Are you staring at the 21 predefined classes in Oblivion and feeling a bit lost, wondering which path to choose for your epic journey across Cyrodiil? While the game offers a diverse range of archetypes, from battle-hardened warriors to elusive assassins and powerful mages, the true depth of character customization in this legendary RPG lies not in picking a pre-made template, but in crafting your very own custom class Oblivion. This isn't just about minor tweaks; it's about fundamentally shaping your experience, optimizing your character for specific playstyles, and ensuring you remain a formidable force throughout your adventures.
The beauty of Oblivion, especially in its "remastered" iterations or simply through the lens of modern RPG understanding, is the freedom it grants. Upon beginning the game, players can choose from 21 predefined classes or create a custom class, tailoring their experience in the vast world of Cyrodiil. However, as we'll explore, the latter option is almost always the superior choice for anyone seeking to truly master the game's mechanics, overcome its unique challenges, and dive deep into roleplaying a character that is uniquely their own. Forget the limitations; embrace the limitless potential of a perfectly designed custom class.
Table of Contents
- Why Custom Classes Reign Supreme in Oblivion
- Understanding Oblivion's Class System
- The Core Elements of Your Custom Class
- Designing Your Ideal Custom Class Build
- Examples of Optimized Custom Classes
- Custom Class vs. Predefined: A Deep Dive
- Tips for Newbies and Veterans Alike
- Conclusion: Your Unforgettable Cyrodiil Journey Awaits
Why Custom Classes Reign Supreme in Oblivion
One of the most compelling reasons to choose a custom class in Oblivion, especially when considering the "remastered" experience, boils down to the game's unique enemy scaling system. While an innovative concept for its time, this system often leads to predefined classes feeling underpowered as you progress. Because of the enemy scaling in Oblivion, characters built with standard classes can't help but fall behind the difficulty curve, making later encounters feel like an uphill battle rather than a natural progression of power. This is where the power of a custom class truly shines.
Custom classes are the centerpiece of an optimized character. They provide complete control over the character creation process, allowing you to fine-tune every aspect of your build from the very beginning. Players interested in efficient leveling or otherwise controlling their character's development will not find any suitable standard classes that offer this level of precision. Whether you're aiming for a highly specific build that focuses on a particular combat style, a unique blend of magic and stealth, or an unconventional support role, creating a custom class is the way to go to get that highly specific build you desire. It's about proactive design, not reactive struggle against the game's mechanics.
Understanding Oblivion's Class System
Before diving into the intricacies of creating your perfect custom class Oblivion, it's essential to grasp the fundamental components that define any character in Cyrodiil. Each class, whether predefined or custom, is built around a combination of attributes, skills, and a specialization, shaping how characters develop and interact with the game's challenges. Attributes, like Strength, Intelligence, and Endurance, determine your character's raw potential and govern the effectiveness of various skills. Skills, such as Blade, Destruction, or Sneak, represent your character's proficiency in specific actions and level up through use, directly impacting your character's overall level.
Specialization, the third pillar, is a crucial choice made during class creation. It designates a particular group of skills (Combat, Stealth, or Magic) that will receive a significant boost from the outset and level up faster throughout the game. For instance, if you pick stealth as your specialization, skills like Marksman, Sneak, and Security will receive a +10 bonus, making them more effective from the get-go and accelerating their progression. Understanding how these three elements interweave is the first step towards designing a custom class that perfectly aligns with your vision and playstyle in Oblivion remastered.
The Core Elements of Your Custom Class
Designing your own custom class in Oblivion remastered is an empowering experience, as it allows you to choose your major attributes and skills from the start, laying a bespoke foundation for your character's growth. This foundational stage is where the most critical decisions are made, directly influencing your character's early game power, long-term viability, and overall enjoyment. Let's break down these core elements.
Specialization: Combat, Stealth, or Magic?
Your class specialization depends on several factors, primarily your intended playstyle. This choice is more than just a label; it directly impacts how quickly certain skills develop and how effective you are in particular areas. As mentioned, picking a specialization like Stealth gives a +10 bonus to all skills within that category (e.g., Marksman, Sneak, Security) and makes them level faster. Similarly, Combat specialization boosts skills like Blade, Blunt, and Heavy Armor, while Magic specialization enhances Destruction, Illusion, Mysticism, and other arcane arts.
Consider what kind of adventurer you want to be. Do you envision yourself as a front-line brawler, a shadowy infiltrator, or a master of the arcane? Aligning your specialization with your primary method of interaction with the world will ensure a smoother and more powerful progression. While you can dabble in other areas, your chosen specialization will always be your character's inherent strength.
Favored Attributes: Laying Your Foundation
Choosing your favored attributes is arguably the most impactful decision in custom class creation, as these two attributes receive a significant boost at the start of the game. For optimal character development, especially when considering the long game, a common and highly effective strategy is to choose Endurance and Luck as your favored attributes. Endurance directly contributes to your health pool, providing a larger health bonus with each level gained. Starting with a high Endurance (e.g., 65 Endurance by choosing it as a favored attribute and selecting the right race) means your character will be significantly more durable throughout their journey. This starts you at 65 Endurance, and you will not need to wear heavy or light armor for at least the first 7 levels, giving you flexibility in early game gear choices.
