This is the original Oblivion, running on Bethesda's own Gamebryo engine, not the 2025 Unreal Engine remaster built by Virtuos. The Game of the Year Edition bundles the 2006 base game with the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions, and the Deluxe variant adds Fighter's Stronghold, Spell Tome Treasures, Vile Lair and the Mehrunes' Razor add on. What you get is the version with the notorious level scaling, the major and minor skill system that punishes players who level naturally, and a difficulty slider that only multiplies damage in both directions. It is also the version with two decades of mods behind it, including Oblivion Script Extender tools and total conversions the remaster cannot load. If you want prettier faces and reworked levelling, buy the remaster. If you want the moddable original that runs on a laptop, this is the one.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight | A | Balanced | Umbra | Yes |
| Battlemage | A | Balanced | Goldbrand | Yes |
| Nightblade | A | Balanced | Mehrunes' Razor | Yes |
| Spellsword | A | Balanced | Volendrung | Yes |
| Assassin | A | Balanced | Wabbajack | Yes |
New player? Start with Battlemage. See our beginner's guide for why.
Knight
Knight is a strong option in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009).
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Umbra |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Major skills and the level up trap |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Umbra
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Imperial City to learn Knight-specific mechanics
- Focus on Major skills and the level up trap. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Umbra as your first major upgrade
- See our full Knight build guide for the optimal gear progression
Battlemage
Battlemage is a strong option in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009).
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Goldbrand |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Attribute multipliers |
Strengths
- Most versatile, adapts to any situation
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Goldbrand
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Imperial City to learn Battlemage-specific mechanics
- Focus on Attribute multipliers. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Goldbrand as your first major upgrade
- See our full Battlemage build guide for the optimal gear progression
Nightblade
Nightblade is a strong option in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009).
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Mehrunes' Razor |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Level scaled world |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Mehrunes' Razor
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Imperial City to learn Nightblade-specific mechanics
- Focus on Level scaled world. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Mehrunes' Razor as your first major upgrade
- See our full Nightblade build guide for the optimal gear progression
Spellsword
Spellsword is a strong option in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009).
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Volendrung |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | The difficulty slider |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Volendrung
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Imperial City to learn Spellsword-specific mechanics
- Focus on The difficulty slider. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Volendrung as your first major upgrade
- See our full Spellsword build guide for the optimal gear progression
Assassin
Assassin is a strong option in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009).
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Wabbajack |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Oblivion Gates and Sigil Stones |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Wabbajack
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Imperial City to learn Assassin-specific mechanics
- Focus on Oblivion Gates and Sigil Stones. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Wabbajack as your first major upgrade
- See our full Assassin build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Battlemage is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Knight is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Umbra for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Assassin offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Spellsword shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Guides
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Overview
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Best Builds
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Tier List
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Walkthrough
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Beginner's Guide
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Tips & Tricks
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Weapons Guide
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Combat Guide
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Boss Guide
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Maps & Locations
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) Crafting Guide
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