Alchemy in Elder Scrolls Online is a profession that allows players to make an incredible number of potions and poisons, with varying effects. Memorizing every recipe is virtually impossible. Instead, we’re aiming to provide you with a detailed explanation of what every ingredient does and how they work with each other, so you can make whatever concoction you need.
How to do Alchemy in Elder Scrolls Online
In order to brew a potion in Elder Scrolls Online, you will need to find an Alchemy Station. At the Alchemy Station, you will need to input two ingredients plus a solvent, such as water.
An Alchemy Station can be purchased for 3000 crowns from the Crowns Store, and for 35 Writ Vouchers from Rolis Hlaalu in Elden Root, Mournhold, and Wayrest.
Once you have an Alchemy Station, you can begin your brewing. The way potions traits are decided is as follows: Each reagent has four traits, and if two reagents with a similar trait are combined into a potion, then the potion will have that trait. If two reagents don’t have any similar traits, then the potion will fail and you will waste your ingredients.
You can use up to three reagents in the potion, so if all three of the reagents share a trait, you will receive an enhanced version of the potion that has either increased duration, or affects you by an increased amount. Similarly, you can get better, higher-level potions by using higher-level solvents, which require you to put some skill points into Solvent Proficiency.
There are also what are known as anti-traits, which counter the regular traits. For example, an ingredient that has the “Restore Health” trait will cancel with an ingredient with the “Ravage Health” trait.
This means that if you have two “Restore Health” traits in your potion, and one “Ravage Health” trait, you will have only one “Restore Health” trait after cancellation. As you require two “Restore Health” traits to get that effect, your potion will not have it.
Poisons work in the exact same way, however they use oil-based solvents. You can apply them to your weapon, which will then have cause you to have a 20% change of inflicting the poison effects on enemies you attack for a limited time.
Potion Solvents
| Level | Name | Use | Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Natural Water | Level 3 Potions | 1500 Inspiration | Level 0-10 Zones |
| 10 | Clear Water | Level 10 Potions | 5000 Inspiration | Level 10-20 Zones |
| 20 | Pristine Water | Level 20 Potions | 8000 Inspiration | Level 20-30 Zones |
| 30 | Cleansed Water | Level 30 Potions | 16000 Inspiration | Level 30-40 Zones |
| 40 | Filtered Water | Level 40 Potions | 20000 Inspiration | Level 40-50 Zones |
| Champion 10 | Purified Water | Champion Level Potions | 20000 Inspiration | Champion 10-50 Zones |
| Champion 50 | Cloud Mist | Champion Level Potions | 20000 Inspiration | Champion 50-100 Zones |
| Champion 100 | Star Dew | Champion Level Potions | 20000 Inspiration | Champion 100-150 Zones |
| Champion 150 | Lorkhan’s Tears | Champion Level Potions | 20000 Inspiration | Tel Var Stones Merchant in Imperial City |
Poison Solvents
| Level | Name | Use | Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Grease | Level 3 Poisons | 1500 Inspiration | Level 0-10 Zones |
| 10 | Ichor | Level 10 Poisons | 5000 Inspiration | Level 10-20 Zones |
| 20 | Slime | Level 20 Poisons | 8000 Inspiration | Level 20-30 Zones |
| 30 | Cleansed Water | Level 30 Poisons | 16000 Inspiration | Level 30-40 Zones |
| 40 | Terebinthine | Level 40 Poisons | 20000 Inspiration | Level 40-50 Zones |
| Champion 10 | Pitch-Bile | Champion Level Poisons | 20000 Inspiration | Champion 10-50 Zones |
| Champion 50 | Tarblack | Champion Level Poisons | 20000 Inspiration | Champion 50-100 Zones |
| Champion 100 | Night-Oil | Champion Level Poisons | 20000 Inspiration | Champion 100-150 Zones |
| Champion 150 | Alkahest | Champion Level Poisons | 20000 Inspiration | Tel Var Stones Merchant in Imperial City |
Reagents
| Name | Traits | Anti-traits | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beetle Scuttle | Increase Armor, Protection, Increase Vitality | Decrease Spell Resistance | Dropped by Assassin Beetles and Thunderbugs |
