World of Warcraft Guide to Alchemy: A Potion for Every Occasion

In World of Warcraft, everyone wants a potion for something. It is almost as bad as the calls for Spirit of Wolf in Everquest. If you talk to a person, there is a potion he happens to be interested in. So, because everyone wants potions, there is quite the call for people who can provide them. That's where the Alchemist comes in. With the ability to make potions, elixirs, and oils for every occasion, Alchemy is an extremely valuable profession.

Alchemists have the ability to create Potions, which imbue the imbiber with various effects, such as increased speed, water breathing, increased stats, and healing potions. Some potions have several tiers, such as healing and mana potions, which start out small, and eventually reach major, for different levels of characters.

Alchemists mostly use herbs found with the Herbalism skill, although some potions require other components, such as the Lesser Stoneshield, which requires a mithril ore, and gives increased armor. The high use of materials found with Herbalism makes Herbalism an extremely useful second profession, although it isn't required.

You can create potions at any place, and it doesn't require any special tools to do. However, there are four types of potion bottles that every potion needs. These four are Empty, Leaded, Crystal, and Imbued Vials.

Another skill the Alchemist has at his disposal is Transmutation. Transmutation is the ability to change one item into another. You can change normal metals into more valuable ones, you can change elemental essences into alternate elements and, with the right components, you can create powerful and highly sought after metals, such as Arcanite, and Elementium.

At higher skill levels, an alchemist can create Flasks and Elixirs. Flasks are very powerful potions that last even through death, imbuing the player with powerful effects, such as increased spell resistance, and increased health. Elixirs are also powerful potions, although they don't last through death. All elixirs are split up into Battle and Guardian elixirs. You may only have one Battle and one Guardian elixir effect on you at a time. Flasks use both the Battle and the Guardian slot.

When you get to level 68, and you have at least 345 in Alchemy, you can get a specialization. You can specialize in Transmutations, Elixirs, or Potions. Specializing in one of those three will make it so you have a chance of creating multiple items with one combine. For instance, you could create more than one Major Healing potion with a single combine.

You can specialize in these by finding the correct trainers, who are found in high level cities. Just ask a guard for directions. There are also special trainers who can train you in special potion recipes, not found anywhere else. There are also special recipes found on monsters and bosses for the adventuring Alchemist to find.

No matter your calling, whether you are a Hunter, or a Mage, or any other class, you will be able to use Alchemy to great effect in assisting your battles. And, if you play your cards right, you can make a good amount of money by creating high level potions, and selling them to needy players. So go out there, and start your mixing!