What Shrooms Are the Strongest? Top Strains & Species Ordered By Potency
The most potent species of magic mushroom is Psilocybe azurescens, which produces an average psilocybin level of 1.10% and peak levels reaching 1.80% psilocybin and 0.50% psilocin.
The “strength” of a magic mushroom is determined by its tryptamine profile — specifically, the levels of psilocybin and psilocin they produce, the two compounds responsible for shrooms’ psychedelic effects.
The potency of these psychedelic fungi species varies greatly. A single gram of one species or strain can send you spiraling into an intense psychedelic trip, whereas a gram of another can do little more than make things brighter and more interesting.
A mushroom considered “highly potent” contains a psilocybin level of 1.00% or more (dry weight). It’s impossible to tell precisely how much psilocybin is in a particular mushroom without testing it. However, we know certain species’ potency ranges, which allows us to work out an “average.”
There are over 180 different species of psilocybin mushrooms, but the strongest are:
- Psilocybe azurescens (2.51% Total Tryptamine Average)
- Psilocybe semilanceata (2.06% Total Tryptamine Average)
- Psilocybe cyanescens (1.24% Total Tryptamine Average)
- Psilocybe cubensis (Tidal Wave Strain) (1.17% Total Tryptamine Average)
- Psilocybe cubensis (Penis Envy Strain) (1.15% Total Tryptamine Average)
Without further ado, let’s discover the strongest magic mushroom species and strains by looking at their tryptamine profiles…
Strongest Magic Mushroom Species
The potency between mushroom species can vary greatly. Some species, such as Psilocybe mexicana, produce an average psilocybin level of just 0.25%, whereas other species, such as P. azurescens, can produce more than seven times this amount.
Let’s explore the most potent magic mushroom species, starting with the “mother of all shrooms” — the highly potent Psilocybe azurescens.
1. Psilocybe azurescens (Flying Saucers)
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 2.51% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 1.78% |
| Size | Medium |
| Country/Countries of Origin | California, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Difficult |
| Spores Sold By | See Spore Vendors |
Psilocybe azurescens — also known as the “Flying Saucer” or “Blue Angel” mushroom — is regarded as the most potent magic mushroom species on the planet. Although samples from other species (such as the liberty cap shrooms mentioned above) have produced higher psilocybin levels, P. azurescens seems to have a more consistent potency across a wider array of samples.
According to a paper by Paul Stamets and Johan Garts from 1995, Psilocybe azurescens can produce a psilocybin level of up to 1.80% with an average level of 1.10% [1].
2. Psilocybe semilanceata (Liberty Caps)
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 2.06% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 0.98% |
| Size | Small |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Extremely Difficult |
| Spores Sold By | See Spore Vendors |
Psilocybe semilanceata — otherwise known as the “Liberty Cap” mushroom — is a small species of magic mushroom that grows in grassland pastures in cooler climates. This is Europe’s most common and most favorite wild magic mushroom.
This species may be small, with its conical “witch’s hat” caps and tall, slender stems, but it’s incredibly potent. A lot of laboratory testing has been done on this species in Europe, and the data shows various psilocybin levels from as little as 0.20% all the way up to 2.37%.
One paper compiled the data from Psilocybe semilanceata samples from various countries such as Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom. The results showed an average psilocybin level of 1.00% (dry weight) [2].
3. Psilocybe cyanescens (Wavy Caps)
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 1.24% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 0.85% |
| Size | Medium |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Moderate |
| Spores Sold By | See Spore Vendors |
Psilocybe cyanescens — known commonly as the “Wavy Cap” mushroom — is a potent wood-loving species that thrives on decaying wood and mulch. They grow in dense clusters, and large numbers of mushrooms can be harvested from a single area.
This species is surprisingly potent, with some samples producing up to 1.68% psilocybin and 0.96% psilocin. However, the psilocybin and psilocin content varies drastically, with some mushrooms producing none of the psychoactive compounds and others having nearly 2.00% total psychedelic tryptamines [3].
