Home » The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered » Guides » Oblivion Remastered: The Ultimate Guide – Character Builds, Hidden Secrets & Advanced Strategies

Oblivion Remastered: The Ultimate Guide – Character Builds, Hidden Secrets & Advanced Strategies

Everything you need to know about Oblivion Remastered – from character builds and progression tips to advanced mechanics and hidden quests.

Solomon Jackson 2025-05-12

Oblivion Remastered breathes new life into a classic RPG, but even veterans can stumble without the right guidance. This comprehensive guide covers everything from character creation and leveling tips to finding powerful early-game gear. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a complete newcomer, these tips will help you master Cyrodiil and conquer the toughest challenges.

This is the ultimate Oblivion Remastered guide, covering everything from the basics to advanced tactics, hidden secrets, and late-game strategies. If you want to dominate Cyrodiil, this is the only guide you’ll need.

For more in-depth strategies and expert tips, check out these other Oblivion Remastered guides:

Table of Contents show

1. How to Create the Best Character in Oblivion Remastered

Building the perfect character in Oblivion Remastered is the foundation of a powerful playthrough. Whether you want to master stealth, unleash devastating magic, or dominate in melee combat, the right character setup makes all the difference. From race selection to origin bonuses, every choice impacts your long-term power and effectiveness in Cyrodiil.

Character Creation

1.1 Choosing the Best Race and Origin

Breton: 50% resistance to magic, making them ideal for spellcasters seeking extra durability against mages.
Orc: High melee damage and powerful active abilities, perfect for aggressive warriors.
High Elf: Massive magicka pool but weak to magic, excellent for pure mages who prioritize raw spell power.
Dark Elf: Balanced with fire resistance and high agility, great for hybrid builds that mix stealth and magic.
Imperial: No significant racial strengths or weaknesses, versatile for any build.

Each race also has two origin options, which influence starting attributes differently. Be sure to choose the origin that aligns best with your intended playstyle, as it can significantly impact your early game power curve.

1.2 Choosing the Best Birthsign

Your birthsign in Oblivion Remastered has a major impact on your character’s strengths and weaknesses. Here are the top picks:

The Lord: Grants +15 Armor Rating and +15% Magic Resistance, ideal for tanky builds that rely on durability.
The Thief: Increases agility, speed, and luck – perfect for stealth and ranged builds that prioritize critical hits.
The Warrior: Provides +10 to strength and endurance, making it a solid choice for melee-focused characters.
The Atronach: +150 magicka, 50% spell absorption, but no natural magicka regeneration – a high-risk, high-reward choice for experienced mages.

1.3 Creating a Custom Class

Choosing a custom class is one of the most critical decisions in Oblivion Remastered. It defines your playstyle and progression speed, so make your selections carefully:

Major and Minor Skills: All skills now contribute to overall leveling, but major skills start with a +20 bonus. Choose frequently used skills as minors to level up faster early on.
Balanced Skill Selection: Avoid stacking only combat skills as your majors. Mix in utility skills like Alchemy, Speechcraft, or Security to keep your progression smooth.
Long-Term Flexibility: Every skill can be trained, so don’t feel locked into a single playstyle. Build a balanced character that can adapt to different challenges as you progress.

2. Best Early Game Tips for Oblivion Remastered

Starting strong in Oblivion Remastered sets the tone for your entire adventure. These early game tips will help you make the most of your first hours in Cyrodiil, from maximizing gold income to securing powerful early gear.

Arena Battle

2.1 Make a Pre-Sewer Save

Before exiting the prison sewers, create a permanent save. This is your last chance to adjust your race, birthsign, and class without restarting the game. It also allows you to experiment with different builds without repeating the tutorial.

2.2 Join the Arena for Easy Gold

Visit the Imperial City Arena for quick gold and combat training.
Earn increasing rewards for each victory, up to 1,000 gold for the final match.
Complete the Grey Prince’s quest for a permanent skill boost before facing him for the championship.

2.3 Key Guilds to Join Early in Oblivion

Dark Brotherhood: High gold rewards, shrouded armor, and powerful stealth bonuses.
Thieves Guild: Access to fences for selling stolen goods and unique quest rewards.
Mages Guild: Unlocks spellmaking and enchanting at the Arcane University.

