Thistle grows along almost every path in Skyrim, so you’ll gather it without really trying. Based on the real-world Scotch thistle, it has mostly defensive effects: Resist Frost, Fortify Heavy Armor and a short-lived Resist Poison.
Alchemy effects
The effects are listed in the order you discover them by eating the ingredient or using it in a potion. Two ingredients make a potion when they share at least one effect.
- Resist Frost – reduces the frost damage you take for a while. Also on: Frost Mirriam, Frost Salts, Hawk Beak, Moon Sugar, Purple Mountain Flower, Silverside Perch, Slaughterfish Scales, Small Pearl, Snowberries.
- Ravage Stamina – a concentrated poison that lowers the target’s Stamina for a while. Also on: Bee, Berit’s Ashes, Bone Meal, Deathbell, Honeycomb.
- Resist Poison – reduces the effect of poisons on you for a while. Also on: Beehive Husk, Charred Skeever Hide, Falmer Ear, Garlic, Grass Pod, Mudcrab Chitin, Slaughterfish Egg, Troll Fat.
- Fortify Heavy Armor – temporarily raises your Heavy Armor skill. Also on: Ice Wraith Teeth, Sabre Cat Tooth, Slaughterfish Scales, White Cap.
Tips and trivia
Its Resist Poison is instant rather than lasting 60 seconds, so pair it with another Resist Poison ingredient for a useful potion.
Values from the Skyrim game files (Skyrim.esm): base value 1 gold, weight 0.1.