Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Alchemy Guide (All Potion Recipes)

If you’ve played KCD1 then you know Alchemy is one of the most useful skills to have in the game. Things don’t change much in the sequel, as Henry can still make a bunch of groschen by pumping out potions left and right with flowers the player picked up while running from objective A to B. In my opinion, Alchemy has been very simplified for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and I will tell you exactly how to always get the best version of each potion, alongside all of their recipes, so you don’t have to waste time experimenting yourself or losing a lot of money buying the recipes.

If you have any problems with the recipes and need extra help you can hit me up directly on Discord for answers in the help channel!

Intro to Alchemy for KCD2

First thing first, you need to forget what you learned in the previous game. One of the biggest mistakes everyone is making when it comes to Alchemy right now is using the bellows. You never need to use them unless the recipe specifically mentions it! The potion will boil just by lowering the cauldron over the fire.

If a recipe mentions that you need to use the bellows, then the order is: lower the cauldron over the fire, turn the sandglass, press the bellow button once, and raise the cauldron once the specified number of turns pass.

The next important thing is understanding how turns work. Immediately after lowering the cauldron over the fire, you need to turn the sandglass over. A turn finishes the exact moment all of the grains have fallen down. Any extra second after or before can lower the quality of the potion. So, always turn the sandglass after lowering the cauldron.

To make this very clear, when I write “boil” in this guide for the recipes, it means you move the cauldron down, wait for whatever number of sandglass turns you need to wait, and then move the cauldron up! Don’t use bellows unless it is part of the instructions!

Though in-game recipes are useful, you don’t need them to make new potions. If you know the recipes, you can do them without the book Henry uses. Once you brew a potion once, it will be added to the recipe book.

Last thing to mention is that auto-crafting seems to be gone, which is likely the result of the simplification of the brewing mini-game. Still, with the right perks you can get 6 potions done with a single brew and most recipes take around 2 minutes to finish, so all in all it’s not that bad.

If you are going on a brewing frenzy, remember that, on a keyboard, “X” will move the cauldron up and down, “F” will turn the sandglass, and “Q” uses the bellows.

Potion Quality Guide

There are 4 levels of quality a potion can have in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2:

• Weak (-2)
• Normal (-1)
• Strong (0)
• Henry (0)

The higher the quality, the better the effects of the potion. The quality of the potion is based on a few factors:

• Making a mistake (-1)
• Using dried herbs (-1)
• Using old herbs (-1)
• Brewing between 00:00 and 04:00 with the Dark Arts Apprentice perk (+1)

Mistakes can be little things such as keeping the cauldron on the fire a second too much or too little. Big mistakes, such as using the wrong ingredient, will always result in a fail.

The dried herbs debuff can be negated by getting the Secret of Equilibrium perk or by using at least one fresh herb for the second ingredient.

Old herbs (the ones with red condition) can also be detrimental to your potion result. Still, using a “fresh” herb with red condition and a dried herb will result in a normal potion with perfect execution.

To make Henry-level potions, you will need the level 16 Secret of Secrets perk.

All Potion Recipes in KCD2

Aesop

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Comfrey x2, Boar’s Tusk x1, Belladonna x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Comfrey to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Add 1 Boar’s Tusk to the cauldron.
3. Boil for 2 turns.
4. Add 1 Belladonna to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase horsemanship and houndmaster by 5 and makes it easier to sneak up on animals for 24 hours.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Aqua Vitalis

Liquid Base: Water

Ingredients: Dandelion x2, Marigold x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Dandelion to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 1 turn.
3. Add 1 Marigold to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 2 turns.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Lose 50% less Health and slows bleeding by 50% for 10 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Aromatic / Essential Oil

Liquid Base: Oil

Ingredients: Chamomile⁠ ×⁠ 3, Sage⁠ ×⁠ 1, Valerian⁠ ×⁠ 1

Recipe:

1. Add 3 Chamomile
2. Boil for 3 turns.
3. Add 1 Sage to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn.
5. Add 1 Valerian to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
6. Pour into phial.

