Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Thief Build

Unveil comprehensive information on the top-tier Thief setup for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, complete with helpful suggestions and strategies to make the most out of this build.

As a cunning gamer diving into Elder Scrolls Oblivion, I’ve found myself drawn to the allure of the Thief build. This crafty character setup revolves around sneaking past foes unnoticed, swiftly picking locks, and outsmarting problems without resorting to brute force. The Thief build provides an engaging and demanding gaming experience for those who relish slipping through dungeons, cracking open chests with a nimble touch, and solving puzzles like a master burglar.

Armed with bows and arrows for long-range skirmishes, I often combine stealth to maximize damage and boost survivability. The success of this build hinges heavily on the race, attributes, and skills you choose, as your gameplay is largely defined by them. In this guide, we’ll explore the optimal Thief build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion, delve into the best skills, weapons, and armor for the job.

Table of Content

Build Key Aspect
Class
Best Race
Best Birthsign
Best Specialization
Best Attributes
Major Skills
Minor Skills
Equipment
Leveling Strategy
How to Play the Thief Build
Gameplay Tips and Tricks

Everything About Thief Build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion

In The Elder Scrolls Oblivion, our Thief character is designed to emphasize stealth, agility, and dexterity, rather than engaging in direct combat head-on. This unique setup allows the Thief to skillfully evade confrontations, instead opting for stealthy approaches such as sneaking up on enemies, pickpocketing valuables, and unlocking doors with lockpicking. To ensure minimal damage during combat, our Thief is equipped with weapons like the Daedric Dagger and Daedric Bow. The dagger provides an option for a stealth takedown, making it effortless to dispatch enemies from behind. For this build, we recommend focusing on honing the skills of Sneak, Security, Marksman, Acrobatics, Lockpicking, Light Armor, and Mercantile.

This set of skills enhances the stealthy and agile approach for thieves, making it more effective. Lighter armor is preferable for thieves due to its mobility benefits. Marksmanship becomes crucial when focusing on ranged attacks during fights. The Thief birthsign is advantageous as it boosts your stealth abilities and raises the probability of critical hits with your bow. However, this build may struggle against enemies in close-quarters combat.

Thief Build Pros	Thief Build Cons
Stealthy Playstyle	Weak in Direct Combat
High Damage	Limited Armor Options
Lockpicking and Pickpocketing

Build Key Aspect

Below are all the essential aspects of the Thief Build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion:

Class: Thief
Race: Wood Elf
Birthsign: Thief
Specialization: Stealth
Attributes: Agility, Speed, Luck
Major Skills
- Sneak
- Security
- Marksman
- Acrobatics
- Lockpicking
- Light Armor
- Mercantile
Minor Skills
- Armorer
- Restoration
- Illusion
- Alchemy
Weapons: Daedric Bow, Daedric Dagger
Armor: Leather Armor, Shrouded Armor
Faction: Thieves Guild
Trainer: Astrid

Class

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Thief is an ideal choice for a thief-focused character due to its significant proficiencies in Security, Sneak, Light Armor, and Acrobatics. This setup lays a strong groundwork for stealth-based strategies. The Sneak ability enables thieves to bypass the notice of guards and homeowners. By blending Archery with stealth, you can execute powerful surprise attacks. To enhance ranged combat and strategy, consider Archer as your secondary class within the game. Merging Thief and Archer classes gives you a hybrid gameplay style that allows you to defeat enemies from afar using a bow, then get up close for lethal dagger strikes. However, it’s worth noting that the primary class for this build remains The Thief.

Best Race

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Wood Elves stand out as an ideal choice for building a top-tier Thief character. This is due to their innate advantages in both Sneak and Marksman abilities, which make them a powerful pick for stealthy thievery. Upon starting the game, Wood Elves boast a +5 bonus to Marksman and an additional +5 to Sneak. Their skill set is tailored towards a covert playstyle, allowing you to excel in both the early and mid-game stages. Bosmer, on the other hand, offers a +10 bonus in Acrobatics, which can be beneficial for mobility and accessing high locations. However, they have slightly lower Endurance and Strength compared to Wood Elves. For a Wood Elf character, Illusion, Destruction, Alteration, and Mysticism are the recommended skill sets to focus on.

