Mastering Enchantment: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Powerful Potions in Skyrim

Fortify Enchanting is a valuable alchemical effect that can greatly benefit Skyrim players. These potions can significantly enhance the power of magic applied to armor and weapons, making them even more formidable in combat. Moreover, crafting these potions can be a lucrative venture, as higher-level enchantments on gear fetch higher prices and Fortify Enchanting potions are highly sought after. With practice, creating these potions can become second nature, and these tips will prove invaluable for players looking to boost their Enchanting skill through Alchemy.

Skyrim's enduring popularity is a testament to its immersive fantasy world, where players can embody any number of characters, from valiant knights to cunning assassins. The game's crafting systems are a major contributor to this immersion, with alchemy being one of the most useful skills. Even after years of updates and additions, alchemy remains a vital part of the gameplay experience. One recent update, the Anniversary Edition, introduced a wealth of new content from the Creation Club, including over a hundred new items through the Rare Curios creation. Many of these items are powerful alchemical ingredients, allowing players to concoct even more impressive potions. Of particular note are two ingredients with the Fortify Enchanting effect, which we will cover in this updated guide.

The Fortify Enchanting Effect

Drinking Potions of Fortify Enchanting enhances the power of items crafted at the Arcane Enchanter, making them stronger than usual. The degree of enchantment boost and the duration of the effect depend on the Dragonborn's alchemy level. To increase this level, players can either craft potions or seek training from NPCs. Wearing gear with the Fortify Alchemy enchantment also boosts the skill, so equipping special gear before potion-making is recommended. Whether the enchanted items are intended for sale or personal use, a stronger enchantment is always advantageous.

Fortify Enchanting Ingredients

Assembling the perfect potion requires careful selection of ingredients. While most components can be easily obtained from alchemy vendors throughout Skyrim, it can be satisfying (and cost-effective) to gather them oneself. However, novice or low-level players should exercise caution when tracking down certain ingredients, as some can be dangerous. For those just starting out, Snowberries, Blue Butterfly Wings, and Spriggan Sap are the safest options to collect.

Ancestor Moth Wing

Ancestor Moths are a rare ingredient exclusive to the Dawnguard DLC, and can only be found in the Ancestor Glade, a location that players will visit during the main questline. However, unlike other ingredients, these moths cannot be purchased in shops, which makes them less popular among players who prefer more accessible ingredients.

Blue Butterfly Wing

Blue butterflies can be found in abundance in the temperate regions of Skyrim. They can be caught in the wild outside of Whiterun or Falkreath, although it may require some effort to capture them. Alternatively, players can purchase them at a reasonable price from alchemy vendors.

Chaurus Hunter Antennae

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Obtained as a drop from Chaurus Hunters, these ingredients are essential for crafting in Dawnguard. Chaurus Hunters are flying insects, closely resembling a giant preying mantis, and are known for spitting lethal poison and crushing their victims with their sharp pincers. Harvesting this ingredient can be risky, and it's not readily available in stores. Whereas other Enchanting ingredients are easily accessible, players may have to venture into dangerous Dwemer ruins and caves inhabited by Falmer and Chaurus to find a few. One such location is Blackreach.

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Darkfall Cave

Dreugh Wax

To create the Rare Curios in the game, players can add Dreugh Wax as one of the alchemical ingredients. This item can be easily purchased from the Khajiit Caravans, which can be found traveling throughout Skyrim. These merchants typically set up shop on the outskirts of major cities such as Whiterun, Windhelm, Markarth, Dawnstar, Riften, and Solitude. As their stock changes frequently, players may need to visit them multiple times to obtain the desired ingredients.

Players familiar with Morrowind and Elder Scrolls Online may recognize the Dreugh as a semiaquatic crustacean creature found in those regions. Unfortunately, the Dragonborn cannot obtain their valuable wax in Skyrim as Dreugh are not found there.

Hagraven Claw

Players can acquire these items by looting them from the corpses of Hagravens, terrifying witch-like creatures with bird-like features. Caution should be exercised when confronting these powerful beings, as they possess formidable destructive magic. For those who prefer not to engage in combat, Hagraven Claws can be purchased from alchemy shops at a reasonable cost. However, those seeking a challenge can seek out Hagravens at various locations, such as Dead Crone Rock.

