Alchemist

Description

Whether secreted away in a smoky basement laboratory or gleefully experimenting in a well-respected school of magic, the alchemist is often regarded as being just as unstable, unpredictable, and dangerous as the concoctions he brews. While some creators of alchemical items content themselves with sedentary lives as merchants, providing tindertwigs and smokesticks, the true alchemist answers a deeper calling. Rather than cast magic like a spellcaster, the alchemist captures his own magic potential within liquids and extracts he creates, infusing his chemicals with virulent power to grant him impressive skill with poisons, explosives, and all manner of self-transformative magic.

Role: The alchemist's reputation is not softened by his exuberance (some would say dangerous recklessness) in perfecting his magical extracts and potion-like creations, infusing these substances with magic siphoned from his aura and using his own body as experimental stock. Nor is it mollified by the alchemist's almost gleeful passion for building explosive bombs and discovering strange new poisons and methods for their use. These traits, while making him a liability and risk for most civilized organizations and institutions of higher learning, seem to fit quite well with most adventuring groups.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d4

Starting Wealth: 3d6 x 10 gp (average: 105 gp)

Bailiwick Skill: Reason

Natural Talent: At character creation, all characters get natural talent with their bailiwick skill, and one additional skill of their choice. Natural talent allows you to re-map a skill to use any ability score you wish, rather than the ability score it normally uses.

Skill Ranks per Level: 3 + Int modifier

Recommended Ability Score Priority: INT (extracts, bomb damage), DEX (thrown/ranged attacks, AC). If mutagens are important, STR and CON will be helpful, but not mandatory. WIS and CHA are entirely optional.

Table: Alchemist

Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Bomb Damage	Special	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
1st	+0	+2	+2	+0	1d6	Alchemy, Bomb, Mutagen, Throw Anything, Tweaking	1	-	-	-	-	-
2nd	+1	+3	+3	+0	1d6	Discovery, Poison Resistance +2, Poison Use	2	-	-	-	-	-
3rd	+1	+3	+3	+1	2d6	Swift Alchemy	3	-	-	-	-	-
4th	+2	+4	+4	+1	2d6	Discovery, Craft Fetish	3	1	-	-	-	-
5th	+2	+4	+4	+1	3d6	Poison Resistance +4	4	2	-	-	-	-
6th	+3	+5	+5	+2	3d6	Discovery, Swift Poisoning	4	3	-	-	-	-
7th	+3	+5	+5	+2	4d6	-	4	3	1	-	-	-
8th	+4	+6	+6	+2	4d6	Discovery, Poison Resistance +6	4	4	2	-	-	-
9th	+4	+6	+6	+3	5d6	-	5	4	3	-	-	-
10th	+5	+7	+7	+3	5d6	Discovery	5	4	3	1	-	-
11th	+5	+7	+7	+3	6d6	Poison Immunity	5	4	4	2	-	-
12th	+6/+1	+8	+8	+4	6d6	Discovery	5	5	4	3	-	-
13th	+6/+1	+8	+8	+4	7d6	-	5	5	4	3	1	-
14th	+7/+2	+9	+9	+4	7d6	Discovery	5	5	4	4	2	-
15th	+7/+2	+9	+9	+5	8d6	-	5	5	5	4	3	-
16th	+8/+3	+10	+10	+5	8d6	Discovery	5	5	5	4	3	1
17th	+8/+3	+10	+10	+5	9d6	-	5	5	5	4	4	2
18th	+9/+4	+11	+11	+6	9d6	Discovery, Instant Alchemy	5	5	5	5	4	3
19th	+9/+4	+11	+11	+6	10d6	-	5	5	5	5	5	4
20th	+10/+5	+12	+12	+6	10d6	Grand Discovery, Discovery	5	5	5	5	5	5

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Alchemists are proficient with all simple weapons and bombs. They are also proficient with light armor, but not with shields.

