Introduction: Setting Out in a Revamped Classic

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, released on April 22, 2025, brings Bethesda’s 2006 classic back to life with updated visuals, modernized mechanics, and quality-of-life improvements, making it the perfect time for new and returning players to dive into the sprawling world of Cyrodiil. Set at the end of the Third Era, the game thrusts you into a realm on the brink of chaos as demonic Oblivion Gates threaten the land. With its vast open world, countless quests, and deep character-building systems, Oblivion Remastered can feel overwhelming at first. However, grabbing a few key items, skills, and resources early on can make your journey significantly easier and more enjoyable. From powerful weapons to free horses and safe storage, here’s a guide to the most amazing things you should get early in Oblivion Remastered to set yourself up for success.

1. Save Before Exiting the Tutorial Sewers

Your adventure begins in the Imperial Prison, where you’ll escape through a lengthy sewer tutorial. Before you exit the sewers, the game gives you one final chance to tweak your character’s race, birthsign, class, and attributes. This is also the perfect moment to create a manual save file. Why is this so important? Having a save at this point allows you to return and create new characters or adjust your build without replaying the tutorial, which can take upwards of 30 minutes. Since Oblivion Remastered retains the original game’s character creation flexibility, you can experiment with different playstyles—like a stealthy thief or a magic-wielding Breton—without losing progress. This save file is a lifesaver for optimizing your character as you learn the game’s mechanics, especially since the remaster’s updated leveling system lets you allocate attribute points more freely.

2. Grab Early Loot in the Tutorial

While still in the tutorial sewers, keep an eye out for valuable loot that can give you a head start. One standout item is the wrist irons you start with in your prison cell. These have zero weight, making them ideal for enchanting later—hold onto them. As you progress, you’ll encounter Mythic Dawn assassins who drop potions, gold, and their iconic red robes, which can be sold for quick cash. The fallen Blade Captain Renault also drops an Akaviri Katana and a steel shortsword, both of which are solid early weapons for melee characters. These items can either be equipped for an early combat boost or sold to fund your first purchases, like health potions or a bed at an inn. Starting with a small stockpile of gear ensures you’re not completely broke when you step into the open world.

3. Get a Free Horse for Easy Travel

Traveling across Cyrodiil’s vast landscape on foot can be slow and tedious, especially early on when fast travel locations are limited. Fortunately, you can get a free horse almost immediately after exiting the sewers by following the main quest. After delivering the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre at Weynon Priory, speak to Prior Maborel, who will offer you a free horse. It’s not the fastest mount, but it’s a huge upgrade over walking and lets you unlock new areas for fast travel more quickly. Since Oblivion Remastered includes the infamous Horse Armor DLC at no extra cost, you can also head to the Chestnut Stable outside the Imperial City to speak with the Orc woman there. She’ll provide a slow horse with Iron Armor for free, and you can add armor to any legally owned horse later (though it’ll cost gold). A horse early on makes exploration far less daunting and helps you reach key locations faster.

4. Secure a Free Room and Storage in Aleswell

One of the biggest challenges in Oblivion Remastered is finding a safe place to rest and store your items. Sleeping is essential to level up after increasing your major skills, but you can only sleep in unowned beds, like those in inns or homes you own. Buying a house, even the cheapest shack in the Imperial City’s Waterfront District, costs 2,000 gold—a steep price for a new player. Instead, head north of the Imperial City along the Red Ring Road to the small village of Aleswell. Here, you can pick up the Zero Visibility side quest, which involves helping the invisible townsfolk regain their visibility. Upon completion, you’ll gain access to a free room at the Aleswell Inn, complete with a chest of drawers you can use to store items safely. This is especially useful for stashing stolen goods until you can sell them, as items in this chest won’t disappear. Having a free base early on saves you gold and gives you a reliable spot to rest and manage your inventory.

5. Join the Thieves Guild for Easy Gold

Gold can be hard to come by in the early game, especially if you’re not keen on dungeon diving right away. Joining the Thieves Guild offers a quick and lucrative solution. To join, you’ll need to pass the initiation, which involves a small test of your thieving skills. Once accepted, you’ll gain access to a Fence named Ongar the World-Weary in Bruma, who will buy your stolen goods for up to 600 gold at a time. As you progress in the guild, you’ll unlock more Fences with higher gold limits, making it easier to offload valuable items. Merchants in Oblivion Remastered can detect stolen goods, and guards will confiscate them if you’re arrested, so having a Fence is crucial for a thief playstyle. Even if you’re not planning to focus on stealth, the Thieves Guild provides a steady income stream, and its questline is one of the most engaging in the game. Use the Aleswell Inn chest to store stolen items while waiting for Ongar’s gold to replenish.

6. Get the Umbra Sword and Ebony Armor Set

For players willing to take on a challenge, the Umbra sword and its accompanying Ebony Armor Set are some of the best early-game gear you can acquire. Located in the Ayleid ruin of Vindasel, southwest of the Imperial City, the Umbra sword is wielded by a warrior named Umbra. This powerful blade deals high damage and has a soul trap enchantment, making it a game-changer for melee characters. Killing Umbra also grants you her Ebony Armor Set, which offers excellent protection for the early game. Be warned: Umbra is a tough opponent for low-level players. If you’re struggling, you can hit her once and run back to the Imperial City’s Temple District, where guards will help finish her off. Just ensure your inventory is light to avoid over-encumbrance when carrying the gear. Equipping the Umbra sword and armor will make you a formidable force against early enemies, from bandits to creatures emerging from Oblivion Gates.

