RPGs generally allow you to pick races and other attributes that impact your build and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered unsurprisingly has some of the most enticing race options ever.
We’ll be honest, there isn’t necessarily a bad race in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, unless you’re playing in the highest difficulties. The differences in each race are mostly felt in the early game as by the end game, you level up and make up for most of the shortcomings of your race to end up with a balanced character.
Below, we’ve explained every race in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and which one’s the best for you.
- All races & Origins in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered explained
- Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered race tier list
- Best races for different builds
All races & Origins in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered explained
In the table below, we’ve explained the basic differences in terms of attributes and abilities among all races in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
Do note that the remastered version doesn’t divide the races based on gender like the original title. Instead, you now have two Origins that have a minor impact on the stats and also add some lore to your character.
| Race | Origin | Attributes | Basic gameplay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argonian | Arnesia / Thornmarsh | Alchemy +5 Athletics +10 Blade +5 Hand-to-Hand +5 Illusion +5 Mysticism +5 Security +10 | Agronian isn’t a combat-heavy race. Abilities like Water Breathing are more suited for exploration a The damage reduction against disease and poison is desirable, but very situationally. |
| Breton | Systres / High Rock | Alchemy +5 Alteration +5 Conjuration +10 Illusion +5 Mysticism +10 Restoration +10 | This race is all about becoming a master of magic and spellcasting and you also gain resistance to magical attacks. |
| Dark Elf | Vvardenfell / Mainland | Athletics +5 Blade +10 Blunt +5 Destruction +10 Light Armor +5 Marksman +5 Mysticism +5 | Oblivion is loaded with pyro enemies so the Fire resistance granted to Dark Elves is a huge relief. At higher levels, the ancestor you hire also becomes a valuable tool in combat. Until then, you can utilize the magic damage boost through Destruction +10. |
| Wood Elf | Grahtwood / Reaper’s March | Acrobatics +5 Alchemy +10 Alteration +5 Light Armor +5 Marksman +10 Sneak +10 | A stealth based build is perfect Wood Elves in Oblivion Remastered. The Command Creature illusion spell is also quite useful to instantly shift attention of your enemies during combat. |
| Redguard | Dragontain Mountains / Alik’r Desert | Athletics +10 Blade +10 Blunt +10 Light Armor +5 Heavy Armor +5 Mercantile +5 | Redguards are exciting to play, thanks to their mobility focused abilities. They also resist Poison and Disease, boosting their endurance too. |
| Orc | Stronghold / Orsinium | Armorer +10 Block +10 Blunt +10 Hand-to-Hand +5 Heavy Armor +10 | Orcs are tanky units that deal high damage and can take a lot of damage in return as well. They resist magic as well and the only downside with this race is the lack of speed. |
| Nord | Western Skyrim / Eastern Skyrim | Armorer +5 Blade +10 Block +5 Blunt +10 Heavy Armor +10 Restoration +5 | Nord is a tanky race as well, a bit similar to Orcas. Instead of the Armorer and Block, they get Restoration combined with the ability to generate Frost and resist Frost damage. |
| Khajiit | Anequina / Pellitine | Acrobatics +10 Athletics +5 Blade +5 Hand-to-Hand +10 Light Armor +5 Security +5 Sneak +5 | A fast race in Oblivion that can help you make the most of a melee build. Sneaking up, which is satisfying, is convenient in this race and the ability to always see in the dark can make you not want to switch to another race. |
| Imperial | Nibenay / Colovia | Blade +5 Blunt +5 Hand-to-Hand +5 Heavy Armor +5 Mercantile +10 Speechcraft +10 | Imperials are the normal citizens spread all around Cyrodiil. You naturally get the worst combat, magic, and stealth stats but your persuasion is increased. As a result, this race is best for role-playing as a pacifist standard citizen who has a way with words instead of swords. |
| High Elf | Auridon / Summerset Isle | Alchemy +5 Alteration +10 Conjuration +5 Destruction +10 Illusion +5 Mysticism +10 | The High Elves are arguably the best spellcasters in the game but they pay for it by reduced endurance against Fire, Frost, and Shock attacks. These downsides can be improved as you level up, though. |
If you’re playing on a PC, make sure to check our elaborate list of all the console commands and Item IDs in the game.
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered race tier list
In the table below, we’ve placed all races in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered in tiers ranging from S to B. The ones placed in the S tiers are the best while the races in B are the weakest relatively.
| Tier | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered race |
|---|---|
| S | Breton, Redguard, High Elf, Dark Elf, Khajiit, Orcs |
| A | Wood Elf, Argonian |
| B | Imperial, Nord |
Please note that none of the races in the game are bad enough to not worth trying, though. As you level up, you get enough chances to build a powerful character by spending on your attributes and gear wisely.
Our intent with this tier list is to give you a better idea of what races have historically impressed the most players and reveal what playstyles you can opt for after picking them. It should not, by any means, stop you from trying a playstyle that amuses you.
Best races for different builds
Like most other RPGs, the primary playstyles in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion include melee, ranged, and mage. The passive playstyle that revolves on persuasion, argument, and logic is only possible through Imperial, so it’s another category on its own.
So, based on your playstyle, here are the best picks for you:
- If you want a combat-heavy melee build that relies on melee damage and close-range attacks, your best options are Nord, Orcs, and Redguards.
- For a mage build that relies on casting spells and using magic, Breton and High Elf are your best options. While Breton is very flexible and balanced, High Elf is purely focused on making you deal in magic.
- If you want a stealth build in which you don’t engage directly with the opponents and fool them instead, go for Wood Elf or Khajiit.
Well, that’s everything to know about the races available in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
