Introduction
Oblivion, the beloved fourth installment in the Elder Scrolls series, throws players into the heart of Cyrodiil, a land teeming with adventure, danger, and countless possibilities. Before you even step foot into this expansive world, however, you face a crucial decision: choosing your race. This selection isn’t just cosmetic; it profoundly impacts your character’s starting skills, attributes, and even their place within the game’s lore. While the siren song of the “best race” in Oblivion may tempt you, the reality is far more nuanced. There isn’t a single, objectively superior race; the ideal choice depends entirely on your desired playstyle and the kind of hero (or villain) you aspire to become. This guide will delve deep into the strengths and weaknesses of each playable race, equipping you with the knowledge to make an informed decision and embark on an unforgettable adventure.
This article will guide you through each race available within Oblivion. It will start with a look at the initial stats for each race, going into detail as to why each one is important. Then this will lead into discussion of the powers and abilities each race possesses, from elemental resistances, to racial skills that can impact gameplay.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Race
Selecting your race in Oblivion isn’t just about picking the character that looks the coolest. Several key factors contribute to your character’s overall effectiveness and gameplay experience. Understanding these elements is crucial to making the best possible choice.
Starting Skills
Your race determines your character’s initial skill proficiencies. These starting skill levels provide a significant advantage in the early game, shaping your initial combat prowess, magical abilities, or stealth capabilities. For example, a race with a bonus to Blade will naturally excel in melee combat from the start, while one with a boost to Destruction magic will be more adept at casting offensive spells. Consider your preferred playstyle: do you envision yourself as a powerful warrior, a cunning rogue, or a masterful mage? Choose a race whose starting skills align with your vision to enjoy a smoother and more rewarding early game. Skills such as blade and blunt are important starting skills to have if you wish to go down the path of warrior in Cyrodill.
Starting Attributes
Attributes are the fundamental building blocks of your character’s abilities. Strength dictates your carrying capacity and melee damage, Intelligence governs your Magicka pool, and Agility affects your movement speed and stealth. Your chosen race influences your starting attributes, giving you a head start in certain areas. If you want to play a heavily armored knight, Strength and Endurance are essential. If you want to be a powerful mage, Intelligence and Willpower are crucial. The initial attribute distribution provided by your race can significantly impact your character’s long-term potential, so choose wisely. With high endurance stats, it will become easier to level up as a warrior due to the amount of extra HP it gives.
Special Abilities and Powers
Beyond skills and attributes, each race boasts unique special abilities and powers that set them apart. These abilities can range from elemental resistances to powerful once-a-day spells, providing significant advantages in certain situations. Some races, like the Dunmer (Dark Elves), possess inherent resistance to fire, making them exceptionally resilient against fire-based attacks. Others, like the Orcs, can unleash a devastating “Berserk” ability, temporarily boosting their Strength and damage resistance. Consider the types of challenges you anticipate facing in Oblivion and choose a race whose special abilities and powers will give you the edge. Aswell as the berserk ability, Orcs are also adept at using heavy armor to their advantage.
Lore and Roleplaying
For some players, the lore and roleplaying aspects of the Elder Scrolls are just as important as the gameplay mechanics. Each race has a rich history, distinct culture, and unique place within the world of Tamriel. Choosing a race that resonates with you from a lore perspective can significantly enhance your immersion and enjoyment of the game. Do you want to play a proud Nord warrior, a cunning Khajiit thief, or a scholarly Breton mage? Let the lore of Tamriel guide your choice and immerse yourself in the role of your chosen race. Playing an Argonian allows you to feel truly immersed in the world of Black Marsh.
The Races of Tamriel in Oblivion: A Detailed Breakdown
The Altmer: A Deep Dive
Hailing from the Summerset Isles, the Altmer, also known as High Elves, are renowned for their intellect and magical prowess. They possess an innate connection to magic, making them exceptionally powerful mages.
Starting Skills: Illusion, Alchemy, Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Mysticism
Starting Attributes: Intelligence, Willpower
Special Abilities/Powers: Highborn (Fortify Magicka), Weakness to Fire
Strengths: Unmatched magical aptitude, largest Magicka pool in the game.
Weaknesses: Highly vulnerable to fire damage.
Best Suited For: Pure mage builds, spellswords (with fire protection enchantments).
The Argonian: A Deep Dive
The reptilian Argonians hail from the swamps of Black Marsh, a land of danger and mystery. They are known for their resilience, adaptability, and natural affinity for water.
Starting Skills: Alchemy, Athletics, Blade, Illusion, Light Armor, Mysticism, Sneak
Starting Attributes: Agility, Speed
Special Abilities/Powers: Resist Disease, Resist Poison, Water Breathing.
Strengths: Immune to disease, highly resistant to poison, can breathe underwater.
Weaknesses: Relatively weak in direct combat, lower starting health.
Best Suited For: Thief builds, assassin builds, characters who explore underwater environments.
The Breton: A Deep Dive
The Bretons of High Rock are descended from both humans and elves, granting them a unique blend of magical talent and resilience. They are skilled mages, diplomats, and scholars.
Starting Skills: Alchemy, Alteration, Conjuration, Illusion, Mysticism, Restoration, Speechcraft
Starting Attributes: Intelligence, Willpower
Special Abilities/Powers: Fortify Magicka, Resist Magicka
Strengths: High resistance to magic, decent Magicka pool, versatile skillset.
Weaknesses: Not as naturally talented in physical combat as some other races.
Best Suited For: Spellswords, battlemages, characters who want a balanced approach to combat.
The Dunmer: A Deep Dive
The Dunmer, or Dark Elves, originate from Morrowind, a land scarred by volcanic eruptions and political intrigue. They are known for their cunning, skill with both magic and weapons, and natural resistance to fire.
