Best weapons in Oblivion Remastered and where to find them

Understanding the best weapons in Oblivion Remastered will be your key to success when making your way through the vast world of Cyrodiil.

Whether you’re in the opening hours or deeper into later areas of Oblivion, there are several weapons worth keeping an eye out for.

In this guide, we’ll go through all the best weapons in Oblivion Remastered, as well as early game recommendations, and how to find them.

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Best early game weapons in Oblivion

Whilst each player’s approach to combat and overall journey may differ in the long run, we’ve got a couple of solid recommendations to get you started.

During the tutorial, I was using one of the Katanas dropped by a fallen soldier until it – unfortunately – is taken away from you. However, a little bit further into the main story, upon joining the Blades, you’ll receive the Akaviri Katana which is a solid replacement. Joining this group will also grant access to whatever you like from inside the armory at Cloud Ruler Temple, letting you net a few extra bonuses too.

Whilst running through the Oblivion Gate outside of Kvatch – a location you encounter when looking for Martin in the main story – I found a Daedric Battle Axe. Whilst I eventually dropped the weapon due to its hefty weight that I no longer wanted to lug around (I’m such a hoarder in these games), it was a solid weapon that can be found at a later stage at higher levels too thanks to the repeatable nature of its drop source.

For example, Daedric enemies found inside Oblivion Gates have a chance to drop weapons that can come in handy whilst progressing through the story, since they can often be stronger than the common weapons found in Cyrodiil. Furthermore, there’s a wide array of weapons to find, so if you can spare the inventory space, they are worth trying out.

Another solid melee weapon is Chillrend, mentioned in the next section, but since it can be acquired early, it can give you a taste of what’s on offer when it comes to some of the unique and enchanted weapons in the game. Applying a Frost weakness to enemies with a weapon that itself deals Frost damage is a pretty fun combo for decent DPS (damage per second).

As a reliable backup for all builds, we’d also recommend any Bow you can find too – you’ll actually be able to find one in the game’s opening, but as you progress, you’ll have chances to acquire even stronger ones too.

One of the bows in particular that you might find useful when starting out is the Frostwyrm Bow, which can be looted from the ‘Uderfrykte Matron’ found in the mountains of northeastern Cyrodiil. It’s a tough fight admittedly, so a difficulty adjustment might be worth a shot, but once they’re down, the bow will be all yours!

So far, I’ve been using a bow for more of a stealth-oriented playstyle I’m considering leaning towards the more I play, allowing me to land damage-multiplied Sneak Attacks on unsuspecting foes. Even if I don’t commit to it constantly though, I’m slowly increasing my Marksman and Sneak Skills in the process, assisting in overall levelling, and opening up more possibilities should I commit to that approach later on. Not just that, but bows are an alternative to magic when it comes to ranged combat.

As you get deeper into the game, be sure to refer to our extended list of best weapons down below which covers what you’ll want to keep an eye out for in the later hours.

Best weapons in Oblivion

Players who are deep into Oblivion will no doubt be exploring the farthest reaches of Cyrodiil, completing late game quests and more.

You’ll likely have a better idea of the kind of playstyle and build you’re leaning into, and now you’re just looking for the finishing touches.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a collection of the best weapons, as well as details on how to get your hands on them. Each one suits a different playstyle, but are all worth considering as you never know when it might come in handy!

Umbra

Recognised as one of the strongest weapons in the game, Umbra is a one-handed sword with one of the highest damage outputs of any weapon in Oblivion.

It can be acquired at any point by killing Umbra within Vindasel – a dungeon that is located on the coast north-east from The Gold Road, across the river surrounding the Imperial City.

Be warned though, particularly in the early game, this fight is tough. Whilst they didn’t attack when I first entered the room, as soon as I landed a hit, the fight didn’t last long at all – my first attempt led to failure within two hits! As such, it’s a battle much more suited to late game players.

If you’d rather take a more linear path to this enemy though, you’ll be directed here by following the ‘Clavicus Vile’ quest.

Whilst you can receive a unique helmet as a reward for beating the quest, you’ll lose the sword in the process. As such, once the sword is yours, if you’re looking to complete the quest, be sure to choose the option to not return the sword to finish it with an alternate ending and keep your newfound weapon.

Hatreds Soul

One of the strongest bows is one nestled away in the jaws of Oblivion: Hatreds Soul.

Rather than as a reward from an associated quest, this particular bow is found within one of Daedra sacs inside the Chorrol Oblivion Gate which you’ll visit as part of the main story. Hatreds Soul comes with a couple of Enchantments that grant it Fire damage, and the ability to slow enemy movement speed – especially handy to get a few more shots off on an oncoming opponent.

Shadowhunt

Another bow that might be worth considering is Shadowhunt which you’ll be able to acquire as part of ‘The Lonely Wanderer’ quest in the Dark Brotherhood storyline. This has a slew of bonuses provided by built-in enchantments too, including one effect that makes enemies weak to Poison.

Apotheosis Staff

If you’re looking for an approach focused on magic, the Apotheosis staff is a great shout, with the intrinsic bonus of dealing Fire, Frost, and Shock damage to targets.

