Oblivion certainly had its fair share of fantastic armors and incredible spells, but if there’s one thing for which I absolutely loved the game, it has to be its variety of weapons.
Every weapon felt completely unique. Which is something that many players didn’t feel in Skyrim.
However, with as many weapons as there were in Oblivion, it also made it quite difficult for players to pick one.
Many of us still play the game, though, which means that we’re always eager to try out new weapons.
I’ve compiled this list for those who’d like to kill some baddies with weapons that you’ve never tried before. Or for newcomers who just want to power up quickly.
Swords, blades, staves, and bows; whatever you need, you’ll find it here!
20. Daedric Claymore
How To Get: Found as loot, but rarity is tied to your level
The Daedric Claymore is the most powerful Claymore in the game, and it is only dropped commonly after reaching level 35.
However in terms of sheer strength, you won’t come across as many weapons that deal as much damage as this one.
19. Daedric Longsword
How To Get: Found as loot, but rarity is tied to your level
Much like the claymore, the Daedric Longsword is also extremely powerful.
This one’s also a two-handed weapon, although it does swing a bit faster than its former counterpart.
A simple and non-rare weapon, but a pretty useful one nonetheless.
18. Blade of Woe
How To Get: Given to the Hero of Kvatch by Lucien Lachance
The Blade of Woe is mainly famous because of its enchantments given by the Night Mother, but that’s not all it has.
This fantastic weapon is also one of the most emblematic weapons in Oblivion.
Given that the Dark Brotherhood is probably the most entertaining storyline in the game (apart from the main one) it comes as no surprise that this weapon remains engraved in the memories of many Oblivion players – even after all these years.
Be sure to keep this and have it with you during the last quest of the Dark Brotherhood storyline, as the Night Mother will enchant it to make it one of the best daggers in the game!
17. Akaviri Sunderblade
How To Get: The Akaviri Sunderblade can be bought from Sergius Verus at Three Brothers’ Trade Goods
This Katana, capable of disintegrating armor, is absolutely worth seeking out.
It can also be purchased and there are no quests needed to obtain it, which makes it even better.
And as if that wasn’t enough, it’s shaped as a Japanese katana so the design is quite beautiful to slice with.
16. Skull of Corruption
How To Get: Completing the Daedric quest of Vaermina will grant you the Skull of Corruption
If you want a powerful staff, well then this is it.
It’s the Daedric artifact of Vaermina, the Daedric Prince of Dreams, and it has the ability to “corrupt” the mind of your enemy for 30 seconds.
During this time a double of your enemy will be created, and it will attack them until time runs out. Nice!
15. Sanguine Rose
How To Get: Complete the quest of Daedric Lord Sanguine to get your hands on this item
This mighty staff will summon a random Daedra to fight, which will remain in the realm for 30 seconds and fight alongside you.
Definitely a nice effect to have. Not the most powerful weapon, but not the worst you could play with either.
14. Mace of Molag Bal
How To Get: Obtained by completing the Molag Bal quest
The Mace of Molag Bal has a staggering enchantment that drains your enemies’ strength as well as their magicka, making it one of the most overpowered weapons in the game.
If you’re also one of those people who care about how weapons look, you’ll be pleased to know that the mace looks absolutely lethal.
It clearly represents what it is capable of doing.
As with many other Daedric weapons and artifacts, though, you will need to leave the “good guy” in you behind if you wish to get your hands on the Mace of Molag Bal.
Corrupting a man and killing him is a necessary step in the process here.
13. Bow of Infernal Frost
How To Get: M’raaj-Dar in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary is the sole seller of this weapon in the game, but it has an eye-watering value of 7000 septims!
The Bow of Infernal Frost is arguably one of the best bows in the entire game.
And the fact that you don’t need to complete any quests to get it makes it even more appealing.
It shares the same design as most other Dwarven Bows (it’s a Dwarven Bow itself) but its unique enchantment makes it a legendary weapon worthy for only the strongest archers in Tamriel.
It deals both Fire Damage and Frost Damage with each shot, so it’s pretty darn handy.
12. Bow of Infliction
How To Get: Daenlin at The Archer’s Paradox in Bravil sells the Bow of Infliction at the moderate price of 5240 septims
The Bow of Infliction might not have as powerful an enchantment as the Bow of Infernal Frost, but it does provide the ability to deal more than twice the base damage of its powerful counterpart.
If you’re fighting another archer, you’re going to want to use this bow.
It drains the Marksman skill out of your enemies while also causing terrible damage to their agility.
The combination of debuffs is also quite lethal, and so is the power of this bow.
11. Thornblade
How To Get: Complete “The Wayward Knight” and you’ll get the Thornblade as a reward
This legendary weapon, which has one of the best weapon designs in the Elder Scrolls franchise (in my humble opinion, at least) deals devastating damage to anyone it manages to hit.
The weapon might be better to get once your character is at least level 30, as it will have the most power by then (its strength depends on your level).
And it has a maximum base value of almost 7000 septims, which means that mages might want to get their hands on this beauty even if only to sell it off for profit.
10. Truncheon of Submission
How To Get: Morvayn’s Peacemakers in Anvil is the sole seller of this quite unique-looking weapon
Truncheons, aka weird-looking medieval maces, are not really commonly found among the lands of Tamriel.
