It takes more than just throwing ingredients into a cauldron to master Alchemy in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
It's one of the best assets to help you last longer, fight more strategically, and even amass wealth in the process.
From brewing basic concoctions in the sewers to crafting legendary elixirs in the heart of Cyrodiil, leveling up your Alchemy skill can truly reshape your journey.
Here's a full breakdown of how to push your Alchemy skill to the next level—and why it's absolutely worth the effort.
How To Increase Alchemy Skill
As soon as you begin the game, you can start working on your Alchemy skill.
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+ 3If you're paying close attention in the sewer tutorial, you'll spot a Mortar and Pestle right away. Once you equip it from your inventory, the Alchemy interface will pop up as your entry point.
From there, the basic rule is simple: combine at least two ingredients that share the same effect. Only ingredients that have compatible properties can create a potion.
When you're just starting out, it might seem not easy because you'll only see one property listed per item. But as you level up your alchemy, you'll discover more hidden properties, which will help create more potent multi-effect potions later.
You can increase your Alchemy skill in two primary ways: crafting potions or consuming ingredients. The fastest and most consistent way to gain XP is by making potions, which give 5 XP per successful creation.
On the other hand, munching on raw ingredients grants a much smaller 0.5 XP per item eaten. Scavenging food while exploring is a nice passive way to gain some progress, but it can quickly deplete your stock, so it's better reserved for emergencies than used as your main tactic.
Ingredient hunting is an essential part of the grind. You'll want to loot absolutely everything you come across: food, herbs, mushrooms, anything edible. You can harvest ingredients from most farms and open fields without committing any crimes, which makes them great for building up your resources early on.
If you're after rarer plants and fungi, caves are a solid choice. For a more complete approach, fast-travel away from farms and let three in-game days pass. The crops will reset, so you can come back and harvest again without having to find new places.
Shops such as The Main Ingredient in the Imperial City are an excellent go-to for quality ingredients and Alchemy tools. Your progress relies more and more on good equipment as you level up.
click to enlarge+ 3Aside from your basic Mortar and Pestle, there are three more key Alchemy tools you can equip: the Retort, Calcinator, and Alembic. Each one gives a different perk—the Retort boosts positive effects, the Calcinator strengthens both good and bad effects, and the Alembic tones down any negative side effects in your potions.
These apparatuses stack if you have them all equipped, meaning your potions get stronger, last longer, and sell for more gold. Don't forget that the quality of your gear is linked to your character level, not your Alchemy skill.
You'll only find higher-tier gear, such as Journeyman or Master-grade, from vendors and dungeon loot once your character has leveled up enough. To find Master-level apparatus, you'll likely need to loot chests in mystical spots like Conjurer hideouts or Necromancer lairs.
As your Alchemy skill increases, you'll unlock practical rewards that streamline your crafting process. Here's how it works:
- At Novice (0–24), you can see only the first property of each ingredient.
- At Apprentice (25–49), you can recognize two properties and sometimes craft an extra potion.
- At Journeyman (50–74), you spot three properties and can mix more effects into a single brew.
- At Expert (75–99), you unlock the visibility of all four properties and always craft an extra potion.
click to enlarge+ 3The potions you create get better as you level up your Alchemy skill, boosting their effects, duration, and sale value. The ingredient itself doesn’t determine the strength, but your skill and gear, which is pretty interesting.
As you craft at higher levels, cheap ingredients like bread, apples, and ham become just as valuable as rare plants, enhancing leveling efficiency. If you're looking to level up faster, NPC training is another option.
You can easily locate Alchemy trainers like Ardaline in the Bravil Mages Guild or Brotch Calus in Bruma early on. If you're looking to reach past level 70, Sinderion in the basement of Skingrad's West Weald Inn is your next destination.
Sinderion won't agree to train you until you deliver a bottle of both Tamika Vintage 399 and Surilie Brothers Vintage 399, which can be found in locations like Castle Skingrad's wine cellar.
Alchemy is not only practical for survival but also for making money. If you stick with it, Alchemy will turn your character into a nearly unstoppable force—and one of the richest travelers in Cyrodiil.
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