Artemisia

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Sage x1, Wormwood x2

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Sage to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 1 turn.
3. Add 2 Wormwood to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 2 turns.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase Strength by 4 and lower attack and block stamina cost -25% for 10 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Bane Poison

Liquid Base: Wine

Ingredients: Wormwood x1, Belladonna x2, Amanita Muscaria x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Wormwood to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 2 Belladonna to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn using bellows.
5. Add 1 Amanita Muscaria to the cauldron.
6. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Makes running impossible and reduces Health by 110 in 30s.

Price (Strong-quality): 50 groschen.

Bowman’s Brew

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Eyebright x2, St. John’s Wort x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Eyebright to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 3 turns.
3. Add 1 St. John’s Wort to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn using bellows.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase marksmanship by 5 and slows stamina loss when aiming by 50% for 10 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Buck’s Blood

Liquid Base: Oil

Ingredients: St. John’s Wort x1, Comfrey x1, Dandelion x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 St. John’s Wort to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Add 1 Comfrey to the cauldron.
3. Boil for 1 turn.
4. Add 1 Dandelion to the cauldron.
5. Boil for 1 turn using bellows.
6. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase stamina by 30% and stamina regen by 15% for 40 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Chamomile Decoction

Liquid Base: Wine

Ingredients: Chamomile x2, Sage x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Chamomile to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 1 turn.
3. Add 1 Sage to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Sleep heals 4 times faster and restore energy 2 times faster for 24 hours.

Price (Strong-quality): 35 groschen.

Cockerel

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Mint x2, Valerian x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Mint to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Boil for 1 turn.
3. Add 1 Valerian to the cauldron.
4. Boil for 2 turns.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase energy by 20 and decrease energy use by 20% for 12 hours.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Digestive Potion

Liquid Base: Water

Ingredients: Thistle x2, Nettle x1, Charcoal x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Thistle to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 1 Nettle to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn.
5. Add 1 Charcoal to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
6. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase Vitality by 2, cure food poisoning, and decrease nourishment by 20 for 10 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 35 groschen.

Dollmaker Poison

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Valerian x1, Herb Paris x2

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Herb Paris to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 3 turns.
3. Add 1 Valerian to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 2 turns.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Makes running impossible, reduce all weapon skills by 4, reduce Health by 30 slowly.

Price (Strong-quality): 45 groschen.

Embrocation

Liquid Base: Oil

Ingredients: Eyebright x1, Poppy x1, Valerian x1, Boar’s Tusk x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Poppy and 1 Valerian to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 1 Eyebright to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Add 1 Boar’s Tusk to the cauldron.
5. Boil for 1 turn.
6. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase Agility by 4 and sprinting costs 20% less stamina for 15 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Fever Tonic

Liquid Base: Wine

Ingredients: Feverfew x3, Ginger x2, Elderberry Leaves x1

Recipe:

1. Add 3 Feverfew to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 1 Elderberry Leaves to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Add 2 Ginger to the cauldron.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects: Cures fever.

Price: 40 groschen.

Disclaimer: This one doesn’t have different qualities. It’s always normal.

Fox

Liquid Base: Oil

Ingredients: Nettle x1, St. John’s Wort x1, Belladonna x1, Charcoal x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 St. John’s Wort and 1 Nettle to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 1 Charcoal to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Add 1 Belladonna to the cauldron.
5. Boil for 1 turn.
6. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase speech by 5 and increase reading speed for 24 hours.
(Henry-quality): Increase speech by 7, increase reading speed, and gain 50% extra experience for 48 hours.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Hair o’ the Dog

Liquid Base: Water

Ingredients: Sage x1, St. John’s Wort x1, Mint x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Sage and 1 St. John’s Wort to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 3 turns.
3. Add 1 Mint to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Remove drunkenness and hangover.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Lead Shot Gunpowder

Liquid Base: Water

Ingredients: Sulphur x1, Saltpetre x1, Charcoal x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Sulphur and 1 Saltpetre to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 1 Charcoal to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 2 turns.
5. Pour into a mortar and grind.

Effects: Ammo.

Price: 50 groschen.

Lethean Water

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Wormwood x2, Belladonna x1, Henbane x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Wormwood to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Add 1 Belladonna to the cauldron.
3. Boil for 3 turns.
4. Add 1 Henbane to the cauldron.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects: Resets all perks.

