Although several previous “Little Alchemy 2” game guides cover concept- and thought-based elements, including Big, Small, and Philosophy, they don’t address methods for collecting the Idea element. The game surprisingly offers 31 options for making Idea.
The good news is that you don’t need to use all of these methods. In fact, you can’t use all of them until you reach a certain progress level within the game. That said, all methods are covered here today with the easiest methods explored step by step:
1. Create the Human Perspective
The term “idea” can refer to several things, including a thought, opinion, mental image, or even a plan about how how to handle a specific matter.
These definitions involve the “human perspective” in relation to the world. Humans formulate ideas because they have a unique viewpoint based on their senses and overly developed brains.
As a result, you need the Human element to make Idea. If you don’t have Human, you can make it quickly by combining the following elements:
- Water + Water = Puddle
- Puddle + Puddle = Pond
- Pond + Pond = Lake
- Lake + Lake = Sea
- Earth + Sea = Primordial Soup
- Fire + Fire = Energy
- Primordial Soup + Energy = Life
- Earth + Water = Mud
- Air + Air = Pressure
- Pressure + Earth = Stone
- Mud + Stone = Clay
The image of a golden figure standing, arms outstretched, inside of a golden circle pops up with the words “The most dangerous game.”
2. Create Imagination and Meaning
With the invention of artificial light through the use of light bulbs, people began to associate fresh ideas, imaginative thoughts, and innovative plans with the sudden ability to see in the dark because of human ingenuity and the light cast from the light bulb.
Given this connection between ideas and light, it’s no surprise that one of the easiest ways to make Idea in the game is by combining the Human and Light Bulb elements. If you don’t have Light Bulb, combine the following:
- Earth + Earth = Land
- Land + Land = Continent
- Continent + Continent = Planet
- Air + Planet = Atmosphere
- Atmosphere + Water = Cloud
- Energy + Cloud = Lightning
- Fire + Stone = Metal
- Lightning + Metal = Electricity
- Air + Stone = Sand
- Fire + Sand = Glass
- Electricity + Glass = Light Bulb
A glass light bulb with a lit center appears with the words “An illuminator, both physically and mentally.”
Now you can make the Idea element!
- Human + Lightbulb = Idea
A light bulb hovering above a pink human brain appears with the words “A thought given weight.”
3. Every Alternative Method Discussed
The other 30 methods for making the Idea element all involve combining human-based elements. With another easy method, for example, you make Idea by combining Light Bulb with the Engineer element.
Engineers are known for their highly imaginative, creative, and efficient ideas, planning skills, and use of tools.
If your collection lacks Engineer, you make the element by combining:
- Human + Metal = Tool
- Tool + Tool = Machine
- Human + Machine = Engineer
A white construction hard hat, blueprints, and a metal tower appear with the words “The machine whisperer.”
Another easy way to make Idea is by combining Light Bulb with the Science element. If you don’t have Science, follow these steps:
- Planet + Planet = Solar System
- Solar System + Solar System = Galaxy
- Galaxy + Galaxy = Galaxy Cluster
- Galaxy Cluster + Galaxy Cluster = Universe
- Human + Universe = Science
An image similar to well-known representations of an atom or star system that features a central nucleus surrounded by blue rings appears with the words “Systemic wonder applied to the natural world.”
An additional method allows you to make Idea by doubling the Science element. In a reverse method, you can also make it by doubling Philosophy or combining Philosophy and Science.
If you don’t have Philosophy, you need to progress further in the game since there are only three methods for making Philosophy and one requires that you combine Human with Idea.
Lastly, you can make Idea by doubling any of 25 human-based elements that relate to positions in life that require deep thoughts or specialist skills, such as Alchemist, Angler, Astronaut, Baker, Butcher, Cyclist, Diver, Doctor, Electrician, Engineer, Farmer, Firefighter, Gardner, Hacker, Knight, Librarian, Lumberjack, Mailman, Monarch, Pilot, Sailor, Skier, Surfer, Swimmer and Warrior.
If you don’t have any or some of these elements yet, then you need to further explore the game to find the unique elements that combine with Human or elements associated with Human.
Why Is Idea Even an Element in “Little Alchemy 2”?
It might seem like there’s no reason to have an element representing ideas in the game given that other more specific related elements exist. Yet, many people take the existence of ideas for granted.
Concept- and thought-based elements, especially the broad Idea one, remind players that alchemy and many of the concepts and innovations that developed from it and later science wouldn’t have existed without ideas and imaginings. Humans would be little better than wild animals without ideas.
If early humans didn’t have thoughts in their heads and opinions, then they never would have decided to use fire for heat and the species might have died out.
Philosophers and others would have never imagined or agreed that they could store and share vast amounts of knowledge by applying abstract symbols that everyone eventually agreed had certain meaning on animals skins and later paper.
They would have never imagined that the basic building blocks of everything were actually particles so small that they could only be imagined until someone created tools to see them.
Scientists would have also never imagined that harmful mold could be transformed into medicine that saved lives.
Ideas made it possible for people to also imagine the nature of solids and liquids and the elements that have a fluid form somewhere between them like gas.
Even the idea of fluidity and motion would have never crossed blank human minds as having any importance whatsoever.
You don’t need Idea to create a lot of direct elements in the game. That’s not really the point. You can only make the ones mentioned below. Yet, with those elements, you have opportunities to explore so many more, which is the point, isn’t it?
Ideas lead to more ideas and philosophies, a greater understanding of the world and existence, and even more discoveries.
- Idea + Fire = Heat
- Idea + Human = Philosophy
- Idea + Earth = Solid
- Idea + Water = Liquid
- Idea + Air = Gas
- Idea + Wind = Motion
- Idea + Container = Book
- Idea + Mold = Penicillin
You Have the Right Idea!
Now that you understand the connections between Idea and the above elements and life, it’s time to keep opening the doorways of imagination to alchemical and scientific discoveries and knowledge by combining additional elements.
With Heat, for example, explore anything made with or that emits heat, such as Caramel, Cookie, Current, Explosion, Hot Chocolate, Jam, Jerky, Maple Syrup, Mercury, Plasma, Rain, Steam, Tea, and Warmth.
Explore gas to learn more about Jupiter and Smoke. With Book, you can discover Cookbook, Library, Sheet Music, and Writer. If you have the Myths and Monsters upgrade, you can also use Book to add the Book of the Dead and the Necronomicon to your collection.