Alchemy (Su)

Alchemists are not only masters of creating mundane alchemical substances such as alchemist's fire and smokesticks, but also of fashioning magical potion-like extracts in which they can store spell effects. In effect, an alchemist prepares his spells by mixing ingredients into a number of extracts, and then "casts" his spells by drinking the extract. When an alchemist creates an extract or bomb, he infuses the concoction with a tiny fraction of his own magical power. This enables the creation of powerful effects, but also binds the effects to the creator. Alchemists get the Creator feat as a bonus feat at first level, but they can only use it to create Alchemical items such as alchemist's fire and tanglefoot bags as per the normal rules. If an Alchemist wishes to expend a regular feat selection to take the Creator feat, they get the full use of that feat. An Alchemist does NOT need to use Creator to make use of his Alchemical Creations, namely, Extracts, Bombs, and Mutagens.

General Benefits

When using Creator to create an alchemical item, an alchemist gains a +1 competence bonus to all skill rolls. In addition, an alchemist can use Reason to identify potions as if using detect magic. He must hold the potion for 1 round to make such a check.

Alchemical Creations

An alchemist can create three special types of consumable magical items that look sort of like potions, but behave in very different ways. These creations are extracts, mutagens, and bombs. Extracts and mutagens are transformative elixirs that the alchemist drinks to enhance his abilities; both of these are detailed in their own sections below. Bombs are pretty self-explanatory: you mix them up and they go off like a grenade a few seconds later. Bombs are also described below in their own section.

Extracts (Su)

Extracts are the most varied of the three effects Alchemists can create. In many ways, Extracts behave like spells in potion form, and as such their effects can be dispelled by effects like dispel magic, using the alchemist's level as the caster level. Unlike potions, though, extracts can have powerful effects and can duplicate spells that a potion normally could not.

An alchemist can create only a certain number of extracts of each level per day. His base daily allotment of extracts is given on Table: Alchemist. In addition, he receives bonus extracts per day if he has a high Intelligence score, in the same way a wizard receives bonus spells per day.

When an alchemist mixes an extract, he infuses the chemicals and reagents in the extract with magic siphoned from his own magical aura. Due to this magical infusion, an extract immediately becomes inert if it leaves the alchemist's possession, but magically reactivates as soon as it returns to his control. Consequently, an alchemist cannot normally pass out his extracts for allies to use (but see the Infusion discovery).

An extract, once created, remains potent for 1 day before becoming inert, so an alchemist must re-prepare his extracts every day. This is exactly analogous to a spell-caster consulting his spell book each morning.

Unlike a spell caster memorizing spells, which requires fifteen minutes if less than one-fourth of his daily allotment is required, Alchemists have much simpler rules. Mixing an extract takes 1 minute of work per extract, no matter how many extracts are mixed at a time. Five extracts take five minutes, forty take forty minutes. Most alchemists prepare many extracts at the start of the day or just before going on an adventure, but it's not uncommon for an alchemist to keep some (or even all) of his daily extract slots open so that he can prepare extracts in the field as needed.

Using an extract is a standard action, and provokes attacks of opportunity. The alchemist may make a Concentration check to use the extract when threatened, exactly as if Combat Casting, to avoid attacks of opportunity.

Extract Formulae

Although the alchemist doesn't actually cast spells, he does have a formulae list that determines what extracts he can create. An alchemist can utilize spell-trigger items if the spell appears on his formulae list, but not spell-completion items (unless he uses Use Magic Device to do so).

An extract is "cast" by drinking it, as if imbibing a potion. The effects of an extract exactly duplicate the spell upon which its formula is based, save that the extract always affects only the extract's creator. The alchemist uses his alchemist class level as the caster level to determine any effect based on caster level.

Creating extracts consumes raw materials, but the cost of these materials is usually insignificant, comparable to the valueless material components of most spells. If a spell normally has a costly material component, that component is also required for a formula derived from it. The component is expended during the creation of that particular extract, so preparing expensive extracts ahead of time is a bit of a gamble.

Extracts cannot be made from spells that have magical focus requirements. Alchemist extracts that duplicate divine spells never have a divine focus requirement.

An alchemist can prepare an extract of any formula he knows. To learn or use an extract, an alchemist must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the extract's level.

The DC for a saving throw against an alchemist's extract is 10 + the extract level + the alchemist's Intelligence modifier.

Formula Books

An alchemist may know any number of formulae. He stores his formulae in a special tome called a formula book. He must refer to this book whenever he prepares an extract but not when he consumes it. An alchemist begins play with two 1st level formulae of his choice, plus a number of additional forumlae equal to his Intelligence modifier.

