If you’ve been exploring Cyrodiil inOblivion Remastered, chances are you’ve slipped up somewhere, whether it’s a stolen item or a fight with an NPC. Regardless of the crime, the outcome is always the same: a bounty on your head and guards chasing you for revenge.

The game offers several ways to clear your bounty, some expensive, some risky, and one of them even lowers your skill level in the process. Whether you want to buy your freedom, serve your time, or call in a favor from the Thieves Guild, here’s how to clear your bounty and get back to looting, questing, and exploring in peace.

The player character shows Armand Christophe near the Imperial City in Oblivion Remastered.

Best Methods To Clear Your Bounty

Once you’ve racked up a bounty, it stays with you until you deal with it.You will be arrestedon sight if guards spot you, and with higher bounties, youlose both more time and money. Below are thethree main waysto clear your name, each with its own pros and cons.

Pay A Fine To A Guard

The most straightforward method is simplypaying your bounty when a guard stops you. You will see the option to“Pay Fine”when approached. Select it, and as long as you have enough money,your bounty will be clearedon the spot.

Note that you will not be able to clear your bounty in this way if the price of your head is more than5,000 Gold.

The player character shows a Guard near the Imperial City in Oblivion Remastered.

Keep in mind, though, thatanystolen itemsin your inventory will be confiscated permanently, even if they’ve been in your pockets for hours. This method is fast and painless, but costly, and it won’t save your stolen treasures.

Serve Your Time In Jail

If you’re short on Gold, you can always choose toserve your sentence. When arrested, select the option togo to jail. However, you will alsolose any stolen gearand all items except quest items and a single lockpick.

You will belocked up for a number of in-game days based on your bounty- one day for every 100 gold. For example, a bounty of 1,000 gold means ten days behind bars.

The player character shows a bed in the jail in Oblivion Remastered.

But jail time also comes with a harsh penalty. Every day you spend locked up, you willrandomly lose one point from a non-major skilllike Alchemy, Hand-to-Hand, Athletics, and others,up to a maximum of ten lost skill points. These aren’t easy to recover, so while it’s a free option, it comes at a cost to your character’s progress. After your sentence ends, you’re released with your legal items.

Armand Christophe

Once you’ve joined theThieves Guild, you gain access to a far more efficient solution -bribing your bounty away. Speak toArmand Christophe, and you will be able topay half the total bounty amount to have it cleared. Not only is it cheaper than paying guards, but it alsolets you keep your stolen itemsand avoids jail time altogether.

you may findArmand Christophe near the Imperial City, often during the night hours. One known location is across the river west of the city near Dzonot Cave.

The player character shows Armand Christophe near the Imperial City in Oblivion Remastered.

Approach quietly, speak with him, and choose“Pay off my fines and bounty”to handle it. It’s the ideal method for any stealthy or criminally inclined character — fast, cost-efficient, and without consequences for your inventory or stats.