Luck, while seemingly less direct, is incredibly powerful because it subtly influences almost every action in the game, from combat accuracy to skill checks and even loot tables. By choosing Luck as a favored attribute, you may max it out more quickly, providing passive benefits across the board. This combination ensures both survivability and overall effectiveness, making it a cornerstone for many optimized custom class Oblivion builds.
Major Skills: The Heart of Your Build
Your seven major skills are the primary drivers of your character's level progression. Every time a major skill levels up, it contributes to your overall character level. This mechanic is vital for efficient leveling and avoiding the aforementioned enemy scaling issues. A popular strategy, especially among experienced players, is to choose major skills that you can control and don't normally use in everyday gameplay. This allows you to level up strategically, ensuring you gain maximum attribute bonuses at each level without over-leveling unintentionally.
For example, some players tend to do opposite classes, meaning they make all of their majors stuff that they can control and don't normally use. So, their mages might look like fighters when you look at their classes, with major skills like Blade or Block, while their primary magic skills are kept as minor skills. This allows them to control when they level up by training or deliberately using those "control" major skills, while their core combat or magic skills can be freely used without prematurely increasing their character level. Many players tend to keep all magic skills (except Restoration, because it levels so slowly) as minor skills for this very reason, allowing for greater control over leveling and attribute gains.
Designing Your Ideal Custom Class Build
Now that we've covered the foundational elements, let's learn how to design your own custom class in Oblivion remastered, a game that truly lets you choose your major attributes and skills from the start. The key is to find out the benefits, tips, and examples for melee, magic, and ranged builds, understanding how they differ and how to optimize them. Creating the best custom class for different character archetypes in Oblivion remastered, a new version of the classic RPG, involves a thoughtful selection of skills and attributes that synergize effectively.
Crafting for Combat: Melee & Ranged Mastery
For those who prefer to face their enemies head-on, a combat-focused custom class Oblivion is ideal. You'll want to find out the best skills and attributes for melee and ranged builds. For melee, skills like Blade or Blunt are obvious choices, along with Block for defense and Heavy Armor or Light Armor for protection. Endurance is paramount for health, and Strength boosts your melee damage and carrying capacity. For ranged, Marksman is your core skill, complemented by Sneak for stealth archery and potentially Light Armor for mobility. Agility enhances Marksman effectiveness and stamina.
Historically, the Spellsword is often considered the best class in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, closely followed by Warrior and Assassin. A custom Spellsword might combine Blade, Destruction, and Block as major skills, with Endurance and Intelligence as favored attributes. This allows for powerful close-quarters combat while retaining magical versatility. For a pure warrior, focus on two weapon skills (e.g., Blade and Blunt), Block, and your preferred armor type, alongside Athletics for movement and Hand to Hand for unarmed combat. For a ranged specialist, Marksman, Sneak, and Security (for disarming traps and opening locks) are excellent major skills, with Agility and Luck as favored attributes.
Mastering the Arcane: Magic Custom Classes
If you wish to wield the raw power of the arcane, a magic-centric custom class is your calling. For mages, Intelligence is crucial for Magicka, and Willpower affects Magicka regeneration. Major skills will typically include Destruction for offensive spells, Mysticism for utility, Alteration for defensive spells (like shields), and Illusion for crowd control or stealth. Conjuration can provide summoned allies or weapons, while Restoration is essential for healing and dispelling negative effects.
A highly effective custom class Oblivion for mages might choose Intelligence and Willpower as favored attributes. For major skills, a common strategy is to pick a few magic schools you intend to use actively, but also include "control" skills as discussed earlier. For instance, you might make Destruction and Conjuration major skills, but then add Mercantile or Speechcraft as major skills that you only level up when you choose to, preserving your character level for optimal attribute gains from your actively used magic skills. This allows you to master the arcane arts without over-leveling and facing increasingly difficult enemies too quickly.
The Art of Stealth: Sneaky Custom Classes
For those who prefer subtlety, shadows, and precision strikes, a stealth custom class is unmatched. Agility is the prime attribute for stealth characters, influencing Marksman, Sneak, and Security. Speed is also valuable for quick movement and evasion. Key major skills include Sneak, Marksman (for ranged assassinations), Security (for lockpicking and disarming traps), and Light Armor for quiet protection. Blade or Blunt can be chosen for close-quarters stealth attacks, while Acrobatics allows for greater mobility and access to hidden areas.
A classic stealth custom class Oblivion would likely favor Agility and Luck. Major skills could include Sneak, Marksman, Security, and perhaps Mercantile or Speechcraft as "control" skills. This setup allows you to become a master of infiltration and assassination, capable of clearing entire dungeons without being detected. The +10 bonus from a Stealth specialization further enhances these core abilities, making you incredibly potent from the very start of your adventure in Oblivion remastered.