At each new alchemist level, the alchemist gains one new formula of any level that he can create. An alchemist can also add formulae to his book just as a wizard adds spells to his spellbook, using the same costs and time requirements. This means that an alchemist can purchase wizardly scrolls of spells that match the formulae list and convert the spell into his formula book for the same cost and effort as noted for a wizard. Note that under no circumstances may an alchemist prepare an extract directly from a scroll, ever.

Spell to Formulae Conversion

An alchemist can study a wizard's spellbook to learn any formula on the Alchemist's formula list that is equivalent to a spell the spellbook contains. A wizard, however, cannot learn spells from a formula book. An alchemist does not need to decipher arcane writings before copying them.

• Alchemist Extracts

Bomb (Su)

In addition to magical extracts, alchemists are adept at swiftly mixing various volatile chemicals and infusing them with their magical reserves to create powerful bombs that they can hurl at their enemies.

An alchemist can use a number of bombs each day equal to his class level + his Intelligence modifier.

Bombs are somewhat unstable, and if they are not used in the round they are created, they degrade and become inert. Their method of creation prevents large volumes of explosive material from being created and stored. Sorry folks, no blowing up the entire castle with a vast bomb stockpile, or at least, not with a single alchemist.

In order to create a bomb, the alchemist must use a small vial containing an ounce of liquid catalyst. The alchemist can create this liquid catalyst from small amounts of chemicals from an alchemy lab, and these supplies can be readily refilled in the same manner as a spell caster's component pouch.

Most alchemists create a number of catalyst vials at the start of the day equal to the total number of bombs they can create in that day. Once created, a catalyst vial remains stable and usable by the alchemist for years.

Drawing the components of, creating, and throwing a bomb requires a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity.

Bombs are considered weapons and can be selected using feats such as Point-Blank Shot (Feat) and Weapon Focus (Feat).

Thrown bombs have a range increment of 20 feet (max range of 100 feet) and follow the rules for Splash Weapons. Throwing a bomb is a touch attack. On a direct hit, an alchemist's bomb inflicts 1d6 points of fire damage + additional damage equal to the alchemist's Intelligence modifier. The damage of an alchemist's bomb increases by 1d6 points at every odd-numbered alchemist level (this bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit or by using feats). An alchemist's bomb does not inflict weapon damage, and thus is not able to inflict a critical hit, although a natural 20 is always considered a hit.

Splash damage from an alchemist bomb is always equal to the bomb's minimum damage (so if the bomb would deal 2d6+4 points of fire damage on a direct hit, its splash damage would be 6 points of fire damage). Those caught in the splash damage can attempt a Reflex save for half damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the alchemist's level + the alchemist's Intelligence modifier.

Alchemists can learn new types of bombs as discoveries (see the Discovery ability) as they level up. An alchemist's bomb, like an extract, becomes inert if used or carried by anyone else.

Mutagen (Su)

At 1st level, an alchemist discovers how to create a mutagen that he can imbibe to heighten his physical prowess at the cost of his personality. It takes 1 hour to brew a dose of mutagen, and once brewed, it remains potent until used. An alchemist can only maintain one dose of mutagen at a time: if he brews a second dose, any existing mutagen becomes inert. As with an extract or bomb, a mutagen that is not in the alchemist's possession becomes inert until he picks it up again.

It's a standard action to drink a mutagen. Upon being imbibed, the mutagen causes the alchemist to grow bulkier and more bestial, granting him the following abilities for 10 minutes per alchemist level:

• A +2 bonus to natural armor
• Instantly gains 10 + his Alchemist Level in hit points, and the Alchemist's maximum hit points increase by the same amount.
• +4 alchemy bonus to Strength and a -2 penalty to Intelligence.
• +1 alchemy bonus to Fortitude and Reflex saves, and a -1 penalty to Will saves.
• A base attack (BAB) equal to his Alchemist level. This also impacts their CMB and CMD values.
• Natural claw attacks, doing 1d6 base damage each. These attacks do the same damage regardless of your base size. While in mutation form, all Attacks of Opportunity and bonus attacks are made using this claw damage. (Note that this base damage increases levels 8, 15, 22 and 29, as per standard melee weapon rules.)
• Beginning at level 4, the alchemist's natural attacks are considered magic for purposes of overcoming DR.

