The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, released on April 22, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, reintroduces players to the vibrant, glitchy, and endlessly immersive world of Cyrodiil with Unreal Engine 5 visuals and refined mechanics. As you battle the Mythic Dawn to close the Oblivion Gates, mastering your character’s abilities is key to surviving Daedra, bandits, and Ayleid ruins. Beyond standard spells and skills, Oblivion Remastered hides a treasure trove of Greater and Lesser Powers—unique abilities granted by races, birthsigns, quests, vampirism, or mystical sources like Doomstones. These powers, ranging from invisibility to summoning Daedra, can redefine your playstyle, but many are easy to miss without exploration or specific choices. Drawing from player insights and the remaster’s updated systems, here are 20 hidden powers in Oblivion Remastered that you should seek out, why they’re worth finding, and how to unlock them for your journey as the Hero of Kvatch.

1. Argonian’s Histskin (Greater Power, Racial)

Argonians start with Histskin, a Greater Power that restores 10 Health per second for 60 seconds, once per day, with no Magicka cost. Ideal for warriors or mages in tough fights, like the Kvatch Oblivion Gate, it’s a lifesaver early on. Pair it with Restore Health potions from Jauffre’s Chest for prolonged survival. Unlocked by choosing Argonian during character creation, this power scales well against level-scaled enemies like Dremora.

2. Breton’s Dragon Skin (Greater Power, Racial)

Bretons gain Dragon Skin, a Greater Power granting 50% Resist Magic for 60 seconds, once daily. Perfect for countering mages in Ayleid ruins or Will-o-the-Wisps, it stacks with items like the Saviour’s Hide for near-immunity. Select Breton at character creation to unlock it, and use it in magic-heavy quests like “Fingers of the Mountain” to shrug off elemental damage.

3. Khajiit’s Eye of Night (Lesser Power, Racial)

Khajiit have Eye of Night, a Lesser Power offering Night-Eye for 30 seconds at no Magicka cost, usable anytime. It’s invaluable for dark dungeons like Vilverin or sneaking in the Dark Brotherhood’s “Whodunit?” quest. Choose Khajiit during character creation, and pair it with Sneak for stealth builds, though Fin Gleam’s permanent Night-Eye can replace it later.

4. Orc’s Berserk (Greater Power, Racial)

Orc’s Berserk, a Greater Power, boosts Strength by 20, Agility by 10, and Health by 20 for 60 seconds, while draining Agility by 10 afterward, usable once daily. It’s a melee powerhouse for Fighters Guild quests like “The Desolate Mine.” Select Orc at character creation, and use it with the Akaviri Katana to dominate early fights, but rest to recover Agility.

5. The Mage’s Magicka Bonus (Greater Power, Birthsign)

The Mage birthsign grants a Greater Power: +50 Magicka permanently, no daily limit. Essential for spellcasters, it fuels Destruction spells like Flare or Conjuration summons in Mages Guild quests. Choose The Mage during character creation, and pair it with Intelligence boosts for maximum Magicka, ensuring you can cast in battles like the Battle of Bruma.

6. The Thief’s Luck Bonus (Lesser Power, Birthsign)

The Thief birthsign provides a Lesser Power: +10 Luck permanently, boosting all skills slightly. It’s subtle but versatile, aiding lockpicking, combat, and persuasion in quests like “Paranoia.” Select The Thief at creation, and level Luck early, as its benefits diminish at high skill levels (100). Combine with the Skeleton Key for stealth synergy.

7. The Warrior’s Strength Boost (Greater Power, Birthsign)

The Warrior birthsign offers a Greater Power: +10 Strength and Endurance permanently. It increases melee damage and Health, perfect for warriors tackling Oblivion Gates. Choose The Warrior at creation, and pair with Blade skills and Chillrend’s Frost Damage to shred enemies in quests like “Breaking the Siege of Kvatch.”

8. Vampire’s Embrace of Shadows (Lesser Power, Vampirism)

Becoming a vampire via Porphyric Hemophilia (contracted from vampires in Gutted Mine) grants Embrace of Shadows, a Lesser Power giving Invisibility and Night-Eye for 60 seconds, no Magicka cost, usable anytime. Ideal for Thieves Guild heists, it’s a stealth godsend, but vampirism’s sunlight damage requires management. Avoid curing it until you’ve used this power in quests like “The Elven Maiden.”

9. Vampire’s Hunter’s Sight (Lesser Power, Vampirism)

Another vampirism perk, Hunter’s Sight, is a Lesser Power offering Detect Life (120 feet) and Night-Eye for 30 seconds, no Magicka cost, usable anytime. It’s great for spotting enemies in dungeons like Sercen or tracking NPCs in “A Shadow Over Hackdirt.” Contract vampirism, and pair with Sneak for assassination missions, but stock up on Cure Disease potions for flexibility.