This makes it difficult for psychonauts to gauge doses — a handful of shrooms may have no effect at all, while another single mushroom may contain enough psilocybin to induce an intense psychedelic trip.
4. Psilocybe cubensis (Cubes)
| Potency (Psilocybin Level) | 0.95% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 0.63% |
| Size | Medium to Large |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Worldwide |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Easy |
| Spores Sold By | See Spore Vendors |
Psilocybe cubensis is the most prevalent species of magic mushroom on the planet. It can be found growing across the globe in the wild and hidden from view in the cultivation setups of mushroom enthusiasts.
This easily cultivated species isn’t particularly potent in the overall grand scheme of things. However, with over 100 genetic variants of P. cubensis, all with different psilocybin levels, it’s hard to label the species as “average.”
Some strains produce as little as 0.30% psilocybin, whereas others can have well over 1.50% (more on this later).
5. Psilocybe mexicana (Flesh of the Gods)
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 0.40% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 0.25% |
| Size | Small |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Mexico |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Easy |
| Spores Sold By | See Spore Vendors |
Psilocybe mexicana was one of the first species of psilocybin mushrooms to reach the West before we discovered that other Psilocybe species were growing under our noses. This species is often referred to as “Flesh of the Gods” because it’s believed to be the species the Aztecs referred to as teonanácatl, which translates to Flesh of the Gods.
This psilocybin species is small, with a conical cap and a distinct nipple atop a long, thin stem. P. mexicana is also an avid producer of sclerotia — dense masses of mycelium that grow beneath the ground. Known as “magic truffles,” the sclerotia of Psilocybe mexicana are also psychedelic.
This species isn’t particularly potent on paper — producing an average psilocybin content of only 0.25% — despite the many first-hand trip reports of intense psychedelic experiences.
Strongest Psilocybe cubensis Strains
Psilocybe cubensis is the most prevalent mushroom species on the planet. It’s a popular choice among mushroom cultivators because of its contamination resistance and ability to grow in (mostly) unoptimized environments. If you’ve ever purchased magic mushrooms before, they were probably P. cubensis shrooms.
This species comprises 100s of different strains — all with varying potencies. Some strains produce little more than 0.20 psilocybin, whereas others have upwards of 1.80%.
Let’s look at the strongest Psilocybe cubensis strains, starting with the most potent.
1. Tidal Wave
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 1.17% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 0.83% |
| Peak Tryptamine Levels | 3.82% |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Unknown |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Spores Sold By | Sporeslab, Spores 101, High Desert Spores, Mushroom Prints, Planet Spores |
Tidal Wave is a hybridization of the B+ strain and Penis Envy. The average total psychedelic tryptamine content of this strain is around 1.17%. However, when grown in perfect conditions, it seems capable of producing far higher levels.
This strain famously won the Spring 2021 Psilocybin Cup when “Magic Myco Fam” submitted a sample that produced a staggering combined psilocybin and psilocin level of 3.82% (2.26% psilocybin and 1.56% psilocin).
2. Fuzzy Balls
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 3.00% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 1.67% |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Unknown |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Unknown |
| Spores Sold By | None |
Fuzzy Balls is a peculiar strain. We don’t know much about this one, but a sample entered into the 2021 Oakland Hyphae Psilocybin Cup produced a whopping combined psilocybin and psilocin levels of 3.00%.
The sample — entered by “Chip Forsythe” — is a bit of a mystery. No strain samples have been submitted since, and we’re unsure of its genetics.
3. Penis Envy
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 1.15% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 0.96% |
| Peak Tryptamine Levels | 2.90% |
| Country/Countries of Origin | The United States |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Spores Sold By | MYCO, Sporeslab, Spores 101, The Magic Mushrooms Shop |
Penis Envy is one of the most popular strains available. It’s considered a “super strain” — 95% of the highly-potent P. cubensis strains feature genetics from the original Penis Envy.