While under the effects of a mutagen, the alchemist cannot mix extracts or create new bombs. When the mutagen wears off, if the alchemist has more hit points than his normal maximum hit points, the extra hit points are lost.

A non-alchemist who drinks a mutagen must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ the alchemist's level + the alchemist's Intelligence modifier) or become nauseated for 1 hour. Additionally, a non-alchemist can never gain the benefit of a mutagen. The effects of a mutagen do not stack. Whenever an alchemist drinks a mutagen, the effects of any previous mutagen immediately end.

Natural Attacks

Natural attacks fall into one of two categories, primary and secondary attacks. Primary attacks are made using the alchemist's full base attack bonus and add the alchemist's full Strength bonus on damage rolls. Secondary attacks are made using the alchemist's BAB-5 and add only ½ the alchemist's Strength bonus on damage rolls. The alchemist's claws and bite attacks from his mutagen are primary natural attacks. The discoveries "vestigial arm" or "tentacle" can provide the alchemist with secondary natural attacks.

During a standard attack action, natural attacks are much like standard weapons: the alchemist makes one attack at full BAB with a single claw (or bite, if available). During a full attack action, however, the alchemist uses his full BAB to attack with each of his primary natural attacks, and BAB - 5 for each of his secondary natural attacks. Bonus attacks, such as from a haste spell, and attacks of opportunity always use a single claw attack unless the creature has some ability which specifically states otherwise.

Natural attacks do not benefit from any of the two-weapon fighting feats or the multi-attack feat.

Tweaking (Ex)

An alchemist only needs 4 hours of sleep each night. This is not because he has some supernatural ability to restore his energy faster than other people, it is because he imbibes heavily in stimulants. Additionally, alchemists gain a +4 bonus to endurance checks made to resist fatigue due to not sleeping. Generally, the extra hours an alchemist gains from not sleeping are spent putting together potions, bomb catalysts, or fetishes, but they can also be on watch during this time.

Throw Anything (Ex)

All alchemists gain the Throw Anything feat as a bonus feat at 1st level. An alchemist adds his Intelligence modifier to damage done with splash weapons, including the splash damage if any. This bonus damage is already included in the bomb class feature.

Discovery (Su)

At 2nd level, and every 2 levels thereafter, up to and including 18th level, an alchemist makes an incredible alchemical discovery. Unless otherwise noted, an alchemist cannot select an individual discovery more than once. Some discoveries can only be made if the alchemist has met certain prerequisites first, such as uncovering other discoveries. Discoveries that modify bombs that are marked with an asterisk (*) do not stack. Only one such discovery can be applied to an individual bomb. The DC of any saving throw called for by a discovery is equal to 10 + 1/2 the alchemist's level + the alchemist's Intelligence modifier.

• Alchemist Discoveries

(Note that many of the discoveries are different, sometimes significantly different, from the rules available on the Pathfinder SRD. The rules on this wiki are the authoritative source for Epic Path Alchemist discoveries.)

Poison Resistance (Ex)

At 2nd level, an alchemist gains a +2 bonus on all saving throws against poison, due to the near-constant casual contact that the alchemist has with various toxins and contaminants. This bonus increases to +4 at 5th level, and then again to +6 at 8th level. At 11th level, an alchemist becomes completely immune to poison.

Poison Use (Ex)

At 2nd level, Alchemists become trained in the use of poison, cannot accidentally poison themselves when applying poison to a weapon. They have learned (probably the hard way) to take extra care when it comes to the truly nasty stuff.

Swift Alchemy (Ex)

At 3rd level, an alchemist can create alchemical items with astounding speed. This has numerous effects.

• The alchemist can apply poison to a weapon as a move action with no chance of failure.
• Doubles the speed with which the alchemist can create catalysts for extracts (30 seconds each, or two per minute).
• Once per day, the Alchemist may create a 'normal' alchemical item (vial of acid, tanglefoot bag, sunrod, etc) in an hour. For every 5 points that the creation check exceeds the needed DC, an additional item is created.
• This ability has no effect on Alchemical Creations, such as extracts, mutagens or bombs: creating and using bombs remains a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity.

Craft Fetish (Su)

At 4th level, an alchemist can create a small fetish item during his regular period of rest. He may only have one such fetish at a time, and he must determine the properties of the item at the time he fashions it. The fetish lasts until broken, but if the alchemist makes a new one, the magic of the existing one dissipates. Like the alchemist's bombs and extracts, the fetish becomes inert if used or carried by anyone else.