10. Azura’s Dawnstar (Greater Power, Daedric Quest)

Completing Azura’s level 2 quest (north of Cheydinhal, glow dust offering) grants Dawnstar, a Greater Power summoning a Dremora Markynaz for 120 seconds, once daily. This ally tanks enemies in tough fights, like the Mages Guild’s “Liberation or Apprehension?” Start the quest early, as its low level requirement makes it accessible post-sewers, and pair with Azura’s Star for enchanting synergy.

11. Sheogorath’s Wabbajack Effect (Greater Power, Daedric Quest)

Sheogorath’s level 2 quest (near Elsweyr border) rewards the Wabbajack staff, a Greater Power transforming non-humanoid enemies into random creatures for 10 seconds, once daily. It’s chaotic but fun, turning a Daedroth into a sheep in Oblivion Gates. Complete the quest by triggering Border Watch’s prophecy, and use sparingly due to its unpredictability, as noted in player discussions.

12. Vaermina’s Nightmare (Greater Power, Daedric Quest)

Vaermina’s level 5 quest (west of Cheydinhal) yields the Skull of Corruption, a Greater Power creating a 30-second clone of a humanoid target, once daily. It’s effective against guards in Thieves Guild quests but risks bounties. Retrieve the orb from Arkved’s Tower, a surreal dungeon, and use it strategically in “The Elven Maiden” to distract NPCs.

13. Meridia’s Light of Dawn (Greater Power, Daedric Quest)

Meridia’s level 10 quest (west of Skingrad, undead offering) grants Light of Dawn, a Greater Power casting Fire Damage (20 points) and Dispel (100 points) in a 20-foot radius, once daily. It’s potent against undead in Ayleid ruins like Sideways Cave. Clear Howling Cave’s necromancers to unlock it, and pair with Destruction spells for crowd control.

14. Star of the West (Greater Power, Doomstone)

The Atronach Doomstone, northwest of Kvatch, grants Star of the West, a Greater Power absorbing 100 Fatigue from a target, once daily. It staggers enemies, aiding melee builds in Fighters Guild quests like “The Master’s Son.” Activate the Doomstone at night (8 PM–6 AM) with no birthsign powers, and use it to disable tough foes like Minotaurs before striking.

15. Ysmir’s Breath (Greater Power, Doomstone)

The Dragon Doomstone, east of Bruma, offers Ysmir’s Breath, a Greater Power granting Fortify Health (50 points) and Frost Damage (20 points) for 60 seconds, once daily. It’s great for warriors in cold areas like Dive Rock. Activate at night without birthsign powers, and combine with Chillrend for Frost synergy in quests like “Two Sides of the Coin.”

16. Sithian Web (Greater Power, Doomstone)

The Thief Doomstone, south of Chorrol, provides Sithian Web, a Greater Power granting Invisibility for 30 seconds, once daily. It’s a stealth boost for Thieves Guild quests like “Lost Histories.” Activate at night, free of birthsign powers, and pair with Sneak and the Skeleton Key for lockpicking heists, making you untouchable.

17. Talos’s Blessing (Greater Power, Nine Divines)

Visiting all nine Wayshrines of the Nine Divines (e.g., Dibella’s near Anvil) with zero Infamy grants Talos’s Blessing, a Greater Power fortifying Strength and Endurance by 20 for 300 seconds, once daily. It’s a melee powerhouse for Knights of the Nine quests. Complete the pilgrimage, as detailed in the plugin, and use it in “The Sword of the Crusader” for boosted damage.

18. Akatosh’s Flame (Greater Power, New DLC)

The remaster’s new Akatosh DLC quest, available post-sewers, rewards Akatosh’s Flame, a Greater Power dealing 30 Fire Damage in a 15-foot radius, once daily. It’s ideal for crowd control in early dungeons like Sercen. Start the quest in the Imperial City’s Temple District, and pair with Destruction skills for fiery devastation, leveraging the remaster’s new content.

19. Mehrunes’ Razor Strike (Greater Power, New DLC)

The new Mehrunes Dagon DLC quest, accessible after “The Path of Dawn,” grants Mehrunes’ Razor Strike, a Greater Power with a 5% chance to instantly kill a target, once daily. It’s a gamble but devastating in fights like the Battle of Bruma. Begin the quest via Jauffre, and use with high-damage weapons like Goldbrand for maximum impact.

