Herbalist ' s Guide to Skyrim Content . Those avoiding this northern province due to claims of barbarism or concerns over climate are doing themselves a disservice ; in fact Skyrim has a wealth of materials that every Alchemist would do well to avail himself of . I have traveled extensively throughout this land , and here are but a few of my findings . Bleeding Crown The caps of these mushrooms do indeed appear smeared with blood , though it is often hard to see in the dark , damp places in which they grow . Not uncommonly found in Skyrim , their abundance is countered by the difficulty in acquiring them . As any experienced herbalist knows , the darkest of caves often conceal far more than mere mushrooms . Nonetheless , these potent fungi , when combined with certain powdered antlers , produce a mixture rendering one quite susceptible to poison . Their usefulness is also quite apparent when mixed with lavender , creating a substance highly resistant to magic . Deathbell Folklore abounds about this flower found in the swamps of Hjaalmarch . Some stories claim it grows where unfortunate deaths have taken place , others insist it grows first and then lures unsuspecting people and animals to their doom . I have found no direct evidence to support these stories ; indeed I found the flowers difficult to locate at all . While it is most well known for its use in poisons , it would be remiss to overlook that the blooms of the deathbell are very effective in mixtures for boosting Alchemy skill . Dragonfly A surprising number of insects survive in Skyrim ' s climate , many thriving in the lower , southern areas of the province . Dragonflies can be found in a great many places , and while catching them can be a daunting prospect , the reward is well worth the effort . It was beyond the scope of my research to determine whether the orange and blue dragonflies are fully different breeds or merely simple color variations , but through experimentation , I found that the orange dragonfly , when combined with the very hardy barnacles found along the coast , transfer some of their flighty nature , giving the herbalist some very nimble fingers . Hagraven Claw The claws of a hagraven are best obtained in shops ; it is inadvisable to suggest one collects them oneself . These creatures have traded in their humanity for access to powerful magic s , and the transformations they undergo infuse their entire beings with some element of that power . Ingesting the powdered claws makes one more resistant to magic , but an especially curious property of the claws is revealed when mixed with snowberries ( often found in Skyrim ' s higher elevations ) . I found myself capable of comprehending enchantments I had believed mystifying after ingesting the mixture , and have passed the knowledge on to several court wizard s who were grateful for the knowledge . Jazbay There was a time when it would be considered treason to pick one of these grapes without express permission from the Emperor himself . It is my understanding that although growers in Skyrim were successful in improving the fruit ' s survivability , it came at the cost of flavor . No longer is it quite the prize it once was . And yet , growing amidst the volcanic tundra of Eastmarch , it is still immensely useful for concocting potions . Mages value it highly as it can be combined with simple garlic to enhance the regeneration of magicka . While no longer against the law , picking these grapes in large amounts is best kept to oneself . Luna Moth Wing As with the dragonflies , I was taken aback by the number of butterflies , moths , and other insects that manage to thrive in Skyrim . The Luna moth is especially beautiful ; its thin , almost ephemeral wings seem too delicate to hoist anything into the air , giving them an almost magical appearance . Indeed , that sense extends to the properties they exhibit when crushed and distilled ( an action I admit was difficult to perform at first , no matter my resolve to discover all that Skyrim has to offer . These creatures are simply that beautiful ! ) While they can be used for creating poisons that damage magicka , I feel that would be a waste of their potential . Do not be alarmed if , when the wings are broken down almost completely , they appear to almost disappear under your mortar . That very quality makes the wings quite effective in potions of invisibility ! Tundra Cotton Not all Nords are savages wrapped in animal skins , howling at the moon . There are a wide variety of fabrics worn throughout the land , thanks in no small part to the stubborn Tundra Cotton plant . It soaks up what rain it can in the plains west of Whiterun , and blooms frequently . When it does not exhibit any of the more striking alchemical properties , it is a staple in potions for not only fortifying magicka , but for resisting spells as well . I wonder what quality is what allows it to have adapted so well to this climate . Nightshade The name and shape of this plant are known to all ; long understood to be one of the more potent components in many poisons , the average Nord keeps his distance from the bright purple flowers nestled among dark leaves . It is exceedingly effective as a pure poison , but can also be combined with other compounds to stiffen joints as well . It is thus favored amongst those who wish to disable their opponents in battle , and can be found coating the blades of many of the more unsavory characters in Skyrim .