Herbalism Skill Guide
In order to have the Herbalism Skill as an option you need to get the Outdoor Retreat Game Pack. This is also needed to gather certain plants to make the different brewed concoctions. If you haven’t gotten Outdoor Retreat yet knowing that it brings the Herbalism Skill to the Game might be an incentive. Visit Granite Falls to get Started, I love the look of Granite Falls and the fact you can explore this area as you increase your Herbalism Skill is a bonus.
When leveling up your Herbalism skill you will need to learn what plants to grow and splice together to create other plants. Having your gardening skill maxed out is a huge help when doing the Herbalism skill. Gain levels to unlock new Recipes to Brew, and learn to identify Herbs found in the massive Forest of Granite Falls. This Guide to Herbalism will list all of the Recipes your Sims can learn, guide you toward the Hermit’s location and list the effects of each of the creams, ointments, and liniments your Sims can Brew with the Skill.
Collecting Herbs and Insects:
Identifying Herbs is the first thing you should do to get started with the Skill. Later, Brewing Recipes will get you to level 10. Herbs are naturally the primary component of these Recipes, but some require regular Gardening produce, and many require Insects. Collecting Herbs will give your Sims the skill needed to brew different concoctions. A lot of the Produce needed for the recipes can be found via the Gardening Guide and around Granite Falls (even rares like Blackberries are found there). Finding Herbs is easy – just search around with the camera low, and watch for Plants that sparkle. If your Sims has Gardening level 5, you can not only Harvest the Plants, but also Take Cutting so that you can Graft them onto other existing plants and get more of them later on by incorporating them into your Garden at home.
Collect insects:
Insects can be the hardest part. A good search pattern and keen eye are necessary, as you collect the insects they will be added to your inventory in a terrarium like container. These can be displayed on various shelfs and surfaces. A great idea is to build a collection shed, or buy the collection chest from the Trick or Treat Challenge reward update.
Dust Spirits come out at Night in Granite Falls
Insects are another matter all together. You must keep an eye out at all times while searching for Herbs and collect every one that you see. Bugs that fly are the easiest to catch. Those that crawl, however, are much harder. I suggest you keep your Camera at eye level as though you are looking through the Forest yourself, because otherwise treetops will obscure your view. Try to use a pattern and search the Forest without revisiting the same places. It can be tough at first, especially if you’re new to Outdoor Retreat, but you’ll eventually get the hang of it. Most insects are easiest to spot during daytime, but some like Fireflies and Dust Spirits only come out at night.
As your Skill rises, you’ll be more likely to Identify Herbs. Herbalism comes with two main interactions with Herbs.
Identify Plant:
Attempting to Identify an Herb will give your Sim some Skill Experience. You can do this over and over on a high-level herb to help you gain Skill, but it’s not really recommended since the most experience comes from Brewing Recipes. By level 5, your Sim should be able to identify all types of Herbs (even Rares) within a few tries.
Eating Plants:
Each of the 10 total Herbs has a normal and poisonous variety. If you know it’s the normal, it’s safe to eat. If you’re unsure, don’t bother risking it. Some Herbs can leave your Sims itchy for a long time and even need a remedy to get over the ailment quickly. Thankfully, all maladies herbs may produce will go away with time and it could help your Sims to identify an Herb. Fireleaf can be found in a couple of places. Fireleaf can sometimes be found here (near the Hermit’s cave in the National Park) and another possible spawner is near the Waterfall Fishing spot. Hermit’s hidden area has Morel Mushrooms. While False Morels are found all over, the Hermit Area sometimes has true Morels in the Rock Garden. It depends on your luck.
Brewing Herbalism Concoctions:
As your Sims gains levels in Herbalism, you’ll unlock new Recipes. You should save the Herbs you collect for a mass-brewing back at Lodging in Granite falls or your own Home to level the Skill. Making these will give you the most Skill XP out of any of the interactions. It’s kind of like Cooking in that way. I preferred to take the Herbs home and plant them on my lot, to ensure I had access to these while at home. Trips to Granite Falls may be necessary in order to collect Insects, as previously mentioned, because they are required in a lot of the best Recipes.
The following are the herbs in the game pack. As noted before, there is a poisonous (bad moodlet) and normal (often good moodlet) version of each Herb. I’ll also list what happens when you eat them in the notes section. Growth times etc. are for your reference when planting them in your home lot. Prices are for Perfect variants.
