Master Transmute

School	Alteration
Level	Adept
Magicka Cost	100
Casting	-
Delivery	-
Effect	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.
Duration	-
Perk	Adept Alteration (1)
Spell Tome	Spell Tome: Master Transmute
Game/DLC	Creation Club

Master Transmute is the stronger version of Transmute, from the Bittercup Creation. Each cast turns one piece of iron or silver ore in the caster's pack straight into gold ore. Plain Transmute needs two casts to turn iron into gold, so this spell halves the work.

Variants

Transmute comes in two versions. Each one is listed below.

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Transmute		100	-	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron ore to Silver, or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.
Master Transmute		100	-	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.

Spell Tome

Master Transmute is learned by reading Spell Tome: Master Transmute. The spell is also taught during Fortunate Son.

Master Transmute Map Location

Master Transmute map location:
The tome sits in a safe in Eslaf's Room, deep in the Warrens of Markarth, at the end of the quest Fortunate Son.

Map credit by Map Genie.

How It Plays

Master Transmute works on the ore in the caster's pack rather than on a target. Each cast changes one piece of Iron Ore or Silver Ore straight into Gold Ore. It skips the middle step of silver that plain Transmute needs.

Gold ore is worth far more than iron ore. A pack full of cheap iron ore from Skyrim's mines can turn into a fortune after enough casts. The gold can then be smelted into a Gold Ingot and made into rings and necklaces at a forge.

The Adept Alteration perk halves the cost of the spell. Each cast also gives Alteration experience, so a large stock of ore doubles as a training session.

Compared with Transmute

Transmute, the base game Adept spell, turns silver ore into gold ore first. It only changes iron ore into silver when no silver is left, so iron needs two casts to become gold. Master Transmute does the whole job in one cast, which halves the time and magicka needed.

Master Transmute costs 100 magicka at a skill of zero, the same as Transmute. Transmute needs two casts to turn iron ore into gold ore, with a stop at silver. Master Transmute does it in one, so the same stock of iron ore becomes gold for half the magicka.

Quest Background

The spell comes with the Bittercup Creation for the Creation Club. It is tied to the quest Fortunate Son, which starts after the caster fills a cup labelled Fortune. A rogue then offers a job: rob a rich High Elf named Cuinanthil in Markarth.

The trail leads into the Warrens of Markarth. At the end of the quest, the key to Eslaf's Room opens Cuinanthil's hidden vault. The Master Transmute tome waits in the safe in that room.

Spell Categories

All Alteration Spells

Novice

Novice spells are the first a mage learns and cost the least magicka.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Candlelight	21	Fire and Forget	Creates a hovering light that lasts for 60 seconds.
Oakflesh	103	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 40 points for 60 seconds.
Teleport Pet: Arachnia	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Arachnia the spider.
Teleport Pet: Bone Wolf	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Bone Wolf to your side.
Teleport Pet: Demented Elytra Nymph	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Demented Elytra Nymph.
Teleport Pet: Dwarven Mudcrab	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Dwarven Mudcrab.
Teleport Pet: Hilda	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Hilda.
Teleport Pet: Manic Elytra Nymph	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports pet Manic Elytra Nymph.
Teleport Pet: Nix-Hound	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Nix-Hound.
Teleport Pet: Skritch	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Skritch.
Teleport Pet: Sweet Roll	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Sweet Roll.
Teleport Pet: Thistle	0	Fire and Forget	Teleports Thistle.

Apprentice

Apprentice spells need a little practice in the school.

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Magelight		84	Fire and Forget	Ball of light that lasts 60 seconds and sticks where it strikes.
Stoneflesh		194	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 60 points for 60 seconds.

Adept

Adept spells are the middle rank and hit noticeably harder.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Detect Life	100 per second	Concentration	Nearby living creatures, but not undead, machines or daedra, can be seen through walls.
Ironflesh	266	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 80 points for 60 seconds.
Telekinesis	170 per second	Concentration	Can pull an object to you from a distance. Add it to your inventory or throw it.
Transmute	100	-	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron ore to Silver, or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.
Waterbreathing	222	Fire and Forget	Can breathe water for 60 seconds.
Ash Shell	251	Fire and Forget	Targets that fail to resist are immobilized in hardened ash for 30 seconds.
Master Transmute	100	-	Transmutes one piece of unrefined Iron or Silver ore to Gold if the caster is carrying any.
Paralysis Rune	172	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes when enemies are nearby, immobilizing them for 8 seconds.

Expert

Expert spells are powerful and expensive to cast.

Name	Cost	Casting	Effect
Detect Dead	148 per second	Concentration	Nearby dead can be seen through walls.
Ebonyflesh	341	Fire and Forget	Improves the caster's armor rating by 100 points for 60 seconds.
Paralyze	450	Fire and Forget	Targets that fail to resist are paralyzed for 10 seconds.
Ash Rune	418	Fire and Forget	Cast on a nearby surface, it explodes when enemies are nearby, immobilizing them in hardened ash for 30 seconds.

Master

Master spells are the strongest in the school and need the most skill.

Name	Image	Cost	Casting	Effect
Dragonhide		837	Fire and Forget	Caster ignores 80% of all physical damage for 30 seconds.
Mass Paralysis		937	Fire and Forget	All targets in the area that fail to resist are paralyzed for 15 seconds.