Alchemy Skill

What can be more supernatural than magic? This new skill allows Sims to dabble in the art of elixir-making, of turning ingredients into powerful elixirs that can change other Sims into different forms, cure conditions, boost mood, and much more. Crafted elixirs are also a good way to make Simoleons on the side, and some Sims will opt to support themselves as self-employed Alchemists rather than enroll in a more traditional career—even one as untraditional as Fortune Teller.

• Acquire By: Use Alchemy Station, take Alchemy class, read Alchemy books
• Development Tools: Alchemy Station, Creating elixirs
• Age Availability: Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Elder

Development

The Alchemy skill is a natural fit with the supernatural setting in this expansion, especially if you are playing as the Witch supernatural type. However, any Sim who is teen or older may learn this new skill. Sims who master the Alchemy skill become incredible elixir mixologists, whipping up vials of fanciful concoctions with powerful effects. As you’ll see in the recipe list below, there are indeed some potent elixirs that have the ability to change lives for the better... and perhaps for the worse.

However, it takes time to become a top Alchemist. It requires study, Simoleons, and a good eye for finding collectibles to use in elixirs. (Fortunately, we have full maps of Moonlight Falls that show you exactly where to find ingredients.) The easiest way to launch the development of the Alchemy skill is to take the Alchemy class (§100) at the Vault of Antiquity. However, there are other means for starting this skill. You can also pick up Alchemy skill books at the bookstore. Using these tools in early levels will speed the development of the skill.

Take the Alchemy class at the Vault of Antiquity!

The Alchemy Station is a critical object for the development of this skill. It’s not cheap, but if you are going to make Alchemy a central facet of your Sim’s character or lifestyle, it’s a good idea to invest in one and install it on your lot. It will just save time, rather than visiting a community-based Alchemy Station, such as the station at Aleister’s Elixirs & Sundries. Fortunately, there is only one Alchemy Station, so you don’t have to juggle upgrades—one and done, you know. Any time spent at the Alchemy Station then starts developing and eventually upgrading the skill.

Level Progression

• When you achieve the first level of the Alchemy skill, you unlock the Mix Elixirs interaction, which allows you to start creating elixirs at the Alchemy Station. At first, you only have access to one recipe: Bliss. (You’re also given some free ingredients—check your inventory to see Mandrake, Valerian Root, and more.) However, as you level up the Alchemy skill and uncover new recipe books, you learn new elixirs.
• Level 1: Sims can use the Mix Elixirs interaction.
• Level 6: Sims have a tunable chance to make 2 elixirs per successful creation attempt.
• Level 10: Sims have a tunable chance to create 3 elixirs per successful creation attempt.

Got Generations? Then you already know a little something about cooking up elixirs. To keep things separate, though, your Skill Journal will differentiate between Chemistry Potions and Alchemy Elixirs.

Brewing Elixirs

Now, once you reach level 1 of the Alchemy skill, you unlock the Mix Elixir interaction and can start brewing up a storm on the Alchemy Station. Good to go, right? Hold your horses. You need to keep upgrading the skill to unlock new recipes for different, more powerful elixirs. Plus, certain recipe books at the bookstore are only available to Alchemists at specific levels.

Collecting is the most common method of gathering ingredients.

Every recipe requires specific ingredients. These ingredients are found in the wild through collecting, fishing, or purchasing at stores. We have a full recipe list below that reveals what ingredients are required for every recipe. To create an elixir, you must click on the Alchemy Station and choose the Mix interaction. Without the proper ingredients for a specific elixir in your inventory, you cannot select it from the menu. When you create an elixir, the required ingredients are permanently removed from your inventory. However, if you have learned every recipe and satisfied the Master Alchemist challenge, there is a chance you won’t use all of the required ingredients.

