Alchemy is way more broken than the enchanting loop and everyone knows it

[DragonbornVet]

I've been running the numbers on my current playthrough and honestly the alchemy exploit is worse than people admit. Like, you can hit the damage cap on poisons before you even get to Expert level. One paralysis poison and suddenly every melee enemy in the game is just lying there.

The enchanting loop at least requires you to actually craft stuff and manage your carry weight. Alchemy? You just... make poisons in your sleep. Deathbell, River Betty Root, Thistle Branch - boom, 200 damage paralysis. The game doesn't even pretend to balance around it.

What's wild is how early you can break it. By the time you hit Bleak Falls Barrow on a fresh character you've already looted enough ingredients to poison your way through half the game. Enchanting loop at least waits until you're deep enough to feel like you earned it.

Does anyone else just... not use alchemy on purpose? I feel like I have to actively avoid it or the game turns into a walking simulator where I one-shot everything.

 

[RiftenWanderer]

I get what you're saying, but I think you're underselling how much setup the alchemy thing actually takes. Yeah, paralysis is busted, but you need to know the recipes first - and that means either looking stuff up or experimenting for hours. Most casual players don't even realize you can combine paralysis with damage, they just make random potions and wonder why alchemy feels weak.

The enchanting loop is way more intuitive though, you're right about that. Slap Fortify Alchemy on gear, make better potions, repeat. It's almost braindead once you understand the loop exists. But alchemy at least requires you to find the ingredients scattered around the world. You can't just... craft them out of nothing like you can with enchanting if you've got soul gems and a transmute spell.

That said, I've never actually tried to break the game with paralysis poisons because honestly once I realize I'm one-shotting everything I just get bored. I usually just... stop using them? Or gimp myself on purpose. My current playthrough I'm avoiding paralysis entirely and it's way more fun. The game's only as broken as you let it be, imo.