Hundreds of samples of Penis Envy have been tested over the years, with some producing up to 2.90% combined psilocybin and psilocin levels. The “average” sample of Penis Envy produces well in excess of 1.00% psilocybin — even when grown by intermediate cultivators.
4. Albino Penis Envy
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 1.16% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 0.97% |
| Peak Tryptamine Levels | 2.34% |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Holland (Sporeworks) |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Spores Sold By | MYCO, Sporeslab, Spores 101, The Magic Mushrooms Shop |
Albino Penis Envy is a non-pigmented version of the original Penis Envy. It boasts similar potency to the original strain, but the fruits are completely white.
This strain is a favorite among experienced cultivators because of its unique appearance and desirable potency. However, it can be prone to aborts, making it tricky to grow for beginners. This strain has been entered into the Psilocybin Cup several times, producing psilocybin levels from 0.70% up to 1.73%.
5. Trans Envy
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 1.65% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 0.86% |
| Peak Tryptamine Levels | 2.01% |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Canada (Sporeslab) |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Easy |
| Spores Sold By | Spores 101, Sporeslab, Planet Spores, The Magic Mushrooms Shop |
Trans Envy was an accidental creation when two separate strains — South African Transkei and Penis Envy — were unintentionally combined in the same fruiting tray. Several distinctly different mushrooms were found in the fruiting chamber. They were then isolated and cultivated to create a new strain, “Trans Envy.
A sample of Trans Envy has yet to be submitted to the Oakland Hyphae Psilocybin Cup, and there’s no reliable data on tryptamine levels yet. However, when looking at its genetics, we can assume that the strain can produce up to 1.65% psilocybin.
6. White Rabbit
| Potency (Average Total Tryptamine) | 1.40% |
| Psilocybin Level (Average) | 1.01% |
| Peak Tryptamine Levels | 1.60% |
| Country/Countries of Origin | Holland |
| Cultivation Difficulty | Easy |
| Spores Sold By | Sporeslab, Spores 101, Planet Spores |
White Rabbit is a completely white strain that’s a hybridization of two potent albinos — Penis Envy and Moby Dick. It was created by a group of cultivators in Holland sometime in the mid-2000s and has become a favorite among amateur shroom growers for its ease of cultivation and staggering potency.
The effects of this shroom are incredibly visual and introspective. We have yet to see reliable data on tryptamine levels, but we can assume that the White Rabbit strain has upwards of 1.60% psilocybin when looking at its two “mother strains.”
7. Other Strong Mushroom Strains
We consider anything over 1.5% to be in the “very potent” range.
Aside from the strains mentioned above, here are some of the other strains marked as “very potent” include:
Brain Coral, Casper, Jack O’Lantern Squats, Leucistic Tosohatchee Cubensis, Orissa India, Super Ape, and Tosohatchee.
Some other potent strains listed as “above average” (more than 0.90%, but less than 1.50%) include:
Albino Chodewave, Albino Golden Halo, Amazon, DeathStar, Galactic Gorilla, Ghost Spore, Green Cap Tosohatchee, Homestead Penis Envy, Kaleidoscope, Mystery Fatass, Old Dirty Penis Envy, Omni C, Pearly Gates, Penis Envy #41, Penis Envy Blonde, Sombrero, Stee Mag, Stingray, Transkei (South African), Trinity, Vietnamese Teachers, and Yeti.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to a few questions we get asked a lot — answered.
1. How Can You Test the Potency of Magic Mushrooms?
It’s impossible to know exactly how much psilocybin and psilocin are present in a particular mushroom without testing a sample.
The most accurate way to test the potency of your magic mushrooms is to send a sample off to a lab for testing. This way, you can get an accurate report on the levels of psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, and other tryptamines present in the sample.
There are a couple of downsides to lab testing — it comes at a cost and can take a while to receive the results.
The more convenient and cost-effective way to test the potency of your shrooms is to use a home psilocybin test kit such as the Miraculix QTest kit. This test allows you to test for the presence of psilocybin and provides a rough gauge of potency.
