Fortify Enchanting is a highly useful alchemical effect for Skyrim players. Players can gulp down one of these to easily enhance the powerful magic they apply to their armor and weapons. Additionally, making these potions can be worth it for the Septims alone. Not only does gear with higher-level enchantments fetch a higher price, but potions with this effect are also highly valuable. Churning them out can earn the player mountains of gold.

Though it looks complicated at first, crafting Fortify Enchanting potions can quickly become second nature. Whether the Dragonborn is looking for riches or for enhanced power, these tips should prove invaluable when it comes to increasing one’s Enchanting skill through Alchemy.

Updated April 16, 2022 by Demaris Oxman: More than ten years after its release, Skyrim still has a massive and devoted fanbase. Players still find themselves returning to this game to get lost in the fantasy world, slay dragons, pledge their souls to Daedric princes, and learn all that the world has to offer. Enchanting remains one of the most popular skills to level in the game, especially among the crafting methods. A mace that shocks enemies or a pair of boots that muffles footsteps can come in handy throughout the Dragonborn’s adventures — or sell for a high price. Of course, at the start of the Enchanting skill tree, the player’s flaming swords won’t do much damage. That’s where gulping down a Fortify Enchanting potion can come in handy.

The Fortify Enchanting Effect

Potions of Fortify Enchanting do exactly what it says on the label. When the Dragonborn drinks these concoctions, the items they craft at the Arcane Enchanter will be more powerful than usual. Whether the player intends on selling their enchanted items or keeping them for themselves, stronger is always better.

The exact degree to which the enchantments are strengthened, as well as the length of the potion’s effect, are determined by the Dragonborn’s alchemy level. To boost the Alchemy skill, players can grind out potions or pay NPCs for training. Gear with the Fortify Alchemy enchantment will also increase the skill while the Dragonborn wears it.

Fortify Enchanting Ingredients

As with any potion, these brews must start with the right components. Aside from the DLC ingredients, most of these can be purchased from alchemy vendors across Skyrim to save time. However, it can feel very rewarding (and help save money) to hunt down and collect the items oneself. Note, though, that some can be dangerous to track down. Novice or low-level players are recommended to stick with Snowberries, Blue Butterfly Wings, or Spriggan Sap.

Ancestor Moth Wing

Exclusive to the Dawnguard DLC, Ancestor Moths can be found only in the Ancestor Glade, which the player visits during the main Dawnguard questline. As with most DLC ingredients, this item is unfortunately not sold in shops.

Blue Butterfly Wing

Blue butterflies are common throughout Skyrim’s temperate areas. Players can catch plenty of them in the wilderness outside Whiterun or Falkreath, though it may take a bit of legwork to chase them down. They’re generally quite cheap to buy at alchemy vendors as well.

Chaurus Hunter Antennae

Another Dawnguard ingredient, these drop from killed Chaurus Hunters. They are like a flying version of a Chaurus, and resemble a giant preying mantis. Hunting down this ingredient can be dangerous — and worse, it’s not sold in shops. Other Fortify Enchanting ingredients are much easier to get, but if players find themselves in Dwemer ruins and caves where Falmer and Chaurus dwell, they may get their hands on a couple. Notable locations include:

  • Blackreach Mzulft Darkfall Cave

Hagraven Claw

As the name implies, players can loot these from killed Hagravens, horrific bird-woman witch beings. Be careful going up against these creatures, as they use powerful destruction magic. If the Dragonborn isn’t up for the battle, they can buy Hagraven Claws at alchemy shops for a moderate price. But if they’re looking for a fight, Hagravens can be found at the following locations:

  • Dead Crone Rock Hag’s End Darklight Tower Orphan Rock Blind Cliff Cave

Snowberries

These little red berries grow all over Skyrim’s northern regions, and are probably the easiest, safest Fortify Enchanting ingredient to track down. Players can usually forage a large amount in a short time simply by wandering the wilds of the Pale, Winterhold, or Hjaalmarch. They can also be bought cheaply from alchemy merchants, or taken for free if the player is on friendly terms with the vendor.

Spawn Ash

This is a Dragonborn-exclusive ingredient. Players can loot this strange dust from the remains of the Ash Spawn that wander the ash wastes on the southern half of the island of Solstheim. These creatures use powerful fire magic, so use caution when battling them. Alchemy shops on the mainland don’t sell this ingredient, but Raven Rock merchants sometimes do, particularly Milore Ienith.

Spriggan Sap

Despite the name, this ingredient can’t be looted from Spriggans. Players must purchase (or steal) Spriggan Sap from various alchemy merchants. Generally, it’s not very expensive, and if the Dragonborn is on good terms with a merchant, they may let the player take it for free. Spriggan Sap will also be included if the Dragonborn purchases an alchemy lab for Honeyside (in Riften) or Proudspire Manor (in Solitude).

If players are looking for a basic, no-frills Fortify Enchanting potion to make with two ingredients, the following combinations are good choices and produce no negative side effects:

  • Snowberries + any Fortify Enchanting ingredient Spawn Ash + any Fortify Enchanting ingredient Hagraven Claw + any Fortify Enchanting ingredient Blue Butterfly Wing + Spriggan Sap

However, whether they’re being made for personal use or to sell, it’s always useful to work more than one effect into a potion. This increases the value, boosting poth the player’s potential profit and their Alchemy skill gain. The combinations below are slightly more advanced and all produce multiple effects. Some are intended to create high profits, while others have effects that work well in tandem with Fortify Enchanting.

Ancestor Moth Wing + Blue Butterfly Wing + Chaurus Hunter Antennae

These three ingredients each have the same four effects. Thus, combining any two of these ingredients creates a highly valuable brew with the effects Damage Stamina, Fortify Conjuration, Damage Magicka Regen, and Fortify Enchanting. Considering the damaging effects, it’s not great for drinking, but it is great to sell.

Blue Butterfly Wing + Snowberries + Lavender

On the other hand, if the Dragonborn wants to take advantage of Fortify Conjuration as a bonus effect, this can come in quite handy when creating Soul Gems for Enchanting. Soul Trap falls under the Conjuration school of magic, and when enhanced by this potion’s effect, players will have an easier time trapping bigger souls for more powerful enchantments.

Lavender is plentiful in the grassy plains surrounding Whiterun. It is also commonly sold by alchemists, and found throughout the world in homes and kitchens. Friends of the Dragonborn will usually allow players to take their Lavender freely.

Spriggan Sap + Blisterwort + any other Fortify Enchanting ingredient

This combination will provide Fortify Smithing as well as Fortify Enchanting. The Dragonborn can use this to improve their most powerful weapon or piece of armor at a workbench or grindstone, then imbue it with magnificent magic.

To find Blisterwort, look in damp caves, or buy it cheaply from vendors. As one of the most common fungi in Skyrim, players shouldn’t have too hard a time tracking it down.

Hagraven Claw + Tundra Cotton + any other Fortify Enchanting ingredient

This one is especially useful if players need to purchase lots of Soul Gems before an enchanting session, as it applies the Fortify Barter effect as well as Fortify Enchanting. Additionally, it gives the Dragonborn Resist Magic, which is helpful if they’re enchanting gear before charging off to battle vampires or Forsworn.

Tundra Cotton is plentiful in the wilds outside Whiterun — look for grass that appears to have little white tufts at the top.

Skyrim is currently available on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch.