Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Agent Build

Learn all there is to know, insights included, about crafting the top-tier Agent character in Elder Scrolls Oblivion, along with useful hints and strategies for playing this build effectively.

In the game Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Agent character type offers a versatile blend of Assassin, Thief, and Diplomat roles. This character is proficient in stealthy maneuvers like infiltrating buildings or persuading NPCs for information. They are particularly adept in agility, speed, and light armor, making them ideal for evading detection and avoiding damage. To optimize this build, choosing the right race, attributes, and skills is essential as your gaming experience heavily relies on these decisions. This guide will delve into the optimal Agent build for Elder Scrolls Oblivion, detailing the recommended skills, weapons, and armor options.

Table of Content
  • Build Key Aspect
  • Class
  • Best Race
  • Best Birthsign
  • Best Specialization
  • Best Attributes
  • Major Skills
  • Minor Skills
  • Equipment
  • Leveling Strategy
  • How to Play the Agent Build
  • Best Gameplay Tips and Tricks for the Agent Build

Everything About Agent Build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion

In The Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the build you’re crafting emphasizes stealth, assassination, and manipulating Non-Player Characters (NPCs). This versatile playstyle allows your character to function as a Thief, Assassin, and Archer within the game. Your build incorporates weapons such as the Daedric Bow and Dagger for effective enemy combat. The Dagger is particularly useful for stealth takedowns, making it simple to dispatch foes from behind.

For optimum performance, prioritize attributes like Strength, Agility, and Speed. These attributes will enhance your character’s power. For instance, increasing your Speed will boost your overall movement speed, while improving Agility will help you dodge incoming attacks more effectively.

In Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), the most beneficial skills for this build include Marksman, Acrobatics, Light Armor, Mercantile, Sneak, Security, and Illusion.

If you’re planning to rely heavily on long-range attacks during battles, a Marksman skillset would be indispensable. The Shadow Birthsign, paired with the Combat Specialization, would serve as your ideal combination for this build. The Bosmer race is advantageous because it provides boosts to stealth and agility. Leather Armor, while offering reasonable protection, won’t hamper your stealth capabilities. Lastly, the Thieves Guild primarily emphasizes stealth, lockpicking, and theft, but this build might struggle in head-on battles with enemies due to limited armor protection.

Agent Build ProsAgent Build Cons
Sneak AttacksWeak in Direct Combat
High AgilityLimited Armor Option
More Versatility 

Build Key Aspect

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

  • Class: Agent
  • Race: Bosmer
  • Birthsign: The Shadow
  • Specialization: Combat
  • Attributes: Strength, Agility, Speed
  • Major Skills
    • Marksman
    • Acrobatics
    • Light Armor
    • Mercantile
    • Sneak
    • Security
    • Illusion
  • Minor Skills
    • Blade
    • Armorer
    • Restoration
    • Alchemy
    • Lockpicking
  • Weapons: Daedric Bow, Daedric Dagger
  • Armor: Leather Armor, Glass Armor
  • Faction: Thieves Guild
  • Trainer: Pinarus Inventius

Class

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Agent is an exceptional choice for players who prefer a stealth-oriented character. If you’re into sneaky and illusionary gameplay, this class is perfect for you. The Agent excels in Illusion and Sneak skills, making it ideal for both stealth and illusion-based strategies. Compared to the Acrobat class, the Agent offers a broader range of playstyles due to its versatility. With their stealth ability, they can evade the notice of guards and homeowners. To maximize the impact, pair Sneak with Archery for powerful sneak attacks. Khajiit are often well-suited for the Agent role because of their nearly universal skill bonuses.

Best Race

In the Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Bosmer is an exceptional choice for your character build due to several advantages they offer. Primarily, they start with bonuses in Sneak, Marksmanship, Acrobatics, and Light Armor. Bosmers are elven in appearance, characterized by pointed ears, and excel at stealth due to their high starting agility and speed, enhanced further by a sneaking bonus.