Best Birthsign

Choosing the Thief Birthsign is an excellent option when creating a Thief character in Elder Scrolls Oblivion, primarily because it boosts skills like Sneak, Luck, and Speed, which are essential for Thieves. The Thief’s Birthsign significantly influences various skills, making leveling up more manageable and enhancing your chances of success in most scenarios.

The +25 Speed bonus improves movement speed and jumping distance, both crucial aspects for stealth and swift escapes. Moreover, the +25 Agility boost is vital for Thieves since it amplifies their Marksman skill and overall combat effectiveness. Overall, this Birthsign sets a strong foundation for a versatile Thief build that can excel in various combat situations and stealth scenarios.

Best Specialization

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Stealth is an exceptional choice for the Thief character build. This specialization primarily enhances abilities related to stealth and dodging, such as Sneaking and Light Armor proficiency. You choose this specialization during character creation, and it influences how your skills progressively improve. These are a group of skills that are deemed more significant than any others. To excel in stealth, concentrate on developing skills like Sneak, Light Armor, Marksman, and employ Illusion spells for invisibility and concealment. Sneaking is the fundamental skill for a covert approach, enabling silent movement and enhancing your bow’s effectiveness.

Best Attributes

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the ideal traits for a Thief character are Agility, Speed, and Luck. Speed is crucial as it boosts movement speed and agility, making evasion essential for the Thief build. Agility is vital for enhancing sneak, acrobatics, and weapon skills. Investing in Luck increases the probability of finding superior loot and crafting better items. By doing so, your character becomes an effective Thief who can outmaneuver opponents from a safe distance without suffering damage or detection. You’re able to allocate up to 5 points to three attributes at each level, with an additional point for Luck. Remember that the maximum cap for all attributes is 100. The other attributes like Intelligence, Strength, Endurance, and Willpower may not significantly impact your thieving playstyle.

Major Skills

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the top Major Skills for a Thief character build include Sneaking, Security, Marksmanship, Acrobatics, Lockpicking, Light Armor Mastery, and Mercantile. Major Skills in this game are seven skills that you select at character creation; they start at a higher base level than Minor Skills and level up quicker. They also influence your attribute bonuses as well as your character’s overall leveling. We advise focusing on developing the Blades skill, as it enhances the damage output of your melee weapon. You can acquire skills by frequently employing them, training with non-player characters (NPCs), and studying specialized books. The primary method to advance your skills is through active use.

Mercantile- Get better deals when buying or selling goods.
Sneak- Allows you to take down enemies silently in combat.
Security- Use lockpicks to open locked doors and containers.
Lockpicking- Allows you to access locked chests and doors.
Marksman- This skill allows you to deal damage from a safe distance with more accuracy and precision.
Acrobatics- It grants agility and evasion, making you harder to hit.
Light Armor- Provides defense without hindering your agility.

Minor Skills

As an ardent Elder Scrolls Oblivion enthusiast, I’d say that for a Thief build, Armorer, Restoration, Illusion, and Alchemy are the top Minor Skills to focus on. While they might not seem as powerful as major skills, they subtly enhance your character in various ways. Picking the right minor skills can significantly boost your character’s inner strength. It’s often beneficial to prioritize leveling up these minor skills for those precious attribute bonuses.

Alchemy- Use this skill to create powerful poisons and other helpful potions.
Armorer- Use this skill for repairing enchanted gear and improving your armor.
Restoration- Use this skill to gain healing, and it can be useful for survival.
Illusion- It provides powerful spells like Invisibility and Chameleon to boost your stealth and combat approaches.

