Alchemy

For lore, see Alchemist.

The alchemist mixes herbs found by Herbalism and reagents in order to generate elixirs, potions, oils, flasks and cauldrons with a variety of effects. A player can create healing, invisibility, elemental resistance and mana potions; oils to coat weapons; and much more.

Alchemy is useful to all character classes. Melee fighters can use alchemy to create buff and healing potions. Spell casting classes can use alchemy to create mana potions and related buffs. You can create potions for yourself, sell them to others, or give them to your party members and friends. Alchemists are well loved when they hand out potions.

Alchemy Training

Template:AlchemyRecipes Profession/ProficiencyTable |- | align="left" | Apprentice || 5 || 1 - 75 |- | align="left" | Journeyman || 10 || 50 - 150 |- | align="left" | Expert || 20 || 125 - 225 |- | align="left" | Artisan || 35 || 225 - 300 |- | align="left" | Master || 50 || 300 - 375 |}

All Potions, Elixirs and Flasks will require some type of Vial, which can be purchased from any trade goods vendor. There are four types of vials: Empty, used to create lower-level potions; Leaded, used to create mid-level potions; and Crystal and Imbued, used to create higher-level potions. Except for a few extremely high-level exceptions (the "Flask" recipes), potions can be made anywhere provided you are carrying the required materials.

Herbalism is not technically required, but is highly recommended as nearly every alchemy recipe requires Herbs to make and herbalism can alleviate most of the cost of leveling up. Also, the wide variety of different herbs makes it difficult to simply purchase what you need from other players, because many potions will require more than one type of herb to make and the herbs are often very expensive.

• Herbalism - You probably can't afford to buy all your herbs at the Auction House, so you might as well harvest them yourself.
• Enchanting - Not as good a second choice as Herbalism, but nice if you want to be a one stop item and buff shop.

Transmutation

File:Alchemy transmute.png

Alchemist's transmutations of various Essences into other Essences

Alchemist's transmutations of various Primals into other Primals

High-level alchemists can also perform transmutations on elemental materials and some metals, for use in other tradeskills. In fact, Arcanite, which is used in many high-level Blacksmithing recipes, cannot be mined – It can only be transmuted from  [Arcane Crystal], which is derived from Thorium. Other transmutations are possible; see the recipe list below.

Before an alchemist can perform transmutations, he or she must create a  [Philosopher's Stone]. This stone must be in the inventory or equipped to perform any transmutations, and it is not consumed when a transmutation is done. Making multiple Philosopher's Stones will not reduce the cool down time. Philosopher's Stones are also soulbound and cannot be disenchanted, so it is not advised to create more than one. As of patch 2.4, all transmutations EXCEPT Arcanite share a cool down timer. After transmuting Truesilver or Gold, you must wait 20 real-world hours before performing any other transmutation. Other cooldowns vary based on the level of the transmute. However, you can transmute as much Arcanite as you wish without any kind of cooldown.

Elemental essences can also be transmuted.  [Essence of Undeath] can be transmuted to  [Essence of Water], Essence of Water can be transmuted into  [Essence of Air], and so on. Essence transmutes have a cooldown of 20 hours, as does a transmute of Iron into Gold.

There is also a transmute for transforming a  [Heart of Fire] into three Elemental Fires on a 10-minute cooldown available with reputation gains from the Thorium Brotherhood.

Burning Crusade introduced the transmutation of Primal materials:  [Primal Earth] to  [Primal Water] to  [Primal Air] to  [Primal Fire] to  [Primal Earth];  [Primal Shadow] to  [Primal Water] to  [Primal Shadow];  [Primal Fire] to  [Primal Mana] to  [Primal Fire];  [Primal Earth] to  [Primal Life] to  [Primal Earth]. You can also transmute Primal Fire, Air, Earth, Water, and Mana into  [Primal Might]. (Note: there is no transmutation required to convert 10× motes into 1× corresponding primal. This is available to any player as a stacking mechanism.) Motes can be converted to Primal elements but not converted back — and since motes are used in some recipes, be cautious when farming as to which you will need. (Miners have the ability to break down Primal Earth and Primal Fire back to motes.)

