10 Completely Useless Skills in Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remastered

Thanks to the remastered version of “Oblivion”, a fresh wave of RPG enthusiasts are experiencing the delight that comes with playing the fourth chapter in this series. Numerous gamers have already invested countless hours delving into Cyrodil, fulfilling missions, and gaining insights about life in Tamriel prior to the happenings in “Skyrim”. In doing so, they’ve had the chance to scrutinize the game mechanics and tinker with diverse character configurations. The game offers a unique leveling system with twenty-one distinct skills that can be honed. Naturally, not all skills are equally valuable, and some may even prove unnecessary.

Some abilities, such as Security and others like Blade, Marksman, and Sneak, are essential for certain character types, but there are also skills that provide little to no value, either because they don’t yield a substantial benefit or seldom come into play during gameplay. Regardless of the character you choose, these abilities are generally ineffective.

Time is Better On Tasks Other Than Making Repairs

In many open-world RPGs, the skill of being an armorer might initially appear useful, as it allows for quick and cost-effective gear repairs in the field. However, in the game Oblivion, this particular skill proves largely redundant. This is due to the abundance of blacksmiths and merchants in every city who can repair weapons and armor. Furthermore, repair hammers are easily obtainable, making it far simpler to rely on non-player characters (NPCs) for most repairs and only perform minor field fixes when necessary, without needing a high level of Armorer skill.

Improving the Armorer skill can be tedious and it might seem pointless to bring it up to a level where it’s beneficial. Since NPCs can perform repairs without any cost other than some additional funds, it’s more advantageous to let the professionals handle blacksmithing and focus on real adventures instead. Although Skyrim has expanded this skill and made forging gear more attractive, in Oblivion, the Armorer skill is largely redundant.

The Persuasion Minigame is Tedious Anyway

In some role-playing games (RPGs), a skill called Speechcraft might appear useful at first glance, as it enables players to persuade characters and unlock new paths or overcome challenges. However, in the game Oblivion, this isn’t really beneficial. While Speechcraft can make it slightly easier to win over Non-Player Characters (NPCs), this advantage is often minimal, and even then, it’s more efficient to bribe or charm characters using spells or gold instead of engaging in lengthy negotiations with them. To put it simply, learning the charm spell and accumulating gold are quicker and less troublesome options compared to diplomacy.

Investing in Speechcraft might lead you to engage with a tedious and irritating mini-game that most players find unenjoyable. Since many find this specific mechanic neither enjoyable nor interesting, it’s usually best to steer clear of it. When you focus on Speechcraft, you end up playing a less appealing mini-game in order to improve at the same dull game. Given its limited uses, lack of enjoyment it provides, and simpler methods to circumvent it altogether, Speechcraft seems more detrimental than beneficial. It primarily serves as a diversion from the more enjoyable aspects of the game.

Good Adventurers Will Be Swimming in Gold By Endgame

Just like Armorer, Mercantile might initially appear beneficial for saving money, but upon closer inspection, it isn’t really worth investing time into leveling up. The ability to purchase items at a lower cost and sell them at a higher price may seem advantageous, but merchants have limited funds. Consequently, the effort put into raising Mercantile could potentially lead to frustration as players are compelled to sell valuable items at even steeper discounts due to insufficient NPC finances. Additionally, the best equipment is usually discovered during adventures, leaving little to purchase in cities, making this skill less useful.

Regardless of the abundance of goods for sale by merchants, the minimal savings gained through a high Mercantile skill pale in comparison to the vast amounts of gold you can accumulate by finishing quests and exploring dungeons. By the end of your gaming session, most adventurers will have amassed a significant amount of gold, making small savings increasingly insignificant. Time spent negotiating prices and haggling would be better utilized in acquiring and pilfering gold. Like other skills mentioned here, Mercantile often diverts attention from the core activities of action and exploration.

Only Players Going For a Specific Character Concept Should Bother

In the game Oblivion, fighting unarmed might seem intriguing at first glance, but it disappointingly fails to live up to expectations due to its mechanics. Despite leveling up, unarmed combat deals significantly less damage than Blade, Blunt, or Marksman styles and lacks armor penetration. To make matters worse, there are no ranged options available with bare hands. Moreover, unlike weapons, hands cannot be enchanted, and special effects such as paralysis or life drain are unattainable for hand-to-hand fighters. Consequently, fights become lengthy, tedious, and monotonous.

As a game enthusiast, I must admit that some players might find themselves drawn to the Hand-to-Hand combat for role-play purposes. The idea of embodying a monk or tavern brawler offers an engaging way to navigate through Oblivion. For those who are willing to forgo the power of weapons, this narrative choice can be incredibly rewarding thematically and contextually.

However, beyond this specific and niche scenario, Hand-to-Hand combat isn’t really worth investing time into. Instead, it’s much more advantageous to focus on mastering magic or archery skills in the game, as they tend to provide a more effective and enjoyable experience overall.

Its Best Effects Are Better Acquired Elsewhere

Mysticism offers a selection of entertaining charms, but many are quite specialized. Spells like Soul Trap, Detect Life, and Telekinesis have restricted uses and are beneficial primarily to specific types of game participants. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the majority of this magical discipline’s effects can be acquired through enchanted items and scrolls, which diminishes its overall importance. However, it’s crucial to remember that weapons such as Umbra, among others, can provide Soul Trap functionality, with similar applications for other spells.

