Best Poisons To Level Up Alchemy In Skyrim

Summary

• Poison recipes in Skyrim provide a way to level alchemy quickly and efficiently, offering a double-whammy attack in combat.
• Ingredients for poisons can be easily sourced in Skyrim, with some offering additional effects such as draining magicka or causing fear.
• The Poison of Slow is a valuable and experience-rich poison in Skyrim, slowing targets while fortifying carry weight for strategic advantages in battle.

In Skyrim, poisons can be a great way to get the upper hand in battle, especially near the beginning of a playthrough. Generally, the higher the poison’s value, the more experience players gain from crafting it, making it a great way to both make money and level alchemy. That said, some recipes call for rarer or more dangerous ingredients.

Some of these less readily available ingredients can, of course, be bought or stolen, but it is often quicker and easier to focus on the simpler recipes, which can be just as effective. For players who enjoy leisurely exploration and foraging, roleplaying as an evil apothecary, or are simply looking for an extra oomph in combat, this list covers poison recipes that can be made without too much effort to quickly and efficiently level alchemy.

The value and potency of poisons may vary depending on alchemy level and skill tree perks. The stats of the poisons on this list are according to level 27 alchemy with no perks.

10

Poison Of Weakness To Poison

Ingredients: Deathbell, Small Antlers

• Value: 41
• Effects: Weakness to Poison, Poison Damage

The Poison of Weakness to Poison is a useful starting recipe for those looking to use poisons in combat. Not only does it have the obvious effect of making the target weaker to poison, but it also causes poison damage for a double-whammy attack, making itself more effective.

Small Antlers can be looted from female deer and elk, which are most commonly found in forests and meadows, particularly Ivarstead. Deathbell plants are common in Hjaalmarch surrounding Morthal but are also relatively common on alchemists’ and mages’ shelves.

9

Poison Of Lingering Damage Magicka

Ingredients: Torchbug Thorax, Wheat

• Value: 58
• Effects: Drain Magicka

This Poison of Lingering Damage Magicka recipe offers a mid-range value poison using easily sourced ingredients. It is especially useful against magic foes such as mages, draining their power source over time, making it worth making in bulk for experience and practical means.

Torchbug Thoraxes are easy to spot during the evening, between 8 pm and 11 pm, all over Skyrim. Likewise, Wheat is a readily available ingredient, being abundant in farms, vendors, and kitchens, making this poison surprisingly rich in experience for how simple the recipe is.

8

Poison Of Lingering Damage Health

Ingredients: Imp Stool, Mora Tapinella

• Value: 70
• Effects: Poison Damage

The Poison of Lingering Damage Health causes poison damage over a period of time, meaning that the player’s target will lose health without the need to continuously attack. This makes it useful for taking on higher-level enemies where a more tactical approach to combat is needed.

The recipe for Lingering Damage Health is fungi-based, the ingredients being available for purchase and (more commonly) foraging. The Imp Stool is found in caves while Mora Tapinella grows on stumps and fallen trees around Skyrim’s forests.

7

Poison Of Frenzy

Ingredients: Blisterwort, Fly Amanita

• Value: 88
• Effects: Attack Nearby

Another mushroom-based recipe, the Poison of Frenzy is made from two easily found flora. Like Imp Stool, Blisterwort and Fly Amanita grow in caves and mines, perfect for players who like to explore as they can collect them as they go.

Like the Frenzy spell, the Poison of Frenzy causes its targets to attack anyone or anything nearby for a period of time. Whether looking to cause chaos or create a distraction, there is no doubt that this poison is practical, as well as offering a decent amount of alchemy experience.

6

Poison Of Damage Health

Ingredients: Imp Stool, Nightshade, River Betty

• Value: 94
• Effects: Poison Damage

The Poison of Damage Health does exactly what it says on the tin – or bottle – causing a base amount of poison damage in addition to that done by the weapon itself.

Due to its potent nature, Nightshade can be found in places associated with death, notably Hjaalmarch’s Labyrinthian and Falkreath’s Hall of the Dead. As such, there is a risk of run-ins with foes such as Skeletons and Draugrs, so players should be prepared to sneak if looking to avoid confrontation. Most fish, including River Betty, can be looted from barrels around Riften Fishery.

5

Poison Of Fear

Ingredients: Blue Dartwing, Namira’s Rot

• Value: 98
• Effects: Flee Combat

Beyond the respectable amount of experience it offers, the Poison of Fear is also particularly useful for players looking to avoid a fight, causing creatures and people to flee from combat. The target’s level that this affects and the amount of time they flee for can be increased with a higher alchemy level and potency-related perks.

Blue Dartwing can be found hovering above water, also indicating the presence of Abecean Longfin fish, though they can be slightly more awkward to catch than butterflies due to their size and speed. Namira’s rot, aptly named after the Daedric Prince of Darkness, can be found in caves.

4

Poison Of Damage Stamina Regeneration

Ingredients: Creep Cluster, Juniper Berries, Wheat

• Value: 118
• Effects: Damage Stamina Regeneration

Despite their edible nature, Juniper Berries have properties that are particularly well lent for brewing potions. Using them with Wheat and Creep Cluster will make the Poison of Damage Stamina Regeneration. This can prevent the target from making power attacks, which may prove invaluable when facing heavy, two-handed foes.

Creep Cluster is most common in and around Windhelm, growing on rocks and stony areas, while Juniper Berries can be found around Markarth, making this recipe a convenient way to level alchemy.

3

Poison Of Damage Magicka Regeneration

Ingredients: Blue Dartwing, Blue Mountain Flower, Hanging Moss

• Value: 274
• Effects: Damage Magicka Regeneration, Increase Health, Restore Health

This recipe for Poison of Damage Magicka Regeneration has two additional effects, also acting as a health potion. As the target struggles to regain their Magicka, the player’s max health is temporarily increased and restored. This poison also provides significantly more alchemy experience, considering how easy the ingredients are to find.

Blue Mountain Flowers grow all over Skyrim, both in the wilderness and cities, and are more commonly sold than the majority of other ingredients. Hanging Moss can be found in dungeons, cave and mine entrances, or on trees, being most abundant around Markarth.

2

Poison Of Paralysis

Ingredients: Canis Root, Imp Stool, Nirnroot

• Value: 299
• Effects: Paralysis, Poison Damage, Drain Stamina

The Poison of Paralysis is an all-around useful poison for offensive combat. Not only does it paralyze the target, it simultaneously causes poison damage and drains their stamina, allowing the player to do continuous damage without taking any hard hits.

Canis Root can be harvested from their respective bushes, which appear dry and dead, as such being common among the harsher regions of Morthal and Riften. Nirnroot is relatively less common but easily identified (usually near water) by its glow and trademark ringing sound.

1

Poison Of Slow

Ingredients: Creep Cluster, Large Antlers, River Betty

• Value: 455
• Effects: Slows Target, Fortify Carry Weight, Damage Stamina Regeneration

For an easy, useful, experience-rich, and valuable poison, the Poison of Slow is the poster child. Like the Potion of Fortify Health, made of Giant’s Toe and Wheat, the Poison of Slow is a go-to for leveling alchemy. As well as slowing the target’s moving speed and stamina regeneration, it also increases the player’s carry capacity, making it perfect for a getaway in a sticky situation or getting the upper hand in a fight.

The ingredients are slightly more time-consuming to acquire, as Large Antlers are less commonly sold and only have a 50% drop rate, but the pay-off is worth the effort. Like Small Antlers, Large Antlers can be found on deer and elk but must be male (as distinguished by their size). Going hunting is also an opportunity for players to improve their archery skills.