The most exciting part of any RPG is creating your character, but it’s also the most confusing. In Oblivion Remastered, there are 10 different races to choose from, each with their own stat bonuses and unique abilities which make them more suited to different roles and class archetypes.
To remove some of the mystery and help you choose the best starting race for your character in Oblivion Remastered, here are our picks for what each one does best.
Best Starting Race for Melee in Oblivion Remastered
- Nord
- Dunmer (Dark Elf)
- Orc
The Nord isn’t the best melee Race just because of its bonuses to Blade, Blunt, Block and Heavy Armor, but because of its default bonus to Restoration.
Proficiency with healing spells is a must for any melee character in Oblivion because as you fight on the front-line, standing face-to-face with your enemy, you naturally take more damage than ranged and magic-based characters.
Dunmer on the other hand are the best race for creating a spellsword, thanks to their bonuses to Blade and Destruction. They’re quick, resilient warriors who can turn their hand to any weapon with ease.
Their unique powers can also be pretty useful, with an Ancestor Guardian drawing aggro in difficult fights and their huge Resist Fire buff negating the go-to element of many late-game foes.
Finally, Orcs are powerful blunt weapon-wielding warriors who have a unique ability to go Berserk once per day, giving them a huge health and strength boost. This makes them uniquely suited to battling tough opponents and boss monsters since they can rise to the big occasion.
Best Starting Race for Ranged in Oblivion Remastered
- Bosmer (Wood Elf)
- Khajiit
- Argonian
When it comes to a Marksman Build, then Bosmer is far-and-away the best starting Race. With huge boosts to Marksman, Sneak, Agility and Speed, they’re fast, nimble and eagle-eyed archers right from the start of Oblivion Remastered.
However, if you want to try out something a bit different then races which boost Agility and Speed are the way to go.
Firstly, Khajiit have great athleticism, a bonus to Sneak and proficiency with Light Armor. Then Argonians are similarly impressive athletes, but with the added bonus of being able to breathe underwater by default.
Best Starting Race for Magic in Oblivion Remastered
- Dunmer (Dark Elf)
- Altmer (High Elf)
- Breton
While there are many different ways to play Oblivion Remastered, however you approach a playthrough there is still going to be lots and lots of combat involved.
Therefore Dark Elf is a solid Race for a mage because of its high bonus to Destruction and back-up proficiencies in Blade and Light Armor.
Alternatively, if the early-game isn’t an issue for you and you want a more fully magic-focused build, then Altmer is the natural choice. They have the same high bonus to Destruction, but with additional boosts to the other schools of magic. They also have a unique ability which increases their Magicka, further cementing their place as the premier spellcasters in Tamriel.
Outside of the Elven Races, you could also choose Breton. They have a similar (albeit weaker) Magicka-boosting ability to High Elves, as well as the biggest boost to the perennially useful Restoration school. Build up their destruction and you will have a capable mage in no time.
Now to outfit your chosen character, check out our map of every Daedric Artifact location in Oblivion Remastered.