Burning Crusade also introduced the transmutation of the  [Earthstorm Diamond], the  [Skyfire Diamond], and the Alchemist's Stone. Transmuting the  [Earthstorm Diamond] or the  [Skyfire Diamond] puts a shared cooldown of 20 hours on all other transmutation, including  [Heart of Fire].

Discoveries

The discovery of a Super Rejuvenation Potion

Alchemy/Discovery

Alchemy Specializations

Once you reach an Alchemy skill of 325 and level 68, you may begin a quest to learn one of three specializations: Potions, Elixirs or Transmutations.

Being specialized gives you a chance to create an extra 1 to 4 (for a total 5) items while crafting in the field you have selected. For example, a Master of Potions may be able to craft more than one [Super Mana Potion] for the same material cost as one.

While the exact percent is not known, people have speculated that this ability can happen as often as 10-25% of the time. A frequently cited figure in the official World of Warcraft Professions Forums is 15%.

One theory is that each extra item created also has a 15% chance to create its own extra item. So, when creating an item, you have approximately a 15% chance of creating two items instead of one, 2.3% chance to create three items instead of one, a 0.3% chance of creating four items instead of one, and a 0.1% chance of creating five items instead of one. This totals up to an average of 17.64% additional potions.

You may de-specialize in alchemy, and then select a new specialization. This is a repeatable choice, but costs 150 gold each time. To de-specialize, see the quest giver who gave you the specialization. Once you are unspecialized again, you can see any of the three specialization trainers and specialize with no cost or quest required. It may be worth considering taking Potion or Elixir mastery, and then switching to Transmutation.

Note: You must speak to the correct specialist to gain that mastery. The NPC in Shattrath City which offers all 3 quests to re-specialize is only the elixir master.

Master of Potions

Trained by Lauranna Thar'well in Cenarion Refuge, Zangarmarsh ^[80, 64]. This quest requires:

• [Botanist's Field Guide] from High Botanist Freywinn in The Botanica, Tempest Keep
• [Super Healing Potion] ×5
• [Super Mana Potion] ×5
• [Major Dreamless Sleep Potion] ×5

Master of Elixirs

Note: Flasks also benefit from Elixir Mastery. Trained by Lorokeem in Shattrath City ^[45, 21]. This quest requires:

• [Essence of Infinity] ×10 from Rift Lords/Keepers in The Black Morass (Caverns of Time)
• [Elixir of Major Defense] ×5
• [Elixir of Mastery] ×5
• [Elixir of Major Agility] ×5

Master of Transmutation

Trained by an Zarevhi in Stormspire, Netherstorm ^[44, 37]. This quest requires:

• [Primal Might] ×4
• Must first speak to either:
  • Alchemist Gribble in Honor Hold or
  • Apothecary Antonivich in Thrallmar

[Botanist's Field Guide]

Alchemy Leveling Tips

This is a general guide to some of the cost-efficient strategies for leveling your alchemy.

1-55

Skill	Yellow	Grey	Item	Components	From - To	Components needed
1	55	95	[Minor Healing Potion]	1x [Peacebloom], 1x [Silverleaf], 1x [Empty Vial]	0 - 60 (60)	60x [Peacebloom], 60x [Silverleaf], 60x [Empty Vial]

Getting from 1 to 55 is easy enough. You need to collect 60  [Peacebloom], 60  [Silverleaf], and 60 Empty Vials to make 60 Minor Healing Potions. Make all of them up and this should get you to skill 60. Keep the Minor Healing Potions, you will use them as ingredients in the next step. Talk to the appropriate trainer to become a Journeyman Alchemist and train the Lesser Healing Potion. You have to be level 10 to become a Journeyman Alchemist.

To access your potion-making abilities, go to the General tab of your spellbook, and find the Alchemy icon there. Clck on it to show the recipes that you know. The ones that you have all the components for and are thus able to create have a number beside them in square brackets that indicates how many vials you're able to fill (remember that vials are components too!)

Since some components are shared between recipes, the number beside other recipes will go down as you use up the shared components.

