World of Warcraft at Ten Ton Hammer

Alchemy is one of the primary professions in World of Warcraft and focuses strongly on brewing potions and using herbs to create some fabulous cocktails. These destructive or curative elixirs can heal, damage, destroy, save, or annoy your allies and enemies in World of Warcraft. Don’t think that Alchemy is all about making snake oil, no no no, as it’s one of the most popular professions in the game thanks to the fact that it’s profitable and easy to use.

So what is Alchemy in World of Warcraft? Well, it’s a profession that allows you to brew potions, elixirs, oils, and flasks along with the ability to transmute certain metals and essences into a more valuable metal or essence. It also provides a huge gain in end game raiding since it’s a primary non-gathering profession. It’s also a huge source of income for many players because potions and the such are consumable, meaning there is always a high demand.

Our guide to Alchemy in World of Warcraft goes over the basics and is a central point for other helpful information, such as leveling alchemy, the best professions to pair with alchemy, and much more.

World of Warcraft Alchemy Guide

Alchemy can create the following items in the game (in most cases):

• Potions: Potions are consumable items that provide an INSTANT buff (such as restoring x amount of health or mana or applying a short duration buff (15 seconds or so)).  They are limited to one use per combat in addition to whatever time they normally have.
• Elixirs: Elixirs are consumable items that provide a MEDIUM-DURATION buff. There are two kinds, GUARDIAN ELIXIRS and BATTLE ELIXIRS. You can only have one of each type up at a certain time and the benefits end when you die.
• Flasks: Flasks are consumable items that provide a LONG-DURATION buff and count as both a guardian and battle elixir. These buffs persist throughout death and usually last for an hour (Alchemists can get a bonus of having one Flask last 2 hours, saving greatly in raiding costs). Flasks can also be obtained through Cauldrons, created by Alchemist, to serve their entire raid.
• Oils: Oils were depreciated a while ago, but still exist and can be sold to lower level players.

In addition, they have a special ability to transmute items from one type to another.

• Transmute: Transmute recipes take one type of material (Metal/Essences/etc.) and turns it into another. For instance, you can transmute a Monarch Topaz and Eternal Shadow into an Ametrine.

Alchemists get a special ability known as “Mixology” that increases the effect and duration of elixirs and flasks. This translates usually into a huge bonus on flasks to bring Alchemy on par to other professions (like Enchanting ring enchants) and double the duration. For instance, in Cataclysm, Mixology adds an additional 80 primary stat to a flask, making it the same as other professions.

Alchemy Specialization

Alchemy has three different specializations: Master of Elixirs, Master of Potions, and Master of Transmutation. These masteries give you a chance to gain a “proc” which gives you up to five times the original product for the same amount of materials. You can specialize Alchemy at level 68 with 325 skill by completing a specific quest in outland.

You can pay to change your Alchemy specialization by speaking to the original trainer and asking to unlearn the skill. Once you’ve completed that you can take on any specialization without cost again. This is used by many players to “cheat” the system by training Mastery of Potions first since it has the lowest cost (one dungeon run and a few potions) then switching to Master of Transmutation or Elixirs if they so choose.

Master of Elixirs

Allows an Alchemist to sometimes create more than one (up to 5) elixirs. Flasks are considered Elixirs for Mastery of Elixirs, making this a very good specialization for any raiding guild Alchemists. For the more casual players who focus on potions or transmutes for cash then this wouldn’t be that great.

To gain a mastery of elixirs travel to Shattrath city and speak with Lorokeen. You’ll need 10 Essence of Infinity, 5 elixirs of major defense, 5 elixirs of mastery, and 5 elixirs of major agility. Return with the items and you will have gained the mastery of elixirs.

Master of Potions

Allows an Alchemist to sometimes create more than one (up to five) potions. This is a great mastery for anyone who brews potions often for PvP or to sell on the auction house. If you find yourself doing elixirs more often for your guild or for the buffs then this wouldn’t be that great of an idea.

To gain a mastery of potions travel to Cenarion Refuge in Zangarmarsh. Find Lauranna Thar’well and take on her quest. She’ll want the Botanist’s Field Guide, 5 Super Healing Potions, 5 Super Mana Potions, and 5 Major Dreamless Sleep potions. The field guide comes from High Botanist Freywinn in The Botanica. If you’re level 85 you can solo him without a pinch. At level 80 you can solo him as a healer. At level 70 you’ll have a bit more difficulty and will need to bring a friend or two (or just queue up for the dungeon).

Master of Transmutation

Allows an Alchemist to get greater results when transmuting which basically means you can get up to five additional items during a transmute. Very useful for those who do transmuting often to take inexpensive metals/essences and turn them into something more profitable.

If you want to gain a mastery of transmutation, head to Stormspire in Netherstorm. There Zarevhi waits and he wants four Primal Mights. This is a costly way to go about it and you might prefer to just do Mastery of Potions and pay to change your specialization.

That’s about all you need to know to get started as an Alchemist in World of Warcraft. If you’re looking for more information, be sure to browse the other sections of our guide, or comment below to discuss Alchemy with other members of the community.