Claws, Glowing Mushroom, and Purple Mountain Flower to add this effect to a Fortify Health potion.