55-125

Skill	Yellow	Grey	Item	Components	From - To	Components needed
55	85	125	[Lesser Healing Potion]	1x [Minor Healing Potion], 1x [Briarthorn]	60 - 110 (50)	50x [Minor Healing Potion], 50x [Briarthorn]
90	120	160	[Elixir of Wisdom]	1x [Mageroyal], 2x [Briarthorn], 1x [Empty Vial]	105 - 110 (5)	5x [Mageroyal], 10x [Briarthorn], 5x [Empty Vial]
110	135	175	[Healing Potion]	1x [Bruiseweed], 1x [Briarthorn], 1x [Leaded Vial]	110 - 125 (15)	15x [Bruiseweed], 15x [Briarthorn], 15x [Leaded Vial]

Use the minor healing potions made earlier to make Lesser Healing Potions to get to 110. If you didn't reach 110, make  [Elixir of Wisdom] until you do. You require 50 Minor Healing Potions, and 50  [Briarthorn] to make 50 Lesser Healing Potions; 5  [Mageroyal], 10  [Briarthorn], and 5 Empty Vials to make 5  [Elixir of Wisdom].

At 110 you can learn the healing potion recipe. Make some Healing Potions (15  [Bruiseweed], 15  [Briarthorn], and 15 Leaded Vials to make 15 Healing Potions). Once you hit 125 talk to the appropriate trainer to become an Expert Alchemist. You have to be level 20 to become an Expert Alchemist.

125-200

Skill	Yellow	Grey	Item	Components	From - To	Components needed
110	135	175	[Healing Potion]	1x [Bruiseweed], 1x [Briarthorn], 1x [Leaded Vial]	125 - 140 (15)	15x [Bruiseweed], 15x [Briarthorn], 15x [Leaded Vial]
120	145	185	[Lesser Mana Potion]	1x [Mageroyal], 1x [Stranglekelp], 1x [Empty Vial]	140 - 155 (15)	15x [Mageroyal], 15x [Stranglekelp], 15x [Empty Vial]
155	175	215	[Greater Healing Potion]	1x [Liferoot], 1x [Kingsblood], 1x [Leaded Vial]	155 - 185 (30)	30x [Liferoot], 30x [Kingsblood], 30x [Leaded Vial]
185	205	245	[Elixir of Agility]	1x [Stranglekelp], 1x [Goldthorn], 1x [Leaded Vial]	185 - 200 (15)	15x [Stranglekelp], 15x [Goldthorn], 15x [Leaded Vial]

Make some more healing potions to get to skill 140. At 130 Fire Oil (2x [Firefin Snapper]) becomes available, can level to 165, or make 15 lesser mana potions (15  [Mageroyal], 15  [Stranglekelp], and 15 Empty Vials) to get to 155. Then get the training for greater healing potions (30  [Liferoot], 30  [Kingsblood], and 30 Leaded Vials) to make 30 Greater Healing Potion to get to 185. Make 15 Elixirs of Agility (15  [Stranglekelp], 15  [Goldthorn], and 15 Leaded Vials) to get to 200. Once you hit 200, talk to the appropriate trainer to become an Artisan Alchemist. For Alliance this was until patch 2.3 Kylanna Windwhisper at Feathermoon Stronghold in Feralas. For Horde this was Rogvar at Stonard in [[Swamp of Sorrows}}. You have to be level 35 to become an Artisan Alchemist.

200-265

Skill	Yellow	Grey	Item	Components	From - To	Components needed
185	205	245	[Elixir of Agility]	1x [Stranglekelp], 1x [Goldthorn], 1x [Leaded Vial]	200 - 210 (10)	10x [Stranglekelp], 10x [Goldthorn], 10x [Leaded Vial]
195	215	255	[Elixir of Greater Defense]	1x [Wild Steelbloom], 1x [Goldthorn], 1x [Leaded Vial]	210 - 215 (5)	5x [Wild Steelbloom], 5x [Goldthorn], 5x [Leaded Vial]
215	230	270	[Superior Healing Potion]	1x [Sungrass], 1x [Khadgar's Whisker], 1x [Crystal Vial]	215 - 230 (15)	15x [Sungrass], 15x [Khadgar's Whisker], 15x [Crystal Vial]
230	245	285	[Elixir of Detect Undead]	1x [Arthas' Tears], 1x [Crystal Vial]	230 - 250 (20)	20x [Arthas' Tears], 20x [Crystal Vial]
240	255	295	[Elixir of Greater Agility]	1x [Sungrass], 1x [Goldthorn], 1x [Crystal Vial]	250 - 265 (15)	15x [Sungrass], 15x [Goldthorn], 15x [Crystal Vial]

