Alchemy is the equivalent of a magic system in Secret of Evermore.
Unlike traditional RPG magic systems, Evermore does not use MP for its equivalent of spells, but each spell is made on the spot by combining the necessary ingredients to create an alchemical reaction. The player is not able to freely combine alchemy ingredients, though. Numerous characters make livings as alchemists, developing formulas and gathering ingredients to sell to other practitioners.
Every alchemy formula uses a combination of 2 ingredients. This combination is usually realistic in terms of science and chemistry. Every formula also has a unique combination, except for Reflect and Force Field, which share the same ingredient combination (but do differ in ingredient amount required).
The player is able to equip up to nine alchemy formulas at a time; current formulas can be changed when visiting an alchemist, or certain other characters. Receiving a new formula also allows the player to change their equipped formulas freely. A formula cannot be used until it is learned.
The leaders of Evermore are also able to cast powerful alchemy by use of Call Beads.
Alchemy Leveling Table[]
All alchemy formulas can be trained, and most of them will have increased effectiveness when leveled up. Some formulas never become stronger, though. These are as follows: Cure, Levitate, Revealer, Escape, Corrosion, One Up, Super Heal, Reflect, Force Field, Stop, Call Up and Energize. For a total of 12 formulas, or 35% of the total 34.
Note that Call Bead spells cannot be leveled up, either.
Level | Raise | Times | Total |
---|---|---|---|
0 | raise :10 ea. | 10 times | |
1 | raise :05 ea. | 20 times | 30 total |
2 | raise :04 ea. | 25 times | 55 total |
3 | raise :03 ea. | 34 times | 89 total |
4 | raise :02 ea. | 50 times | 139 total |
5 | raise :02 ea. | 50 times | 189 total |
6 | raise :01 ea. | 100 times | 289 total |
7 | raise :01 ea. | 100 times | 389 total |
8 | raise :01 ea. | 100 times | 489 total |
9 | raise :01 ea. | 100 times | 589 total (588*) |
In reality, the maximum level is 9:98 and not 9:99, which is obtained after casting the alchemy formula 588 times.
Unobtainable Formulas[]
Some formulas cannot be obtained anymore once a certain event has happened, either the NPC has moved or his location has become inaccessible.
This applies to these formulas: Escape, Explosion, Lance (Alchemy), Fire Power, Revealer and Speed. If the player has abused certain progress exploits with the dog, he can also skip receiving Flash and Levitate, making them unobtainable if they have progressed too far into the game. Heal can also be skipped, but can always be reobtained later.
If the player has beaten Aegis before unlocking Drain, to then go and unlock Double Drain from the same alchemist, the alchemist will only give Double Drain at first. But if the player enters his cave again, he will give Drain and ask the player how they got rid of the barrier blocking the entrance. Logically, this makes little sense, but this happens because of how the game code is made. This means Drain can always be unlocked and does not become unobtainable.
Least Formula Collection[]
Without cheating a player will always have at least 1 formula unlocked; Lightning Storm (always given by Gomi after defeating Sterling). Through normal gameplay, the player will also unlock Flash, Heal and Levitate, Crush and Call Up for a total of 6. This can be avoided as stated in their respective pages, however.
List of Formulas[]
There are a total of 34 alchemy formulas (and 1 dummy formula). 18 formulas are defensive/light ones which help the player in a certain way, be it healing, buffing Stats, allowing progress, etc. The other 16 formulas are offensive/dark ones, which all deal damage (except Stop) and sometimes have a secondary effect like add damage over time, heal the player for the damage dealt, etc.
