In Oblivion Remastered, “origin” can mean two different things: a race’s homeland or regional and cultural association, and the gameplay identity expressed through its skills and racial powers. The original Oblivion manual describes ten playable races through both lenses, but it does not provide a complete mythic ancestry account for every one. These distinctions help explain what each choice means without mistaking a gameplay profile—or political alliance—for a full origin story.
What “two origins” means in Oblivion Remastered
The first lens is geographic and cultural: where a race is said to hail from, or the homeland associated with its people. The second is mechanical: the skills, powers, resistances, and vulnerabilities that shape how that race plays. This is a useful way to read the race descriptions, not an official Bethesda classification of two kinds of ancestry.
The ten choices named in the original manual are Argonian, Breton, Dark Elf, High Elf, Imperial, Khajiit, Nord, Orc, Redguard, and Wood Elf. The manual also gives Dunmer, Altmer, and Bosmer as the homeland names associated with Dark Elves, High Elves, and Wood Elves respectively. The original Oblivion manual is the source for the profiles below. Its descriptions and mechanics are from the original game, so they should not be treated as a verified list of exact current Remastered values.
Race-by-race: homeland and gameplay identity
| Race | Homeland or regional association in the manual | Gameplay identity described in the manual |
|---|---|---|
| Argonian | A treacherous swamp homeland; no specific region is named in the passage. | Adapted to harsh environments, with disease resistance, poison immunity, water breathing, and security-oriented bonuses. |
| Breton | Not specified in the cited manual passage. | Spellcraft-focused, with magical resistance, summoning, and healing themes. |
| Dark Elf (Dunmer) | Dunmer are associated with Morrowind. | A blend of sword, bow, and destruction magic, with fire resistance and an ancestral-ghost ability. |
| High Elf (Altmer) | Altmer are associated with Summerset Isle. | Especially gifted in the arcane arts, but described as vulnerable to fire, frost, and shock. |
| Imperial | Native to Cyrodiil. | Cosmopolitan and diplomatic, with trade, heavy armor, and social-skill emphasis. |
| Khajiit | Hail from Elsweyr. | Agile and suited to stealth, with night vision. |
| Nord | Citizens of Skyrim. | Hardy warriors described as cold-resistant. |
| Orc | Associated with the Wrothgarian and Dragontail Mountains. | Known for armor craftsmanship and heavy-armored troops, with a berserker-rage power. |
| Redguard | The cited manual passage does not name a homeland. | Emphasizes warrior skill, familiarity with weapons and armor, constitution, and disease and poison resistance. |
| Wood Elf (Bosmer) | Bosmer are clanfolk of western Valenwood. | Nimble scouts, thieves, and archers who can command simple creatures. |
What the two lenses tell you about choosing a race
Start with the playstyle you want
The manual’s mechanical descriptions make the second lens immediately useful at character creation. A player drawn to spellcraft may favor the Breton or High Elf profiles; stealth and archery point toward Khajiit or Wood Elf; and the Nord and Orc descriptions lean toward warrior play. These are broad role cues, not a current-build ranking or a promise that a particular race is best. Exact bonuses and balance should be checked in the Remastered version you are playing.
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#1 Best Overall
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered brings the game of the year 2006 up to date with all-new stunning graphics and enhanced gameplay.
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Use homeland as setting context, not a build stat
Regional associations give the choice a place in Tamriel’s setting: Morrowind for Dunmer, Summerset Isle for Altmer, Cyrodiil for Imperials, Elsweyr for Khajiit, Skyrim for Nords, the Wrothgarian and Dragontail Mountains for Orcs, and western Valenwood for Bosmer. The manual’s Argonian entry describes a swamp homeland without naming a specific region. The cited Breton and Redguard passages focus on other traits rather than identifying a homeland, so they do not support a complete race-by-race map.
What the Remaster changes—and what the sources establish
Bethesda’s April 22, 2025 Remastered overview says the original game logic runs beneath updated visuals and modern refinements. It describes rebuilt character base meshes, improved lip synchronization, and a unique voice for each represented race. The overview also discusses broader gameplay refinements, including redesigned leveling; it does not give a race-by-race comparison of mechanics. That is why the original manual is useful for understanding the profiles but not enough to certify every numerical value in the Remaster.
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- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay. Required Content Download
- 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.
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Physical Deluxe Edition includes the base game, unique digital Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon Armors, Weapons, and Horse Armor Sets, Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine story expansions, access to the Digital Artbook and Soundtrack App, and additional downloadable content: Fighter’s Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, The Orrery, and Horse Armor Pack.
- Journey through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe inspiring.
- From the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.
One distinction is especially important: political membership is not ancestry. Bethesda Support identifies Altmer, Bosmer, and Khajiit as members of the Aldmeri Dominion. That describes a political alliance, not proof that the three races share a homeland or origin. Bethesda Support’s Aldmeri Dominion entry supports the membership point only.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where the origin story remains incomplete
These race descriptions establish selected homelands, cultural characterizations, and gameplay traits. They do not, on their own, give a complete mythic creation or ancestry story for all ten races. In particular, the manual passages cited here do not name a Breton homeland or a Redguard homeland. It is more accurate to leave those origins unspecified here than to turn an unreferenced lore claim into a fact.
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- 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.
- Rediscover Cyrodiil Journey through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.
- Navigate Your Own Story. From the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.
- An Epic Adventure. Step inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.
If you are choosing a character, the homeland lens helps place the race in Tamriel, while the mechanical lens helps set expectations for its original-game role. For the Remaster’s exact numbers, consult current in-game descriptions rather than assuming every manual value carried over unchanged.
Quick Recap
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.
- Rediscover Cyrodiil Journey through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.
- Navigate Your Own Story. From the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.
- An Epic Adventure. Step inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.
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