Explain Decoctions

[BeAwesomeInstead]

Some of these monster decoctions are pretty sweet, the problem I'm having is that they are all 80/100 toxicity, which means that a single swallow will start losing you health from poisoning instead of regaining. I'm building up the brew (far left) tree in alchemy, but those extra 5 points aren't worth much for not getting poisoned.

So somone explain how the decoctions are supposed to work, and which talents I'm not understanding the tooltip for.

[The DarkLight Emissary YT]

Decoctions are ment I think to be a "trump card" for certain situations. I mean, some of those decoctions are more then enough to handle specific situations and just wipe the floor with everyone.

[BeAwesomeInstead]

Ah, didn't check the general abilities tab. Haven't looked at it since lvl 1 when I was planning my character development.

If anyone else has more insight to decoctions and the alchemy tree would love to hear it.

[AzureTheGamerKobold]

They are meant to be an option over your normal decoctions for example, i use wyvern decotion when i fight Golem's as i rarely take any damage and every blow steadyly increases my damage, to a point i'm actually doing decent damage against these guys. Some decotions are... meh at best, others seem like shouldn't have much toxicity on them at all... running doesn't consume stamina? increased carry capacity? heck those sound like they should just be general talents...

Others however can be amazingly powerful such as one that gives you a quen shield anytime you lose signifcant amount of health which saves you from having to recast it in a pinch it can save your ass. They are useful but you have to use them in the right situation.

[Ween]

the ability that increases toxicity by amount of recipes know is really powerful, i level it 3/3 to check it out and can have 3 decoctions active at a time

[BeAwesomeInstead]

Well maybe I just suck at the game. I'm playing on Blood and Bones, level 17. Constantly getting my ass handed to me, and Enhanced Swallow is my saving grace.

[BeAwesomeInstead]

@Ween. Oh really? I'll have to check it out. 3 decoctions? Must be more powerful than the tooltip is making me believe.

[Xehh]

My Geralt currently has 200 odd toxicity. I can use 2 decoctions and then use up to 3 potions per fight if I need. All about how you build your skills

[Revan Tair]

playing on the second most difficult too. but need to say. WAY TO EASY. Igni kills everything. 6,6k dmg on a tick on a boss fight vs a fiend. LOL. No dmg at all to me, it was a witcherquest, but i ran there on randomness and killed the boss there really fast with Igni.

[Ween]

ok double checked and if i go 3/3 i have 244 which is just shy of using 3 without taking damage from it, but as above poster stated its more than enough for 2 + potions

[Revan Tair]

I too have §/3 that skill, but only, as far as I remember, 190, but I do have nearly all recipes O.o

[Ween]

@ revan tair, thats odd either one of us is bugged or you have a less complete recipe list than you think, as far as i know im only missing 2 tier 3 bomb recipes and 2 tier 3 potion recipes

[BeAwesomeInstead]

@Xehh Well some of us don't build so well because we don't understand/overthink/don't do the math what's on the tooltips. I keep seeing people on high difficulty claiming the game is still too easy. Well it's tough as balls for me. I also can't complete Dark Souls in Under 3 hours (still haven't beaten it in close to 100). We don't all play the same, and some of us have better heads for optimization and min/maxxing.

Which is why the rest of us come here and ask questions.

[KoalafiedKiller]

I'm at 236 toxicity right now. I can easily do 2 decoctions and have room for any potions I might need. I don't even have the +30 toxicity skill. A lot of the decoctions are not worth using in my opinion. Noon wraith is my go to, always have that one active.

[Revan Tair]

@Ween Nah, you're right. Was on my first playthrough, that i got way more recipe and it's all clumpering together, the playthrough, i mean. xD

[Skaldy]

there are tons of abilities in alchemy tree gives you more threshold/toxic i can use one decoction with one more potion of my choice for examle