# Can You Make Armour on Oblivion? A Complete Guide to Crafting, Finding, and Repairing Armour
The world of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* is fraught with danger, and a sturdy suit of armour is often the only thing standing between you and a gruesome death. Many players new to the game, or even seasoned veterans returning for another playthrough, often ask: **Can you make armour on Oblivion?** The short answer is no, not in the traditional crafting sense. However, don’t despair! This comprehensive guide will delve into all the methods you *can* use to acquire, improve, and maintain the best armour in Cyrodiil, ensuring you’re always prepared for whatever the Oblivion Gates throw your way. We’ll explore alternative acquisition methods, repair techniques, and even delve into the world of mods, which can significantly alter the armour creation experience. This guide offers a detailed overview of all things armour in Oblivion, ensuring you are well-equipped for your adventures. We aim to provide you with expert knowledge and strategies, making you a true master of armour in Oblivion.
## Understanding Armour Acquisition in Oblivion
While *Oblivion* doesn’t feature a conventional crafting system for armour like some other RPGs, there are numerous ways to obtain high-quality protective gear. Understanding these methods is crucial for any aspiring adventurer. The game focuses more on exploration, quest completion, and utilizing the skills of merchants and blacksmiths to acquire and maintain your armour. This section will explore the diverse methods available to you.
### Looting and Exploration: A Treasure Hunter’s Dream
Cyrodiil is filled with dungeons, caves, and ruins, many of which contain valuable loot, including armour. Keep an eye out for chests, containers, and even the corpses of fallen enemies, as they may hold pieces of armour. The quality of the armour you find will often depend on your level, so as you progress, you’ll discover increasingly powerful gear. Specific locations are known to have higher chances of spawning certain armour types. For example, forts occupied by bandits often yield Light Armour pieces, while Ayleid ruins might contain enchanted items.
### Quest Rewards: Earning Your Protection
Many quests in *Oblivion* offer armour as a reward. These rewards are often unique or enchanted, making them highly desirable. The Fighters Guild and the Arena are excellent sources for armour-related quests. Paying close attention to quest descriptions can hint at potential armour rewards. For example, quests involving retrieving stolen artifacts might lead to the discovery of rare armour pieces. Completing Daedric Shrine quests is also a reliable way to obtain powerful and unique armour.
### Purchasing from Merchants: A Reliable Source
Merchants throughout Cyrodiil sell a variety of armour. The quality and type of armour available will depend on the merchant’s skill level and your own character level. Blacksmiths are the primary vendors for armour, and you can find them in most major cities. Investing in your Mercantile skill will allow you to haggle for better prices, making armour acquisition more affordable. Check back with merchants regularly, as their inventory updates over time, potentially offering new and improved armour.
### The Arena: Fighting for Glory and Gear
The Arena in the Imperial City offers a unique opportunity to acquire armour. By progressing through the ranks, you’ll earn gold and access to better equipment. The Grand Champion rank provides access to some of the best non-unique armour in the game. The Arena is also a great way to test your combat skills and earn experience while simultaneously upgrading your armour. The rewards increase in value as you climb the ranks, making it a worthwhile pursuit for any warrior.
## Armour Types and Materials in Oblivion
*Oblivion* features a variety of armour types, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these differences is crucial for choosing the right armour for your playstyle. The material used to construct the armour also plays a significant role in its effectiveness. Here’s a breakdown of the most common armour types and materials.
### Light Armour: Agile and Stealthy
Light armour is ideal for characters who prioritize agility and stealth. It provides less protection than heavy armour but allows for faster movement and quieter footsteps. This makes it perfect for archers, assassins, and characters who rely on dodging and evasion. Common materials for light armour include leather, chainmail, and elven metal. Light armour also weighs less, allowing you to carry more items.
### Heavy Armour: Durable and Protective
Heavy armour offers the highest level of protection but comes at the cost of reduced mobility and increased weight. It’s best suited for warriors, knights, and characters who prefer to stand their ground and absorb damage. Common materials for heavy armour include iron, steel, and dwarven metal. Heavy armour can also be more expensive to repair due to its complex construction.
### Armour Materials: From Iron to Daedric
The material used to construct armour significantly impacts its defensive capabilities. Here’s a breakdown of common armour materials, from weakest to strongest:
* **Iron:** The most basic and readily available material. Offers minimal protection.
* **Leather:** A light armour material offering basic protection and good flexibility.
* **Chainmail:** A step up from leather, providing slightly better protection while remaining relatively lightweight.
* **Steel:** A common and reliable material offering a good balance of protection and weight.