2.4 Claim a Free Horse

Pick up a free horse with armor from the Chestnut Handy Stables outside the Imperial City for faster early exploration.

For more in-depth strategies and expert tips, check out these other Oblivion Remastered guides:

2.5 Efficient Leveling Techniques

Maximizing your leveling speed in Oblivion Remastered is crucial for long-term success. Use these proven methods to gain experience quickly and keep your character ahead of the curve:

Acrobatics Training: Constantly jump while exploring to quickly boost your Acrobatics skill. Find a low ceiling, like the one in the Mage’s Guild in Bruma, to level even faster.
Speechcraft and Mercantile: Talk to every NPC you meet and sell items individually for rapid skill gains.
Block and Armor Mastery: Equip both light and heavy armor to level both skills simultaneously while blocking incoming attacks.
Sneak Practice: Use the sneak glitch in the Imperial Prison or repeatedly sneak behind NPCs for easy levels.

2.6 Advanced Leveling Exploits

Rubber Band Trick: Use a rubber band to hold your movement key down while swimming into a corner for passive Athletics training.
Fortify Magicka Stacking: Use cheap, self-cast Fortify Magicka spells to rapidly level magic skills.
Efficient Sneak Grinding: Use the Imperial City Prison trick to reach 100 Sneak without alerting guards.

2.7 Efficient Attribute Management

Efficiently managing your attributes is critical for long-term power. Use these tips to hit max stats quickly:

Endurance First: Max out Endurance early for maximum health gains per level.
Luck is Expensive: Remember that Luck costs more points to increase. Plan accordingly.
Strength and Speed: Focus on these to boost your carry weight, melee damage, and movement speed.
Intelligence and Willpower: Critical for mages, boosting Magicka and Magicka regeneration.

2.8 Fast Gold-Making Methods

Alchemy: Use the grape and tomato method near Skingrad for quick alchemy levels and easy gold.
Welkynd Stones: Farm Ayleid ruins for these valuable items, which sell for high prices.
Stealing and Fencing: Join the Thieves Guild to sell stolen goods without risk.
Oblivion Gates: Collect Sigil Stones and Daedric gear for massive profits.
Rare Item Hunting: Seek out high-value items like Fin Gleam and the Skeleton Key early for a financial edge.

3. Best Early Game Gear

Equipping the right gear early in your journey through Cyrodiil can make a huge difference in your survivability and combat effectiveness. Here are some of the best early game items you should prioritize:

Free bound gear

3.1 Fin Gleam Helmet

Located west of Anvil on a small island.
Provides permanent water breathing, night vision, and detect life – perfect for stealthy characters.
Be careful when diving for it, as your breath will be limited until you equip the helmet.

3.2 Umbra Sword and Armor

Located in the Vindasel ruins near the Imperial City.
Offers one of the most powerful swords and a full set of ebony armor.
Lower the difficulty to make the fight easier or lure Umbra to the guards.
Wait until level 20+ to get the best version of the armor, as its stats scale with your level.

3.3 Skeleton Key

Obtained by completing the Nocturnal Daedric Shrine quest at level 10.
Provides an unbreakable lockpick, making lockpicking trivial.
Also boosts your Security skill significantly, even when not equipped.

3.4 Ayleid Statues

Scattered throughout Ayleid ruins across Cyrodiil.
Valuable for collectors and can be sold for high prices.
Consider collecting these early to boost your gold reserves.

3.5 Rare Rings and Amulets

Look for items like the Ring of Namira for high reflect damage or the Amulet of Kings for unique story effects.
Consider looting Vilverin for the Ring of the Iron Fist – a great early-game melee boost.
Complete the Mehrunes’ Razor DLC for one of the most powerful daggers in the game.

4. How to Level Up Fast in Oblivion Remastered

Leveling efficiently in Oblivion Remastered is crucial for long-term success. Use these tips to gain levels quickly, boost your stats, and unlock powerful abilities faster. We have a detailed fast leveling guide where you can find all the information you need to get every skill to 100.

