In Skyrim, a Blacksmithing Potion—properly called a Fortify Smithing potion—temporarily boosts your Smithing skill, letting you improve weapons and armor to a higher quality than you normally could. This recipe uses ingredients that are easy to find in the wild or at alchemy shops, and it works with any character, even without Alchemy perks. The key is combining an ingredient with the Fortify Smithing effect with one that adds Duration, so the boost lasts long enough to upgrade your whole gear set.
Ingredients
- 1x Blisterwort (Fortify Smithing, Damage Health)
- 1x Glowing Mushroom (Fortify Smithing, Resist Shock, Fortify Destruction, Fortify Health)
- 1x Sabre Cat Tooth (Fortify Smithing, Fortify Health, Fortify Stamina, Ravage Stamina)
Any two of these three ingredients will work. Using all three creates a stronger potion, but you only need two for the effect.
Instructions
- Find an Alchemy Lab. You can use one in any city, or craft your own in a homestead (requires Alchemy Lab in the house).
- Open the alchemy interface and select the ingredients you have. If you have all three, place Blisterwort and Glowing Mushroom first—this creates a Fortify Smithing potion with a base duration. Then add Sabre Cat Tooth to increase the magnitude (strength) of the effect.
- If you only have two ingredients, combine any pair from the list. For example, Blisterwort + Glowing Mushroom gives a standard Fortify Smithing potion.
- Once the potion is created, it will appear in your inventory under Potions. The effect lasts 30 seconds (or longer if you have the Alchemist perk and use a Fortify Alchemy enchanted item).
- To use it, open your inventory, select the potion, and drink it. Then immediately go to a grindstone or workbench and improve your gear. The effect is temporary, so work fast.
Tips
- Substitutions: If you can’t find Blisterwort, use any ingredient with Fortify Smithing. Other options include Dreugh Wax (from Solstheim) and Spriggan Sap. Glowing Mushroom is common in caves, and Sabre Cat Tooth is dropped by sabre cats.
- Storage: Potions do not spoil. Keep them in a safe container (like a chest in your house) until you need them. They weigh 0.5 each, so don’t carry too many.
- Common mistake: Don’t drink the potion before you’re at the grindstone. The effect lasts only 30 seconds, so you’ll waste it if you have to run across town. Also, make sure you have enough ingots and leather strips to improve multiple items.
- Alchemy perks: If you have the Alchemist perk (first rank), the potion’s magnitude increases by 40%. The Physician perk (if you have it) doesn’t affect Fortify Smithing because it only boosts restore and damage effects.
Serving Suggestions
This potion is best used right before you upgrade a full set of armor or weapons. For example, drink it, then improve your Daedric armor at a workbench, then your weapon at a grindstone. It’s also useful when you’re trying to reach the next quality tier (e.g., from Exquisite to Flawless) on a high-level item. Combine it with a Fortify Smithing enchantment on your gear (e.g., gloves and ring) for a massive boost—this is the classic “smithing loop” that lets you create Legendary equipment.
Variations
- Stronger version: Use all three ingredients (Blisterwort, Glowing Mushroom, Sabre Cat Tooth) to get a potion with higher magnitude. This is the best non-perk version.
- With Fortify Alchemy gear: Equip items enchanted with Fortify Alchemy (e.g., from the “Fortify Alchemy” enchantment) before brewing. This increases the potion’s strength. You can even make a set of alchemy gear and then brew a potion that boosts Smithing even more.
- Alternative ingredients: If you have access to Solstheim (Dragonborn DLC), use Dreugh Wax (found on Dreugh) and Spriggan Sap (from Spriggans) for a similar effect. These are harder to find but work the same.
Storage and Reheating
Skyrim potions do not expire. You can store them indefinitely in any container. However, they weigh 0.5 each, so don’t hoard too many. If you need to “reheat” (i.e., extend the effect), you can’t—once drunk, the effect runs its course. But you can brew multiple potions and drink them back-to-back, though note that the effect does not stack; it refreshes the timer. So if you need more time, drink another potion right after the first one wears off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this potion without any Alchemy perks? Yes, you can. The base game allows you to create potions at any Alchemy Lab, and this recipe uses common ingredients. Perks only increase the strength and duration, not the ability to brew.
Where do I find Blisterwort? Blisterwort is a red mushroom that grows in caves and dungeons, often near other fungi. You can also find it in some alchemy shops, but it’s more reliable to gather it yourself.
Does the potion work on improving armor and weapons? Yes, it boosts your Smithing skill, so it affects both grindstones (weapons) and workbenches (armor). It also helps when creating items at a forge, but the effect is temporary, so you must act quickly.
Can I use this potion with the Fortify Smithing enchantment? Absolutely. The potion and enchantment stack additively, giving you a huge boost. This is a common strategy for high-level smithing.
Why did my potion have a negative effect? Some ingredients have multiple effects. Blisterwort has Damage Health, so if you combine it with an ingredient that has a different first effect, you might create a poison instead. Always check the ingredient’s effects in the alchemy menu—the first effect listed is the one that combines with another ingredient’s first effect. In this recipe, all three have Fortify Smithing as their first effect, so they combine correctly.
How long does the potion last? Base duration is 30 seconds. With the Alchemist perk (rank 1) it becomes 42 seconds, and with higher ranks it lasts longer. The duration is also affected by Fortify Alchemy enchantments on your gear.
Related
- Zeus’s Children Without Hera: Full List & Myths
- Poseidon on the Beach Del Mar? Myth & Meaning
- When Did Poseidon Die? Myth & Truth
How pages are sourced and corrected: Sources and editorial policy.