The Miraculix QTest comes with a simple reagent that changes color when it reacts with psilocybin. The reaction can then be compared with the supplied color chart to work out the percentage of psilocybin present in the shrooms.
2. How Do You Grow the Most Potent Shrooms?
The key to growing the most potent mushrooms starts before cultivation. It’s important to select a strain capable of producing high tryptamine levels.
Selecting a strain of Psilocybe cubensis, such as Penis Envy, is a good start if you want to grow potent shrooms. However, this isn’t the only step — even a “high-potency” strain can produce weak shrooms.
The next step in growing potent shrooms is to take great care during cultivation. You need to create optimal and stable conditions for mycelial formation during the incubation stages and the optimum conditions for healthy mushroom growth during fruiting.
- Keep the incubation chamber’s temperature stable, between 20–28 ºC (68–82ºF).
- The temperature of the fruiting chamber should be kept stable between 10–20 ºC (50–68ºF) with a humidity of more than 80%.
Want to learn how to grow potent shrooms? Check out How To Grow Magic Mushrooms: The Easy Way.
3. Where Do the Strongest Mushroom Species Grow?
Potent magic mushroom species grow around the world in pastures, forests, and yards across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The strongest species (Psilocybe azurescens) is a little more elusive.
- Psilocybe semilanceata (the Liberty Cap) grows in pasture and grassland across most of Europe, Canada, and the cooler regions of the United States. This species commonly appears during September, October, and November.
- Psilocybe cyanescens grows across the United States, parts of Canada, and parts of Europe. This common wood-loving species can be found in the autumn months growing in mulch beds in yards and farmland. It can also grow in forests on rotting wood and woodchips on the forest floor.
- Psilocybe azurescens isn’t as widespread as other potent species of psilocybin-producing mushrooms. These shrooms grow in select regions of the United States — specifically, a small area of the West Coast and around the Columbia River Delta.
4. How Can You Make Your Shrooms Stronger?
You can’t increase the amount of psilocybin in your shrooms, but you can make it more bioavailable, which improves how the body metabolizes the active compounds and leads to a faster and stronger onset of effects. Although this doesn’t “make your shrooms stronger,” it may improve the intensity of the experience.
There are a couple of ways you can improve the bioavailability; all involve breaking down the chitin walls and helping the metabolization of psilocybin into its metabolite psilocin.
Lemon Tek
This simple technique helps break down the mushrooms’ cell walls and convert the psilocybin to psilocin so your body absorbs it more quickly. By simply cutting or grinding the shrooms up and soaking them in lemon juice for 20 to 40 minutes prior to consumption, you can speed up and intensify the effects of the psilocybin.
Magic Mushroom Tea
Making magic mushroom tea extracts the psychoactive tryptamines into the water — removing the need to consume any organic matter. Consuming shrooms this way “cuts out the middleman.” Not having to digest the mushrooms allows the body to absorb the actives much faster — meaning a faster and more intense onset of effects.
5. What’s a Good Magic Mushroom Dose for Beginners?
It can be hard to figure out how much to take for your first mushroom trip. Factors such as body weight, metabolism, and the individual’s sensitivity to psilocybin can all influence the effects felt after magic mushroom consumption.
The best dose for beginners is 1000 to 1500 milligrams of psilocybin — or around one to two grams of dried Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms.
It’s best to start with a dose on the lower end of the scale. If you don’t notice the desired effects after an hour and a half, incrementally consume more mushrooms in 0.20-gram doses. You can always take more, but you can never take less.
Learn more about dosing: Magic Mushroom Dosing: Psychedelic Mastery.
References
- Gartz, Jochen. (1996). Observations on the Psilocybe cyanescens complex of Europe and North America. Ann. Mus. Civ. Rovereto, 12, 209-218.
- Andersson, C., Kristinsson, J., & Gry, J. (2009). Occurrence and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocybin alkaloids. Nordic Council of Ministers.
- Beug, M. W., & Bigwood, J. (1982). Psilocybin and psilocin levels in twenty species from seven genera of wild mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 5(3), 271-285.