Acrobatic jump

4.1 Power Leveling Acrobatics

Jump constantly while exploring to quickly increase your Acrobatics skill.
Find a low ceiling, like in the Mage’s Guild in Bruma, to spam jumps and level faster.
Once you hit level 25 in Acrobatics, you’ll unlock the ability to dodge, significantly improving your combat mobility.

4.2 Boosting Alchemy

Use the grape and tomato method near Skingrad for fast Alchemy leveling.
Pick all the grapes at the Tamika Vineyards and tomatoes at the nearby farm.
Combine these to create dozens of Restore Fatigue potions and sell them for quick gold.
Use the 72-hour ingredient respawn trick to keep your supply steady.

4.3 Efficient Combat Skill Leveling

Visit the Arena in the Imperial City for endless combat practice.
Use light armor or no armor to also boost your Light Armor skill while fighting.
Consider fighting weak enemies like mudcrabs or using sparring partners to level up without much risk.
Use the Paralyze spell to safely train melee skills against immobilized enemies.

4.4 Speed Leveling Speechcraft

Persuade every NPC you meet to quickly boost this skill.
Bribe NPCs if necessary to increase their disposition before using the mini-game.
Once maxed, you’ll have an easier time negotiating prices and gathering information.
Consider using the Imperial race for a natural Speechcraft advantage.

4.5 Armor and Block Training

Equip both light and heavy armor to level both skills simultaneously.
Find a group of weak enemies or low-damage creatures to practice blocking and armor training.
Consider letting guards attack you with their fists if you want a completely safe way to train.
Repair your gear frequently to boost your Armorer skill as well.

4.6 Exploiting the Shrine of Peryite

Attack the paralyzed cultists near the Shrine of Peryite to train combat skills without risk.
They cannot retaliate, making them perfect for leveling Blade, Blunt, and Hand-to-Hand.
Use this opportunity to practice sneak attacks as well for faster Sneak leveling.

4.7 Efficient Magic Skill Training

Use low-cost spells like Minor Heal or Flare to quickly level up magic schools like Restoration and Destruction.
Combine weak self-cast spells with high-cost effects to maximize experience gain per cast.
Use the Bound Dagger spell to train Conjuration by repeatedly casting and sheathing it.
Spam Detect Life in crowded cities for fast Mysticism leveling.

4.8 Sneak Training Tips

Head to the Imperial City Prison and use the Claudius Arcadia cell trick to max Sneak quickly.
Crouch behind guards or friendly NPCs for constant Sneak experience without risk.
Consider using the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal for its massive Sneak bonus.

4.9 Mercantile Mastery

Sell items individually to maximize Mercantile experience.
Bribe and befriend merchants to get better deals and faster skill gains.
Use high-value potions from Alchemy grinding to quickly boost this skill.

4.10 Athletics and Acrobatics Mastery

Swim into a corner in the Imperial City Waterfront for passive Athletics leveling.
Use the rubber band trick to auto-level while away from the keyboard.
Combine this with frequent jumping to passively train Acrobatics as well.

4.11 The Fastest Way to Train Block

Find a friendly NPC with a low-damage weapon and let them hit you while blocking.
Use the Shrine of Peryite method for safe, AFK block training.
Wear heavy armor for double skill gains if you’re also training your armor skills.

5. How to Craft and Enchant Powerful Gear in Oblivion

Enchanting your gear and crafting powerful potions are essential for maximizing your effectiveness in Oblivion Remastered. Use these tips to create some of the best gear in the game.

Subjacent Sigil Stone the enchanted gear

Daedric Item – Sigil Stone

5.1 Unlocking Spell Crafting

Join the Mages Guild and complete the recommendation quests to access the Arcane University.
Alternatively, purchase the Frostcrag Spire DLC for instant access to spellmaking and enchanting altars.
Use the Apprentice Stone to boost your early spell power for faster leveling.

5.2 Creating Overpowered Spells

Combine cheap effects like light or shield with expensive, high-damage effects for efficient leveling.
Stack effects like Fire Damage and Weakness to Fire for devastating results.
Experiment with different combinations to find the most powerful setups.
Use self-targeted, low-cost spells for passive skill leveling while exploring.