However, it’s important to note that Bosmers have penalties in Strength and Willpower, with female Bosmer having a lower Endurance as well. This means they may not be as strong as other races, but their starting skills make them perfect for a stealth-thievery playstyle, making you highly effective in the early and mid-game. Additionally, Bosmers have a +10 in Acrobatics, which can be utilized for better mobility and reaching high places.

Best Birthsign

In the Elder Scrolls Oblivion game, The Shadow is an excellent Birthsign for the Agent build. This constellation bestows a daily ability called Moonshadow, which offers temporary invisibility lasting 60 seconds. Choosing the right Birthsign is vital as it provides unique magical advantages tailored to your playstyle. In this instance, the Moonshadow’s invisibility feature enhances stealth attacks or allows for strategic repositioning in challenging combat scenarios. This build primarily emphasizes skills such as Sneak, Acrobatics, Athletics, and Blade. The Shadow Birthsign further boosts these abilities, making them even more formidable during combat encounters. Additionally, the invisibility feature is useful for slipping past adversaries, launching surprise attacks, or escaping dangerous situations.

Best Specialization

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Combat specialization is ideal for an Agent build due to its emphasis on essential melee-focused skills such as Blade, Blunt, Heavy Armor, Block, and Athletic. These abilities are vital for a tanky, close-quarters combat character. Notably, Combat expertise will boost your competency in weaponry, armor, and combat fields. However, if you’re interested in stealth tactics and sneak attacks, that’s another viable option to consider while creating your character. The specialization you select determines the rate at which your skills progress, so choose the one that best suits your playstyle and build. Moreover, you can rapidly improve Major Skills regardless of your chosen specialization.

Best Attributes

In the game ESO, it’s advisable to prioritize Strength, Agility, and Speed for an Agent build. Focus on Agility and Speed for stealth, evasion, and mobility, while Strength is useful for melee combat, increased carrying capacity, and higher melee damage output. Enhancing Agility will help you dodge attacks and boost your sneak abilities. On the other hand, Strength improves melee damage and makes your character a force to be reckoned with in the game. A well-balanced investment in these attributes ensures that your Agent is agile, powerful, and can take down enemies from a distance while avoiding damage and staying undetected. You can distribute up to 5 points among three attributes at each level, plus an additional point for Luck. Remember that attribute caps are set at 100, and Intelligence, Endurance, and Willpower have little impact on your playstyle.

For an Agent in ESO, it’s a good idea to focus on Strength (for melee combat and damage), Agility (for stealth, evasion, and mobility), and Speed (to improve overall movement speed). This will make your character powerful, agile, and able to avoid enemies effectively. Keep in mind that you can invest up to 5 points in three attributes at each level, plus an additional point for Luck. Intelligence, Endurance, and Willpower have minimal effect on gameplay.

Major Skills

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Marksmanship, Acrobatics, Light Armor Mastery, Trading, Stealth, Security, and Illusion Magic are the top Major skills for an Agent character build. At character creation in Elder Scrolls Oblivion, you select a set of seven skills, known as Major Skills, which start at higher base levels than Minor Skills. These skills level up faster and influence your attribute bonuses along with your character’s overall leveling.

For increased melee weapon damage, we suggest focusing on the Blades skill and improving it. Unlock new skills by frequently using them, training with non-player characters (NPCs), or reading special books. The primary method to advance your skills is through active use.

  • Illusion- It provides powerful spells like Invisibility and Chameleon to boost your stealth and combat approaches.
  • Marksman- This skill allows you to deal damage from a safe distance with more accuracy and precision.
  • Acrobatics- It grants agility and evasion, making you harder to hit.
  • Light Armor- Provides defense without hindering your agility.
  • Mercantile- Get better deals when buying or selling goods.
  • Sneak- Allows you to take down enemies silently in combat.
  • Security- Use lockpicks to open locked doors and containers.