Make some more Elixirs of Agility to get to 210. Make five Elixirs of Greater Defense until 215 (5  [Wild Steelbloom], 5  [Goldthorn], 5 Leaded Vial) and then make 15 Superior Healing Potions until 230 (15  [Sungrass], 15  [Khadgar's Whisker], 15 Crystal Vial). Make 20 Elixirs of Detect Undead to get to 250 (20  [Arthas' Tears], 20 Crystal Vial) and 15 Elixirs of Greater Agility to get to 265 (15  [Sungrass], 15  [Goldthorn], 15 Crystal Vial).

265-300

Skill	Yellow	Grey	Item	Components	From - To	Components needed
260	275	315	[Superior Mana Potion]	2x [Sungrass], 2x [Blindweed], 1x [Crystal Vial]	265 - 285 (20)	40x [Sungrass], 40x [Blindweed], 15x [Crystal Vial]
275	290	330	[Major Healing Potion]	2x [Golden Sansam], 1x [Mountain Silversage], 1x Crystal Vial	280 - 300 (20)	40x [Golden Sansam], 20x [Mountain Silversage], 20x [Crystal Vial]

Learn the Superior Mana Potion and the Major Healing Potion recipes from Master Alchemists. Alternatively, both potions can be trained at Lorokeem, the Master Alchemy Trainer in Shattrath Lower City, or from the Master Alchemy trainer in Stonard. Make 20 Superior Mana Potions to get to skill 285, (40  [Sungrass], 40  [Blindweed], 20 Crystal Vial) and 15 Major Healing Potions to get to 300, (30  [Golden Sansam], 15  [Mountain Silversage], 15 Crystal Vial). Congratulations, you now have a skill of 300 in alchemy.

300-325

Skill	Yellow	Grey	Item	Components	From - To	Components needed
300	315	330	[Volatile Healing Potion]	1x [Felweed], 1x [Golden Sansam], 1x [Imbued Vial]	300 - 325 (25)	25x [Felweed], 25x [Golden Sansam], 25x [Imbued Vial]

Leveling from 300 to 325 is easy. Visit the alchemy trainer in Outland (Alchemist Gribble for Alliance, Apothecary Antonivich for Horde). Learn Master Alchemy. He can teach you a number of recipes that require  [Felweed] (the basic Outland herb), Imbued Vials, and one of the top-level Old World herbs:  [Dreamfoil], Mountain Silversage, or Golden Sansam. Since Golden Sansam is usually the cheapest of all, it is most economical to make Volatile Healing Potions. You can get almost to 320 alchemy with just one stack of Felweed and one stack of Golden Sansam. You must be Level 50 or higher in order to learn Alchemy past 300.

325-350

Skill	Yellow	Grey	Item	Components	From - To	Components needed
325	340	355	[Super Healing Potion]	2x [Netherbloom], 1x [Felweed], 1x [Imbued Vial]	325 - 340 (15)	30x [Netherbloom], 15x [Felweed], 15x [Imbued Vial]
330	345	360	[Elixir of Major Agility]	1x [Terocone], 2x [Felweed], 1x [Imbued Vial]	340-350 (10)	10x [Terocone], 20x [Felweed], 10x [Imbued Vial]

The highest potion you can learn from the trainer, the Super Healing Potion, requires 325 alchemy. This is the potion you'll be making till approximately 340. If you reach Honored with Honor Hold (alliance) or Thrallmar (horde), you can buy the Elixir of Major Agility recipe and learn it at 330. Most other potions in this level range are rather useless, very hard to get, or require rare herbs. At 340-345 you can buy some new recipes from vendors. For alliance, visit Haalrun in Telredor (Zangarmarsh) and Leeli Longhaggle in Allerian Stronghold (Terokkar Forest). For horde, visit Daga Ramba in Thunderlord Stronghold (Blade's Edge).