5.3 Enchanting the Ultimate Gear

Use sigil stones from Oblivion Gates or grand soul gems to enchant your gear.
Consider stacking Fortify Strength, Speed, and Magicka for an all-around boost.
Use the Skeleton Key to avoid wasting time on lockpicking and focus on combat instead.
Consider creating Feather enchanted gear for maximum carry weight and mobility.

5.4 Potion Crafting for Maximum Profit

Collect ingredients with similar effects for mass potion production.
Restore Fatigue and Damage Health potions are particularly valuable for early-game profit.
Use your alchemy skill to support your main combat skills by crafting healing and buff potions.
Always use the best available Alchemy equipment to maximize potion strength and value.

5.5 Managing Soul Gems

Keep a steady supply of soul gems for enchanting and recharging your magical items.
Use the Soul Trap spell or enchanted weapons to capture souls quickly.
Join the Mages Guild to gain access to free soul gems and soul trapping services.
Visit the Arcane University for free access to powerful enchanting and soul trapping tools.

5.6 Advanced Alchemy Techniques

Focus on crafting high-value potions like Fortify Intelligence or Damage Health for massive profits.
Harvest ingredients from high-yield areas like the Great Forest or the West Weald.
Use the 72-hour respawn trick to quickly restock your ingredient supply.
Combine potions with high restoration values to recover large amounts of health and magicka quickly.

6. Best Advanced Combat Tips for Oblivion Remastered

Mastering the combat system in Oblivion Remastered is essential for surviving tougher battles and conquering dungeons. These advanced combat tips will help you dominate your enemies.

Boss fight

6.1 Mastering the Dodge Mechanic

At 25 Acrobatics, you unlock the ability to dodge, allowing you to evade attacks more effectively.
Use this to avoid powerful melee strikes and magic projectiles in tight spaces.
Combine with speed-boosting spells or potions for maximum evasiveness.
Use the Acrobatics Dodge Roll to avoid incoming arrows and spells.

6.2 Exploiting Weaknesses

Use spells like Weakness to Fire or Weakness to Magicka to amplify your damage output.
Combine these effects with powerful Destruction spells for devastating combos.
Enchant your weapons with similar effects for even more damage potential.
Experiment with multi-effect spells for maximum damage potential.

6.3 Efficient Blocking and Ripostes

Time your blocks carefully to reduce incoming damage significantly.
Counterattack immediately after blocking to catch your opponent off-guard.
Master this timing for maximum combat efficiency, especially in close quarters.
Use the Shield Bash perk to stagger enemies before counterattacking.

6.4 Using Terrain to Your Advantage

Use higher ground, narrow corridors, and choke points to control the flow of battle.
Lure enemies into traps or off ledges for easy kills.
Mastering terrain can give you a significant advantage in tougher fights.
Use narrow spaces to funnel multiple enemies for easier control.

6.5 Conserve Your Resources

Use lower-cost spells or enchanted weapons to save Magicka for tougher battles.
Carry a variety of potions to quickly recover health, magicka, and stamina in emergencies.
Consider using ranged attacks to weaken enemies before engaging in melee combat.
Save powerful spells for boss fights and high-level encounters.

6.6 Mastering Archery and Ranged Combat

Use sneak attacks with bows for massive critical damage multipliers.
Combine the Weakness to Poison and Paralyze effects for devastating ranged combos.
Use terrain to maintain distance and avoid melee engagements.
Craft powerful poisons to maximize damage from sneak attacks.

6.7 Managing Stamina and Fatigue

Always keep a supply of Restore Fatigue potions for intense combat situations.
Use the Adrenaline Rush ability from the Redguard race for burst stamina recovery.
Consider using the Steed birthsign for permanent speed and stamina boosts.
Equip feather-enchanted gear to reduce your encumbrance and preserve stamina.

6.8 Weapon and Armor Maintenance

Carry repair hammers to keep your gear in top shape during long dungeon runs.
Max out your Armorer skill to gain the ability to repair enchanted items.
Use Fortify Armorer spells to temporarily boost your repair capabilities.
Consider investing in the Skeleton Key for unbreakable lockpicking and utility.