Minor Skills

In the game Elder Scrolls Oblivion, when creating an Agent build, consider focusing on Blade Smithing, Armorer, Restoration, Alchemy, and Lockpicking as the most beneficial Minor Skills. While these skills may not be particularly powerful on their own, they contribute to enhancing your character in various ways. Be thoughtful when selecting minor skills as they can significantly boost your character’s internal strength. It’s recommended to prioritize leveling up minor skills to gain attribute bonuses.

  • Lockpicking- Allows you to access locked chests and doors.
  • Blade- grants a solid melee option for close-quarters combat. This is more effective when combined with sneak attacks.
  • Armorer- Use this skill for repairing enchanted gear and improving your armor. 
  • Restoration- Use this skill to gain healing, and it can be useful for survival.
  • Alchemy- Use this skill to create powerful poisons and other helpful potions.

Equipment

In The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, the gear includes weapons, armor, clothing, and assorted items. Players can outfit their characters with these items to boost their skills and attributes. Weapons are made from various materials and each has unique stats and appearances. You can also imbue them with magical properties such as damage, debuff, or health regeneration using soul gems. To recharge the enchanted weapons, use soul gems. Armor is another type of equipment that shields you from enemy attacks. Each piece of armor has an armor rating, which determines how much damage it can block. You can wear up to nine pieces simultaneously. Light armor is a top choice for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Best Weapons

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

Daedric Bow

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

Including a Daedric Bow in your build is highly recommended due to its impressive base damage, which is the highest in the game. It makes an excellent option for stealth strategies. The bow becomes even more formidable when enchanted with potent effects like draining health or causing additional damage. You can find this weapon in advanced locations, but it can also be acquired through quests. Although it’s heavier than other bows, with the right approach, it deals substantial damage. Pairing the Daedric Arrow with this weapon results in high combat damage. These arrows are often found as loot from specific enemies, especially in bandit hideouts.

Daedric Dagger

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

In the game, the Daedric Dagger stands out as a swift, one-handed weapon boasting the highest base damage among all daggers. Being the quickest melee weapons, they enable you to administer their enchantments at a faster pace. Employ this blade for close combat against enemies or stealth assassinations. You have the option to imbue the Daedric Dagger with various effects such as poison, damage, or fatigue. Although daggers are relatively lightweight, they deal less damage compared to swords and maces. To optimize its performance, combine it with skills like Blades, which will boost this weapon’s effectiveness, thereby complementing your overall build.

Best Armor

Here are the best armors for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Leather Armor

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

Leather Armor serves as a solid initial choice of protective gear, particularly for characters specialized in stealth and dexterity such as rogues or secret agents. It provides light protection while enhancing agility, but it’s less durable and powerful compared to heavier armors. The design is suitable for characters who aim for a low-profile look. This armor suits players focusing on stealth and agility-based gameplay. It can be obtained early in the game and becomes available from leveled lists at level three. Don’t forget that enhancing your mobility for swift movement will help you embody the thief’s playstyle effectively.

Glass Armor

  • Armor Health: 5275
  • Base Armor: 50
  • Base Value: 5300
  • Class: Light Armor

For an Agent build, Glass Armor stands out as the top choice due to its combination of robust protection and lightweight design. Its lightness ensures agility and stealth, two aspects essential for any agent. Prioritizing light armors benefits both stealth and movement speed. Glass armor boasts a high armor rating, an indispensable feature for enduring enemy encounters. As you’ll often find yourself engaged in close-quarters combat, this armor boosts your survivability significantly. Furthermore, it mitigates the impact of incoming attacks from enemies. Lastly, wearing Glass Armor contributes to leveling up your light armor proficiency, a crucial aspect for enhancing your armor rating over time.

Leveling Strategy

As a gamer, I prioritize honing skills like Stealth, Agility, Ranged Weapons, Deception, and possibly Magic or Light Armor. It’s crucial to work on lesser-used skills too, to maximize attribute bonuses. Avoid focusing solely on my main skills; instead, level up the minor ones regularly to reach the 10-point threshold. When I level up, I should focus on my Major Skills for maximum benefits. I like to mix things up to boost my Athletics skills. The best way to enhance my Stealth skill is by being sneaky. My Birthsign offers a substantial stat boost. To level up, I must rest in a bed.

