Leveling up Alchemy is simple when you know how it works. The higher the gold value of the potion you make, the faster your skill levels up. That's why when you are ready to really level up your alchemy you are going to want three, just three, ingredients: Creep Cluster, Giant's Toe, and Wheat. Together these three ingredients will make you a Fortify Health potion that is very valuable and therefore levels up your alchemy quick.
Creep Clusters are prolific in the region south of Windhelm, known as Eastmarch. This area has unique looking terrain consisting of steamy hot springs and limited vegetation. There are three notable places here: Bonestrewn Crest (a Dragon lair), Steamcrag Camp (a Giant's camp), and the Atronach Stone. All around these locations you'll find Creep Clusters which look like red veins growing out of the ground. They're pretty hard to miss.
On a side note: While you're out in this area collect all the Jazbay grapes you find. There's a quest where you need 20 of them.
The next ingredient you want is Giant's Toe. It goes without saying that you get these by killing giants and looting their corpses. Giant's can be pretty tough, especially in early game, so you might want to stick to buying them from potions vendors at first. When you're ready to face off against Giants don't forget to soul trap the mammoths close by. Those will get you those precious grand souls for enchanting the best stuff.
The last ingredient, Wheat, is very easy to get. There are several farms all over Skyrim that grow wheat. One of the best places is just outside of Rorikstead which is located due West of Whiterun. This little farm yields 12 wheat, the most in one location. The next best place with 11 wheat is Hollyfrost Farm which is due East from Windhelm following the road.
These three ingredients when combined make the most expensive potion possible, thereby leveling up your Alchemy the most per potion.
The next ingredient you want is Giant's Toe. It goes without saying that you get these by killing giants and looting their corpses. Giant's can be pretty tough, especially in early game, so you might want to stick to buying them from potions vendors at first. When you're ready to face off against Giants don't forget to soul trap the mammoths close by. Those will get you those precious grand souls for enchanting the best stuff.
The last ingredient, Wheat, is very easy to get. There are several farms all over Skyrim that grow wheat. One of the best places is just outside of Rorikstead which is located due West of Whiterun. This little farm yields 12 wheat, the most in one location. The next best place with 11 wheat is Hollyfrost Farm which is due East from Windhelm following the road.
These three ingredients when combined make the most expensive potion possible, thereby leveling up your Alchemy the most per potion.
In order to maximize your Alchemy increase you're going to want to make yourself some Fortify Alchemy equipment once your Enchanting is level 100. The hardest part about this is simply to find a Fortify Alchemy item to break down in order to unlock that Enchantment for your character, but there's an easy way to get an Alchemy item right off the bat.
From Whiterun take the carriage to Dawnstar and go to the Mortal and Pestle, the local potions dealer. Talk to the owner, Frida, and she will give you the quest to find her Ring of Pure Mixtures, a 12% boost to potion creation. Once you give her this ring she will give a permanent +1 bonus to your Alchemy. After that get behind her and enter sneak mode. Pickpocket her. She'll have the Ring of Pure Mixtures on her person. Steal it and take it to an Enchanting table and Disenchant it. Now you know the Fortify Alchemy enchantment.
On a side note: If your percentage to pickpocket is very low drink a potion that increases your pickpocket ability or just keep trying. I had about a 27% chance when I did this, and it took me about 5 tries before success. One trick is to save right before you try to steal. If you fail simply reload before the guards come.
On a side note: If your percentage to pickpocket is very low drink a potion that increases your pickpocket ability or just keep trying. I had about a 27% chance when I did this, and it took me about 5 tries before success. One trick is to save right before you try to steal. If you fail simply reload before the guards come.
The next hardest thing about making Fortify Alchemy equipment will be to come by two different items you need to get max benefits: A Falmer helmet and a Circlet. Circlets can be hard to come by because you can't make them at a forge like you can other jewelry. You either have to buy them or find them. Radiant Raiment in Solitude often sells them.
The easiest way to get a Falmer helmet is to go to the cave Chillwind Depths which is southwest of Solitude. This location will provide you with at least 3 Falmer helmets. Go ahead and stock up on those and Glowing mushrooms, another alchemy ingredient.
The reason you want both a Falmer helmet and a Circlet is because both can be enchanted with Fortify Alchemy and both can be worn at the same time. This is a glitch in the game mechanics, but it works out in your favor. This glitch is also 100% safe. There's no threat to your save state by using this exploit.
With your new enchanting skill, go ahead and make yourself some Fortify Alchemy equipment with some grand soul gems. This will be a ring, necklace, gloves, Falmer helmet, and circlet. Wear this set when you begin to make your potions for leveling up alchemy. Also, be sure to pick up the Thief stone at the Guardian Stones location to get a 20% increase on your Alchemy level up as well.
Here's what I had after all the prep work:
Gold Ring - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Gold Necklace - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Falmer Helmet - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Gloves - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Circlet - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Thief Stone - 20% bonus to leveling up Thief skills
Well Rested (slept in a bed I owned) - All skills improve 10% faster for 8 hours.
