Alchemy is one of the more bland elements of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Most potions looted from dungeons and crypts gather dust in a player's home, while most created potions are too weak to merit actual use, and are usually sold to vendors to make quick gold. Even though some of the video game’s most powerful potions and poisons can’t compete with the likes of enchanted gear, there are a handful of concoctions that every Skyrim player should hold on to.
It’s a given that healing potions always have a use. Skyrim is a harsh place, made only more unforgiving when playing with immersion mods such as Skyrim Survival Mode. While the Restoration school has a number of spells that can restore health, magicka is needed in order to cast them. Not all builds have an abundance of magicka to spare, and even those that do must have a hand free in order to cast them. This takes two-handed weapons and sword/shield out of the equation, and the healing animation needs to be prepped and performed - another luxury some fights do not allow.
Having a healing potion hot-keyed allows for quick healing at the touch of a single button, far faster and more convenient than spells. For the most part, Alchemy in Skyrim isn’t worth it since potions of Fortify Health or Fortify Magicka are one-use buffs, as opposed to permanent increases granted by enchantments. Potions that fortify skills are rarely worth keeping. It’s better to spend that carry weight holding onto defensive potions that provide assistance when the need is dire. For example, Resist Fire and Resist Frost are potions kept for a practical application: Both grant strong immunity to Skyrim’s ever-present dragons, making these boss fights much easier.
Certain Skyrim Potions Are Only Useful In Specific Situations
The only ‘fortify’ potion in Skyrim that’s always worth keeping is Fortify Enchantment. This is one of the rare instances where a specific skill can be buffed in one way. Gear cannot be enchanted with ‘fortify enchantment’ for obvious reasons, but downing this potion before enchanting is a great way to make enchantments that are always a few points higher than the maximum. Potions that fortify other skills have situational uses for campaigns like the Dark Brotherhood or Thieves Guild. Fortify Lockpicking or Fortify Pickpocket can make certain Skyrim missions less frustrating, but they are never absolutely necessary.
More uncommon potions in Skyrim, like Cure Disease or Waterbreathing, might also be smart to keep around. Unless the player is an Argonian or can cast the waterbreathing spell, there are missions (ie The Path of Knowledge or Blindsighted) that can put the player in danger of drowning. Cure Disease can be helpful early in the game where low-level enemies like bears, wolves, or skeevers can actually transmit noticeable debuffs. The potion maintains utility in Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC as well, since it’s quite easy to contract Sanguinare Vampiris. Praying at a shrine is typically the easier way to circumvent this, however. One of Skyrim’s longer quests is to acquire The White Phial, a unique potion that merits a mention. Embarking upon the two-part adventure of the same name eventually rewards the player with the titular phial. It’s a customizable potion that refills once a day, providing one of six temporary effects, including Magic Resistance (which stacks with Fire/Frost Resistance potions), healing, and a 50% increase to one-handed damage.
Alchemy leveling is never necessary to get the most out of Skyrim's potions. Random elixirs to restore magicka, regenerate health, or fortify light armor appear readily enough just from exploring Skyrim’s various dungeons. Similarly, gathering an abundance of mountain flowers to grind at the nearest alchemy table is probably not worth the time. It’s entirely possible to complete The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim without using a single potion, but the ones mentioned here are the potions most players would regret ignoring.