Progressing in Oblivion may require some patience, so strive for a mix of activities such as exploration, battles, and skill training. Remember that adversaries grow stronger along with you, making them more formidable. As you advance, you’ll have the chance to boost three attributes. Prioritize attributes that suit your preferred playstyle. Additionally, don’t forget to complete all accessible side missions to develop your character further. Your leveling progress primarily depends on Skill Improvements and the Attributes you choose.

Factions

In the realm of Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the Thieves Guild stands out as an exceptional choice for characters built around the Agent role. This group offers chances to refine skills like stealth, lock-picking, and covertly lifting items. In tense situations within the game, this faction proves particularly beneficial for a stealthy Agent. Alternatively, you could also join the Dark Brotherhood, which presents opportunities to enhance your marksman abilities by mastering long-range shots with a bow.

The Thieves Guild acknowledges and rewards players for their stealth prowess. Members have access to fences, who are indispensable when it comes to offloading ill-gotten gains. Each faction provides a distinct gaming experience, so select the one that aligns with your preferred playstyle.

Trainers

In the game, some Non-Player Characters (NPCs) act as trainers, helping to enhance your character’s skills. These trainers specialize in a particular skill and can boost it a certain number of times based on your character level. Utilizing these trainers can significantly expedite the process of improving key skills.

Pinarus Inventius is an expert trainer you might encounter. He stands outside Anvil’s main gate from 2 PM to 5 PM. Once you reach his maximum skill training capacity, he will assign a quest for you to find a master trainer. By paying gold, these trainers can elevate your skill levels, thereby facilitating the process of leveling up.

Different types of trainers offer varying skill level caps.

How to Play the Agent Build

Emphasize abilities such as Stealth, Locksmithing, Sharpshooting, Light Body Armor, and Illusion magic to optimize your Agent’s performance in ESO. In tight combat situations, utilize a dagger for close-range attacks, and switch to a bow for long-distance engagements. When enemies are approaching, take cover behind walls or any available obstacle. Keep your weapons upgraded for increased effectiveness in high-damage scenarios. Carry essential potions for extended battles, ensuring you’re always ready for prolonged fights.

You can employ spells such as Invisibility, which let you move stealthily and inflict heavy damage without being noticed by others. Opt for light armor like Glass Armor or Leather Armor to improve your Agility and Endurance, enhancing your chances of survival. Align with a faction that suits your gameplay, transforming you into an indomitable figure within the game. It’s beneficial to invest attribute points in Strength, Speed, and Agility, as they amplify your in-game strength and performance.

Best Gameplay Tips and Tricks for the Agent Build

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

  • Use skills like Marksman and Sneak as major skills.
  • All races cannot be a successful Agent, so choose the one that complements your playstyle.
  • Use run and tactics to dominate the enemies with your dagger. This gives you an opening where you can use your sword to defeat the enemy.
  • Practice your lockpicking skills to access valuable loot and secrets.
  • Use invisibility and paralysis spells to your advantage in combat and stealth situations.
  • Use a lightweight weapon as a backup while fighting the enemies in close range.
  • Use Stealth to get the jump on enemies and deal increased damage with sneak attacks
  • Use a blunt weapon as a backup while fighting the enemies in close range.

FAQs about Agent build in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion

What is an Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

In The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, the Agent Build emphasizes stealth, assassination, and manipulating Non-Player Characters (NPCs). This distinctive setup allows for a versatile gameplay experience, where you can assume roles similar to a Burglar, Assassin, and Marksman within the game.

Which is the best weapon for an Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

In Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Daedric Bow and Daedric Dagger stand out as superior weapon choices for an Agent build due to their ability to inflict substantial damage on opponents while maintaining a degree of safety for the user.

Which is the best race for an Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

In the game Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Bosmer is an ideal choice for creating your Agent character due to its initial advantages in Stealth, Archery, Agility, and Light Armor skills.

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2025-04-07 18:48