ANNOUNCE2/8/2010 4:43:02 PMYou should by now be familiar with the basics of Alchemy – Fragmentation and Synthesis. If you’re not, check out the Alchemy Basics article. While you’ll find those skills extremely useful, there’s only so much time you can spend in front of a dry oven for so long you hear the siren call of the battlefield. Fortunately, the science of alchemy is a boon for anyone who wishes to excel in combat.
The first task for any aspiring Alchemist to acquire an alchemist’s cylinder, this can be purchased from Eabha near the Alchemist’s House in Taillteann. You will need crystals to power your various Alchemy abilities, so be sure to stock up on those as well. Eabha sells them in stacks of ten and fifty. The basic idea behind alchemy is that these crystals act as mana for the various Alchemic abilities that can then be unleashed in combat. In just one example, a skilled alchemist can store high-level elemental abilities within a crystal by using the Mana Crystallization skill.
Take the classic 5-Charged Fireball (and really, aren’t most problems easily solved with the massive application of flame?). To use Mana Crystallization, you’ll need to have a high-level Ice Spear, Thunder, or Fireball skill. Purchase a corresponding crystal from Eabha (ice, wind, or fire), and approach a steam oven. Place the crystal in the steam oven and begin charging the elemental skill you wish to store. Once you’ve prepared a 5-charge, begin the fusion process. You may then store these crystals for later usage, and you don’t even need a corresponding wand to use the crystal—just the alchemist’s cylinder! Just visit Dorren, the wizened alchemist of Taillteann, to get hooked up with some Ice Spear, Thunder, or Fireball Rank F crystals.
Some alchemy skills will require you to come to battle “pre-prepared.” You will need to forge Barrier Spike crystals, Ice Mines, and Golem crystals before you can deploy them on the battlefield. Once properly prepared though, your enemies won’t know what hit them as you unleash the deadly powers of alchemy!
Check out the YouTube video below for demonstrations of each ability!