20. Circlet of Omnipotence Effect (Greater Power, Quest)

The “Pale Pass” quest in Bruma leads to the Circlet of Omnipotence, a Greater Power fortifying all attributes by 3 for 60 seconds, once daily. Despite its modest boost, it’s versatile for any build, aiding combat, stealth, or magic in quests like “A Brush with Death.” Find it in Pale Pass’s frozen barrels, but beware its deceptive name—it’s not omnipotent, just handy.

Why These Powers Matter

These 20 hidden powers—spanning racial abilities, birthsigns, vampirism, Daedric quests, Doomstones, Nine Divines, and new DLC—offer unparalleled flexibility in Oblivion Remastered. Greater Powers like Histskin, Dragon Skin, or Talos’s Blessing provide once-daily bursts of power, perfect for tough fights in Oblivion Gates or Ayleid ruins like Arkved’s Tower. Lesser Powers like Embrace of Shadows or Eye of Night are spammable, enhancing stealth or exploration in quests like “A Shadow Over Hackdirt.” The remaster’s updated leveling system makes these powers more impactful, as you can allocate attributes to complement them, avoiding the original’s punishing Endurance scaling.

Their “hidden” nature stems from their acquisition. Racial and birthsign powers require specific character creation choices, while vampirism demands risking Porphyric Hemophilia. Daedric powers like Dawnstar or Wabbajack need low-level shrine quests, easily missed if you rush the main story. Doomstones and Nine Divines powers require exploration or zero Infamy, and DLC powers tie to new quests, as noted in player guides. Missing these can leave you underpowered against scaled enemies like Xivilai, especially on Adept difficulty, where combat is balanced.

How to Unlock and Use Them

To maximize these powers, plan your character early. Choose a race like Breton or Argonian for defensive powers, or Khajiit for stealth, and pair with a birthsign like The Thief or The Warrior for synergy. Contract vampirism in Gutted Mine but carry Cure Disease potions for control. Start Daedric quests (Azura, Sheogorath) post-sewers, using the Modern Heretics book at Cloud Ruler Temple to locate shrines. Visit Doomstones at night, ensuring no birthsign conflicts, and complete the Nine Divines pilgrimage early to clear Infamy from Thieves Guild heists. For DLC powers, prioritize the Akatosh and Mehrunes quests after “The Path of Dawn.”

Use powers strategically: save Greater Powers for boss fights (e.g., Berserk for Minotaurs), and spam Lesser Powers in stealth or exploration (e.g., Hunter’s Sight in Sercen). Pair with items like Fin Gleam or Chillrend for synergy, and save often, as the remaster retains bugs like quest marker glitches or stuck NPCs. Check your stats for diseases after vampire fights, and use the remaster’s updated UI to track power cooldowns in the Magic menu.

Why They’re Hidden Gems

These powers are “hidden” because they’re not handed out in the main quest or guild storylines. Unlike Blade or Destruction skills, they require exploration, specific choices, or obscure conditions, as seen in quests like “A Brush with Death” or Pale Pass’s frozen barrels. Their impact is immense—Invisibility from Sithian Web or Embrace of Shadows trivializes Thieves Guild missions, while Dawnstar’s summon tanks Daedra in Shivering Isles. The remaster’s visual overhaul makes hunting them a joy, with glowing Doomstones and shimmering Wayshrines standing out in Cyrodiil’s forests. They also mitigate the game’s level-scaling issues, giving you an edge against glass-armored bandits, a long-standing criticism.

For role-playing, these powers add depth. A Khajiit thief with Eye of Night and Sithian Web feels like a master rogue, while an Orc warrior with Berserk and Ysmir’s Breath embodies a Nordic hero. The new DLC powers tie into Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon’s lore, enhancing the main quest’s stakes. Whether you’re a mage, warrior, or thief, these abilities let you tackle Cyrodiil’s challenges—Oblivion Gates, Ayleid ruins, or the Adoring Fan—with flair.

Conclusion

The 20 hidden powers in Oblivion Remastered—from Argonian’s Histskin to Mehrunes’ Razor Strike—are Cyrodiil’s secret weapons, offering combat might, stealth supremacy, and magical prowess. Unlocked through races, birthsigns, vampirism, Daedric quests, Doomstones, Nine Divines, and new DLC, they reward exploration and clever choices in a world brimming with radiant AI and quirky bugs. The remaster’s Unreal Engine 5 visuals and tweaked leveling make finding and using them more rewarding than ever, whether you’re battling in the Planes of Oblivion or sneaking through Hackdirt. So, choose your race wisely, seek out those shrines, and embrace vampirism (briefly)—these powers will make you a legend in Tamriel. Dive into Cyrodiil and claim them—you’ll see why Oblivion Remastered players are raving about their newfound might in 2025.