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Forging Legendary Armor in Oblivion: A Comprehensive Guide

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, a cornerstone of the action RPG genre, offers players a vast and immersive world to explore. While combat prowess and magical abilities are crucial for survival, possessing formidable armor is equally essential. However, Oblivion doesn’t feature a traditional crafting system for armor in the base game. This article delves into the methods players can employ to acquire the best armor sets, focusing on unique acquisition strategies and modding solutions for those seeking a true forging experience. This guide explores how to acquire and, through mods, forge armor in Oblivion.

Understanding Armor Acquisition in Vanilla Oblivion

In the unmodded version of Oblivion, acquiring high-quality armor primarily involves looting, quest rewards, and purchasing from merchants. Unlike some of its contemporaries, Oblivion lacks a native armor crafting or forging armor mechanic. Therefore, understanding where and how to find the best pre-made armor sets is critical for character progression.

Looting and Enemy Drops

Enemies throughout Cyrodiil, particularly those found in challenging dungeons and caves, often drop armor pieces. The quality of the dropped armor is generally tied to your character’s level. Higher levels translate to a higher chance of encountering enemies equipped with superior armor types like Glass, Ebony, or Daedric. Remember to thoroughly explore every nook and cranny of dungeons to maximize your chances of finding valuable loot. Paying attention to enemy types is also important; Daedra are more likely to drop Daedric armor pieces, while bandits might carry lower-tier armors like Iron or Steel.

Quest Rewards

Several quests in Oblivion offer unique and powerful armor pieces as rewards. These are often one-of-a-kind items with special enchantments or higher base stats than standard armor. Completing faction questlines, such as those for the Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood, can yield exceptional rewards, including full sets of specialized armor. The Knights of the White Stallion quest, for example, provides the Crusader’s Relics, a powerful set of armor with beneficial enchantments.

Purchasing from Merchants

Merchants across Cyrodiil sell a variety of armor types. The availability and quality of the armor they offer are influenced by your character’s level and their Mercantile skill. Investing in Mercantile can lead to better deals and access to more advanced armor types. Check merchants in major cities like the Imperial City, Skingrad, and Chorrol regularly, as their inventories can change over time. Some merchants specialize in specific types of armor, so it’s worth exploring different shops to find what you need. Finding the right merchant is key to forging armor…well, buying it, at least.

Enhancing Your Armor: Repair and Enchantment

While you can’t directly forge armor in Oblivion in the base game, you can maintain and enhance the armor you find. Two crucial skills are Armorer and Enchanting.

The Armorer Skill

The Armorer skill allows you to repair damaged armor. As armor takes damage from combat, its effectiveness decreases. Regularly repairing your armor ensures that it provides the maximum protection. You can repair armor yourself using repair hammers or pay an NPC to do it for you. Investing in the Armorer skill reduces the cost of repairs and allows you to repair armor to a higher condition. At higher levels, you can even repair enchanted armor, which is essential for maintaining the effectiveness of powerful, enchanted gear.

The Enchanting Skill

The Enchanting skill allows you to add magical effects to your armor. Enchantments can enhance your character’s attributes, resistances, or combat abilities. To enchant armor, you’ll need soul gems filled with souls and access to an enchanting altar, which can be found at the Arcane University or purchased for your character’s home. Experiment with different enchantments to create armor that complements your playstyle and enhances your character’s strengths. Properly enchanted armor can significantly improve your survivability and combat effectiveness.

Modding Oblivion: Introducing Armor Forging

For players who desire a true armor crafting experience, numerous mods introduce the ability to forge armor in Oblivion. These mods typically add new crafting stations, recipes, and materials, allowing you to create custom armor sets from scratch.