Here's what I had after all the prep work:
Gold Ring - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Gold Necklace - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Falmer Helmet - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Gloves - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Circlet - Created potions are 25% more powerful.
Thief Stone - 20% bonus to leveling up Thief skills
Well Rested (slept in a bed I owned) - All skills improve 10% faster for 8 hours.
Now just remember, the more valuable the potion you make the quicker your skill increases. To help you along the way here's a website that lists the Skyrim potions you can brew up by value:
http://skyrimforums.org/threads/most-valuable-potions.4985/
Start at the top with the most value and work your way down, remembering to keep those alchemy bonus items equipped and have the Thief stone activated. This is the best way to level up alchemy.
There are a few other ways you can get additional bonuses to your Alchemy skill. The first way is at character creation. Bosmer (Wood Elves), Breton, Khajiit, and Dunmer (Dark Elves) all gain a +5 boost to Alchemy at the start of the game.
Start at the top with the most value and work your way down, remembering to keep those alchemy bonus items equipped and have the Thief stone activated. This is the best way to level up alchemy.
There are a few other ways you can get additional bonuses to your Alchemy skill. The first way is at character creation. Bosmer (Wood Elves), Breton, Khajiit, and Dunmer (Dark Elves) all gain a +5 boost to Alchemy at the start of the game.
There are also several books that can level up your Alchemy skill. Their titles and where they can be found are as follows:
A Game at Dinner: On a dresser on the second floor of the New Gnisis Cornerclub, a Dark Elf gathering place in Windhelm.
De Rerum Dirennis: Grave Concoctions (the potions vendor) in Falkreath, under some baskets in the back right corner.
Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim: Whiterun in Arcadia's Cauldron (the potions vendor), on a table through a door to the left of the Alchemy Lab.
Mannimarco, King of Worms: Easiest copy to get to is to port to Falkreath and head Northwest. After you get past Roadside Ruins look to the NW for an icon on your compass that looks like a Pinetree. That location is Evergreen Grove. After fighting some Spriggans and a Bear check out the pond. There's a body in the center of the water, and the book is right next to the corpse.
Song of the Alchemists: Go to Solitude and visit the Bard's college. It's on the counter to the right when you first walk in. Steal this book because it is also a quest item.
There are also several quests you can complete in Skyrim that give you a permanent bonus to your Alchemy.
The first is to retrieve the Ring of Pure mixtures for Frida, owner of the Mortar and Pestle in Dawnstar. We already covered that one.
There are also several quests you can complete in Skyrim that give you a permanent bonus to your Alchemy.
The first is to retrieve the Ring of Pure mixtures for Frida, owner of the Mortar and Pestle in Dawnstar. We already covered that one.
In Morthal talk to Lami at the Thaumaturgist's Hut. She'll ask you to retrieve a book called Song of the Alchemists. This is also one of the Alchemy skill books. She won't care if it is a stolen item, and she'll still reward you with the skill increase.
Arcadia, the potions vendor in Whiterun, will ask for frost salts. Once you give her those she will reward you with the increase.
So once you have done all of the radiant quests in the Bard's College you'll have a +1 bonus to all skills in the game. Not too shabby.
At the Bard's College in Solitude talk to Inge Six Fingers after completing the "Tending the Flames" quest. Inge will give you the quest to find Finn's Lute. Once you have done this you'll get a +1 to each of the Thief related skills, including Alchemy.
So once you have done all of the radiant quests in the Bard's College you'll have a +1 bonus to all skills in the game. Not too shabby.
Another way to increase your Alchemy skill is through trainers. There are three in the game so far. Lami is the Adept trainer in Morthal. Arcadia is the Expert trainer in Whiterun, and Babette is the Master trainer. In order to use her you must be a member of the Dark Brotherhood.
Now let's talk about Alchemy perks. There are only two that you will need:
The first critical perk is Alchemist. Max it out to 5 as quickly as you can. This will make all potions 100% stronger, including the Smithing and Enchanting pots.
Next is Benefactor: Potions that you mix with beneficial effects have an additional 25% greater magnitude. This including the Smithing and Enchanting pots.
I recommend picking up these perks as soon as you unlock them. That way your new potions will be that much more powerful. That means they'll be more valuable, and the more valuable they are the faster your alchemy increases.
Once you have Smithing, Enchanter, and Alchemy at level 100 with all the right perks you are now ready to craft the ultimate equipment, but that will be in another post.
Now let's talk about Alchemy perks. There are only two that you will need:
The first critical perk is Alchemist. Max it out to 5 as quickly as you can. This will make all potions 100% stronger, including the Smithing and Enchanting pots.
Next is Benefactor: Potions that you mix with beneficial effects have an additional 25% greater magnitude. This including the Smithing and Enchanting pots.
I recommend picking up these perks as soon as you unlock them. That way your new potions will be that much more powerful. That means they'll be more valuable, and the more valuable they are the faster your alchemy increases.
Once you have Smithing, Enchanter, and Alchemy at level 100 with all the right perks you are now ready to craft the ultimate equipment, but that will be in another post.
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