* **Silver:** Offers good protection and is effective against undead creatures.
* **Dwarven:** A sturdy and durable material, resistant to damage and magic.
* **Elven:** A lightweight and elegant material, providing good protection with minimal encumbrance.
* **Glass:** A rare and valuable material, offering excellent protection despite its fragile appearance.
* **Ebony:** A dark and powerful material, providing superior protection and resistance to magic.
* **Daedric:** The strongest and rarest material in the game, offering unparalleled protection and magical properties.
## Repairing and Maintaining Your Armour
Regardless of how you acquire your armour, it will eventually degrade from use. Repairing your armour is essential for maintaining its effectiveness. Fortunately, *Oblivion* offers a straightforward repair system.
### Armour Repair Skill: The Key to Longevity
The Armourer skill determines your ability to repair armour. The higher your skill, the better you can repair armour, and the less it will cost. Investing in this skill is crucial for any character who relies on armour for protection. The Armourer skill can be increased by successfully repairing armour or by training with a master armourer.
### Repair Hammers: The Tools of the Trade
Repair hammers are required to repair armour. You can purchase them from merchants or find them as loot. The quality of the repair hammer affects the amount of durability restored to the armour. Higher-quality repair hammers are more expensive but provide more efficient repairs.
### The Repair Process: A Simple Task
To repair armour, simply equip a repair hammer and select the armour piece you wish to repair from your inventory. The game will display the current condition of the armour and the amount of durability that will be restored by the repair. Be mindful of your remaining repair hammers, as they can break during the repair process.
## Enchanting Armour: Enhancing Your Defenses
Enchanting armour is a powerful way to enhance its defensive capabilities and add additional effects. Enchantments can provide resistance to magic, increase your attributes, or even grant you special abilities. This section will guide you through the basics of armour enchanting in *Oblivion*.
### Soul Gems: The Power Source
Soul gems are required to enchant armour. These gems contain the souls of creatures, which provide the energy needed for the enchantment. The size of the soul gem and the strength of the soul it contains will determine the potency of the enchantment. Common soul gems include petty, lesser, common, greater, and grand soul gems.
### Sigil Stones: A Unique Enchantment Source
Sigil stones are powerful enchantment sources found within Oblivion Gates. These stones offer unique and potent enchantments that cannot be obtained through other means. Closing Oblivion Gates is the only way to acquire sigil stones, making them a valuable resource for any aspiring enchanter.
### The Enchanting Process: Combining Souls and Spells
To enchant armour, you’ll need access to an enchanting altar, which can be found at the Arcane University in the Imperial City or purchased for your own home. Select the armour piece you wish to enchant, the soul gem you wish to use, and the enchantment you wish to apply. The success of the enchantment will depend on your Mysticism skill and the quality of the soul gem. Failed enchantments will destroy the soul gem, so be sure to save your game before attempting to enchant valuable armour.
## Mods: Expanding Armour Options and Crafting Capabilities
While *Oblivion* lacks a traditional armour crafting system, the modding community has created numerous mods that add this functionality to the game. These mods can significantly expand your armour options and allow you to create custom armour sets. This section will explore some of the most popular armour-related mods for *Oblivion*.
### Popular Armour Crafting Mods
Several mods introduce crafting systems that allow you to create armour from raw materials. These mods often require you to gather resources, learn recipes, and use crafting stations to create armour. Some popular options include:
* **Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul (OOO):** While not solely focused on crafting, OOO overhauls many aspects of the game, including adding new armour sets and crafting recipes.
* **Better Cities:** This mod adds new cities and expands existing ones, often including new merchants who sell unique crafting materials and armour pieces.
* **Armour and Weapon Expansion:** This mod adds a wide variety of new armour and weapons to the game, many of which can be crafted.
### Installing and Using Mods
Installing mods for *Oblivion* is relatively straightforward. You’ll need a mod manager such as Oblivion Mod Manager (OBMM) or Wrye Bash. These tools allow you to easily install, manage, and uninstall mods. Be sure to read the installation instructions for each mod carefully, as some mods may require specific dependencies or compatibility patches.
## Advanced Armour Strategies
Beyond simply acquiring and repairing armour, there are several advanced strategies you can employ to maximize your defensive capabilities. These strategies involve combining different armour types, utilizing enchantments, and exploiting game mechanics.
### Mixing and Matching Armour Types
While wearing a full set of matching armour provides a set bonus, sometimes it’s beneficial to mix and match different armour types. For example, you might wear a heavy armour chest piece for maximum protection while using light armour gauntlets for increased agility. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your playstyle.
