Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Bard Build

Dive into an exciting exploration of the top Bard build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion, complete with insider tips and clever tricks to master this character!

In the realm of The Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Bard Build is a distinctive character setup that emphasizes stealth, illusions, and a blend of combat and social abilities. A Bard roams the world, employing charm as well as self-defense with light armor and weapons. The Speechcraft skill empowers you to sway NPCs and haggle for better deals. Through illusion magic, they control enemies. The success of your Bard build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion heavily relies on the optimal selection of race, attributes, and skills. Unlike other builds, the Bard doesn’t rely on heavy armor; instead, they prefer light armor for agility. This guide will delve into the most effective Bard build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion, outlining the best skills, weapons, and armor options available.

Everything About Bard Build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion

In The Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Bard Build offers a distinctive blend of combat, magical, and charm-oriented skills. Bards thrive in social situations, offer supportive magic, and engage lightly in combat. Our build incorporates weapons such as the Daedric Dagger and Bow for optimal damage, coupled with spellcasting abilities. Recommended skills for this build in Elder Scrolls Online include Speechcraft, Illusion, Acrobatics, Restoration, Light Armor, and Alchemy. For the best results, consider choosing the Breton race as it enhances your playstyle significantly.

It’s important to keep in mind that the Bard character isn’t designed for taking damage or delivering powerful blows, so it’s generally a good idea to steer clear of engaging groups of enemies. Instead, opt for the Light Armor which boosts your agility and mobility during combat, enabling you to move freely and adapt positions swiftly.

On the other hand, this particular build features limited offensive magic, making victory in every battle somewhat challenging.

Bard Build Pros	Bard Build Cons
Social Skills	Limited Offensive Magic
Versatility	Difficulty in Combat
Excellent Damage

Build Key Aspect

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

Class: Bard
Race: Breton
Birthsign: Lover
Specialization: Magic
Attributes: Intelligence, Agility, Luck
Major Skills
- Illusion
- Speechcraft
- Light Armor
- Alchemy
One-Handed and Block
Minor Skills
- Alteration
- Mysticism
- Blade
Weapons: Daedric dagger, Daedric Bow
Armor: Leather Armor, Shrouded Armor
Faction: Mage Guid
Trainer: Helvius Cecia

Class

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Bard class is often recommended for its versatile build. It combines magic, stealth, and social abilities, primarily emphasizing speedcraft and illusion. Bards are proficient in a multitude of roles, such as combat, support, stealth, and social interaction. Key skills they master include Illusion, Persuasion, and Speechcraft. The Bard’s illusion magic is often employed to manipulate the battlefield, making it an excellent choice for players who appreciate roleplaying and character creation. Bards can specialize in melee combat with skills like Blade and Light Armor or ranged combat with Destruction and Marksman abilities. In essence, they offer a unique blend of abilities that cater to diverse playstyles.

Best Race

In the Elder Scrolls Oblivion game, Bretons are an excellent race choice for a Bard build due to their unique advantages. They naturally boast magic resistance and high magicka levels, which are ideal for spellcasting and enchanting. This makes them resilient against enemy spells, reducing the damage they take. Furthermore, Bretons begin with a larger magicka pool, enabling them to cast more spells and utilize stronger enchantments. This race is perfect if you prefer a blend of magic and combat, as it provides defensive benefits for your gameplay. Additionally, Bretons have skill bonuses in Conjuration and Restoration, making it easier to learn supportive spells. In essence, their high magicka allows them to last longer in battles, ensuring smoother progression through the game.

Best Birthsign

As a devoted fan, I firmly believe that the Lover Birthsign is ideal for a Bard character in Elder Scrolls Online due to its substantial Agility enhancement and handy Paralysis ability. The Paralyze power comes into play during intense combat situations where you’re faced with multiple adversaries. This Birthsign primarily focuses on enhancing Agility, which positively impacts skills such as Sneak, Block, and Security. If you prefer another option like the Lady, ensure it aligns seamlessly with your Bard playstyle. Birthsigns are celestial configurations that bestow unique magical advantages or powers tailored to a player’s style. They have lasting effects on your character, making it essential to select the one that harmonizes perfectly with your Bard build. Atronach and Lady are other viable Birthsign choices based on your preferred playstyle.

Best Specialization

Choosing Magic as your Bard’s specialization is advantageous due to its capabilities in creating illusions, enhancing abilities, and offering versatility for your character. Illusion magic enables you to manipulate enemies, inciting them to fight each other. Restoration magic, on the other hand, offers beneficial effects such as increased strength, armor, or health regeneration.