While unbroken, the fetish protects the alchemist from his own bombs, making him immune to their damage and effects if he happens to be within the bomb's radius. However, as a swift action, the alchemist can break the item to trigger an effect. This ends the protection against his own bomb damage until a new fetish can be created during his next full rest.

At the time he fashions the fetish, the alchemist may choose to imbue it with one of the following abilities, which is triggered when the fetish is broken:

Essence of Battle

Gain a +2 alchemy bonus to attack rolls until the end of the encounter.

Essence of Change

Double the effect(s) of mutagen until the end of his turn, after which the mutagen immediately expires.

Essence of Endurance

Gain temporary hit points equal to twice the alchemist's level + INT mod. These temporary hit points last until the end of the encounter or until they are beaten out of the alchemist.

Essence of Coercion

One enemy within 25 feet is teleported a number of squares equal to the alchemist's INT mod, as part of this swift action. Target gets a Will save for half (round down), with a DC of 10 + half the alchemist's level + INT mod. Requires line of sight and line of effect.

Swift Poisoning (Ex)

At 6th level, an alchemist can apply a dose of poison to a weapon as a swift action, with no chance of failure.

Instant Alchemy (Ex)

At 18th level, an alchemist can create alchemical items with almost supernatural speed. He can create any alchemical item as a full-round action if he succeeds at the Profession check and has the appropriate resources at hand to fund the creation. He can apply poison to a weapon as an immediate action. As swift alchemy, this ability has no effect upon bombs or mutagens, but allows extracts to be mixed in six seconds. "Normal" alchemical items can also be created in only a full round (six seconds) but because such items are not empowered by the Alchemist's personal spark, working at such speed requires at a minimum a well-prepared, permanent, and immobile work space, such as Frankenstein's Castle. No, you can't build a lab in an Instant Fortress or a portable hole.

Grand Discovery (Su)

At 20th level and every 3rd level thereafter (i.e. 23rd, 26th, 29th, 32nd, 35th), the alchemist makes a grand discovery, representing a life-changing, earth-shattering discovery. For many alchemists, the promise of one of these grand discoveries is the primary goal of their experiments and hard work. He may choose a grand discovery or he may choose two normal discoveries of any type. (Although, why would any self-respecting madman choose the lesser option? Quality over quantity!) As always, unless specifically noted, no Grand Discovery may be taken more than once, and the Alchemist must meet any prerequisites for the Grand Discovery selected at the time it is chosen.

• Grand Discoveries

Alchemist Changes

The following forumulae are no longer available to Alchemists as extracts:

• beast shape I
• beast shape II
• beast shape III
• beast shape IV
• monstrous physique I
• monstrous physique II
• monstrous physique III
• monstrous physique IV
• undead anatomy I
• undead anatomy II
• undead anatomy III
• elemental body I
• elemental body II
• elemental body III
• vermin shape I
• vermin shape II
• mutagenic touch
• form of the dragon I
• giant form I
• plant shape I
• plant shape II

Epic Alchemist

Table: Epic Alchemist

Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Bomb Damage	Special	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
21st	+11/+6	+13	+13	+7	11d6	Mutagen BAB Progression, Paragon of SCIENCE!	6	5	5	5	5	5
22nd	+11/+6	+13	+13	+7	11d6	Discovery, EUREKA! 1/day, Master of Vitriol +1	6	6	5	5	5	5
23rd	+12/+7	+14	+14	+8	12d6	Grand Discovery	6	6	6	5	5	5
24th	+12/+7	+14	+14	+8	12d6	Discovery, EUREKA! 2/day	6	6	6	6	5	5
25th	+13/+8	+15	+15	+9	13d6	Venom Sac	6	6	6	6	6	5
26th	+13/+8	+15	+15	+9	13d6	Grand Discovery, Discovery , EUREKA! 3/day	6	6	6	6	6	6
27th	+14/+9	+16	+16	+10	14d6	Master of Vitriol +2	7	6	6	6	6	6
28th	+14/+9	+16	+16	+10	14d6	Discovery, EUREKA! 4/day	7	7	6	6	6	6
29th	+15/+10	+17	+17	+11	15d6	Grand Discovery	7	7	7	6	6	6
30th	+15/+10	+17	+17	+11	15d6	Discovery, EUREKA! 5/day	7	7	7	7	6	6
31st	+16/+11	+18	+18	+12	16d6	Improved Venom Sac	7	7	7	7	7	6
32nd	+16/+11	+18	+18	+12	16d6	Grand Discovery, Discovery , EUREKA! 6/day	7	7	7	7	7	7
33rd	+17/+12	+19	+19	+13	17d6	Master of Vitriol +3	8	8	7	7	7	7
34th	+17/+12	+19	+19	+13	17d6	Discovery, EUREKA! 7/day,	8	8	8	8	7	7
35th	+18/+13	+20	+20	+14	18d6	Grand Discovery, Primal Mastery	8	8	8	8	8	8
36th	Apotheosis!

