One of the hardest parts of playing a mage build in Skyrim is how quickly the Dragonborn can run out of Magicka. Especially early on in the game, even fairly easy spells tend to burn through spellcasting power quickly. For someone who relies on fireballs to kill and magical armor to protect them, this can be a deadly situation.

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That's why it's often essential for mages to pack plenty of potions on their adventures. Luckily, Skyrim is brimming with flowers, fungi, and otherworldly minerals that will restore the player's Magicka and get them back in the fight quickly. Here's a guide to collecting and combining those reagents.

As the title states, potions with this effect will refill the player's Magicka bar. The amount that a crafted potion refills depends on the Dragonborn's alchemy level, so spend time grinding potions to raise the skill.

Additionally, be sure not to confuse this effect with Fortify Magicka. "Fortify" will increase the player's maximum Magicka, while "Restore" will replenish it up to the current maximum.

Plenty of ingredients throughout the game carry Restore Magicka as one of their four effects. Some are bountiful and easy to gather, while others are a bit trickier. All of the following ingredients can be purchased (or stolen, if the player is so inclined) from alchemist merchants throughout the land. However, tracking down one's own components can be a fun adventure.

These ingredients are fairly common, and don't require the Dragonborn to risk life and limb to get them. For players trying to whip up as many Restore Magicka potions as possible, they're great to gather.

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• Creep Cluster: Look for these among the rocks in the volcanic hot springs south of Windhelm, around the Atronach stone.
• Dwarven Oil: There are always plenty of jars lying around in dwarven ruins. Players can usually loot them off dwarven constructs in these ruins as well.
• Ectoplasm: Most of these are in set locations; thus, it's often hard for players to farm for it. The best way to obtain this ingredient is to gain favor with an alchemist, who will then let the Dragonborn take it freely from their shop when it's on the shelf.
• Elves Ear: Most homes contain this item, and owners will let the player take it if they are on good terms. It's also commonly dropped by hostile magic-users.
• Giant Lichen: Search for these near Morthal, or in the marshes east of Solitude.
• Grass Pod: These typically grow around Skyrim's coastal areas; the north shore of Dawnstar is a good place to look.
• Mora Tapinella: This mushroom grows on fallen logs. Autumnshade Clearing is a good place to gather it.
• Red Mountain Flower: Like their blue and purple cousins, players can find this little blossom along mountain roads and throughout grassy plains.
• Vampire Dust: Predictably, this item is dropped by killed vampires. Players can hoard this ingredient by raiding a vampire hideout, such as Movarth's Lair or Haemar's Shame, and wreaking havoc.
• White Cap: Like other common mushrooms, these can be found in dark, damp places. Gather them in Halldir's Cairn, Frostflow Abyss, or plenty of other caves.

Note: Players should not mix White Cap and Red Mountain Flower for a Restore Magicka potion. These ingredients also share the effect Ravage Magicka, which will result in the drinker losing Magicka instead.

Some players may be able to find these fairly easily, but generally, they're not worth hunting down as the above ingredients are. They tend to be in fixed locations, or require a lot of legwork to get. Once found, though, they can be incredibly useful.

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• Briar Heart: These strange items are dropped by Forsworn Briarhearts upon death. Reaching one of these foes typically requires clearing a whole Forsworn hideout though, and they use deadly spells in battle.
• Fire Salts: Loot these from dead Flame Atronachs, provided they don't explode first. Players can also loot them from the homes, hideouts, or businesses of those knowledgeable in the arcane. Lastly, College of Winterhold members can craft this item at the Atronach Forge using a salt pile, ruby, and soul gem.
• Frost Salts: These are found on dead Frost Atronachs, as well as similar static locations as Fire Salts. Players can craft them at the Atronach Forge with a salt pile, sapphire, and soul gem.
• Human Flesh: Find this grisly reagent in the hideouts of vampires, witches, and other hostile mages.
• Moon Sugar: Khajiit Caravans sell this item regularly. Players can also steal several units during the quest "Skooma Trade" in Riften.
• Pearl: Another rare item found in set locations, the player may pick this up in the domiciles of master mages.
• Taproot: Players can loot these from killed spriggans, creatures that are rare and aggressive. Players may find them in Eldergleam Sanctuary or Autumnshade Clearing.

Packing multiple effects into a single potion allows Skyrim's alchemists to kill several birds with one stone. For example, Dwarven Oil, Mora Tapinella, and Fire Salts create a potion that not only restores Magicka, but also imbues the user with Regenerate Magicka and Fortify Illusion effects. This is incredibly helpful for high-level mages who rely on Illusion spells to keep their hands clean.

Combining Moon Sugar and Fire Salts will also add a Regenerate Magicka effect to the brew. Additionally, if the player tosses in some Snowberries, they will add both the Resist Fire and Resist Frost effects to the concoction.

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