### Utilizing Shields Effectively
Shields are an essential part of any defensive strategy. They provide additional protection against melee attacks and can be used to block incoming projectiles. The Block skill determines your effectiveness at blocking attacks. Investing in this skill is crucial for any character who relies on shields for protection. Different shields offer varying levels of protection and weight, so choose one that suits your playstyle.
### Exploiting Weaknesses and Resistances
Many creatures in *Oblivion* have weaknesses or resistances to certain types of damage. Understanding these weaknesses and resistances can help you choose the right armour and enchantments for each encounter. For example, undead creatures are often weak to silver weapons and fire damage, while atronachs are resistant to magic. Adjusting your armour and enchantments accordingly can significantly increase your effectiveness in combat.
## Q&A: Expert Answers to Your Armour Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about armour in *Oblivion*, along with expert answers to help you navigate the world of defensive gear:
1. **What’s the best way to increase my Armourer skill quickly?**
The fastest way to increase your Armourer skill is to repeatedly repair damaged armour. Find a piece of armour that is heavily damaged and repair it with a low-quality repair hammer. This will allow you to perform multiple repairs and gain experience quickly. Alternatively, train with a master armourer, but this can be costly.
2. **Where can I find Daedric armour?**
Daedric armour is the rarest and most powerful armour in the game. It can be found as loot in high-level dungeons or purchased from merchants at very high levels. Completing the Daedric Shrine quest for Mehrunes Dagon will reward you with a full set of Daedric armour. This is often considered the most reliable way to obtain it.
3. **How do enchantments affect armour?**
Enchantments can significantly enhance armour by providing resistance to magic, increasing your attributes, or granting you special abilities. Experiment with different enchantments to find what works best for your playstyle. Always save before enchanting, as failed attempts destroy the soul gem.
4. **Is it worth using heavy armour if I’m playing a mage?**
While heavy armour offers the best protection, it can hinder your spellcasting ability. Mages typically prefer light armour or robes, which allow for faster movement and better magicka regeneration. However, you can use enchantments to mitigate the negative effects of heavy armour on your magicka.
5. **How does armour weight affect my character?**
Armour weight affects your movement speed, stamina, and encumbrance. Wearing heavy armour will slow you down and reduce your stamina. Be mindful of your encumbrance limit, as exceeding it will prevent you from moving. Light armour allows for faster movement and reduces the risk of becoming encumbered.
6. **Can I repair enchanted armour?**
Yes, you can repair enchanted armour just like regular armour. The enchantment will not be affected by the repair process. However, the cost of repairing enchanted armour may be higher than repairing regular armour.
7. **What’s the difference between armour rating and damage resistance?**
Armour rating is a numerical value that represents the amount of damage your armour can absorb. Damage resistance is a percentage value that represents the percentage of damage you will resist. The higher your armour rating and damage resistance, the less damage you will take from attacks.
8. **Are there any unique armour pieces in the game that are worth seeking out?**
Yes, there are several unique armour pieces in the game that offer special effects or bonuses. Some notable examples include the Crusader’s Armour, the Armour of Tiber Septim, and the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal. These items can be found by completing specific quests or exploring hidden locations.
9. **How do I close Oblivion Gates to obtain Sigil Stones for enchanting?**
To close an Oblivion Gate, you must navigate the Oblivion world and reach the Sigillum Sanguis. Removing the Sigil Stone from this structure will close the gate and reward you with the stone. Be prepared for challenging enemies and treacherous environments.
10. **What is the best overall armour set in Oblivion?**
The best overall armour set depends on your playstyle and preferences. However, Daedric armour is generally considered the strongest due to its high armour rating and resistance to magic. The Crusader’s Armour is also a powerful option, offering a variety of beneficial enchantments. Experiment with different sets to find what works best for you.
## Conclusion: Mastering Armour in Oblivion
While you **can’t directly make armour on Oblivion** through crafting in the traditional sense, this guide demonstrates that there are numerous ways to acquire, maintain, and enhance your defenses in Cyrodiil. By understanding the different armour types, materials, and acquisition methods, you can ensure that your character is always well-protected. Remember to invest in your Armourer skill, utilize enchantments, and explore the world thoroughly to discover the best armour pieces. Whether you prefer the agility of light armour or the durability of heavy armour, mastering these techniques will significantly improve your chances of survival in the dangerous world of *Oblivion*. Now, share your favorite armour strategies and experiences in the comments below! Or, if you’re looking for even more advanced tips and tricks, explore our comprehensive guide to enchanting in *Oblivion* for unparalleled power!