| Blessed Thistle | Increase Weapon, Power, Restore Stamina, Speed | Ravage Health | Found in the landscape |
| Blue Entoloma | Invisible, Restore Health | Decrease Spell Power, Ravage Magicka | Found in the landscape |
| Bugloss | Increase Spell Resistance, Restore Health, Restore Magicka | Decrease Spell Power | Found in the landscape |
| Butterfly Wing | Increase Vitality, Lingering Health, Restore Health | Decrease Spell Critical | Dropped by Butterflies |
| Chaurus Egg | Restore Stamina | Detection, Ravage Magicka, Timidity | Dropped by large insect creatures in Western Skyrim and Blackreach Caverns |
| Clam Gall | Increase Spell Resistance | Decrease Vitality, Reduce Speed, Vulnerability | Found in Giant Clams on the Summerset Isle |
| Columbine | Restore Health, Restore Magicka, Restore Stamina, Unstoppable | None | Found in the landscape |
| Corn Flower | Increase Spell Power, Restore Magicka | Detection, Ravage Health | Found in the landscape |
| Crimson Nirnroot | Increase Spell Critical, Restore Health | Gradual Ravage Health, Timidity | Found near water |
| Dragon Rheum | Heroism, Restore Magicka, Speed | Decrease Weapon Critical | Dropped by Dragons in Elsweyr after completing “The Good Bits” |
| Dragon’s Bile | Heroism, Increase Vitality, Invisible | Vulnerability | Dropped by Dragons in Elsweyr |
| Dragon’s Blood | Heroism, Lingering Health, Restore Stamina | Decrease Vitality | Dropped by Dragons in Elsweyr |
| Dragonthorn | Increase Weapon Critical, Increase Weapon Power, Restore Stamina | Decrease Armor | Found in the landscape |
| Emetic Russula | None | Entrapment, Ravage Health, Ravage Magicka, Ravage Stamina | Found in the landscape |
| Fleshfly Larva | Increase Vitality | Gradual Ravage Health, Ravage Stamina, Vulnerability | Dropped by Zombies and Fleshflies |
| Imp Stool | Increase Armor | Decrease Weapon Critical, Decrease Weapon Power, Ravage Stamina | Found in the landscape |
| Lady’s Smock | Increase Spell Critical, Encrease Spell Power, Restore Magicka | Decrease Spell Resistance | Found in the landscape |
| Luminous Rusula | Restore Health | Decrease Weapon Power, Ravage Stamina, Reduce Speed | Found in the landscape |
| Mountain Flower | Increase Armor, Restore Health, Restore Stamina | Decrease Weapon Power | Found in the landscape |
| Mudcrab Chitin | Increase Armor, Increase Spell Resistance, Protection | Decrease Vitality | Dropped by Mudcrabs |
| Namira’s Rot | Invisible, Speed, Spell Critical, Unstoppable | None | Found in the landscape |
| Nightshade | Protection | Decrease Vitality, Gradual Ravage Health, Ravage Health | Found in the landscape |
| Nirnroot | Invisible | Decrease Spell Critical, Decrease Weapon Critical, Ravage Health | Found in the landscape |
| Powdered Mother of Pearl | Increase Vitality, Lingering Health, Protection, Speed | None | Found in Giant Clams on the Summerset Isle |
| Scrib Jelly | Lingering Health, Speed | Ravage Magicka, Vulnerability | Dropped by Scribs |
| Spider Egg | Invisible, Lingering Health | Decrease Vitality, Reduce Speed | Dropped by Spiders |
| Stinkhorn | Increase Weapon Power | Decrease Armor, Ravage Health, Ravage Stamina | Found in the landscape |
| Torchbug Thorax | Increase Vitality | Decrease Armor, Decrease Weapon Critical, Detection | Dropped by Torchbugs |
| Vile Coagulant | Protection, Restore Magicka | Ravage Health, Timidity | Dropped from Harrowstorm encounters in Greymoor areas |
| Violet Coprinus | Increase Spell Power | Decrease Spell Resistance, Ravage Health, Ravage Magicka | Found in the landscape |
| Water Hyacinth | Increase Spell Critical, Increase Weapon Critical, Restore Health | Entrapment | Found in the landscape |
| White Cap | Increase Spell Resistance | Decrease Spell Power, Detection, Ravage Magicka | Found in the landscape |
| Wormwood | Increase Weapon Critical, Unstoppable | Detection, Reduce Speed | Found in the landscape |
With all of that, you should be able to piece together the recipes for all sorts of poisons and potions in Elder Scrolls Online.
Related Guides
If you’re interested in learning more about this massive game, consider checking out our other guides in the Elder Scrolls Online guides hub!
