im kinda confused about how much improvement the enchanter's elixir gives me.
it says 25%, but 25% of what? the base level of each enchantment?
if i had a base level of 8 damage, it would only raise it 2 points? doesnt seem like alot.

I don't use them anymore, I found them confusing as well.
I once tested a potion, gave me a 25% for 60secs thing...asuming the timer continues while the rest of the game pauses, I managed to pull-off a few enchantments on my gear, and checked the results.
They were the same as without the potion.

Either I just don't get it, or my enchantment-level still isn't high enough.

25% of your skill. You'll notice that your enchanting skill displayed on the left hand corner of the screen while using the enchanting table will show the value of your skill increased by the potion.

Potion of Fortify Enchanting is most useful for skill enchantments. And you are right, it's quite unimpressive for boosting weapon damage enchants. People mostly use it for making stronger Fortify Smithing and Fortify Alchemy gear. It's also quite useful for most armor enchantments. With the potion, you see significant and useful improvement for Fortify One-Handed, Fortify Two-Handed, Resist Fire/Frost/Shock/Magic.

I see, thx

The timer on the potion starts as soon as you quaff it and if you don't finish the enchantment, including naming it and hit the Craft Key before the timer is up, then the potion will have no effect. Even if the menus are open. I am not sure how someone could make more than one, maybe two enchanted items in 60 seconds, but then my UI is sometimes laggy with the mouse. I might be able to pull off 2 or 3 with the controller if I practiced. Young folks with better reflexes might be able to get more in before the 60 seconds is up. If they are not naming them.

I had a real problem with this. I thought the same thing, at first. I realized the timer kept running, so I just done everything as soon as possible.

But, I later realized (on the Xbox, I have yet to try this on the PC) that as long as you get the gem, enchantment and the item selected, you can take as long as you want with the name.

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As far as the effect pots have on the enchanting...I assumed it was like Smithing and only increased the effectiveness of the item, once you passed a certaqin skill level. However, I do think it actually increases the amount of uses you get from the item on a gradual "per skill point" level.

There is a lot of info on the WIKI, but it is too confusing for me to follow, without a tutor.

make no mistake, there IS benefit as proven by people who have looped using Enchant potions to make better alchemy gear, for better enchant potions, for better gear, until you get uber ridiculous Enchat potions that let you create enchantments that literally let you OHK ANYTHING

Abacus707 has the right of it... it's best on skill enchants, then on hp/magic/stam, then on weapon.

Personally, I highly recommend against the enchant/alchemy loop.

Hmm, the one time I made a couple of potions and drank them, I was naming the Enchantment during the selection of the item and the spell so the time ran out on me. At the time I was making two pairs of boots with different enchantments so I wanted the names right.

I have looked at the loop and it just strikes me as not worth the effort for a complicated process. Especially as nothing in the game needs an uber weapon to be dealt with.

It is at the same time. But you must select the "rename" option to pull up the renaming screen. If you already have the others selected, then you can take as long as you like. The timer is only in effect until you select the gem,ench and item. Once those are in place, the timer can effectively run out. Then, when you hit the "create" key you will still get the effects.



I see that "loop" as just a glitch to manipulate the system. That kind of thing makes me feel...dirty.

I just reread your question and realized that I hadn't answered your question. It's 25% on top of everything else you have. Not just base value. If you had level 0 and had no perks, you would get +8 fire damage. But if you had all the perks etc, you would get +20 or +25. You get 25% more on top of that with the potion.