6.9 Fighting Multiple Opponents

Use area-of-effect spells like Fireball or Shockwave to control crowds.
Position yourself in tight corridors to funnel enemies and reduce incoming damage.
Combine paralyze effects with high-damage spells for maximum control.
Consider using Summon Creature spells to distract and divide enemy groups.

6.10 Boss Fight Preparation

Stock up on health, magicka, and stamina potions before major battles.
Use poisons and enchanted gear for maximum burst damage against bosses.
Learn your enemy’s attack patterns and weaknesses before engaging.
Consider using the Fortify Health and Shield spells for added survivability.

7. How to Explore and Find Hidden Loot in Oblivion

Exploring Cyrodiil is one of the most rewarding aspects of Oblivion Remastered. Use these tips to uncover hidden treasures, secret locations, and powerful artifacts as you roam the world.

Imperial City

7.1 Use the Local Map

Press the Tab key to quickly switch between world and local maps.
Use this to track your progress in dungeons and avoid missing hidden passages.
Mark points of interest to revisit later for further exploration.

7.2 Fast Travel Smartly

Fast travel can save time, but avoid overusing it to fully appreciate the world.
Walk or ride between cities to discover hidden locations and gain skill experience.
Use stables and free horses for faster overland travel early in the game.

7.3 Find Free Player Homes

Claim Frostcrag Spire or Battlehorn Castle for free with the right DLC.
Complete the “Zero Visibility” quest for a permanent room at the Allswell Inn.
Use these free homes to safely store your items and rest between adventures.

7.4 Dungeon Diving for Profit

Explore Ayleid ruins, forts, and caves for valuable loot and artifacts.
Collect Welkynd Stones, Varla Stones, and enchanted items to sell for high profits.
Clear entire dungeons to maximize your rewards and uncover hidden treasures.

7.5 Managing Inventory Space

Use Feather spells and potions to carry more loot without being encumbered.
Sell or store heavy items like armor and weapons to free up space for valuable treasures.
Regularly clean out your inventory to avoid being overburdened in dangerous areas.
Consider enchanting your gear with Feather or Fortify Strength for maximum carry weight.

8. Best Gold Farming Methods for Early and Mid Game

Gold is essential for buying spells, gear, and supplies in Oblivion Remastered. Use these methods to quickly amass a fortune.

Merchant

8.1 Alchemy for Fast Cash

Collect ingredients like grapes, tomatoes, and Nirnroot for easy profit.
Create potions in bulk and sell them for quick gold.
Focus on Restore Fatigue and Damage Health potions for maximum profit.
Sell potions to merchants with high Mercantile skills for better prices.

8.2 Sell High-Value Items

Sell rare weapons, armor, and enchanted items to vendors for maximum profit.
Consider joining the Thieves Guild for access to fences who buy stolen goods.
Use the Skeleton Key to access high-level chests for better loot.

8.3 Use the Speechcraft Mini-Game

Improve your Speechcraft skill to get better prices from merchants.
Use the Persuade mini-game to raise NPC disposition before trading.
Invest in Mercantile training for even better deals over time.

8.4 Dungeon Farming

Clear dungeons regularly to collect valuable loot and rare items.
Focus on Ayleid ruins for Welkynd Stones and Varla Stones.
Sell these high-value items for quick profit at city vendors.

8.5 Collect and Sell Daedric Artifacts

Complete Daedric Shrine quests for powerful and valuable artifacts.
Sell lesser artifacts for quick gold or use them to dominate combat.
Consider keeping the most powerful artifacts for your own use.

9. Best Late Game Tips and Hidden Mechanics in Oblivion

As you progress through Oblivion Remastered, mastering hidden mechanics and advanced strategies can greatly enhance your gameplay. Here are some lesser-known tricks and effective late-game strategies to dominate Cyrodiil.