However, the Truncheon of Submission is one of the coolest weapons you can get.
It has a pretty low base damage of just 10 points, but it deals 30 points of fatigue per hit. Quite a bit!
So what makes this weapon rank here on my list, you may ask?
Well it also restores 20 points of health to whoever you hit. Not really great… but here’s the fun part: you can hit your friends with it!
9. Witsplinter
How To Get: This can be found on Faustina Cartia during the “The Siren’s Deception” quest
The Whitsplinter is the second dagger on my list.
As you can imagine, a dagger ranking this high means it’s damn good.
This is the weapon you’ll want to have if you intend to fight against a wizard.
It deals 20 points of damage at its highest level, plus 35 points of magicka damage and 10 points of drain intelligence. Woah.
Use it against someone who relies on magic completely and you’ll cut off their main source of power with a couple of hits.
8. Volendrung
How To Get: You’ll need to complete Malacath’s quest if you wish to get your hands on the Volendrung
As arguably the strongest warhammer in the game, this legendary weapon deals 20 points of damage, drains the health of your enemies for five seconds, and paralyzes them for three.
In terms of sheer damage effects, this thing is scary.
Legend has it that it once belonged to the leader of a Dwemer clan, but it somehow ended up in the possession of Lord Malacath.
How that happened is completely unknown to the realm of man.
But one thing’s for sure: The Hero of Kvatch will be able to use this weapon for the better part of their first 20 levels.
7. Ebony Blade
How To Get: Get the Ebony Blade by completing Mephala’s quest
The Ebony Blade is the most beautiful katana sword in the game(in my eyes).
As ironic as the use of the words “katana” and “sword” might seem, it kinda fits the mold of both.
In any case, this legendary weapon is capable of dealing with catastrophic amounts of damage. Although it’s even more useful if you happen to wield it against magicians.
The sword can silence enemies and absorb their health, allowing you to strike a barrage of hits on most mages without them having the ability to defend themselves.
Watch them cry in pain as you slay them – there’s nothing else for them to do!
6. Umbra
How To Get: There’s only one way to obtain this sword – by killing Umbra in the ruin of Vindasel
According to the tales of old, the Umbra sword is said to contain a soul within it.
Why anyone would dare to do such a dumb thing, I don’t know.
What I do know, however, is that this legendary weapon has the ability to soul trap any enemies that it hits. And it lasts for a whole two minutes!
Be sure to carry around a few empty soul gems if you’re going to swing Umbra around. It deals 28 points of base damage too, which means you’ll be slaying foes left and right if you get it early in your game.
5. Dawnfang & Duskfang
How To Get: You’ll get this legendary sword by completing the quest “Baiting the Trap” during the Shivering Isles main questline
This is only one weapon, but it has a cool perk: you’ll be wielding it as Dawnfang at dawn, and as Dusfkang at dusk.
This actually changes its color and effects depending on the time of the day!
It deals fire damage as Dawnfang and frost damage as Duskfang. With a base damage of 25 and potential extra damage of 15 points, it’s one heck of a heavy hitter.
4. Sword of the Crusaders
How To Get: The Sword most be recovered from Sir Berich’s Wraith during “The Sword of the Crusader” quest in the Knights of the Nine Expansion Pack
This weapon fortifies your blade skill by 10 points. And with a base damage of up to 25, I’d say this is worth going after.
The only problem is that it will become unequipable if you happen to have your infamy level rise. So keep an eyeon that!
3. Chillrend
How To Get: If both sons survive at the end of the The Killing Field quest, their father will give you the Chillrend as a reward
This weapon deals frost damage on top of its already high base damage, so it’s pretty nice for certain enemies.
And that’s not all: it also gives your enemies a weakness to frost with any contact you make.
You can cause devastating damage to your foes with a single hit thanks to this combo. Which is definitely why it’s ranked so high, and it’s why you should go after this if you can.
2. Shadowrend
How To Get: You can obtain Shadowrend during the “Symbols of Office”, which is triggered during the main storyline of The Elder Scrolls IV: The Shivering Isles Expansion Pack
This weapon can be an axe or a sword.
Yep you read it right: it appears in different shapes depending on which skill you’ve leveled up the most.
Be sure to get it after level 30, as it will spawn as a weapon worth almost 10,000 septims. So even if you don’t want this long-term, just sell it and use that money for other stuff.
Its base damage hits at 28, with an additional buff to damage your opponent’s health and make them weak to magicka. Quite a fearsome weapon for the game.
1. Goldbrand
How To Get: Obtain Goldbrand by finishing Boethia’s Daedric quest
Goldbrand is the golden katana that belongs to whoever becomes the Champion of Boethia, the powerful Daedric Prince of Treachery.
As such, the only way for you to get your hands on this weapon is by visiting the shrine of this entity and becoming his champion.
You’ll have to face a ton of foes to achieve it, though!
Goldbrand deals 25 points of base damage plus 22 extra points of fire damage. It’s a lethal sword, and by far the best weapon you can snag in Oblivion.
Born in the first half of the 90s, video games have been a part of my life ever since I was introduced to Age of Empires I by my dad. I'm a Mass Communications graduate with a specialization in Marketing, as well as a hardcore gamer. My aim is to bring you quality content so you can get the best out of your games and take your experience to the next level!