In alphabetical order:
Formula | Icon | Ingredients | Effect | Acquired |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acid Rain | x1, x3 | Deals damage - locks the target for a long time | Sandpits | |
Atlas | x1, x1 | Raises Strength | Nobilia | |
Barrier | x1, x2 | Restores some HP and prevents physical damage | Nobilia | |
Call Up | x1, x1 | Creates a Call Bead | Ruffleberg's Lab | |
Corrosion | x1, x3 | Deals damage over time | Ivor Tower Sewers | |
Crush | x1, x1 | Deals damage - locks the target for a medium time | Cliff | |
Cure | x2, x1 | Restores status | Southern Jungle Nobilia Marketplace | |
Defend | x1, x1 | Raises defense | Fire Eyes' Village | |
Double Drain | x2, x2 | Deals damage and restores user's HP - locks the target for a short time | Western Bank | |
Drain | x1, x2 | Deals damage and restores user's HP - locks the target for a short time | Western Bank | |
Energize | x1, x1 | Rapidly charges weapon energy | Ruffleberg's Lab | |
Escape | x1, x1 | Return to the entrance of dungeons | Horace's Camp | |
Explosion | x2, x1 | Deals damage - locks the target for a medium time | Ebon Keep Castle | |
Fireball | x1, x2 | Deals damage - locks the target for a medium time | Hall of Collosia | |
Fire Power | x1, x1 | Deals damage - locks the target for a medium time | Ivor Tower Castle | |
Flash | x1, x2 | Deals damage - locks the target for a medium time | Fire Eyes' Village | |
Force Field | x1, x1 | Negates damage from next attack | Chessboard | |
Hard Ball | x1, x1 | Deals damage - locks the target for a short time | Bugmuck | |
Heal | x1, x1 | Restores HP | Mammoth Graveyard | |
Lance | x1, x1 | Deals damage - locks the target for a very short time | Ivor Tower | |
Levitate | x1, x1 | Levitate and move boulders | Volcano Slopes | |
Lightning Storm | x1, x2 | Deals damage - locks the target for a medium time | Gomi Tower | |
Miracle Cure | x2, x1 | Restores status and HP | Southern Jungle | |
Nitro | x1, x2 | Deals damage - locks the target for a medium time | Ebon Keep Castle | |
One Up | x1, x1 | Fully restores Hero's HP | Dark Forest | |
Reflect | x2, x1 | Reflects alchemy attacks | Junkyard | |
Regrowth | x1, x2 | Restores HP over time | Ebon Keep | |
Revealer | x2, x1 | Reveals invisible paths | Horace's Camp | |
Revive | x3, x1 | Revives the Dog | Cliff | |
Slow Burn | x1, x1 | Deals damage over time | Ebon Keep Castle | |
Speed | x1, x2 | Raises evasion | Volcano | |
Sting | x2, x1 | Deals damage - locks the target for a medium time | Desert of Doom | |
Stop | x2, x1 | Paralyzes enemies for 8 seconds | Chessboard | |
Super Heal | x2, x1 | Fully restores HP of Hero and Dog | Ebon Keep Castle |
In chronological order (optimal route):
Prehistoria: Flash, Hard Ball, Acid Rain, Cure, Defend, Heal, Levitate, Speed
Antiqua: Crush, Sting, Atlas, Revive, Revealer, Fireball, Drain, Escape, Double Drain
Gothica: Lance, Corrosion, Fire Power, One Up, Regrowth, Super Heal, Slow Burn, Explosion, Lightning Storm
Antiqua backtrack: Barrier & Prehistoria backtrack: Miracle Cure
Omnitopia: Reflect, Call Up
Gothica backtrack: Nitro, Force Field, Stop
Omnitopia backtrack: Energize
Dummied formulas[]
One formula that was implemented in the game still exists in the coding in an unfinished state: Laser. This formula uses the same alchemy icon as that of Levitate and uses 1 Limestone and 1 Brimstone, but has no effect.
Trivia[]
- The Secret of Evermore player's guide distinguishes between healing and supportive alchemy, and offensive alchemy, as "light" and "dark". This terminology is not used in-game, however.
- There are two different animations when the boy mixes an alchemy formula: healing formulas consist of the Boy tossing something into the air over his head, and offensive formulas have him slam something into the ground.
- If no alchemy formulas are equipped, the Alchemy menu will be skipped when navigating between menu rings.
- Through use of the Dog Sniff Exploit to skip the two points Levitate is required to progress, it is possible to complete the game without ever using Alchemy.
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Alchemy
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Formulas
Prehistoria: Acid Rain - Cure - Defend - Flash - Hard Ball - Heal - Levitate - Speed
Antiqua: Atlas - Crush - Double Drain - Drain - Escape - Fireball - Revealer - Revive - Sting Gothica: Barrier - Corrosion - Explosion - Fire Power - Lance - Lightning Storm Miracle Cure - One Up - Regrowth - Slow Burn - Super Heal Omnitopia: Call Up - Energize - Force Field - Nitro - Reflect - Stop Unused: Laser |