In the latest Dead Rails update, potion crafting has become a core mechanic that adds depth to combat, survival, and team strategies.
With just a few key ingredients—most notably Unicorn Blood—you can craft powerful potions that heal, burn, or even resurrect.
This guide covers how to make potions in Dead Rails, all known recipes, their effects, and how to use them for maximum impact on the battlefield.
About Potions in Dead Rails
Potions in Dead Rails are a new gameplay mechanic introduced in update 0.14.0. Unlike regular items, potions are crafted in real time using liquid-based resources found throughout the map.
Each potion is formed by mixing Unicorn Blood with one of several other liquid types—like water, milk, blood, or kerosene. The result is a single-use consumable with strong effects, ranging from healing allies to damaging enemies or even reviving foes as temporary teammates.
Because Unicorn Blood is rare, potion usage is considered a high-value tactical tool, and knowing what each potion does can significantly boost your survival chances.
How to Craft Potions in Dead Rails
To start crafting potions, you’ll need:
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Unicorn Blood (required base for every recipe)
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One additional liquid: Water, Milk, Kerosene, or Blood
You can collect these liquids from:
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Bottles scattered across the map
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Puddles left on the ground (from weather or players)
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Looted items found during exploration
Once you have Unicorn Blood and a second liquid, combine them to create a potion with unique effects.
All Potion Recipes and Effects
Here are all confirmed potion combinations in Dead Rails and what each does:
1. Holy Water
Recipe: Unicorn Blood + Water
Effect:
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Instantly burns all nearby enemies with green fire
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Safe for allies
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Great for clearing tight rooms or escape zones
2. Angel Tears
Recipe: Unicorn Blood + Blood
Effect:
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Instant heal on use
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Works in and out of combat
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Best used right before engaging enemies or after taking heavy damage
3. Devil Tears
Recipe: Unicorn Blood + Kerosene
Effect:
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Creates flammable puddle on the ground
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Ignites when exposed to fire
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Useful for setting traps or controlling choke points
4. Primordial Soup
Recipe: Unicorn Blood + Milk
Effect:
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Revives dead enemies and turns them into your temporary allies
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Can create surprise distractions or overwhelm targets
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Excellent in solo or small-team situations
All potions are single-use items and have unique particle effects, making them easy to identify during gameplay.
Best Ways to Use Potions in Combat
Understanding when and how to use potions can drastically improve your survivability and kill potential.
Use Before Combat Starts
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Drink Angel Tears before engaging strong enemy waves
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Throw Holy Water into crowded rooms to gain immediate control
Control the Battlefield
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Lay Devil Tears puddles and ignite them as enemies rush in
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Combine with molotovs or fire-based skills for added burn
Strategic Revival
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Use Primordial Soup to convert enemies during night waves or when outnumbered
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Works especially well in Scorched Earth mode, where reinforcements are limited
Additional Potion Tips
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Unicorn Blood is rare—only craft potions when you have a clear plan
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Some potions, like Holy Water, require larger quantities to be effective
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Potions stack with class skills and weather effects, allowing advanced setups
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Try mixing during dynamic weather (e.g. milk rain) to gain extra resources
Experimenting with potions is highly encouraged—you might discover hidden effects or new combinations in future patches.
Conclusion
The Dead Rails potion system adds a new layer of strategy to the game’s survival mechanics.
By collecting Unicorn Blood and combining it with other common liquids, players can unlock powerful tools for healing, crowd control, and even enemy conversion.
Mastering potions like Holy Water, Angel Tears, Devil Tears, and Primordial Soup can turn the tide in high-pressure situations.
Craft smart, use wisely, and dominate every round with your newfound arsenal.