7. Pick Up the Frostwyrm Bow for Ranged Combat

If you prefer ranged combat, the Frostwyrm Bow is an excellent early weapon to seek out. This bow can be obtained by defeating a semi-invisible Uderfrykte Matron near Dive Rock, a mountainous area in northeastern Cyrodiil. The Frostwyrm Bow deals frost damage, making it effective against a variety of enemies, and its ranged capabilities let you pick off foes from a safe distance. The terrain around Dive Rock is treacherous, with uneven ground and the risk of falling, so proceed with caution. Bring health potions and save frequently during this encounter. Archers will find the Frostwyrm Bow a reliable tool for tackling early dungeons and quests, especially when paired with a stealth-focused build. Having a strong ranged option early on gives you flexibility in combat, allowing you to handle threats that might overwhelm a melee character.

8. Level Up Security with Lockpicks

Oblivion Remastered is filled with locked chests containing valuable loot, from gold to enchanted items. Even if you’re not playing a rogue, having a few lockpicks and leveling your Security skill early can open up opportunities for better gear and extra gold. You can buy lockpicks from Thieves Guild Fences or find them in various locations, but a guaranteed way to get an unbreakable lockpick is by completing the Nocturnal Daedric quest, which grants the Skeleton Key. This item lets you use the “Auto” button to force open any lock as long as you have at least one regular lockpick in your inventory. The Nocturnal quest becomes available at level 10, but you can prepare by practicing with regular lockpicks on easier chests, like those in the Ayleid ruin of Vilverin near the sewer exit. Leveling Security early ensures you don’t miss out on valuable loot that can be sold or equipped to make your journey easier.

9. Join Guilds for Rewards and XP

Guilds in Oblivion Remastered are a fantastic way to earn gold, experience, and gear early on. The Fighters Guild and Mages Guild, both accessible in the Imperial City, offer straightforward quests that reward you with gold, XP, and items. For example, the Fighters Guild’s early quests involve combat-heavy tasks like clearing out bandits, while the Mages Guild provides access to spells and alchemical ingredients. Completing these quests helps you level up faster, which is crucial in a game where enemies scale with your level. Another great option is the Arena in the Imperial City’s East District. Speak to Owyn to start the Arena questline, which involves straightforward combat matches against opponents. Winning fights earns you gold and Fame Points, which increase your reputation and unlock new quests. The Arena is also a great way to practice combat and earn enough gold to buy that 2,000-gold shack in the Waterfront District, giving you a permanent base to sleep and store items.

10. Stock Up on Health Potions

Combat in Oblivion Remastered can be brutal, especially with the remaster’s updated mechanics like improved hit reactions and a Souls-like blocking feature. Health potions are a lifesaver, particularly for new players still learning the ropes. You can buy five or six health potions for just under 1,000 gold from Claudette at The Gilded Carafe in the Imperial City’s Market District. Add these to your favorites radial menu for quick access during fights. If you’re low on gold, you can sell loot from the tutorial or stolen items via the Thieves Guild to afford them. Having a stock of health potions ensures you can survive early encounters, whether you’re exploring dungeons like Vilverin and Sideways Cave near the sewer exit or tackling the Arena.

Why These Early Acquisitions Matter

Grabbing these items and opportunities early in Oblivion Remastered sets you up for a smoother experience in Cyrodiil. The free horse and Aleswell room reduce the hassle of travel and inventory management, while the Umbra sword, Frostwyrm Bow, and guild rewards give you the combat prowess to handle tougher enemies. Joining the Thieves Guild and leveling Security ensures a steady income and access to hidden loot, making it easier to afford essentials like health potions and a house. The remaster’s quality-of-life improvements, like the ability to harvest all alchemy ingredients (as noted by players on X) and a revised leveling system, make these early gains even more impactful, allowing you to focus on enjoying the game’s rich world rather than struggling to survive.

Challenges and Tips for New Players

While these early acquisitions make the game easier, Oblivion Remastered still has its challenges. The leveling system, though improved, can still be tricky—enemies scale with your level, so leveling too quickly without boosting your combat skills can make fights harder. Focus on a mix of offensive skills like Blade, Marksman, or Destruction, and don’t neglect Endurance, which governs your health growth. Vampirism is another hazard to watch for; if you contract Porphyric Hemophilia from vampires and don’t cure it within three days, you’ll turn into a vampire, which can complicate gameplay. Always carry a cure disease potion, especially when exploring vampire dens.

Conclusion: Start Strong in Cyrodiil

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered offers a sprawling, immersive experience that rewards preparation and exploration. By securing these amazing early-game treasures—a save file, a free horse, the Umbra sword, the Frostwyrm Bow, a safe room in Aleswell, Thieves Guild access, lockpicks, guild rewards, and health potions—you’ll be well-equipped to tackle Cyrodiil’s challenges. Whether you’re closing Oblivion Gates, joining factions, or simply wandering the countryside, these tips will make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. As players continue to praise the remaster’s updates and rediscover the magic of Oblivion, now’s the perfect time to dive in and experience it for yourself—grab these essentials and start your adventure on the right foot!