Early game Enshrouded can feel brutally unforgiving when you run out of healing mid-boss fight, or can’t build up enough resistance to explore higher-level shroud zones. A lot of new players grind for hours trying to make do with basic berries and low-tier craftables, but there’s a simple fix for almost all those pain points. If you’re wondering how to get Alchemist in Enshrouded, this guide breaks down every step from pre-requisites to post-unlock perks, based on dozens of hours of playtesting across multiple runs.
Pre-Requisites You Need to Meet Before Unlocking the Alchemist
You don’t need to beat any major main story bosses to unlock the Alchemist, but there are a few non-negotiable boxes you have to tick first to make the run smooth. First, you’ll need to have unlocked the Blacksmith NPC already, because you’ll need him to craft the iron weapons and armor required to take down the level 18 enemies guarding the Alchemist’s cage.
You’ll also need both the Glider and Grappling Hook unlocked and crafted. The Alchemist is trapped on a raised stone platform above a steep cliff in the Revelwood biome, and you won’t be able to reach the spot without these two tools. If you haven’t unlocked them yet, spend an hour clearing the first few Ancient Spire quests to get those recipes, it’ll save you a ton of frustration later.
Last, make sure your Flame Altar is upgraded to level 3. That boosts your shroud resistance enough that you can spend 10+ minutes exploring the Revelwood shroud areas without your health draining too fast. If you’re still at level 2, grab 10 Emberweed and 5 Shroud Wood to upgrade before you head out, it’s a quick fix that makes the whole run way less stressful.
Exact Location to Get the Alchemist in Enshrouded
The Alchemist is held in the northern section of the Revelwood biome, right near the Ancient Spire of Revelwood fast travel point. If you haven’t unlocked that fast travel point yet, you can reach Revelwood by heading west from the starting Kindlewastes area, sticking to the main path that runs past the first small shroud nodes.
Once you spawn at the Ancient Spire of Revelwood, face northeast and glide for roughly 200 meters. You’ll see a cluster of pine trees and a small stone ruin peeking over the treeline, that’s the spot you’re looking for. The area is guarded by four level 18 Rotting Wolves, which hit hard and run very fast. If you’re under level 17, bring a bow with at least 20 iron arrows to take them out from a distance, it’s way safer than trying to fight them in melee.
Don’t try to make this run at night if you’re underleveled. Extra shroud enemies spawn after dark, and you’ll end up fighting twice as many mobs for no extra reward. Once you defeat all the wolves, walk up to the wooden cage, interact with the lock to break it, and the Alchemist will thank you and say he’ll meet you back at your base. That’s all you have to do for the rescue step.
How to Set Up the Alchemist’s House to Activate Their Services
Freeing the Alchemist is only half the process. To unlock his full list of services, you’ll need to build him a dedicated house that meets all his specific requirements. I made the mistake of skipping one small requirement my first playthrough, and spent 10 minutes confused why he wasn’t selling any recipes, so don’t skip these steps:
- Minimum 4x4 floor space, with a ceiling height of at least 3 blocks to fit his crafting station
- One Alchemist’s Table placed inside the room (you unlock this recipe immediately after freeing the Alchemist)
- One torch, basic bed, and small storage chest placed inside the assigned space
- Fully enclosed walls and a working door to seal the room off from outside enemies and bad weather
The Alchemist’s Table requires 10 Wood Planks, 5 Iron Bars, and 2 Alchemical Clay to craft. You can find Alchemical Clay by digging in muddy riverbeds around the edges of Revelwood, it’s easy to spot by its pale orange color. You don’t need any fancy decorative items for his base house, just the basics listed above.
Once you place all the required items, open your housing menu, select the room, and assign it to the Alchemist from the list of available NPCs. You’ll get a pop-up notification that he’s moved in within 60 seconds. If you don’t get the notification, double check for gaps in the walls, make sure the door is properly placed, and confirm all furniture is inside the room’s marked boundaries.
Top Perks You Unlock Once the Alchemist Moves In
The Alchemist is easily one of the most useful NPCs in the entire game, and unlocking him changes the whole feel of the mid-game loop. The first item you’ll want to craft from him is the Greater Healing Potion, which restores 75% of your max health over 5 seconds, way better than the measly 20% you get from wild berries. For players who love exploring deep shroud zones, his Shroud Resistance Potion doubles your safe time in shrouded areas, which is a game-changer when you’re hunting for rare endgame materials.
He also sells recipes for elemental weapon coatings that let you add extra fire, frost, or poison damage to your weapons. These coatings cut boss fight times almost in half, especially when you’re fighting shrouded enemies weak to specific elements. The only downside early on is that the ingredients for his potions are a bit rare to forage, but that fixes itself quickly once you unlock his seed shop.
As soon as you get the Alchemist set up, buy all the herb seed recipes he has available. You can plant these in farm plots at your base to grow all the alchemical ingredients you need, so you never have to spend hours foraging in the woods again. He also sells the materials you need to upgrade your Flame Altar to higher levels, so you can explore even more dangerous areas of the map without worrying about your health draining too fast.
Once you know how to get Alchemist in Enshrouded, you’ll wonder how you ever played the game without him. He cuts down on grind time, makes hard fights way more manageable, and opens up a ton of endgame crafting options you can’t access anywhere else. If you’re still stuck on any step, take it slow, level up a bit if you’re struggling with the guard wolves, and double check your housing requirements if he won’t move in. I do this unlock on every single playthrough, and it’s always the first mid-game goal I set for myself, no matter what build I’m running.