LIST OF HERBS:
Chamomile Chamomile– Common – Value: $14 – Grows in 24h – Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +1-3 4 hour Happy Moodlet (Quality-determined)
Toxic Chamomile– Common- Value:$15 – Grows in 24h -Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +2 Tense Moodlet for 2h
Elderberry- Common-Value:$6- Grows in 18h- Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +1-3 4 hour Happy Moodlet (Quality-determined)
Noxious Elderberry– Common- Value:$- Grows in7 18h – Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +2 Sad Moodlet for 2h
Huckleberry– Uncommon- Value:$8- Grows in 18h – Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +1-3 4 hour Happy Moodlet (Quality-determined)
Muckleberry– Uncommon- Value:$9- Grows in 18h- Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +2 Dazed Moodlet for 2h. Dazed Sims are better targets for Romance.
Fireleaf– Uncommon- Value:$13- Grows in 18h- Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +1-3 4 hour Happy Moodlet (Quality-determined)
Poison Fireleaf– Uncommon- Value:$11- Grows in 18h-Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +2 Angry Moodlet for 2h
Morel Mushroom– Rare- Value:$17- Grows in 24h- Morels are sometimes found in the Hidden Area of Granite Falls. Eating gives +1-3 4 hour Happy Moodlet (Quality-determined)
False Morel Mushroom–Rare- Value:$19- Grows in 24h- Found in Granite Falls National Park (Big Forest). Eating gives +2 Uncomfortable Moodlet for 2h
HERBALISM RECIPE LIST & SKILL UNLOCKS:
The only Skill unlocks of Herbalism are the new Recipes your Sims learn. Here’s a list of all of them and how to get the Secret Recipe:
Herbalism Recipe List
Level 1 Insect Repellent Liniment- 2 Noxious Elderberry, 2 Basil Prevents Insect Bites while in the Wilderness, which can happen when collecting them.
Level 1 Sadness Alleviation Lotion- 2 Elderberry, 1 Firefly Eliminates any Sadness-inducing Moodlets
Level 1 Fungal Infusion Fertilizer– Recipe 3 Morel Mushroom, 2 False Morel, 1 Blackberry, 1 Dust Spirit Learn from Friendship with Hermit. See below. Likely the best Fertilizer in-game – it should last a long time. Use it to help Evolve Plants.
Level 2 Deodorizing Cream- 1 Elderberry, 1 Strawberry, 2 Parsley Replenishes the Sim’s Hygiene Need. Higher Quality seems to do more.
Level 3 Soothing Skin Balm- 2 Chamomile, 2 Basil, 1 Locust Heals or reduces duration of any insect bites and possibly burns.
Level 4 De-Stressing Decoction- 2 Chamomile, 2 Muckleberry, 1 Walking Stick Eliminates Stress Moodlets
Level 5 Tummy Therapy- 2 Huckleberry, 2 Sage, 1 Termite Alleviates Nausea-type Moodlets and other stomach-related ailments
Level 6 Clear Mind Distillation- 2 Toxic Chamomile, 2 Huckleberry, 2 Parsley Gives Sim a +2 Focused Moodlet for 4 hours
Level 6 Fireleaf Extract- 2 Poison Fireleaf, 2 Morel Mushroom, 1 Fire Ant Makes Sims extremely uncomfortable giving Unrelenting Itch for 8h and an upset stomach
Level 7 Natural Herbicide Oil- 2 Toxic Chamomile, 3 Fireleaf, 1 Stink Bug Can only be used on a plant when the ‘Weed’ option is available. Pouring this oil will remove the weeds and stop them from growing for a time.
Level 8 Energizer Infusion- 3 Muckleberry, 2 Poison Fireleaf, 1 Dragonfly Gives a +2 Energized Moodlet for 4 hours
Level 9 Rage Relieving Salve- 3 Noxious Elderberry, 2 Fireleaf, 1 Tomato, 1 Rainbow Firefly Eliminates any Anger-producing Moodlets
Level 10 Elixir of Fertility-4 False Morel, 2 Sage,1 Bee, 1 Will-o-the-Wisp Increases the likelihood of Twins and Triplets
These are not worth selling most of the time given the cost and value of ingredients themselves. These are for using to benefit your Sims!
You can learn a secret Recipe from the Hermit of Granite Falls:
Talking to the Hermit of Granite Falls may give your Sims some Herbalism Skill experience when you talk about it with them, though it seems to stop at a point. The Hermit’s role in Herbalism is, upon reaching Good Friends, that you can use the special Interaction, ‘Learn Herbalism Recipe’ to get the Fungal Infusion Fertilizer Recipe, no matter your level. Be careful cooking this, as it can cause a fire at low level. Becoming Friends with the Hermit is also crucial to Milestone III of Outdoor Retreat’s Outdoor Enthusiast Aspiration. Visiting this area is highly recommended, as it’s possible you will find Herbs you don’t yet have, along with the will-o-the-wisp (rare insect) at night. which you need to create some of the higher level Herbalism recipes including the Fungal Infused Fertilizer Recipe.
Well I know my Sim had fun learning all the recipes of the Herbalism skill and I hope yours will too.
So until next time Happy Simming!
