One of the most popular ways to playSkyrimis as a stealth archer, so whenOblivion Remasteredlaunched, a lot of players tried to carry the build over. While it can work, it’s a lot less reliable. On higher difficulties especially,you won’t one-shot targets very often, meaning that you quickly hit a ceiling on how powerful you can get.
Stealth archer is a hot topic among Oblivion fans to say the least (just read the comments on my last article), and the conversation has been drummed up again byu/g0_west, who decided to end their decade-long hiatusand return to the original game earlier this week. They wanted to hang up the bow and arrow, bored of falling into the same trap with each playthrough, so they called called on the community for some alternative options. And like clockwork, they were immediately told that “Skyrim is for stealth archers” and “Oblivion is for battle mages!”
Magic has always been the more popular option because it’s unbelievably easy to exploit thanks to spell crafting. With the right build, you can eviscerate enemies and turn into an unstoppable force of nature; players suggest focusing on illusion and conjuration in particular, utilising stealth spells for bonus damage to already overpowered attacks. But it goes far beyond combat. With custom spells, you can walk on water, fortify mercantile and charm to sweet-talk NPCs, and even open the most difficult locks at the press of a button.
But magic is Oblivion’s basic choice—the stealth archer equivalent. What are some of the more out-there picks?
“Stealth Smash”
u/khajiithasmanywares had a pretty fun idea: the ‘Stealth Smash’ build. It’s simple enough: enchant your clothing with 100 percent chameleon, grab the Hackdirt club that inflicts frenzy, and quietly bash enemies over the head, sending them into a magically-induced panic. You’ll take out opponents from the shadows like a caveman while also stirring up huge brawls. “Enjoy,” they said. “Watch the enemies tear each other apart.”
For a challenge, u/InAllThingsBalance has beenplaying as a vampirewho focuses entirely on stealth backstabs, illusion magic, and undead conjuration. They don’t fast travel or use a bow, either, meaning that they must travel by night to avoid being cooked under the blinding light of the sun, and feed to keep their temprament in check. It’s an exciting way to freshen up this classic RPG after so many years.
Then there’s the classic, “Punching everyone!” As u/HaggisPope explained, “When you get really good at punching you can knock people down all the time”, as it’s an actual skill in Oblivion, unlike Skyrim. Play as a Khajiit with a few bonuses, likeenchanted wrist irons, and you can really tear through Cyrodiil with your bare hands.
While this thread is specifically for the original Oblivion, you may apply any of these ideas to the remaster and they’ll work much the same. I for one am looking forward to stealing u/Yuri2Me’s idea of playing through the game like a witcher, with two swords (one silver, of course) and whatever spells feel closest to Geralt’s.