The Magic specialization allows for diverse gameplay styles, enabling you to overpower opponents with its magical prowess. However, it’s important to note that the use of magic can be costly in terms of Magicka points. When creating a character, you will need to select a specialization which significantly influences how your skills develop. Opt for the one that best suits your playstyle and build. Skills related to your chosen specialization will level up at a faster rate compared to those not within the specialization.

Best Attributes

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, it’s advantageous to prioritize Intelligence, Agility, and Luck when building a Bard character. These traits enable you to excel in abilities such as Illusion, Enchanting, and Light Armor. Intelligence is crucial for spellcasting and enhancing enchants, while Agility is vital for skills like One-Handed, Light Armor, and improving evasion along with speed. Luck is significant because it boosts the potency of enchantments and illusion spells. You can add up to 5 points to three attributes and 1 point to Luck at each level, but remember that the maximum attribute cap is 100. As you progress through the game, you’ll earn more attribute points to further develop your character into a Bard.

Major Skills

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Illusion, Speechcraft, Light Armor, Alchemy, and either One-Handed or Block are the top major skills you should focus on when creating your character. These seven skills are the ones you pick at the start, with a higher base level, and they increase faster than the minor skills. They also influence your attribute bonuses as well as your character’s overall progression. You can enhance these skills by regularly employing them, training with non-player characters (NPCs), or studying special books. The main method to advance your skills is by actively putting them into practice.

One-Handed/Block- Allows you to defend yourself and potentially deal damage in close combat.
Illusion- This skill allows you to control enemies and situations with spells like Fear, Calms, and Charm.
Speedcraft- Use it to interact with the NPCs and gain advantages through persuasion.
Light Armor- grants protection without hindering your agility, making it easy to move freely while casting spells.
Alchemy- Enables you to create potions for healing, buffing, or debuffing enemies.

Minor Skills

In Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), consider incorporating Alteration, Mysticism, and Blade as your minor Bard skills. While these skills may not be very powerful on their own, they significantly enhance other aspects of your character. Be thoughtful when selecting minor skills since they can greatly boost the internal strength of your character. It’s beneficial to focus on leveling up these minor skills to gain attribute bonuses.

Blade- Useful for close combat and can be leveled up passively while playing.
Alteration- grants useful buffs and support spells, such as increasing armor or opening locks.
Mysticism- Provides support and buffs, potentially allowing you to manipulate the environment.

Equipment

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, players utilize a variety of items such as weapons, armor, clothing, and other equipment to enhance their character’s skills and attributes. Weapons are fabricated from various resources, each boasting unique stats and appearances, and can be infused with magical effects like damage, debuffs, or health regeneration using soul gems. To maintain the power of enchanted weapons, you must recharge them with soul gems. Armor is another essential piece of equipment that shields you from enemy attacks; each armor piece has an armor rating which dictates its capacity to absorb damage. You can wear up to nine pieces at a time. Light Armor is the optimal choice as it increases your survivability by diminishing the impact of incoming assaults.

Best Weapons

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

Daedric Dagger

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

The Daedric Knife stands out as a swift, one-handed weapon boasting the highest base damage among all daggers within the game. Daggers are renowned for their speed, enabling quicker application of enchantments. Employ this knife to dispose of foes in close combat or perform stealthy assassinations. You can infuse the Daedric Knife with various effects such as poison, damage, or exhaustion. Although daggers are lightweight, they deal less damage compared to swords and hammers. Combine it with abilities like Blades to amplify this weapon’s efficiency. Regularly upgrading this knife is vital to maximize its damage capabilities.

Daedric Bow

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

Incorporating a Daedric Bow into your Bard character is highly recommended due to its impressive base damage, making it an ideal option for Archers. What makes this weapon even more attractive is the potential to enchant it with potent effects such as draining health or causing additional damage. This formidable weapon can be discovered in higher-level locations or obtained through quests. Although it’s slightly heavier than other bows, when used effectively, it delivers substantial damage. Pair the Daedric Bow with a Daedric Arrow to inflict high damage during combat. These arrows are often found as loot from specific enemies, particularly in bandit lairs.

Best Armor

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

Leather Armor

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

Leather Armor serves as an effective initial protective gear, particularly beneficial for characters specializing in stealth and rogue abilities. It provides a light layer of protection while enhancing agility, making it less robust compared to heavier armor types. Its design often matches the aesthetic of a rogue or thief persona, making it an ideal choice for players aiming for a low-key appearance. Use this armor for characters emphasizing stealth and agility, and you can acquire it from level 3 onwards in your quests.

