What's the point of Alchemy when nothing you create without enchantments can compare to what you find?

[Lokiwolf90]

First time I've ever focused on Alchemy, primarily because I wanted to rely more on poisons. I've got the Ordinator perks, which as I understand do sort of nerf enchantments and alchemy as is. Even before that, though, I've never been able to create something that even came close to being better than what I could find.

[FauxFurry]

It gives player characters access to spell effects earlier than one can find similar enchantments plus one can use free reagents to make healing potions when one wants to save one's magicka for combat or support spells. It supplements rather than replace anything.

[alexander_dougherty]

You can create potions with multiple effects, that can make a difference.

[Zsrai]

I find the poisons much more interesting and varied than the potions in general. You can stack a couple different kinds of debuffs and damage types, but you have to deal with the clunkiness of applying them all the time.

[Ondjage]

Alchemy is so good in this game. It's slow, it's tedious but it's very powerful.

Lets use an example:

Creep Cluster, Swamp Fungal Pods and Imp Stools make a paralysis potion.

So taking what FauxFurry said about giving characters access to spell effect earlier, you're receving an expert level ability as low as level 1. You could bascially paralyze people for like 3 seconds, and while they are paralyzed, you can steal from them...(everything) even kill them and there's nothing they can do about it.

A thing to consider too is that all these ingredients can be harvested in the wild, and a good strategy is to visit all major holds, create expensive potions, sell the potions, buy up more ingredients to repeat the process in all the holds and before you know it you're a rich person that can become anything because you'll have crazy amounts of Gold to train any skill and your alchemy will be godlike, thus more stronger and valued potions.

Nordic Barnicles, Salmon Roe and some Garlic create an extremely expensive potion so be sure to buy/steal/loot them at all cost.

[Lokiwolf90]

Well, one case in particular... Can I recreate the effect of a Deadly Frenzy Poison, or better? I have Brotherhood Cocktail, so I can use pickpocket to poison.

[Ondjage]

Falmer Ear and Troll Fat are the only two I know off the top of my head that will create a frenzy poison. I think Hagraven Feathers do too, but I don't remember.

Once you're a master Alchemist (100, got the correct perks) it should be better than any Deadly Frenzy Poison. In fact, every poison and potion you make will be a way better version of what you will loot and find.

Alchemy is trollish at first. Surely a Blisterwort and some Wheat that most people learn in the beginning is more costly, and rewarded less healing (I think 17 HP?) as opposed to just buying a HP Potion that restored 25 and was cheaper. But oh sweet mother of baby Talos make the same potion again once you're a master and you'll see.

[abcd]

Bulk discounts for found ingredients. Your potions might only restore 23hp, but they were practically free and you can easily get 10 or 20 of them just walking from place to place.

Also some effects are rare to find but easy to craft and still useful at lower %'s, such as fortify conjuration.

Haggling potions, again in bulk. Junk haggling potions for your junk loot, save a good one for good loot.

Ludicrous gold income from even the worst Damage Magicka Regen poisons, which can also be necessary for making mage vs mage combat manageable on Legendary.

There's also something to be said for being able to apply a damaging poison for every sword/dagger hit, though it's pretty tedious to do so. Still, 10x10dmg is more than 2x30dmg.

[Kasane Randell MFer]

This happens with Enchanting when you first start with it as well, they are nothing compared to the stuff you find, till you raise your skill and put points into it.

[Uncle64]

Give it some time, and put the perks right.

[ULTRA]

Alchemy is easily the most profitable crafting skill and allows you to conditionally improve your odds in a battle, basically. If you don't want to level up illusion, you can become invisible. If you're going against a fire mage you can get your resistance up above 50% to his attacks. You can restore your health instantly. But most importantly, it feeds into the alchemy-enchantment loop that allows you to create the most powerful equipment possible.

It is a support skill, though, so it isn't a replacement for a weapon skill or defense.