Choose a race for the play style and racial powers you want—not because one is universally best. The official manual for the original The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion lists ten races, their starting skill bonuses and special abilities. Bethesda confirms that Oblivion Remastered redesigned leveling and gave each represented race a unique voice, but its published materials do not verify that the original race bonuses and abilities are unchanged. The tables below are therefore original-game reference data, not a confirmed Remastered stat guide.
What race should you choose in Oblivion Remastered?
For a starting point, match the race’s original-manual skill bonuses and powers to the way you want to play. A stealthy archer may look at Bosmer; a spell-focused character may consider Breton; and a heavily armored melee character may prefer Orc or Nord. These are play-style matches based on the original manual, not verified rankings for the remaster. Pick for abilities and theme as well as skills: starting bonuses do not, by themselves, make a race best for every build.
- Magic: Breton’s listed bonuses favor several magic skills, while its special abilities include Fortified Magicka and Resist Magicka.
- Stealth or ranged combat: Bosmer has bonuses to Marksman, Sneak and Alchemy; Khajiit has Acrobatics and Hand to Hand bonuses alongside Eye of Fear and Eye of Night.
- Armored melee: Orc and Nord have several listed combat and armor bonuses. Their special abilities differ, so compare the powers as well as the skills.
- Resistance and utility: Argonian, Redguard and other races have distinct disease, poison, elemental or utility abilities. Decide which effects suit the character you want.
In the remaster, Bethesda says leveling was redesigned with inspiration from both Oblivion and Skyrim. That makes it especially important not to treat the original game’s progression assumptions as confirmed remaster advice. Bethesda’s August 11, 2026 announcement describes the remaster’s changes but does not supply a current numerical race table.
Original Oblivion race bonuses and abilities
The following values and ability names are from Bethesda’s official original-game PC manual, which lists ten playable races. They are useful as a reference to the original game; the available official remaster material does not establish that every entry carries over unchanged. Bethesda’s Oblivion Remastered product page describes the remaster, not a race-stat table.
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- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - Physical Deluxe Edition includes the main game, unique digital Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon armor, weapons and horse armor sets, Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine story expansions, access to the digital artbook and soundtrack app, plus additional content to download. en: Fighter's Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune's Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard's Tower, Orrery and Horse Armor Pack.
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- Create your own way from the noble warrior to the sinister assassin to the wrinkled wizard or funny blacksmith and play in your way.
| Race | Original manual: starting skill bonuses | Original manual: special abilities |
|---|---|---|
| Argonian | Alchemy +5; Athletics +10; Blade +5; Hand to Hand +5; Illusion +5; Mysticism +5; Security +10 | Resist Disease; Immune to Poison; Water Breathing |
| Breton | Alchemy +5; Alteration +5; Conjuration +10; Illusion +5; Mysticism +10; Restoration +10 | Fortified Magicka; Dragon Skin; Resist Magicka |
| Dark Elf (Dunmer) | Athletics +5; Blade +10; Blunt +5; Destruction +10; Light Armor +5; Marksman +5; Mysticism +5 | Ancestor Guardian; Resist Fire |
| High Elf (Altmer) | Alchemy +5; Alteration +10; Conjuration +5; Destruction +10; Illusion +5; Mysticism +10 | Weakness to Fire, Frost, and Shock; Resist Disease; Fortified Magicka |
| Imperial | Blade +5; Blunt +5; Hand to Hand +5; Heavy Armor +5; Mercantile +10; Speechcraft +10 | Star of the West; Voice of the Emperor |
| Khajiit | Acrobatics +10; Athletics +5; Blade +5; Hand to Hand +10; Light Armor +5; Security +5; Sneak +5 | Eye of Fear; Eye of Night |
| Nord | Armorer +5; Blade +10; Block +5; Blunt +10; Heavy Armor +10; Restoration +5 | Nordic Frost; Woad; Resist Frost |
| Orc | Armorer +10; Block +10; Blunt +10; Hand to Hand +5; Heavy Armor +10 | Berserk; Resist Magicka |
| Redguard | Athletics +10; Blade +10; Blunt +10; Light Armor +5; Heavy Armor +5; Mercantile +5 | Adrenaline Rush; Resist Poison; Resist Disease |
| Wood Elf (Bosmer) | Acrobatics +5; Alchemy +10; Alteration +5; Light Armor +5; Marksman +10; Sneak +10 | Beast Tongue; Resist Disease |
Source for every table entry: Bethesda Softworks, Oblivion PC Manual, race descriptions and skill/special tables, pp. 9–10. The manual’s publication date is not stated in the document reviewed.
Do races matter in Oblivion Remastered?
Yes, race is a character-creation choice with racial identity and, in the original game, starting skill bonuses and special abilities. However, the official material cited here does not enumerate the remaster’s current race bonuses or powers. Bethesda confirms race-related presentation changes—a unique voice for each represented race—but that does not prove the numerical abilities were retained unchanged.
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Bethesda also says the remaster uses Unreal Engine 5, adds sprinting, recreates combat animations and effects, overhauls third-person play, and redesigns leveling with inspiration from both Oblivion and Skyrim. Those are publisher descriptions, not independent performance tests or confirmation of race mechanics. The August 11, 2026 announcement says that where some races previously shared voices, each race represented in the game now sounds unique.
How to use this guide when creating a character
- Choose a play style. Decide whether you want to focus on magic, stealth, ranged combat, melee, defense or social skills.
- Compare the original skill bonuses. Use the table to see which listed bonuses align with that plan, while remembering they are not verified Remastered values.
- Consider the special abilities. A resistance or utility power may matter more to your concept than a small difference in starting skills.
- Check the current game’s character-creation information. If exact remaster bonuses or powers affect your decision, rely on what the current game displays rather than assuming the original manual is definitive.
The original manual also describes eight attributes—Strength, Intelligence, Willpower, Agility, Speed, Endurance, Personality and Luck—and their broad effects on capabilities such as carrying capacity, magicka, fatigue, movement, health and social disposition. Those are original-game descriptions; because Bethesda says the remaster redesigned leveling, do not assume old progression guidance applies unchanged.
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Availability
Bethesda lists Oblivion Remastered for Nintendo Switch 2 and includes Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine and additional downloadable content on its product page. Platform editions and marketplace availability can vary by region, so check the local listing for current details.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Create and play any character you can imagine, from the noble warrior to the sinister assassin to the wizened sorcerer
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Rank #4
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay.
- Explore the vast landscape of Cyrodiil like never before and stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the land in one of the greatest RPGs ever from the award-winning Bethesda Game Studios.
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