Throwing Elixirs

While many elixirs can be used on yourself, you can also use them on other Sims. Throwing an elixir at another Sim unleashes its effect on them, but not necessarily with 100 percent accuracy or reliability. There are occasions, though rare, where the effect of the elixir bounces back on you. This can prove troublesome when it’s a elixir that turns Sims into zombies or toads. So... just be mindful of that. All of the effects of throwing an elixir are in the recipe table above.

Though throwing an elixir appears as a social interaction in the menu, it’s really an action. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an affect on LTR. If a throw is “accepted,” the reaction is positive—the throw then has a Friendly STC and increases LTR. If the throw is received as a negative, it results in a Steamed STC and negative effect on LTR.

There are sneakier ways to get elixirs into other Sims. You can Mix Into Drink, which hides the elixir in a regular glass. The glass can be placed into your inventory, in a fridge, or left out on a surface. Leaving a drink out, though, may have unintended consequences, though, if the wrong Sim guzzles it.

Skill Challenges

Excellent Elixirs

• Requirement: Create 150 elixirs.
• Reward: All elixirs created by Sim will produce three vials every time.

Master Alchemist

• Requirement: Learn all Alchemy Recipes.
• Reward: Occasionally, brewed recipes will not use all the ingredients. Also, prices are discounted at Aleister’s Elixirs & Sundries.

Alchemists Anonymous

• Requirement: Throw 50 elixirs at other Sims.
• Reward: Never lose LTR for throwing a harmful elixir at another Sim. In addition, increased positive LTR for throwing a beneficial elixir at another Sim.

Tracked Statistics

• Number of Alchemy elixirs created
• Number of Sims turned into supernaturals
• Number of supernaturals turned into humans
• Number of Alchemy Recipes discovered (out of 44)
• Elixirs thrown at other Sims
• Simoleons earned selling elixirs

Skill Memories

• Created First Alchemy Elixir (once only)
• Learned Your First Alchemy Recipe (once only)
• Created Clone Drone Elixir (once only)
• Created Midas Touch Elixir (once only)
• Created Origin of the Tragic Clown Elixir (once only)
• Created Opposite Personality Elixir (once only)
• Created Zombified Elixir (once only)
• Created a Batch of Elixirs (once only)

Skill Achievements

• Create 300 Elixirs
• Turn 15 Sims into supernatural beings (fairies, vampires, werewolves)
• Cure 15 Sims of their supernatural status
• Use X of [specified Elixir]
• Use X Elixirs
• Create [specified Elixir]
• Turn Sim into [specified supernatural type]
• Throw a [Specified Elixir] at another Sim
• Throw X Elixirs at other Sims

Hidden Skills

As you know from The Sims 3 and previous expansions, there are hidden skills as well as those you develop at venues or outwardly on books and objects. These skills are not tracked in the Skill Journal and you never see a progress meter above your Sims’ head while working on them. Previous hidden skills include Chess or Arcade Game. In Supernatural , there are hidden skills related to many of the supernaturals, such as Lycanthropy for Werewolves. Those hidden skills are detailed in the Meet the Supernaturals chapter.

Broom Riding is a hidden skill. Whenever any Sim rides a broom or flies around the arena, they develop the behind-the-scenes Broom Riding skill. The higher this skill, the better chance you have at pulling off some insane stunts at the arena, which in turn satisfies the Fun need to a greater degree. And if you are stunt-riding for tips, an improved Broom Riding skill can lead to bigger post-ride paydays! As mentioned in the New Object Catalog chapter, the hidden Arcade skill returns. Here, you develop the skill by playing Smack-A-Gnome! and The Claaaaw. The more you play, the better you do at these games. Not only does this result in higher scores, but also more Fun and increased Social bumps when audiences watch. If you need to bump mood, being able to get a sweet boost from a short gaming session is really beneficial.

The hidden Dance skill is also woven into Supernatural . Whenever you dance at an audio object, you increase your Dance skill. The longer you dance, the better your moves, which in turn means you have more Fun and you decrease the odds of embarrassing yourself.