Battlehorn Castle map location

9.1 Hidden Mechanics You Should Know

Light Boots for Stealth: Even if you’re wearing heavy armor, equipping light boots significantly reduces the noise you make while sneaking. This is crucial for stealth builds that also need defensive gear.
Use Fortify Armorer Spell: Create a custom spell that briefly boosts your Armorer skill to 100. Since the game pauses in the menu, you can use a single repair hammer to fix all your gear without it breaking, saving money and hassle.
Free Skill Points by Watching NPCs: You can gain skill points simply by observing specific NPCs. For example:
- Watch the two fighters practicing hand-to-hand outside the Arena District to gain hand-to-hand points.
- Watch the Blades practice at Cloud Ruler Temple to gain points in Blade and Block.
Free Battlehorn Castle: Claim the Battlehorn Castle immediately after leaving the tutorial area by defeating a few bandits. This grants you a free massive home with storage and NPC followers.

9.2 Advanced Combat Tips

Maximizing Damage Output: Use custom spells that combine weak effects with high-cost ones. For example, create a fire damage spell combined with a low-cost light spell on self to gain maximum XP while keeping mana costs low.
Disabling High-Level Enemies: Utilize Paralyze spells or enchantments on fast or powerful foes. Combining it with Weakness to Magic can ensure long-lasting crowd control.
Infinite Stamina for Warriors: Use the Adrenaline Rush ability from the Redguard race to stay in combat longer without fatigue. Combine this with a Fortify Stamina enchantment for endless power attacks.
Late-Game Crafting: Once you reach level 100 in Restoration, create a spell that fortifies speed by 150 points. This allows you to traverse Cyrodiil at lightning speed.

9.3 Optimal Leveling for Late-Game Power

Skill Training with Unkillable NPCs: At the Shrine of Peryite, the NPCs are unkillable. Use them as practice dummies to train Blade, Blunt, Marksman, and other offensive skills.
Boosting Luck for Critical Hits: Luck is the most expensive attribute to level, but increasing it above 50 grants significant boosts to combat effectiveness, including higher critical hit rates and better loot drops.
Efficient Heavy Armor Training: Go to the Crazy Rat Lady’s basement in Anvil. Equip mixed light and heavy armor and let the rats hit you while blocking. Use the Absorb Attribute spell to mitigate damage while training.

9.4 Money-Making Tricks for Endgame

Alchemy and Potion Stacking: Create high-value potions like Fortify Health and Fortify Magicka to maximize profits. Use the Grape and Tomato trick at the Skingrad vineyard to mass-produce potions and sell for quick gold.
Reset Vendor Inventories: Wait for 72 hours near the shop to reset their stocks. Use this to repeatedly buy ingredients and create potions for profit.
Dungeon Clearing for Gold: Prioritize Ayleid ruins and forts for valuable Welkynd Stones, Varla Stones, and enchanted loot. These items are always in demand with merchants.

9.5 Building the Ultimate Character

Maxing Magic Efficiency: At level 100 Restoration, create a custom spell that fortifies attributes to make your character nearly invincible. Combining speed and health fortification makes you uncatchable and durable in combat.
Craft the Perfect Weapon: Enchant your blade with Weakness to Magic and Fire Damage for massive combo damage. Use Sigil Stones from Oblivion Gates to stack powerful effects.
Stacking Speed: Speed is one of the few attributes that can exceed 100. Equip enchanted gear with Fortify Speed and use potions to maximize your mobility and evasiveness in combat.
Maintain Constant Buffs: Use low-cost Fortify Attribute spells to keep essential stats like Endurance and Strength boosted at all times. This keeps your damage and health consistently high without needing constant reapplication.

9.6 Ultimate Late-Game Gear

Umbra Sword and Ebony Armor: Make sure to obtain these iconic pieces at a higher level (around 20+) to ensure they have the best stats possible.
Skeleton Key for Lockpicking: Complete the Nocturnal quest as soon as you hit level 10 to acquire this unbreakable lockpick.
Best Enchantments: Focus on Fire Damage and Weakness to Fire combinations for maximum DPS. These work exceptionally well against most enemies in the game.

Solomon Jackson

Solomon Jackson is an avid gamer from Nigeria who writes video game guides for Keen Gamer. He joined the site in March 2024 and writes guides on EA Sports FC 24.