Fortify Alchemy potions are among the most useful concoctions in Skyrim, especially for players looking to craft high-level gear, enchant powerful items, or brew better potions. This potion temporarily boosts your Alchemy skill, allowing you to create even stronger effects during your crafting session. Knowing how to make Fortify Alchemy potions not only increases your efficiency in alchemy but also helps create a powerful gameplay loop when paired with enchanting and smithing. Whether you’re preparing for endgame battles or simply want to maximize potion effects, crafting Fortify Alchemy potions is an essential technique every adventurer should master.
Understanding Fortify Alchemy
Fortify Alchemy is an effect in Skyrim that enhances your ability to create stronger potions. When you drink a potion with this effect, it temporarily increases the power of any potion you craft while it’s active. This is especially valuable when creating potions that you want to use for combat, healing, or crafting boosts.
How the Effect Works
The Fortify Alchemy effect works by multiplying the base strength of your potions. The stronger your Fortify Alchemy effect, the better the resulting potion. This makes it ideal for creating other powerful potions such as Fortify Smithing or Fortify Enchanting, which are useful in producing superior weapons and armor.
Ingredients That Grant Fortify Alchemy
To make a Fortify Alchemy potion, you need to combine ingredients that share the Fortify Alchemy effect. There are several ingredients in Skyrim that contain this property, and mixing any two of them will create the desired potion.
Common Ingredients
- Blue Butterfly Wing
- Snowberries
- Sabre Cat Tooth
- Spriggan Sap
- Chaurus Hunter Antennae
- Ancestor Moth Wing
- Butterfly Wing
- Hagraven Claw
Mixing any two of these ingredients at an alchemy lab will result in a potion of Fortify Alchemy. For example, combining Blue Butterfly Wing and Snowberries will yield a basic version of this potion.
Where to Find the Ingredients
Locating the right ingredients is crucial for crafting these potions consistently. Here’s where you can commonly find some of them:
- Blue Butterfly Wing: Found during the day in many forested areas like the surroundings of Whiterun and Riverwood.
- Snowberries: Grow in cold regions such as the Pale and Winterhold; found near Windhelm and snowy mountain passes.
- Sabre Cat Tooth: Looted from Sabre Cats, which roam the wilds and mountainous regions.
- Spriggan Sap: Rare, but sometimes available from alchemists or as loot from Spriggans.
- Ancestor Moth Wing: Found during the Dawnguard DLC questline when capturing Ancestor Moths in the Ancestor Glade.
Using Alchemy Equipment
To make any potion, including Fortify Alchemy, you’ll need access to an alchemy lab. These are located in inns, player homes, and many dungeons across Skyrim.
Tips for Brewing
- Always wear Fortify Alchemy gear when crafting to boost your potion’s strength.
- Experiment with different combinations to add useful secondary effects like Fortify Enchanting or Resist Frost.
- Save before crafting to test potion strength and maximize results.
Crafting Loop Strategy
One of the most powerful uses of Fortify Alchemy potions is for crafting loops. This advanced strategy is popular among players who want to make god-tier gear through repeated enhancement cycles. Here’s how it works.
Step-by-Step Crafting Loop
- Craft or find armor pieces with the Fortify Alchemy enchantment (helmet, gloves, ring, and necklace).
- Use your enchanting skill to create better Fortify Alchemy gear.
- Equip that gear and use it to craft stronger Fortify Enchanting potions.
- Drink a Fortify Enchanting potion and use it to enchant new Fortify Alchemy gear.
- Repeat the process, increasing the potency of each step until diminishing returns kick in.
This loop allows you to reach extremely high levels of potion strength, enabling you to craft overpowered equipment and potions that make high-difficulty content easier to handle.
Maximizing Alchemy Skill
To get the most out of your Fortify Alchemy potions, your Alchemy skill should be as high as possible. Leveling Alchemy is relatively easy if you craft regularly and use experience-boosting techniques.
Ways to Level Up Alchemy
- Gather ingredients regularly and craft at every opportunity.
- Use the Thief Stone early in the game to increase skill gain.
- Read skill books like De Rerum Dirennis and Mannimarco, King of Worms.
- Visit trainers like Arcadia in Whiterun or Babette in the Dark Brotherhood.
The higher your Alchemy skill, the stronger the base effects of your potions before additional boosts are applied.
Alchemy Perks That Help
The Alchemy skill tree includes several perks that directly influence potion strength and duration. Investing in these perks can significantly enhance your Fortify Alchemy potion results.
Recommended Perks
- Alchemist: Increases the strength of all potions (up to 100% at rank 5).
- Physician: Makes healing, stamina, and magicka potions 25% stronger.
- Benefactor: Boosts the potency of beneficial potions.
- Concentrated Poison: Helpful for applying strong poisons if you’re crafting those alongside.
To access higher-level perks, you’ll need to progress your Alchemy skill and make enough potions to unlock the necessary points.
Sample Potion Recipes
Below are a few proven recipes for Fortify Alchemy potions. These are simple and require ingredients that are fairly easy to find or buy from alchemy vendors.
Recipe 1: Basic Fortify Alchemy
- Blue Butterfly Wing
- Snowberries
Recipe 2: Fortify Alchemy + Resist Frost
- Snowberries
- Spriggan Sap
Recipe 3: Fortify Alchemy + Restore Health
- Sabre Cat Tooth
- Blue Mountain Flower
These combinations not only strengthen your Alchemy but can also offer additional utility effects depending on your needs.
Where to Sell and Use the Potions
Fortify Alchemy potions can be sold to alchemy vendors for a good profit or used in personal crafting sessions. Most cities have at least one alchemist who will buy potions, including Arcadia in Whiterun, Angeline in Solitude, and Enthir in the College of Winterhold.
If you’re using the potions yourself, drink one just before crafting another potion or enchanting gear. This ensures the boost is applied correctly. Always check the active effects in your menu to confirm the potion is working.
Learning how to make Fortify Alchemy potions is a valuable skill that unlocks deeper gameplay potential in Skyrim. Whether you’re interested in enhancing your crafting loop, maximizing potion profits, or simply becoming a more effective adventurer, this potion is a must-have in your toolkit. With the right ingredients, perks, and strategies, you can push the limits of your crafting and gain a powerful edge in every aspect of the game.