Examples of Optimized Custom Classes
To truly illustrate the power of a custom class in Oblivion remastered, consider the vast possibilities. I have seen, and indeed created, numerous classes for each specialization (combat, stealth, magic) for a total of 36 new classes, demonstrating the sheer breadth of unique character builds possible. These aren't just theoretical constructs; they are fully fleshed-out concepts designed for optimal play. For each, I have listed their names, a short description, their specialization, favored attributes, and major skills, just like in the game's class creation menu.
Here are the best custom classes in Oblivion remastered, designed to offer unparalleled roleplay and efficiency. Whether you're into magic, melee, or sneaky runs, these custom class builds offer the best roleplay in Oblivion remastered. For instance, a "Shadowblade" (Stealth specialization, favored attributes Agility & Luck, major skills: Blade, Sneak, Marksman, Security, Acrobatics, Illusion, Light Armor) combines deadly close-quarters combat with unparalleled stealth and magical deception. Or a "Paladin" (Combat specialization, favored attributes Endurance & Strength, major skills: Blade, Block, Heavy Armor, Restoration, Blunt, Athletics, Hand to Hand) is a righteous, unyielding force on the battlefield, capable of both dealing and enduring massive damage while healing allies. These examples merely scratch the surface of what's possible when you take full control of your character's destiny.
Custom Class vs. Predefined: A Deep Dive
Upon beginning the game, players are presented with a choice: pick from 21 predefined classes or create a custom class. While the 21 versatile class options offer a quick start, we actually think that creating a custom class is the best class in Oblivion. This is because you can fine-tune every aspect of your character's development. The predefined classes, while offering a general archetype, often have skill and attribute distributions that are less than ideal for efficient leveling or optimized gameplay. For example, some predefined classes might have major skills that level too quickly through passive use (like Athletics or Acrobatics), leading to unintended level-ups and potentially difficult encounters with scaled enemies before your combat skills are truly ready.
Players interested in efficient leveling or otherwise controlling their character's development will not find any suitable standard classes. Custom classes are necessary to provide complete control over the character creation process. This control is not just about power-gaming; it's about tailoring the experience to your exact preferences. If you want to be a mage who never wears armor and relies solely on spells, a custom class allows you to avoid wasting major skill slots on armor types. If you want a warrior who is also a master alchemist, you can make that happen without compromise. This level of granular control is simply not available with the default options, making a custom class the definitive choice for a truly personalized and effective playthrough.
Tips for Newbies and Veterans Alike
Creating a custom class can seem daunting, especially if it depends on whether you're a newbie or not. However, the principles are universal, and the benefits apply to everyone. For newcomers, the best advice is to first consider what playstyle you want. Do you enjoy sneaking around, casting spells, or hitting things with a big sword? Once you have a general idea, you can then begin to explore the attributes and skills that support that playstyle. Don't be afraid to experiment; Oblivion is a game that encourages multiple playthroughs.
For veterans, the nuances of major skill selection become even more critical. As mentioned, the strategy of making major skills those you can control, or "opposite classes," is highly effective for optimized leveling. For instance, I tend to make all of my majors stuff that I can control and don't normally use. So, my mages look like fighters when you look at their classes, with major skills like Heavy Armor and Blade, even though they primarily cast spells. This allows me to control my level-ups precisely. Similarly, I tend to keep all magic skills (except Restoration, because it levels so slowly) as minor skills, so they don't accidentally contribute to rapid leveling. This strategic approach to custom class Oblivion creation ensures that your character develops exactly as you intend, making for a smoother and more rewarding experience throughout Cyrodiil.
Conclusion: Your Unforgettable Cyrodiil Journey Awaits
As we've explored, while Oblivion offers 21 predefined classes, the true mastery of Cyrodiil lies in the creation of a custom class. From mitigating the effects of enemy scaling to providing unparalleled control over your character's development, a custom class Oblivion allows for the most optimized, enjoyable, and roleplay-rich experience. You learn how to design your own custom class in Oblivion Remastered, finding out the benefits, tips, and examples for melee, magic, and ranged builds, and how they differ from the original game's limitations. Whether you're a seasoned veteran looking to fine-tune your next build or a curious newcomer staring at the 21 Oblivion classes and confused about which one to pick, creating a custom class is the way to go to get that highly specific build you desire.
Read on to see the best classes for combat, magic, and stealth builds, and learn how to create your own custom class. The power to shape your destiny, to become the ultimate adventurer you envision, is literally at your fingertips from the moment you start a new game. So, next time you venture into the sprawling world of Cyrodiil, don't settle for a pre-made template. Embrace the freedom, design your perfect custom class, and embark on an unforgettable journey tailored precisely to your playstyle. What kind of custom class will you create? Share your ideas and favorite builds in the comments below!