Mysticism has limitations when it comes to practical combat application. It lacks potent offensive or defensive spells that can facilitate battles more efficiently. Moreover, many of its spells don’t grow stronger as the game progresses, making them less effective over time. Given these drawbacks, such as poor long-term value and superior alternatives for acquiring its best effects, Mysticism is a magical discipline that may not be worth investing in.

Heavy Armor Tends to Look Cooler as Well

Light armor definitely comes with its advantages: lighter weight, cheaper maintenance, and quicker character progression are just some of the perks. Additionally, moving stealthily is much easier without the burden of heavy plate or scale protection. On the other hand, heavy armor outperforms its light counterpart in several aspects. Firstly, it’s more durable, meaning repairs are less frequent. Secondly, it provides significantly greater protection during battle. Lastly, it’s hard to argue against the stylish designs that heavy armor offers.

In most cases, it’s advantageous to opt for Heavy Armor over Light Armor, as the latter becomes largely unnecessary due to the benefits provided by the former in terms of gameplay and design. While Dwarven, Ebony, Daedric, and Blades armors offer distinctive and fashionable looks that some players might appreciate, the simpler styles of Light Armor, often associated with thief or assassin roles, may appeal to a smaller group.

This Skill Will Be Increasing Regularly Anyway

Exploring in the wilderness can slightly enhance the usefulness of the Athletics ability. This skill boosts both running and swimming speeds, making lengthy journeys less exhausting. Slowing down fatigue is also beneficial for travel and combat, but its impact isn’t substantial until it has been significantly leveled up. The speed increases may not be very noticeable at lower levels, but the reduced fatigue loss becomes more tangible as it progresses.

To put it simply, enhancing the Athletics skill isn’t crucial since it naturally improves throughout the game. Although swimming can boost the skill more quickly, advancing Athletics levels is inevitable in Oblivion as it can’t be played without some increase. Since Athletics doesn’t significantly affect combat, questing, or most gameplay aspects, spending time on enhancing it further might not be worthwhile, as it will likely reach a decent level by the endgame anyway.

Like Athletics, Dodge Will Be Increasing Without Effort

In much the same way as proficiency in Athletics develops organically, so too does mastery of Acrobatics evolve without deliberate effort. Similarly, just as it’s unnecessary to emphasize Athletics over other more beneficial skills, the same applies to Acrobatics. The benefits such as jumping higher or taking less fall damage seldom factor into most situations. While leaping across water may look impressive, its practicality is limited in many scenarios. The only genuinely useful aspect of this skill is the dodge ability, but if you have a strong Block, it’s not always essential.

Dodge may not always function as expected and seldom determines the outcome of a battle. In most situations, having a reliable shield, strong armor, and mastery over weapon skills will serve you better. Instead of continually jumping to level up Acrobatics, it might be more advantageous to focus on enhancing Heavy Armor, Block, and your preferred weapon skill. Over time, your Acrobatics proficiency will naturally increase, ensuring that you’ll eventually gain access to Dodge. However, hastily trying to obtain this ability by rapidly leveling Acrobatics isn’t a wise strategy in the long run.

Too Much Effort is Required to Make This Skill Truly Useful

In simpler terms, Alchemy might not be everyone’s cup of tea when playing games. Although potions can be very potent, mastering the skill to brew them takes a significant amount of time and energy. Gathering ingredients, maintaining inventory, and actually creating potions could turn into a monotonous task for numerous players, potentially taking away from other enjoyable aspects of the game. Similar to Speechcraft, Alchemy might initially appear exciting, but the process of leveling it up can feel more like a tedious grind, offering benefits that can often be achieved more swiftly and effortlessly elsewhere.

You can easily acquire top-quality potions from merchants at affordable prices or discover them as loot, eliminating the need to put resources into mastering Alchemy. However, to fully utilize Alchemy, it’s essential to have numerous tools and a vast supply of ingredients, which can take up valuable inventory space. While Alchemy has its uses, the time and effort required to maximize its benefits might not be worth it for most adventurers. Therefore, many find it more practical to delegate Alchemy tasks to Non-Player Characters (NPCs).

The Skill is Negated Entirely By Those Who Complete the Right Quest

Among players of Oblivion, there’s a lot of debate about the value of the skill related to lockpicking. Some find it entertaining as an in-game challenge, while others see it as a nuisance. For some, it’s a breeze, but for others, it can lead to repeated failed attempts and frustration. However, most seem to agree that the Security skill isn’t essential. Although it does make lockpicking slightly less challenging, advancing this skill doesn’t open up new gameplay options like in games such as the Fallout series. In Oblivion, you only need to increase your Security skill to level 5 to attempt to pick any lock in the game. Essentially, mastering the mechanics of it is more important than continuously improving the skill, unless a player is finding the mini-game particularly challenging.

It’s more crucial to understand that finishing the Nocturnal quest essentially makes the Security skill unnecessary. You can get this quest after reaching level ten, at Nocturnal’s shrine located northeast of Leyawiin. This Daedric artifact serves as an indestructible lock pick, allowing you to forcefully open any lock with continuous effort. Therefore, if you enjoy exploring other people’s personal spaces, it would be more beneficial for you to prioritize this quest instead of spending time on a skill that is seldom needed and quickly becomes ineffective.

2025-06-04 04:26