Summary
Although a handful of clear signs had been around for a few years, it was still a surprise for some fans to see Bethesda shadow-dropOblivion Remastered, which was a smashing success as soon as it came out and is likely to entertain series fans for quite a long time beforeThe Elder Scrolls 6rears its head. The fact thatOblivion Remasteredis almost a 1:1 version of the original can be a blessing and a curse, as iconic strategies or funny mistakes are still in the game, but so are a few glitches and exploits. When making a new character, players do have a fun race and Birthsign combo to check out, but it may not be for everyone.
It’s important to note that this is a single-player RPG, so while there are someOP race and Birthsign combos inOblivion Remastered, one can also use pretty much anything and still find success, or at least have fun. Still, it’s undeniable that some races are better than others for certain builds, and this is even more relevant with Birthsigns, as some of them are severely underperforming compared to others. For a playthrough that uses potent yet interesting combos, players should take a look at an Altmer character using the Atronach Birthsign.
Why Altmer or High Elf is a Great Race in Oblivion Remastered
Each race inOblivion Remasteredgives players a set of benefits and sometimes accompanying deficits to compensate, as well as a few extra points to some lore-appropriate skills, like Restoration for the Breton or Destruction for the Dunmer. Importantly, the Altmer or High Elf has a bonus of 100 points of Magicka, which is the highest in the game, compared to 50 for the Breton.
Race and Background
40
30
50
-25% Fire, Frost, Shock Resistance, +75% Resist Disease, 100 Magicka Bonus
Star of the West, Voice of the Emperor
45
35
25
Beast Tongue, +75% Disease Resistance
However, the Altmer also comes with a built-in weakness to Fire, Frost, and Shock of 25%, which means that players who select this race are more likely to take big damage from elemental sources, including spells. This is one of the reasons why Altmers are less favored inExpert or Master playthroughs inOblivion Remasteredcompared to Bretons, as the latter receive less Magicka at the start, but they resist magical damage by 50%.
It’s worth noting that Fire, Frost, and Shock damage can also come from enchants on enemies' weapons or summons, meaning Altmers take more damage from those too.
Why The Atronach is a Great Birthsign in Oblivion Remastered
This is where one ofOblivion Remastered’s Birthsignscomes through to increase both the risk of playing and the Altmer and the potential reward of it, and that’s the Atronach. The Atronach provides an additional 150 points of Magicka, which, combined with the High Elf’s 100, means that players will start with a total of 350 Magicka. This is an incredible amount to start the game with, and it can give any spellcasting build a massive boost.
However, the Atronach comes with the drawback that players cannot regenerate Magicka, which can be quite problematic. The bright side is that there are quite a few ways to regenerate Magicka inOblivion Remastered, such asgetting Welkynd Stonesor potions that restore Magicka, which can also be crafted with the Alchemy skill.
The Atronach also gives players a way to absorb spells of 50%, though, which can negate the Altmer’s issue with increased damage taken from elemental sources if it procs. On top of that, absorbing spells is a stat that can be taken up to 100% with either Sigil Stones from Oblivion Gates or some equipment, like theSpelldrinker Amulet, providing up to 26 points of spell absorption based on its level, so one can entirely avoid spell damage. When a character using the Atronach Birthsign is hit by a spell, they also regenerate Magicka, so this partly addresses the Birthsign’s issue with Magicka regeneration.
How Oblivion Remastered Players Can Abuse The Atronach Birthsign
There is even aglitch inOblivion Remasteredthat allows players to use any Telekinesis spell and regenerate Magicka, as it is oddly considered a hit against the player character. This is an exploit, though, and while it works, it does cheapen the impact of the high-risk, high-reward playstyle of an Altmer born under the sign of the Atronach. Regardless, this is a fun and potentially very powerful combo of race and Birthsign that players should try at least once.
