This FAQ originated on the now-closed Belgar's Alchemy site. It has been updated and adapted here with permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can make potions with alchemy?

Only shamans can do alchemy.

When can I start working on alchemy? When should I start working on alchemy?

You are able to start once your shaman is level 25. However, many shaman wait until they are level 29. See our guide on Beginning Alchemy for more information.

Is there a skill cap on alchemy? What is the formula?

Yes. The formula for alchemy skill cap is:

(Your level minus 24) times 5.

Note, however, that alchemy currently cannot go over 200. See our guide on Beginning Alchemy for more information.

What do the individual herbs cost?

See our Herb Prices guide for detailed prices on herbs throughout Norrath.

Where can I buy herbs?

See our Herb Vendors guide for a complete list of known herb vendors throughout Norrath.

Where do I find the recipes for known alchemy potions?

See our Recipes and Effects page for detailed recipes and effects.

What are the best potions to make in order to increase my alchemy skill?

Try to find a balance between potion trivial and herb component cost. It will help if you shop around a bit to see which potions sell to other players, and therefore might be worth additional expense to make. Further information is available in the Beginning Alchemy guide.

What attribute has the greatest effect on alchemy success rates and skill increases?

Wisdom.

See our guide on Beginning Alchemy for more information.

Where do I find the various dropped ingredients used for certain alchemy potions?

For the most part, you can figure out what drops a given item by the name of the item itself. Werewolves drop werewolf pelts and fire giants drop fire giant toes. Some of them are not as obvious, however, or are downright misleading. Vampire dust is only dropped by vampires in the Plane of Hate. Consult our guide to Dropped Ingredient Locations if you're not sure. If you cannot yet kill that kind of creature or cannot easily get to them, try checking the Bazaar or even vendors near those creatures to see if players have sold some off.

What the recipe for regular Invisibility potions?

There is currently no known recipe for making regular Invisibility potions in alchemy. However, they and other non-alchemy potions can be vendor purchased in virtually every city throughout Norrath at a potion merchant.

What is the best price to charge players for potions?

Prices for one charge of a potion are typically twice the cost of the component herbs for one attempt. Some shamans give a discount for customers buying 5 or 10 charged potions, or for potions that are hard to sell. Others increase the price if they are have plenty of customers or if they are providing some extra service, such as selling the potions in a remote location. Potions that many shamans are selling also tend to sell at less of a profit. See our guide to Alchemy Prices for information on component costs.

How do I make five-shot and ten-shot potions?

Combine 5 or 10 of the same type of alchemy potion in a tailored bearskin potion bag.

What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

An intriguing and age-old question that is highly dependent upon whether one is speaking of the African swallow, or the European swallow. See Monty Python's "The Search for the Holy Grail" for further details.

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