Epic Class Abilities

Mutagen BAB Progression (Ex)

The alchemist in mutagen form gains bonuses to hit during epic levels equal to +1 per two epic levels, as with all other classes. This is less than the BAB progression of the mutated alchemist prior to 21, when they got BAB equal to their Alchemist level.

Paragon of SCIENCE! (Ex)

At 21st level, the Alchemist receives a +2 competence bonus to Creator when making Alchemical Items. This replaces the +1 bonus he received from Alchemy.

EUREKA! (Su)

Beginning at 22nd level, he Alchemist discovers the secrets to making even more powerful bombs. With a EUREKA! bomb, the alchemist is no longer bound to only one Discovery placed upon a single bomb. With EUREKA!, the Alchemist may apply multiple discoveries to a single EUREKA! bomb, with the following limitations:

• A EUREKA! bomb may only have one Discovery that changes the damage type. You may have fire or cold or sonic, etc, but never a fire/cold.
• A EUREKA! bomb may have only one Discovery that affords its targets a save. You may have a blinding bomb, or a dispelling bomb, but never a blinding and dispelling bomb.
• A EUREKA! bomb may have a maximum number of Discoveries applied equal to one third Alchemists Intelligence mod, round down.

At 22nd level the Alchemist may use a EUREKA! bomb once per day, and gains an additional daily use at 24th, 26th, 28th, 30th, 32nd, and 34th levels. Note that EUREKA! is a separate power from the Alchemist's bomb power, and using EUREKA! does not use up any of his bombs for a given day. EUREKA! creates an alchemical creation exactly similar to a bomb, aside from the above, and uses all the same rules, feats, and abilities as bombs. Any feats, class features, or abilities that improve bombs will also improve EUREKA! bombs.

Master of Vitriol (Su)

Beginning at 22nd level, the save DC for any poisons the Alchemist creates himself are increased by his Master of Vitriol ability. This is a +1 Save DC increase at level 22, +2 at level 27 , and +3 at level 33.

Venom Sac (Ex)

The Alchemist is long, long past the point where poisons hold any terror for him. At 25th level, the Alchemist develops a Venom Sac that allows him to store poison in a special receptacle somewhere in his body (player's choice!). The venom sac allows the Alchemist to apply poison to a weapon (including natural weapons) once per round as a free action, and may be accessed at any time, including while in mutagen form. The venom sac is assumed to hold a number of doses of a single type of poison equal to his Alchemist level, and filling a Venom Sac requires a standard action per dose of poison (as drinking a potion; if you have a feat, like Quaff, filling the venom sac is also speedier). Note that the sac does not allow the Alchemist to create poisons for free. He must still make and pay for them normally. Similarly, the venom sac does not permit the alchemist to store multiple types of poisons. Do not mix the poisons!

NPC's searching an Alchemist to discover his Venom Sac must succeed on a skill check against a DC equal to the Alchemists class level plus his Intelligence Modifier.

Improved Venom Sac (Ex)

At 31st level, the Alchemist improves his venom sac, allowing the Alchemist can apply a dose of poison to his weapons a number of times per round equal to his Intelligence modifier as a free action, and the DC to discover the sac is increased to the Alchemists class level + Int mod + 5.

Primal Mastery (Su)

At 35th level, the Alchemist has learned so much about the composition of the Universe that he is able to overcome the restrictions of energy types. He may define any of his EUREKA bombs as doing damage of the 'primal' type. Primal damage ignores all immunities and resistances.