When choosing between Aldor and Scryer, keep in mind that Aldor has no alchemy recipes and Scryer has one (Elixir of Major Firepower, which requires 345 alchemy).

350-375

At 350 you can learn transmutation recipes. The only transmutation that you can easily learn creates Primal Might; it is sold by Skreah in northern Shattrath City. Two other transmutations that you can get on your own in a reasonable amount of time are those to transmute Earth to Water (revered with Sporeggar) and Fire to Earth (revered with Kurenai/Mag'har). Earth to Water is moderately profitable, whereas Fire to Earth is usually worthless (but check your auction house prices first).

Things get slow past 360 because, unless you do a lot of reputation grinding, all of the recipes that you know (except transmutations) will turn green or gray, and the remaining green recipes will require hard-to-get herbs. You'll have a choice of three recipes:

•  [Super Mana Potion] — requires  [Dreaming Glory]; turns gray at 370
•  [Elixir of Major Defense] — requires  [Ancient Lichen] (grows in most 5-man instances in Outland, also from gathering from ("herb skinning") the corpses of Withered Giants in Zangarmarsh)
•  [Major Dreamless Sleep Potion] — requires  [Nightmare Vine] (grows in Shadowmoon Valley)

Unless you're close to 70 and you can farm these herbs yourself, prepare to spend a lot of money buying them at the auction house. Save all Ancient Lichen from your instance runs for the final grind.

Also, save all your  [Fel Lotus]; you will need them once you make discoveries.

Making money as an alchemist

Alchemists can make money in a variety of methods. Among them, is making of common elixirs and potions used in all sorts of heroics and raids. Ones such as  [Elixir of Agility],  [Elixir of Draenic Wisdom],  [Adept's Elixir] and  [Elixir of Major Fortitude] are commonly used. The herbs easy to collect and can be purchased in bulk when available.

Flasks can sell for large sums of gold but the costs to make them are higher than elixirs, and guilds that might buy them tend to already have an alchemist that can. Super Healing Potions and Super Mana Potions sell easily enough but your ability to make money on them will be a function of market conditions that will vary wildly. You may find that it's simply more valuable to sell the same herbs (if you are an herbalist) that would make up those potions.

The really good money makers will be on transmutes. Primal Mights are always in demand but again, their money making value is a function of the market. Meta gems are a great source of funds though -- particularly Earthstorm Diamonds. Earth Storm Diamonds Require 2x  [Primal Earth], 2x  [Primal Water] and base gems. If you have the transmute recipe fromSporeggar, then every 2-3 days (if you are a specialist in transmutes) you can make an Earth Storm Diamond for, essentially, the cost of 4x Primal Earth, + base gems. This has an approximate cost of 20g total. You can then take that diamond to a Jewel Crafter to cut something, anything, from it and sell it on the Auction House for 185-260g depending on market. If you are lucky and proc an extra diamond: CHA-CHING! Earth Storm Diamonds are the most effective money maker because 1) You can transmute the cheapest primals (Earth) into water to make them (no such transmutes exist for fire and air which are required for a  [Skyfire Diamond]). This keeps your costs very low. 2) You can always find a jewel crafter to cut something from them and give them "value-add", instantly doubling their value. This is a classic marketing model. The same cannot be said for primal might.

See also

• Making money with Alchemy
• Burning Crusade Alchemy Recipe Source
• Economical alchemy training
• Alchemy from Wikipedia

External links

Lootables.com Alchemy Powerleveling Guide 1-375

TheNoobSchool.com Alchemy 1-375 w/tables

AlmostGaming.com Alchemy 1-375 Guide 4.2/5 Rating

Thottbot Sortable list with reagents and effects

WoW Forums (US) BC Alchemy FAQ

Wowhead Sortable list with reagents and effects

WoWGuideOnline.com Alchemy 1-375

WoW-professions.com Alchemy leveling Guide 1-375 updated to 2.4

HowYouKnowGuy.com Simplified Alchemy leveling Guide 1-375

FreeWarcraftGuides.com Alchemy leveling guide 1-375

WorldOfWar.net Potions needed for other professions

Crafter's Tome Crafting Recipes