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While the fundamentals of Alchemy inThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remasteredhaven’t changed very much, the UI is certainly sleeker and sharper with lessoverall jank.
If you’re already familiar with Alchemy in Oblivion, you should mostly understand what’s going on, but just in case, this is a good refresher.
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Before we get to the meat and potatoes, almost literally, we’ll run through some of the basics just to ensure you don’t get your potions and poisons mixed up. Alchemy in Oblivion isn’t too complex, but it is something that can be easily missed or forgotten.
How Does Alchemy Work
Alchemy lets you combine up to four ingredients to make various kinds of potions and poisons. Most ingredients you’ll find for free, scattered about orlocked in chests.
To actually do any Alchemy, you’ll need to get a Mortar and Pestle, which you can find right from the tutorial area when the game prompts you to sneak up on the goblin.Once you’ve got it, you can select it in your inventory to open the Alchemy screen.
From here you’ll notice that there is a slot for four ingredients and above that are three, likely empty, slots. These slots are for some other Alchemy tools we’ll cover later.
You can combine any ingredients you’d like, but you’ll need at least two that share the same effect to start.After that, you can add in a second effect that is a bit weaker, so try and match up the effects that would be most helpful for you in battle.
That’s really all there is to it to start. Once you’ve got a grasp of how the basics work, you can get some nicer tools to help you refine your talent.
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What Are Alchemy Tools
There are four total tools, including the Mortar and Pestle, there’s the Retort, Alembics, or Calcinator.Each one will provide special properties that make Alchemy even better.
Increases the magnitude and duration of positive effects.
Decreases the magnitude and duration of negative side effects.
Calcinator
Increases the magnitude and duration of all effects, both positive and negative.
You’ll usually find these on and around Alchemy tables, which are regular tables with Alchemy tools on them.If you want to buy them in order to have your own all the time, you can, but the novice versions areabout 100 gold each.
From what I can tell, these items must be in your inventory to be used. It’ll mean some extra carry weight, but the rewards are well worth it if you have the space.
If you’re looking to get them quickly, I recommend heading over to the Gilded Carafe in Imperial City’s Market District.There you’ll find everything you’d need to get started with Alchemy and more.
You’ll also find them in dungeons once you hit the necessary levels to use them, and in the very first Ayleid Ruin, Vilverin, you’ll come across, you’re able to find the Mortal and Pestle along with a book on Alchemy.They’ll typically be toward the end of the dungeons with most of the other good loot.
The tools will help make your potions and poisons more effective, which is always a nice bonus. Now let’s go over leveling up your Alchemy skill, so you’ve got everything you need.
If you didn’t notice already, once you select an ingredient, any ingredients that share that effect will have the effect highlighted in blue. You can also filter these by effects, making it much easier to sort through all the items you may have.
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How To Level Alchemy
Alchemy is an interesting skill to level at first as it works a bit weirder than you might imagine. Instead of potions giving you more XP based on the effects, it simply gives you a flat amount until you hit Alchemy Level 25.
The best way to level 25 is to make a lot of cheap and basic potions.Since each one you make is simple and the ingredients are almost always free, you’ll find yourself quickly rising in Alchemy level.
This will help you reach Level 25 quickly and unlock a lot of the bonuses from your alchemical knowledge.
Apprentice
You recognize the first two effects and have a chance to create an additional potion
Journeyman
You recognize the first three effects and can handle more simultaneous effects
You recognize all the effects and always create an additional potion
you’re able to create potions from a single ingredient and can handle even more simultaneous effects
you may also sell the potions you make to make some extra money. It’s not a bad way to build up a small fortune!
Once you hit the next title for Alchemy, you’re able to use tools of similar quality, meaning the effects will be better and more impactful.These can give you some pretty helpful ways out of sticky situations, so I would advise at least doing some Alchemy to get the bonuses.
Now that you have the tools and know how, you can start working toward mastering Alchemy.Test and experimentwith all kinds of things as you loot the world bare for its various resources.
Exploration is theheart and soulof Oblivion, so pick up everything you can carry and mash it together to make something amazing. Don’t forget the core rules as you dounspeakable thingswith your new potion and poison capabilities throughout Cyrodiil.