You can purchase Apotheosis from Rindir’s Staffs in the Market District of the Imperial City, at a cost that will change based on your Mercantile Skill rank, as well as your disposition with Rindir – if you’re in good standing with him, you’ll have the chance to net this at a better price!

As for the staff itself, Apotheosis is a solid ranged option perfect for a magic-focused build thanks to its output of three elemental damage types.

Chillrend

Depending on the type of weapons you like to use and build you’re aiming for, the Chillrend sword is a decent shout.

Not only is it an effective Frost damage weapon, it can actually be acquired early on in the game too. Though of course, since it’s a Unique weapon and scales with your current level, you might prefer to wait before acquiring it depending on where your mind is at for the eventual end point of your build.

To get this weapon, you’ll want to speak to Valus Odiil inside the Grey Mare pub to kick off the ‘The Killing Field’ quest. In this, you’ll be tasked with defending two brothers at a farm outside of Chorrol and – done successfully – you’ll be given the weapon when turning in the quest.

As mentioned, Chillrend deals Frost damage on attacks and also applies a 20-second Frost weakness to enemies struck with the weapon. Plus, it looks cool (no pun intended).

Bands of Kwang Lao

Whilst not a weapon itself, the Bands of Kwang Lao are an armour piece that provides a +20 point bonus to your Hand-to-Hand Skill when equipped, boosting your prowess in fisticuff combat.

This armour can be acquired relatively early on too, from a chest in the Arena District of the Imperial City, nearby two characters practice-fighting outside of the arena itself.

The nearby chest can either be lock-picked, or opened with a key you’ll need to steal from one of the two fighting – you’ll have to pick the right moment for either option.

We’d recommended saving before attempting either approach since it’s a Very Hard-difficulty lock, and your pickpocketing attempts might not play out as intended. Once you’ve gained access and opened the crate though, you’ll be able to claim your prize.

This piece of armour is especially worth considering if hand-to-hand combat is a playstyle you’re looking to enhance.

Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine weapons

Since Oblivion Remastered bundles in all the post-launch DLC for the original game, this includes releases such as Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine.

With that in mind, perhaps one of the most robust areas to find strong weapons are the locations and reward sources associated with these DLCs. As mentioned earlier though, your level will dictate the statistics of unique items dropped, so you might want to save some of these weapons until you’re a higher level.

DLC content is accessed via specific locations in the world. For example, Shivering Isles you can begin by finding the portal on the island in Niben Bay, and Knights of the Nine is kicked off at Anvil Chapel where a guard should approach and speak to you.

If you’re an owner of the Deluxe Edition content for Oblivion Remastered, you’ll also have a set of quests that let you get your hands on Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon gear. These are acquired through quest chains that begin with Wound in Time (accepted by speaking to Ilav Dralgoner uphill from Kvatch) and Burning Trail (kicked off by hearing its associated rumour from citizens of Cyrodiil), respectively.

Daedric Quest weapons

At a certain point in the main story, you will be tasked with completing one of several Daedric quests to acquire a Daedric artifact which is required to move the story along.

Whilst only one is required for story progress, there are actually fifteen you can complete, each one of which – acquired via their respective Shrines – will yield a Daedric-themed reward. Many of these include weapons.

Like other quest rewards in the game, these will drop at the level you are when completing them, so bear that in mind when receiving your reward. One of these we’ve already mentioned up above with Umbra and the Clavicus Vile questline.

As you’ll find out, these weapons are all unique items that each come with their own bespoke enchantments that make them even stronger. Whether you’re a completionist, or just wanting to get your hands on some powerful weapons, these quests are well worth doing.

Enchanted weapons

A method that isn’t for one weapon in particular, but more connected to one of the other systems in the game is to improve weapons via Enchanting.

Taking this approach will give you more autonomy over what kind of weapon you’d like to create, and can be a solid addition both as you’re playing through the game, but also in the later stages. In fact, Enhanting in the late game often leads to some of the best weapons in Oblivion.

To gain access to the ability that allows you to enchant weapons, you’ll need to join the Mages Guild, and visit the Altar of Enchanting in the Arcane University. You will then use Soul Gems to customise the functionality of gear you own.

Additionally, you can also use Sigil Stones – found in the Planes of Oblivion – to enchant weapons. The bonuses provided by these vary depending on the type of Stone, and the more of these you’ll find, the more effects you’ll be able to take advantage of when enchanting.

Whilst this isn’t a guaranteed way to get a weapon directly, it’s an option that provides more customisability compared to other weapons, and thus might yield better results for you.

How to find the best weapons in Oblivion

Weapons and gear in Oblivion Remastered can be of varying types and have several different statistics, each of which have their pros and cons.

These stats cover damage or defence, weight, value etc. as well as a hidden level – determined by your own level – that will affect their overall output.

This means that items from repeatable sources can be acquired multiple times throughout the game at higher levels, but quest rewards will be capped at whatever level you are when you find them.

With this in mind, you might want to hold off acquiring gear acquired through quest rewards until further in, so that you can obtain them later in the game when your level is higher.

For more on Oblivion Remastered, be sure to check out our guides covering the best classes and races to choose, as well as our interactive map for the whole game.