When you first step into The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the world feels massive, mysterious, and packed with potential. Whether you're revisiting the game through Oblivion Remastered or jumping in for the first time, there’s a lot going on under the surface that the game never really points out.
Leveling the wrong way, catching vampirism by accident, or losing items to random chests—yeah, these things can happen. This guide breaks down seven essential mechanics and lesser-known features that Oblivion never really explains but can completely change how you play.
From how to level up efficiently, dealing with disease, to safely storing your loot, here's everything you need to know before Cyrodiil throws you into the deep end.
1. Leveling Up the Wrong Skills Can Make the Game Way Harder
Leveling in Oblivion seems straightforward at first: you use skills, you get better at them, and when you’ve leveled up your major skills enough, you can rest and increase your character level. What the game doesn’t warn you about is how enemies level up with you — and not always in a fair way.
If you spend too much time boosting non-combat skills like Acrobatics, Athletics, or Mercantile, you'll end up leveling without actually getting stronger in battle. Meanwhile, your enemies — wolves, bandits, even random dungeon spawns — get tougher every time you level. This means if you're not training your combat skills like Blade, Destruction, or Archery, you’ll find yourself outmatched, fast.
Smart tip: Balance your skill training. For every couple of non-combat major skills you level, make sure you’re also increasing at least one skill that helps in actual fights.
2. Vampirism Starts as a Disease — Cure It Fast
You might not notice it right away, but fighting vampires in Oblivion comes with serious risks. One of them is a disease called Porphyric Hemophilia. Catch it, and if you don’t cure it within three in-game days, you’ll become a vampire. Sure, vampirism gives you some perks — resistance to disease, some buffs, cool stealth bonuses — but there’s a catch.
Once the sun rises, you’re toast. Literally. Sunlight damages vampires, and regular folks start acting like you’re the town’s worst nightmare. Want to be able to walk around during the day again? You'll need to do a long, multi-part questline to cure vampirism, or use some specific DLC shortcuts.
Best move: Always carry a Potion of Cure Disease before going into any vampire lair. You can also use Cure Disease spells or visit city chapels to cleanse yourself early.
3. Fame and Infamy Matter More Than You Think
In the background, Oblivion tracks two invisible stats — Fame and Infamy — that directly affect how the world treats you. Unlike karma systems in other games, these numbers impact your access to quests, items, and even divine blessings.
Doing main quests, helping townspeople, or finishing guild tasks usually earns you Fame. Meanwhile, crimes like theft, murder, or joining the Dark Brotherhood or Thieves Guild rack up Infamy. If your Infamy gets too high, it can lock you out of blessings from the Nine Divines, limit your ability to buy certain homes, and reduce NPCs’ disposition toward you.
Need to lower Infamy? You can increase Fame through good deeds, or complete the Knights of the Nine pilgrimage to reset your bad rep. There’s even a special item you get at the end of the Thieves Guild questline that lets you commit crimes under an alias, protecting your real identity.
4. Crime in Your Own Guild Gets You Suspended (Or Worse)
Think it's no big deal stealing from your fellow Fighters Guild or assassinating someone in the Mages Guild? Think again. Every guild in Oblivion enforces strict penalties for bad behavior against fellow members.
If you're caught stealing, killing, or causing trouble within your own guild, you’ll be immediately suspended. You can earn your way back in with a side task or by paying a fine, but you only get three chances. After that, you’re out for good — and some guilds won’t even let you restart the questline if you're expelled.
Best play? Save your criminal activity for outsiders. And definitely don’t mess with anyone in your own crew unless you're ready to lose all your progress in that guild.
5. Most Containers in Oblivion Will Eat Your Items
Managing inventory in Oblivion is tricky because there’s no in-game tutorial about safe storage. While you can technically drop your stuff in any container — chests, crates, barrels — most of them reset after a few in-game days, and your items will be gone forever.
