Uncover the hidden quirks of one of Oblivion Remastered’s most talked-about Daedric artifacts, and why it might cause more headaches than help.

In the world of Oblivion Remastered, few things carry as much mystique and weight as the Daedric Artifacts. These rare relics, each tied to a powerful Daedric Prince, are often seen as prized possessions, tools of immense power that can define a player’s build.

But not all artifacts are created equal. One, in particular, has gained a reputation for being more trouble than it’s worth: the Sanguine Rose. If you’ve ever wielded this staff, you know it’s less a trusty companion and more a ticking time bomb, waiting to ruin your day.

The Sanguine Rose: The chaos bringer in Oblivion Remastered

At its core, the Sanguine Rose is a magical staff that summons a Daedric minion to fight alongside you. It is acquired by completing the quest “Sanguine” for the Daedric Prince Sanguine at the Shrine of Sanguine (yeah, too many Sanguines, we know). Sounds promising, right?

Unfortunately, this “helpful” Daedra isn’t the reliable ally you might hope for. While unique, it is uniquely bad. First of all, the strength of the summon varies greatly (in most cases, minimal damage). Secondly, the summoned Daedra sticks around for a mere 20 seconds before vanishing.

But that short cooldown might be a blessing in disguise, since the Daedra minions can turn hostile towards the summoner… yes, you. Instead of assisting in battle, it may decide you’re the enemy, attacking you in a chaotic twist that often leads to frustrating and unintended fights.

This RNG factor means that every time you use the staff, you’re rolling the dice (either you are summoning an ally or a foe), making it one of the most unreliable artifacts in the game. The high risk and low reward make the staff a weapon that no serious player wants to depend on, unless you enjoy gambling with your survival.

Unlike other artifacts that grant powerful enchantments or stat boosts, this staff’s signature ability is essentially a wild card, one that often backfires.

A convenient escape route from this Daedric Artifact

If unpredictability were a weapon, the staff would be legendary. | Image Credit: Bethesda

If you’re familiar with the main questline, specifically the Blood of the Daedra quest, you know that players are required to hand over a Daedric Artifact to Martin Septim. This exchange is permanent, and once given, you won’t get the artifact back.

This should make the choice especially tough, or does it? Luckily for players burdened by the Sanguine Rose, this quest presents the perfect opportunity to part ways with this troublesome staff.

Given the Sanguine Rose’s drawbacks, it stands out as the ideal candidate to sacrifice. You lose an artifact that is more likely to get you killed than help, while keeping your more useful treasures safe and sound.

Even Martin isn’t very fond of the staff. Hand it over to him during the quest, and he’ll admit he once owned the staff. And let’s just say things went as planned for him: after some mysterious mishap involving the staff, he ended up becoming the priest.

Oh, and that little incident? Yeah, it tragically took the lives of a few of his friends. Talk about a cursed souvenir.

In the end, when the time comes in the Blood of the Daedra quest, do yourself a favor: give Martin the Sanguine Rose and free yourself from one of the most unreliable and frustrating artifacts in Cyrodiil. Your future self will thank you.