Starting Skills: Alchemy, Athletics, Blade, Destruction, Light Armor, Mysticism, Sneak
Starting Attributes: Agility, Speed
Special Abilities/Powers: Resist Fire, Ancestor Guardian (Summon a temporary ghost ally)
Strengths: Highly resistant to fire, versatile skillset, good at both magic and combat.
Weaknesses: Reputation for being somewhat arrogant and untrustworthy.
Best Suited For: Assassin builds, spellblades, pyromancers.
The Imperial: A Deep Dive
The Imperials of Cyrodiil are the heart of the Empire, renowned for their diplomacy, mercantile skills, and martial prowess. They are skilled administrators and soldiers.
Starting Skills: Blade, Blunt, Hand to Hand, Light Armor, Mercantile, Speechcraft, Restoration
Starting Attributes: Personality, Luck
Special Abilities/Powers: Voice of the Emperor (Calm humanoid effect), Star of the West (Fortify Attribute)
Strengths: Good starting stats in important skills, useful Voice of the Emperor power for calming enemies, natural mercantile talent
Weaknesses: Lacking in significant racial resistances or offensive abilities.
Best Suited For: Jack-of-all-trades builds, characters who focus on diplomacy and trade.
The Khajiit: A Deep Dive
The Khajiit hail from the province of Elsweyr. They are known for their agility, stealth, and natural talent for thievery.
Starting Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Blade, Hand to Hand, Light Armor, Security, Sneak
Starting Attributes: Agility, Speed
Special Abilities/Powers: Night Eye, Eye of Fear
Strengths: Exceptional stealth capabilities, high agility and speed.
Weaknesses: Physically weaker than some other races, low endurance.
Best Suited For: Thief builds, assassin builds, characters who rely on stealth and agility.
The Nord: A Deep Dive
The Nords of Skyrim are a hardy and warlike race, known for their strength, resilience, and resistance to cold. They are formidable warriors and sailors.
Starting Skills: Armorer, Athletics, Blade, Blunt, Block, Heavy Armor, Speechcraft
Starting Attributes: Strength, Endurance
Special Abilities/Powers: Resist Shock, Woad (Fortify Strength)
Strengths: Strong and resilient, resistant to shock, skilled in combat.
Weaknesses: Lacking in magical talent, less agile than some other races.
Best Suited For: Warrior builds, tank builds, characters who favor heavy armor and melee combat.
The Orc: A Deep Dive
The Orcs, also known as Orsimer, are a strong and fiercely independent race, known for their martial prowess and mastery of smithing.
Starting Skills: Armorer, Block, Blunt, Heavy Armor, Alchemy, Enchant, Hand to Hand
Starting Attributes: Strength, Endurance
Special Abilities/Powers: Berserk (Fortify Strength, Fortify Endurance, Fortify Skill, but reduces agility)
Strengths: Exceptionally strong and resilient, skilled in smithing, can unleash a devastating “Berserk” ability.
Weaknesses: Reduced agility while berserk, can be vulnerable to magic.
Best Suited For: Warrior builds, berserker builds, characters who want to deal massive damage in melee combat.
The Redguard: A Deep Dive
The Redguards of Hammerfell are a proud and fiercely independent race, known for their skill with swords, their martial prowess, and their resistance to poison and disease.
Starting Skills: Athletics, Blade, Blunt, Armorer, Block, Mercantile, Acrobatics
Starting Attributes: Strength, Speed
Special Abilities/Powers: Adrenaline Rush (Fortify Agility, Endurance, Speed, Attack), Resist Poison
Strengths: Skilled swordsmen, resistant to poison, can unleash a powerful “Adrenaline Rush.”
Weaknesses: Lacking in magical talent, less skilled in stealth than some other races.
Best Suited For: Warrior builds, sword and shield builds, characters who favor fast and aggressive combat.
Specific Playstyles and the Ideal Race for Each
The Best Race for Mages
For aspiring mages, the Altmer and Breton races stand out as the most potent choices. The Altmer’s unparalleled Magicka pool and innate magical talent make them masters of spellcasting, allowing them to unleash devastating magical attacks and delve deep into the arcane arts. Bretons are also great choices, with their higher intelligence and natural magical talent that benefits early level progression, while having a high natural resistance to magic
The Best Race for Warriors
If you envision yourself as a heavily armored knight or a brutal barbarian, the Orc and Redguard races are your best bet. Orcs boast exceptional strength and endurance, along with the ability to unleash a devastating “Berserk” rage, making them formidable melee combatants.
The Best Race for Thieves and Assassins
For those who prefer to operate in the shadows, the Khajiit and Dunmer races offer the skills and abilities necessary to excel as thieves and assassins. Khajiit possess exceptional agility and stealth, allowing them to sneak past enemies undetected. They also have a naturally strong “Night Eye” skill to help them operate well in dark interiors or underground, while the dunmer gain resistances and fire powers that will help with their play style.
The Best Race for a Jack-of-All-Trades
If you prefer a more balanced approach, the Imperial and Nord races offer versatility and adaptability. Imperials possess a well-rounded skillset, allowing them to excel in a variety of roles. Nords are hardy and resilient, with a decent mix of combat and utility skills.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the “best” race in Oblivion is a matter of personal preference. There is no single right answer, and the ideal choice depends entirely on your desired playstyle and the kind of character you want to create. By carefully considering the strengths and weaknesses of each race, you can make an informed decision and embark on an adventure tailored to your preferences. So experiment with different races, explore their unique abilities, and discover the perfect fit for your epic journey through Cyrodiil. Remember, even the race considered the “worst” by some can be incredibly successful with the right build, strategy, and a touch of creativity. The beauty of Oblivion lies in its freedom and flexibility, allowing you to forge your own path and become the hero (or villain) you always dreamed of being.