Shrouded Armor

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

As an enthusiast, I’d say opting for Shrouded Armor is a smart choice when crafting an Assassin character in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. This set comes with two components: the Shrouded Armor and the Shrouded Hood, both of which cater to stealth-focused players. The Ancient Shrouded Armor can be effortlessly obtained. What sets this armor apart is that it’s a one-piece suit, leaving your head exposed. Moreover, its stats and enchantments remain unchanged as you progress through the game, making them more potent with each level you gain. This armor boasts an enchantment that amplifies backstab damage and provides resistance against poison, enhancing your stealth abilities significantly.

Leveling Strategy

To achieve a level-up, ensure you rest on the bed (sleep). Build up your expertise in abilities such as Illusion, Alteration, Restoration, and Speechcraft. Opt for a one-handed weapon like a dagger, and wear light armor to facilitate swift movement during exploration and combat. Utilize Alteration spells to boost yourself and examine the surroundings. Heal yourself and your companions using Restoration spells to maintain an active skillset. Allocate points in attributes that will augment your primary skills.

Advancing or “leveling up” in this game is primarily determined by improving your skills and attributes. As you progress, you’ll have the opportunity to enhance three attributes each time you level up. Choose attributes that fit your preferred playstyle. Your Birthsign offers a substantial boost to your stats. It’s essential to sleep in a bed to advance levels. Remember, leveling up in this game can be time-consuming, so aim for a balance between exploring, engaging in combat, and honing your skills.

Factions

In Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), choosing the Mage Guild is an excellent option for the Bard build as it specializes in magic and abilities that synergize with the Bard’s skills. Bards shine with talents such as Illusion for crowd control, Alteration for buffs, and Restoration for healing. This makes the Mage Guild a suitable match for their playstyle, empowering you to overpower your foes. The Imperial Legion can also be a fitting alliance for Bards in most situations. This is beneficial for a Bard who may need to participate in combat or engage in negotiations.

Trainers

Helvius Cecina is the top choice for training the Bard character build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. You’ll find him stationed in Bruma and he holds the title of Master Hand-to-Hand Trainer. These trainers enable you to spend gold to raise your skill levels, thereby aiding in your progression through various skill tiers. Different trainers let you reach distinct skill level ceilings. Each trainer can teach a particular skill for a specified number of times based on your character’s current level.

How to Play the Bard Build

As a magic-wielding enthusiast, I’d emphasize that you should prioritize Illusion magic for managing crowds and boosts, Speechcraft for persuasive prowess, and Light Armor for agility on the battlefield. Dabble in Alchemy and Enchanting for extra utility and enhancements. Arm yourself with a Daedric Dagger for close-quarters combat or stealth attacks, and a Daedric Bow for long-range, devastating blows. In a face-off, use your dagger for melee strikes or covert eliminations. During skirmishes, employ spells for magical assaults or opt for a bow to dish out heavy ranged damage.

To boost your combat efficiency with this build, emphasize traits such as intelligence, luck, and agility. Bards being social beings, remember to engage with NPCs frequently. Gather artifacts to enrich your character’s background story. Strive to expand your awareness and comprehension of the world around you. Magic-wise, empower your weaponry and armor, making them more potent in battle. To maximize spell damage, seek high ground advantage. Craft beneficial potions for yourself and detrimental ones for opponents to further improve your character’s performance.

Best Gameplay Tips and Tricks for the Bard Build

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

Choose the faction, race, and specialization that complements your playstyle and synergizes with the build.
Use potions to heal your character from time to time in combat, so carry them in your inventory.
Include Light Armor in your build to protect your character from several different threats in the area.
You need to use stamina wisely or else you can become vulnerable in most combat situations.
Use your weapons wisely, as equipping a lower damage-dealing weapon gives room for the enemies to attack you.
Use Speechcraft and your charisma to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Consider light armor and weapons for a mobile combat style that fits the Bard’s agility.

FAQs about Bard build in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion

What is a Bard build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

In the game The Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Bard Build offers a distinctive blend of talents that encompass fighting, magical, and charm-centric skills. Bards are particularly adept at navigating social situations and provide backup in the use of spells and minimal combat.

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

In the realm of Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Daedric Dagger and Daedric Bow stand out as exceptional weapon choices for a Bard character, thanks to their knack for dishing out reasonable damage.

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

As an ardent Elder Scrolls Oblivion enthusiast, I’d wholeheartedly recommend the Breton as your preferred choice for the Bard character build. This race is simply outstanding due to its inherent magical resistance and high Magicka levels. These attributes make it a perfect fit for those who enjoy spellcasting and enchantment!

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2025-03-28 23:57