Equipment

In the Elder Scrolls Oblivion game, the equipment includes weapons, armor, clothing, and assorted items. Players are able to utilize these items to enhance their character’s skills and attributes. Weapons can be fashioned from diverse materials, each with unique stats and appearances. They can also be imbued with magical effects such as damage, debuff, or health regeneration using soul gems to recharge the enchanted weapons. Armor is another type of equipment that safeguards you from attacks by enemies. Each piece of armor has an armor rating that decides how much harm it can deflect. You’re allowed to wear up to 9 pieces at once. Light armor is ideal for a Thief character build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Best Weapons

Here are the best weapons for the Thief build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Daedric Bow

Damage: 20
Value: 3200
Health: 420
Weight: 22

Incorporating a Daedric Bow into your Thief character is highly recommended due to its superior base damage among all weapons in the game, making it an ideal choice for Thieves. The weapon becomes even more formidable when enhanced with potent enchantments such as health draining or increased damage. You can find this weapon in advanced locations or acquire it through quests. Keep in mind that it has a heavier weight, but when used strategically, it deals substantial damage. Pair the Daedric Arrow with this weapon to inflict high damage during battles. These arrows are often found as rewards from specific enemies, especially in bandit strongholds.

Daedric Dagger

Damage: 19
Health: 532
Base Value: 2700
Weight: 10

In the game, the Daedric Dagger stands out as a swift, one-handed weapon boasting the highest base damage among all daggers. Given their speed, wielding daggers lets you inflict their magical properties more quickly. This blade serves well for both close combat against foes and stealth assassinations. You can enhance the Daedric Dagger with various effects such as poison, damage, or exhaustion. Compared to swords and maces, daggers are lighter but deal less damage. To maximize its potential, combine it with skills like Blades to boost its effectiveness, aligning with your Thief character build. Regularly upgrading this weapon is crucial for increased attacking power.

Best Armor

Here is the best armor for the Thief build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Leather Armor

Armor Health: 640
Class: Light Armor
Base Value: 105
Weight: 19.5

Leather Armor serves as a solid initial protective gear, particularly beneficial for characters specializing in stealth and agility such as rogues. Its lightweight nature provides some protection while enhancing agility. Compared to other heavier armor types, it’s not as robust or powerful. However, its design can match the appearance of a rogue or thief character, making it an attractive choice for players aiming for a low-profile look. Use this armor for characters emphasizing stealth and agility. The armor becomes available early on, starting to appear in leveled lists at level three. Keep in mind that enhancing your mobility is important for swift movement, which aligns well with the thieving playstyle.

Shrouded Armor

Armor Health: 520
Base Armor: 17.5
Base Value: 0
Class: Light Armor

Using Shrouded Armor is a great choice when creating a Thief character in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. Comprised of two parts – the Shrouded Armor and the Shrouded Hood – this set offers beneficial features for stealth-focused characters. The Ancient Shrouded Armor is simple to obtain. Essentially, the Shrouded armor serves as a full-body covering excluding the head. Furthermore, it has unaltered stats and enchantments that become more potent as your character progresses through the game. This armor comes equipped with an enchantment that amplifies backstab damage using daggers and provides resistance to poison.

Leveling Strategy

To maximize the effectiveness of a thief character in Oblivion, concentrate on enhancing skills such as Stealth, Armor, Security, and Light Armor. Additionally, you may want to develop other useful skills like Alchemy and Alteration. It’s crucial to prioritize leveling your primary skills when you gain levels to get the most benefit from your character. You can boost your Athletics skill by jumping frequently. The best approach to increase your Stealth skill is by sneaking around, making it even more efficient. Your Birthsign provides a substantial stat boost. Remember to sleep in a bed to level up.