Hag's End

Darklight Tower

Orphan Rock

Blind Cliff Cave

Snowberries

The crimson Nirnroot is a ubiquitous plant found in Skyrim's northern regions, making it a readily available and low-risk ingredient for Fortify Enchanting potions. Collecting a substantial amount is effortless, as players can easily gather them while exploring the Pale, Winterhold, or Hjaalmarch. Alternatively, they can be obtained at a reasonable price from alchemy merchants or even acquired for free if the player has a good rapport with the vendor.

Spawn Ash

Found exclusively in the remains of Ash Spawn that roam the southern ash wastes of Solstheim, Dragonborn players can obtain this unusual dust as loot. Caution must be exercised when engaging these creatures, as they employ potent fire magic. Although the mainland's alchemy shops do not carry this ingredient, it can sometimes be procured from merchants in Raven Rock, particularly Milore Ienith, the alchemist.

Spriggan Sap

Although it may seem like Spriggan Sap can be obtained from Spriggans, this is not the case. Rather, players must acquire it through purchase or theft from various alchemy merchants. Generally, it is not a costly ingredient. In certain situations, if the Dragonborn has a good relationship with a merchant, they may be able to obtain it for free. Additionally, Spriggan Sap will be readily available if the Dragonborn purchases an alchemy lab for either Honeyside (in Riften) or Proudspire Manor (in Solitude).

Stoneflower Petals

This scarce ingredient, similar to Dreugh Wax, was introduced with the Rare Curios creation and can only be obtained from Khajiit Caravans. While they are reasonably priced, players cannot acquire this ingredient on their own. For Morrowind players, this unusual flower may be familiar as it was used as an alchemical ingredient in that game. It appears that the Khajiit have journeyed to the land of the Dark Elves and have brought back some rare items to Skyrim.

Recommended Fortify Enchanting Potion Recipes

The combination of Snowberries with any Fortify Enchanting ingredient is a great choice for players who are searching for a simple and uncomplicated Fortify Enchanting potion. This combination produces no adverse side effects and is an excellent option for those who prefer a basic approach.

Spawn Ash + any Fortify Enchanting ingredient

Hagraven Claw + any Fortify Enchanting ingredient

Using a Blue Butterfly Wing and Spriggan Sap in a potion is a great way to increase its value and boost both Alchemy skill gain and potential profits. For those looking to create potions with multiple effects, these combinations are slightly more advanced but can be incredibly useful. Some are designed for high profits, while others work well alongside Fortify Enchanting.

Ancestor Moth Wing + Blue Butterfly Wing + Chaurus Hunter Antennae

When these three ingredients are mixed together, they produce a potent concoction that yields the effects of Damage Stamina, Fortify Conjuration, Damage Magicka Regen, and Fortify Enchanting. However, due to its damaging nature, it's not recommended for consumption but rather for sale as a valuable item.

Blue Butterfly Wing + Snowberries + Lavender

Fortify Conjuration can be a useful bonus effect for the Dragonborn looking to create Soul Gems for Enchanting. As Soul Trap falls under the Conjuration school of magic, enhancing it with this potion's effect will make it easier to trap larger souls for more potent enchantments.

Lavender, a fragrant purple flower, can be easily found in the lush meadows around Whiterun. It's a popular ingredient among alchemists and is commonly used in households and kitchens across the globe. Those who are allies of the Dragonborn are usually generous enough to let players take Lavender for free.

Spriggan Sap + Blisterwort + any Fortify Enchanting ingredient, OR Spriggan Sap + Dreugh Wax

Players can easily obtain Blisterwort, one of the most common fungi in Skyrim, by searching in damp caves or purchasing it from vendors at an affordable price. Crafting either of these recipes will grant the Fortify Smithing effect, allowing the Dragonborn to enhance their strongest weapon or piece of armor at a workbench or grindstone before imbuing it with powerful enchantments.

Hagraven Claw + Tundra Cotton + any Fortify Enchanting ingredient

For players who need to stock up on Soul Gems prior to an enchanting session, this particular item is especially valuable. It not only provides a Fortify Enchanting effect, but also a Fortify Barter effect, making the purchase of Soul Gems more cost-effective. Additionally, the Dragonborn gains resistance to magic, which can be particularly advantageous when enchanting gear before heading into battle against vampires or Forsworn.

Keep an eye out for Tundra Cotton, which can be found abundantly in the wilderness surrounding Whiterun. Look for grass with small white tufts at the tips. Skyrim is accessible on multiple platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch.