Czech Alchemy

Lore & Background

Alchemy in *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* is a practical skill tied to the game's emphasis on historical authenticity rather than fantasy role-playing conventions. The series uses a classless progression system where the player character improves skills through actions, dialogue choices, and repeated use of abilities. Alchemy fits this model: players learn recipes, gather herbs, and brew potions at alchemy benches. The system includes layered mechanics such as ingredient preparation, mortar grinding, and precise heating. The game's setting in early 15th-century Bohemia, during the conflict between Wenceslaus IV and Sigismund of Luxembourg, grounds alchemy as a period-appropriate craft. Warhorse Studios designed the game with an unusual commitment to realism, including its combat and setting, and alchemy is part of that historically grounded approach.

In Their Own Story

In *Kingdom Come: Deliverance*, Henry of Skalitz, the son of a blacksmith, can learn alchemy as part of his journey through the political struggle of early 15th-century Bohemia. The source states that the game is set mainly in the region around Skalitz, Rattay, Sázava, and Talmberk. Alchemy benches are found in these locations, allowing Henry to brew potions for healing, stamina, and other effects. The sequel, *Kingdom Come: Deliverance II*, continues Henry's story and expands the setting to include Bohemian Paradise and Kutná Hora, a silver-mining and coinage centre. The alchemy system carries over into the sequel, with the source confirming that *Kingdom Come: Deliverance II* expanded the scale of the world and added new features, though alchemy remains a core mechanic. The games emphasize player choice and non-linear quest objectives, so Henry's use of alchemy can affect his reputation and interactions with non-player characters.

Reader's Guide

To practice alchemy in *Kingdom Come: Deliverance*, players must first find an alchemy bench, typically located in apothecaries or herbalist huts. The series' alchemy as a recurring system involving ingredient preparation and precise brewing. Players gather herbs from the open world, then follow recipes that specify ingredients, quantities, and steps such as boiling, grinding, and distilling. The game's classless progression means that repeated alchemy use improves Henry's skill, unlocking better results and more efficient brewing. The series emphasizes a historically grounded medieval setting, so alchemy is presented as a realistic craft rather than a magical art. Warhorse Studios acknowledged that historical accuracy is sometimes moderated for gameplay, as with the crime system, but alchemy remains a detailed, hands-on activity that rewards patience and attention to the game's mechanics.

Did You Know?

• Alchemy in *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* is a classless skill that improves through repeated use, not by leveling up a character class.
• The game's alchemy system requires players to follow specific steps like grinding ingredients and controlling heat, reflecting Warhorse's commitment to realism.
• The sequel, *Kingdom Come: Deliverance II*, expanded the world to include Kutná Hora, a real silver-mining and coinage centre, where alchemy remains a core mechanic.
• Warhorse Studios originally considered medieval England and Germany for the setting but chose Bohemia because the Prague-based team had greater access to local historical knowledge.
• The series emphasizes historical authenticity over fantasy, so alchemy is presented as a practical craft rather than a magical or mystical art.