In Oblivion, advancing levels may require some patience, so strive for a mix of activities like exploring, fighting, and skill training. Remember that as you progress, enemies will grow stronger too. With each level-up, you’ll have the chance to enhance three attributes. Give priority to those that suit your preferred gameplay approach. Make sure to complete all side quests available to boost your character’s level. Leveling up is determined by Skill Increases and the Attributes you choose.

Factions

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Thieves Guild stands out as an excellent choice for a Thief character build, offering chances to develop stealth, lock-picking, and pick-pocketing abilities. This faction enhances a covert Thief’s capabilities in potentially risky game situations. Alternatively, you can opt for the Dark Brotherhood, which offers opportunities for thievery and archery training by using a bow from afar. The Thieves Guild recognizes and rewards stealth prowess, providing access to fences who are crucial for selling ill-gotten goods. Each faction provides a distinctive gaming experience, so select the one that aligns with your Thief gameplay style. Notably, each faction has a guild hall where you can engage with members.

Trainers

Astrid is the top choice for training the Thief character setup in Skyrim, as she assists in improving the Sneak skill. However, she might not be easily accessible at the start of the game. She serves as the head of the Dark Brotherhood. Trainers enable you to spend gold to boost your skill levels, which can aid in your character’s leveling process. Different trainers have varying skill level maximums. These specific trainers offer training for a certain number of times based on your character level.

How to Play the Thief Build

In Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), emphasize abilities such as Stealth, Locksmithing, Sharpshooting, Featherlight Armor, and Conjuration to boost the efficiency of your Thief character. In close combat, employ a Dagger for direct attacks and a Bow when engaged from afar. Take cover behind walls or other barriers when enemies advance. Regularly enhance your weapons to maximize their effectiveness in high-damage situations. Keep essential healing potions handy for extended battles, ensuring you’re well-prepared at all times.

In simpler terms, you can cast spells such as Invisibility, which enables you to move around undetected and inflict heavy damage. Opt for light armor like Shrouded Armor and Leather Armor, enhancing your speed and durability, thereby improving your chances of survival. Align with a faction that suits your playstyle, transforming you into an unbeatable burglar in the game. Keep updating your weapon to enhance its potency during battles, where you aim to inflict maximum damage.

Best Gameplay Tips and Tricks for the Thief Build

Here are the best gameplay tips and tricks for the Thief build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

The Thieves Guild questline offers valuable rewards and skills that complement a thief build.
Focus on light armor for stealth, as it increases your movement speed.
Use a lightweight weapon as a backup while fighting the enemies in close range.
Use Stealth to get the jump on enemies and deal increased damage with sneak attacks.
All races cannot be a successful Thief, so choose the one that complements your playstyle.
Use run and tactics to dominate the enemies with your dagger. This gives you an opening where you can use your sword to defeat the enemy.
Practice your lockpicking skills to access valuable loot and secrets.

Use invisibility and paralysis spells to your advantage in combat and stealth situations.

FAQs about Thief build in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion

What is a Thief build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

In the game The Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Thief character build emphasizes sneakiness, quickness, and nimbleness. This distinctive construction shines when it comes to evading confrontations, instead favoring stealth, pocket-picking, and lock-opening as its primary tactics.

Which is the best weapon for a Thief build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

In the game Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Daedric Dagger and Daedric Bow stand out as top weapon choices for a Thief character. These weapons are particularly effective since they enable you to defeat adversaries while minimizing your own exposure, providing a strategic edge when used wisely.

Which is the best race for a Thief build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, it’s highly recommended to choose a Wood Elf for an optimal Thief character build. This race is advantageous because it grants bonuses to skills like Sneaking and Archery, which are crucial for a thief character, making them an excellent choice for this role.

Looking For More About Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remake?

Appreciate your attention to our Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Optimal Thief Build Guide! Keep up with the latest updates and strategies for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and beyond. Don’t forget to catch Deltia streaming games on Twitch or check out his YouTube channel!

Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Battlemage Build
Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Archer Build
Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Assassin Build
Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Barbarian Build

2025-04-05 14:10