The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Guide | How to Make Potions

To be able to brew potions, you'll need a mortar and a pestle. You can get one from the game's starting dungeon, but if somehow you miss it, go to the Imperial City Market District and go to the southwest corner of the region. There will be an alchemy shop named The Main Ingredient, where you can purchase a mortar and pestle.

Ingredient Effects

At the start, with an alchemy skill below 25, you will see only one effect of an ingredient. For food items, this is typically "Restore Fatigue." As your alchemy skill increases, the number of visible effects per ingredient increases, as detailed below:

At Alchemy 25, you'll see two effects.

At Alchemy 50, you'll see three effects.

At Alchemy 75, you'll see all four effects.

To make potions, pair ingredients with the same effect. For example, if you have ham that restores fatigue and flour with the same effect, mix them by double-clicking each. After adding two matching ingredients, click "Create" to create the potion.

Double-click an ingredient in the list to remove it. Avoid adding a third ingredient with the same purpose, as it wastes resources without enhancing the potion. Always use the least amount of ingredients. 

Brewing potions increases your Alchemy Skill and unlocks additional ingredient effects, as well as more powerful potions.

Once you have access to all four effects of each ingredient, you can brew potions with various effects.  Keep in mind that almost all the potions you make for yourself will take effect over time.

Alchemy Equipment

Equipment to brew potions is as follows:

Mortar and Pestle

Retort

Alembic

Calcinator

All equipment has a quality level ranging from Novice to Master. You can purchase novices from the same store within the Imperial City Market District.

The retort and alembic increase the potion's duration and strength. 

The Calcinator doubles any effects. Be it good or bad.

The Mortar and Pestle boost Alchemy Skill, adding +2 to +5 at the apprentice level and +50 at the master level.

To get higher-level alchemy equipment, loot chests, and enemies in mage towers, conjurer camps, and magic dungeons, which typically contain such equipment. Still, the quality of your equipment depends on your character level. At level 1, you won't have master-level equipment, no matter how many towers you explore. Level up to obtain better equipment.

Master Level Alchemy 

At the master level in alchemy, you can create potions using one ingredient, making crafting fast and efficient. As you level up, you gain benefits: Apprentice and Journeyman allow brewing extra potions and handling more effects; Expert guarantees an extra potion; and Master permits more simultaneous effects and single-ingredient potions.

Finding Alchemy Ingredients

You can get the ingredients by purchasing them from alchemists, stealing, or gathering them from nature. Garden towns, especially those located north of Imperial City, produce ingredients that will respawn within three days of your absence. Look for mushrooms and herbs in off-trail areas and caves.

Also, check our The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Review and other guides below:

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