Among all the dangers that Skyrim poses to the Dragonborn, diseases are fairly low on most players' lists. After all, who has time to worry about the flu when they're trying to save the world, commune with demons, and assassinate an Emperor?
If players aren't careful, though, they can find themselves seriously debilitated by a pestilence-ridden bite from a bear, skeever, or vampire. Luckily, that's where alchemy comes into play. By whipping up a quick potion of Cure Disease, players can rid themselves of all illnesses, leaving them ready to delve into the next dungeon.
Diseases In Skyrim
Players may contract diseases from a variety of sources, most often from being damaged by traps or attacked by animals (or, in the case of Sanguinaire Vampiris, vampires). The Dragonborn may harbor any number of diseases at once. Thankfully, a Potion of Cure Disease will cure any of the following conditions, no matter how many the player has accrued.
If there are no potions on hand, players can also cure diseases by praying at a shrine. Still, temples aren't always close by when the Dragonborn's on a quest, so it's handy to keep these potions around.
Ingredients
There are only a few ingredients that boast the Cure Disease effect, but thankfully they aren't too hard to come by. Players can buy all of these from alchemist merchants (except for Felsaad Tern Feathers). Adventurous gamers, though, may choose to hunt them down in the wild.
- Charred Skeever Hide: Players can loot this item from any skeever they find roasting over a fire. These are common in bandit lairs and giant encampments.
- Felsaad Tern Feathers: Exclusive to the Dragonborn DLC, players can find these by shooting down Felsaad Terns on the coast of Solstheim. Players can also find them lying around homes in Raven Rock.
- Hawk Feathers: Like Felsaad Terns, players can gather these feathers by hunting hawks, which often circle Solitude. They are also dropped by hostile mages, or found in the homes of those who practice alchemy.
- Mudcrab Chitin: Loot this ingredient off killed mudcrabs. Players can find these hostile crustaceans near almost every river and stream.
- Vampire Dust: As expected, the Dragonborn can find this ingredient on the bodies of killed vampires.
Compatible Effects
Since Cure Disease potions are most often used outside of battle, combining effects isn't quite as effective here as it is for some other potions. However, creating brews with more than one effect can still prove useful for creating valuable potions and raising the alchemy skill.
For example, a mixture of Felsaad Tern Feathers and Charred Skeever Hide will restore health as well as curing disease, useful after a nasty bite from a plagued bear or spider. Adding Mudcrab Chitin to this brew will add Restore Stamina and Resist Poison effects as well.