To keep your gear safe, you’ll need to store items in persistent containers. The best way to do that is by buying a house in any major city. Even the tiny Waterfront Shack in the Imperial City comes with safe storage once it’s yours. Some quests also reward you with permanent rooms or areas with secure containers.
Here are a few guaranteed safe storage spots:
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Jauffre’s chest at Weynon Priory (after early main quest)
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The Alswell Inn (complete “Zero Visibility” quest)
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White Stallion Lodge (after Knights of the White Stallion quest)
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Deep Scorn Hollow (DLC content — includes a vampire cure option too)
Pro tip: Avoid random barrels in the wild or shops. Unless you're sure it’s safe, it’s not worth the risk.
6. Stolen Items Are Marked — But There Are Workarounds
Pickpocketing or looting marked items in red might seem harmless until you try to sell them. Once an item is stolen, it carries a permanent red hand icon, and most merchants refuse to buy it. Even worse, guards will recognize these stolen goods on you if you get searched.
The game does give you options, though:
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Join the Thieves Guild to unlock fences like Ongar in Bruma, who will buy stolen gear.
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Enchant the item (if it's armor or a weapon) to clear its stolen status — this works once.
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Craft potions using stolen ingredients — the resulting potion loses its stolen tag.
And remember: the heavier the item, the harder it is to steal. Go for gold, keys, and ingredients first — much easier to get away with.
7. Weight-to-Value Ratio Is Key for Looting and Pickpocketing
When your inventory fills up, you'll need to be smart about what you carry. A common rookie mistake is grabbing flashy weapons or bulky armor that look valuable but aren’t worth the carry weight. For example, a 50-pound warhammer worth 20 gold is a terrible trade-off compared to a 0.1-pound gem worth 100 gold.
This same logic applies to pickpocketing. Lighter items are way easier to steal, while heavy ones like weapons or armor are riskier. Guard armor can technically be swiped while they sleep — since they unequip at night — but it takes high sneak skills and a good dose of luck.
Stick to this rule: Only pick up loot that’s either rare, useful, or offers a good gold-to-weight ratio. It’ll keep your carry load light and your profits high.
Conclusion: Learn the Hidden Rules, Play Smarter
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is an RPG packed with systems that reward curiosity — but also punish poor planning. Leveling up the wrong way, getting turned into a vampire without knowing it, or losing items to disappearing containers are just a few things that can throw a wrench into your game if you’re not careful.
Use these tips to take control of your adventure early:
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Train combat and non-combat skills evenly.
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Carry cure disease potions at all times.
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Track your fame and infamy, especially before big quests.
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Store your valuables in known safe containers.
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Use guild rules to your advantage (and avoid suspension).
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Sell stolen items through fences or crafty workarounds.
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Prioritize valuable, lightweight loot.
With a little prep and knowledge, you’ll get way more out of your time in Cyrodiil. Now get back out there and save the world — or rob it blind. Your call.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How does leveling work in Oblivion?
A: You level up by increasing your selected major skills. Once enough of those have progressed, sleeping will trigger a level-up. However, leveling non-combat skills can make the game harder since enemies get stronger too.
Q: How can I safely store items in Oblivion?
A: Only use containers in owned houses, quest rewards like the Alswell Inn, or known safe spots like Jauffre's chest. Most other containers reset and will delete your items.
Q: Can I cure vampirism after becoming a vampire?
A: Yes, through a long quest involving Melisande or by using the Deep Scorn Hollow DLC area. But you need to act quickly after infection with Porphyric Hemophilia, or you’ll turn into a vampire in 3 in-game days.
Q: What happens if I get expelled from a guild?
A: Most guilds allow you to rejoin after completing a task or paying a fee. However, after three offenses, you may be permanently expelled with no way to return.
Q: How do I sell stolen items in Oblivion?
A: Join the Thieves Guild to access fences who buy stolen goods. You can also enchant stolen armor or weapons to clear the theft status, or use ingredients in potion-making to remove the stolen tag.
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