The Best Races and Origins to Pick in Oblivion Remastered

TL;DR

  • Breton race offers perfect balance for hybrid spellsword builds with magic resistance
  • High Elf provides maximum magical power but requires careful positioning management
  • Redguard excels in pure physical combat with disease and poison immunity
  • Khajiit dominates stealth gameplay with night vision and acrobatic advantages
  • Strategic origin combinations can enhance racial strengths by 25-40%

Entering the revitalized world of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered presents new players with a critical character creation decision that will shape their entire gameplay experience. The ten available races, including the feline Khajiit and reptilian Argonians, each offer distinct advantages tailored to specific playstyles. With the addition of two new origins exclusive to the remaster, your racial choice becomes even more impactful for long-term progression.

This comprehensive guide analyzes the optimal race selections based on five primary gameplay approaches, helping you avoid common selection pitfalls that could hinder your adventure through Cyrodiil. Understanding racial synergies with birthsigns and equipment choices early can save dozens of hours of gameplay optimization later.

Breton Race in Oblivion Remastered
Image Credit: Bethesda/ Elder Scrolls IV (screenshot by Aryan Singh, Beebom)

Seasoned Oblivion players consistently recommend the Breton race as the most adaptable starting choice for newcomers. These human-elf hybrids possess exceptional baseline Intelligence and Willpower statistics, making them naturally inclined toward magical disciplines while maintaining respectable physical combat capabilities. Their innate 50% magic resistance provides crucial survivability against enemy spellcasters throughout the main questline.

The Breton’s starting skill bonuses in Conjuration, Mysticism, and Restoration create a foundation for diverse magical approaches. For players seeking maximum versatility who want to wield blades with one hand while casting healing or summoning spells with the other, selecting a Breton with the Systres origin enhances these hybrid capabilities significantly. This combination allows effective adaptation to virtually any combat situation encountered in Cyrodiil.

High Elves in Oblivion Remastered
Image Credit: Bethesda/ Elder Scrolls IV (screenshot by Aryan Singh, Beebom)

The visual enhancements in Oblivion Remastered make magical combat more spectacular than ever, with improved particle effects and spellcasting animations. For dedicated mage builds focusing purely on arcane power, a High Elf with the Auridon origin delivers unparalleled magical performance. This race dominates all schools of magic with superior base attributes and, when combined with the Atronach Birthsign, achieves the largest possible Magicka pool available in the game.

However, this specialization comes at the cost of significant vulnerability, as High Elves suffer 25% weakness to fire, frost, and shock damage. Strategic use of summoned creatures like familiars or skeleton warriors becomes essential to divert enemy attention from your character. Proper positioning and crowd control spells are mandatory for survival with this glass cannon archetype.

Redguards in Oblivion Remastered
Image Credit: Bethesda/ Elder Scrolls IV (screenshot by Aryan Singh, Beebom)

While some may consider traditional warrior builds conventional, the combat effectiveness of Redguards with the Alik’r Desert origin remains unmatched for melee-focused gameplay. These resilient warriors receive substantial combat bonuses including +15 to Blade, +15 to Blunt weapons, and +15 to Athletics, enabling superior mobility and damage output from the earliest levels.

Their natural immunities to poison and common diseases prove invaluable when exploring Cyrodiil’s dungeons and wilderness areas. This racial advantage allows Redguard characters to engage in prolonged combat scenarios where other races would require constant healing or cure potions. The Adrenaline Rush power provides temporary combat enhancement that can turn difficult battles in your favor.

Khajiit race in Oblivion Remastered
Image Credit: Bethesda/ Elder Scrolls IV (screenshot by Aryan Singh, Beebom)

Players dedicated to stealth gameplay, including infiltration missions, pickpocketing, and nocturnal activities, will find the Khajiit race perfectly suited to their preferred approach. These feline humanoids possess inherent intelligence and agility advantages, complemented by natural night vision that eliminates the need for torch or light spell management in dark environments.

Their racial skill bonuses provide significant head starts in key stealth disciplines: +15 Acrobatics for superior mobility, +10 Sneak for improved concealment, and +15 Hand-to-Hand for silent takedowns. The optimal configuration for stealth-assassin specialization is Khajiit with the Anequina origin, which further enhances these natural predatory instincts. This combination enables players to navigate entire dungeons without alerting enemies when executed properly.

Dark Elves in Oblivion Remastered
Image Credit: Bethesda/ Elder Scrolls IV (screenshot by Aryan Singh, Beebom)

Beyond the basic racial selections, understanding advanced optimization techniques can dramatically improve your gameplay effectiveness. For Breton spellswords, focus on leveling Blade and Block alongside Destruction magic to create a balanced combatant capable of handling any enemy type. Their magic resistance becomes particularly valuable in late-game Oblivion gates where magical attacks are frequent.

High Elf mages should prioritize acquiring the Atronach Birthsign early and develop Conjuration skills to manage enemy aggression. A common mistake is neglecting Armorer or Light Armor skills, leaving these fragile characters overly vulnerable to unexpected melee attacks. Always maintain distance and use terrain to your advantage.

Redguard warriors benefit most from specializing in either Blade or Blunt weapons rather than splitting focus. Their natural resistances make them ideal for exploring plague-ridden areas like the Blackwood region without requiring extensive preparation.

Khajiit stealth specialists should invest in Illusion magic to complement their physical stealth capabilities. The Invisibility spell combined with their natural Sneak bonus creates nearly undetectable operatives. Remember that successful stealth gameplay requires patience and observation of enemy patrol patterns.

Action Checklist

  • Identify your primary playstyle preference (mage, warrior, stealth, hybrid) before selecting
  • Match racial strengths to your preferred combat approach using the guide above
  • Select complementary origin that enhances your chosen race’s natural abilities
  • Plan your skill progression path for the first 10 levels
  • Coordinate birthsign selection with racial attributes for maximum synergy

No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » The Best Races and Origins to Pick in Oblivion Remastered Strategic race selection guide for Oblivion Remastered with playstyle optimization and origin combinations