Price: 100 groschen.

Disclaimer: This one doesn’t have different qualities. It’s always normal.

Lion Perfume

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Sage x2, Mint x2

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Sage to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 2 Mint to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase charisma by 7 for 5 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 70 groschen.

Lullaby

Liquid Base: Oil

Ingredients: Poppy x1, Herb Paris x1, Thistle x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Poppy to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 1 turn.
3. Add 1 Thistle to the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn.
5. Add 1 Herb Paris to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
6. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Reduce stamina and stamina regen by 30%, reduce energy to 0, and reduce perception for 12 hours.

Price (Strong-quality): 45 groschen.

Marigold Decoction

Liquid Base: Water

Ingredients: Nettle x1, Marigold x2

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Nettle to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 2 Marigold to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Heals 40% of Health over 60s and hangover is cured instantly.

Price (Strong-quality): 50 groschen.

Mintha Perfume

Liquid Base: Wine

Ingredients: Dandelion x3, Marigold x1, Mint x1

Recipe:

1. Add 3 Dandelion and 1 Mint to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 1 Marigold to the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn using bellows.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase charisma by 3 for 30 minutes.
(Henry-quality): Increase charisma by 5 for 40 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 70 groschen.

Moonshine

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Mint x2, Wormwood x2

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Wormwood to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 2 Mint to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn.
5. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects: Alcohol.

Price: 1.9 groschen.

Nighthawk

Liquid Base: Water

Ingredients: Eyebright x2, Belladonna x1, Chamomile x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Eyebright to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Add 1 Belladonna to the cauldron.
3. Boil for 3 turns.
4. Add 1 Chamomile to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
5. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Energy decreases 50% slower at night and see better in the dark for 20 minutes.
(Henry-quality): Energy will not decrease at all and see better in the dark for 25 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Painkiller Brew

Liquid Base: Spirits

Ingredients: Poppy x3, Comfrey x1, Marigold x1

Recipe:

1. Add 3 Poppy to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Add 1 Marigold to the cauldron and boil for 1 turn using bellows.
3. Add 1 Comfrey to the cauldron and boil for 2 turns.
4. Prepare phial and distill.

Effects (Strong-quality): Maximum stamina decrease from Health loss decreases by 50% and suppresses effects from injuries for 20 minutes.
(Henry-quality): Maximum stamina decrease from Health loss decreases by 75% and suppresses effects from injuries for 15 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Quickfinger

Liquid Base: Water

Ingredients: Eyebright x2, Valerian x2, Cobweb x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Cobweb and 2 Eyebright to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 3 turns.
3. Add 2 Valerian to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn.
5. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase craftsmanship and thievery by 6 for 40 minutes.
(Henry-quality): Increase craftsmanship and thievery by 8 for 60 minutes.

Price (Strong-quality): 55 groschen.

Saviour Schnapps

Liquid Base: Wine

Ingredients: Nettle x1, Belladonna x2

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Nettle to the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 2 Belladonna to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn.
5. Pour into phial.

Effects (Strong-quality): Increase strength, agility, vitality by 2 for 5 minutes. Also recovers 20 Health and saves the game.
(Henry-quality): Increase strength, agility, vitality by 3 for 8 minutes. Also recovers 30 Health and saves the game.

Price (Strong-quality): 35 groschen.

Scattershot Powder

Liquid Base: Water

Ingredients: Sulphur x1, Saltpetre x1, Leached Coal x1

Recipe:

1. Add 1 Sulphur and 1 Saltpetre to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Boil for 3 turns.
3. Add 1 Leached Charcoal to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
4. Boil for 1 turn.
5. Pour into a mortar and grind.

Effects: Ammo.

Price: 30 groschen.

Soap

Liquid Base: Oil

Ingredients: Thistle x2, Dandelion x1, Charcoal x1

Recipe:

1. Add 2 Thistle to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
2. Boil for 2 turns.
3. Add 1 Dandelion to the cauldron and boil for 1 turn.
4. Add 1 Charcoal to the mortar, grind, and pour into the cauldron.
5. Pour into phial.

Effects: Use to wash clothes.

Price: 8.5 groschen.