Popular Armor Forging Mods

Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul (OOO): OOO is a comprehensive overhaul mod that rebalances many aspects of the game, including the economy and item distribution. It also introduces a more robust crafting system, allowing you to forge armor from various materials.
Martigen’s Monster Mod (MMM): While primarily focused on adding new creatures and enemies, MMM also includes a crafting system that allows you to create armor from monster parts. This adds a unique twist to the armor forging process, requiring you to hunt specific creatures for their materials.
Complete Crafting Overhaul Remastered (CCOR): CCOR is a dedicated crafting mod that overhauls the crafting system in Oblivion. It adds new crafting stations, recipes, and materials, allowing you to forge armor, weapons, and other items. CCOR also includes features like material tempering and item salvaging, adding depth to the crafting experience.

How Armor Forging Mods Work

Most armor forging mods add a new crafting station, typically a forge or anvil, to the game. These stations can usually be found in cities or player homes. To forge armor, you’ll need the appropriate materials, such as ingots, leather, and monster parts, as well as the required crafting skill. The specific materials and skill requirements vary depending on the mod and the type of armor you’re trying to create. Once you have the necessary materials and skills, you can interact with the crafting station to access the crafting menu. From there, you can select the armor piece you want to forge and begin the crafting process.

Detailed Look at Specific Armor Sets

Even without forging armor in Oblivion in the vanilla game, there are standout armor sets to acquire.

The Daedric Armor Set

Considered one of the best heavy armor sets in the game, the Daedric armor offers exceptional protection and a menacing appearance. It is often found on high-level Daedra or as random loot in Oblivion gates. Each piece provides significant armor rating, making you a formidable opponent in combat. Obtaining a full set of Daedric armor can be a time-consuming process, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

The Glass Armor Set

For players who prefer a lighter and more agile playstyle, the Glass armor set is an excellent choice. It offers good protection while remaining relatively lightweight, allowing you to move quickly and efficiently. Glass armor is typically found in chests and on enemies in mid-level dungeons. Its distinctive green hue makes it easily recognizable, and its balanced stats make it a versatile option for various character builds.

The Ebony Armor Set

The Ebony armor set strikes a balance between protection and weight. It offers better protection than Glass armor but is not as heavy as Daedric armor. Ebony armor is often found on high-level bandits and mercenaries, as well as in chests in challenging dungeons. Its sleek, black design makes it a popular choice among players who want a stylish and functional armor set. While not forging armor, finding a complete set of Ebony armor is a worthy goal.

Tips and Tricks for Armor Acquisition

Here are some tips and tricks to help you acquire the best armor in Oblivion:

Leveling Up Efficiently: Your character’s level significantly impacts the quality of armor you find. Focus on leveling up efficiently by completing quests and exploring dungeons. Prioritize skills that contribute to your combat prowess, such as Blade, Blunt, or Destruction.
Exploring Oblivion Gates: Oblivion gates are a great source of high-level loot, including Daedric armor. However, they can be challenging to navigate and require careful planning. Bring plenty of healing potions and powerful weapons to survive the dangers within.
Joining Factions: Joining factions like the Fighters Guild or the Mages Guild can provide access to unique quests and rewards, including powerful armor pieces. Complete faction questlines to earn valuable gear and improve your character’s standing in Cyrodiil.
Utilizing Alchemy: Alchemy can be used to create potions that enhance your character’s attributes, resistances, and combat abilities. Use potions to improve your survivability in challenging dungeons and increase your chances of finding valuable armor.

Conclusion

While the base game of Oblivion doesn’t allow you to directly forge armor, there are still numerous ways to acquire powerful and unique armor sets. By looting, completing quests, and purchasing from merchants, you can outfit your character with the best gear Cyrodiil has to offer. For those seeking a true armor crafting experience, mods provide a robust and customizable solution. Whether you choose to stick with the vanilla game or explore the world of modding, acquiring the best armor is essential for surviving the dangers of Oblivion. Remember to consider your playstyle, character build, and the challenges you’ll face when choosing your armor. Happy adventuring!

[See also: Oblivion Best Weapons Guide]

[See also: Oblivion Alchemy Guide]

[See also: Oblivion Character Builds]