I became Oblivion Remastered’s greatest gladiator by playing dirty – and bringing every single opponent down to my level

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As I stand in the Arena of Oblivion Remastered, facing off against three formidable foes hailing from the Yellow Team, I can’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine. These opponents are no joke, with their sharp-shooting, spellcasting, and raw martial power making them a formidable force to reckon with. But fear not, fellow gamer, for I have a trick up my sleeve – one specific skill that transforms this grand spectacle into a sandy, chaotic brawl.

For the first time, I’m experiencing Oblivion, thanks to its remaster, and I’ve always heard about its legendary predecessor, Arena. In this game, even a lowly Pit Dog can work their way up to become the Champion through a series of battles, earning a respectable income for victories. Mastering one of the combat systems appears to be crucial in the Arena’s lore, but players have the freedom to approach it as they wish – maybe you enter with a sword and shield, or avoid direct confrontation and eliminate enemies from afar using arrows or spells.

In simpler terms, I didn’t opt for any of those methods. Instead, in the Arena, my character – an Orc born as a Warrior – relied on his superior Strength and Endurance rather than weapons. He would simply try to overpower opponents by beating them into submission. This approach worked well… until it suddenly stopped being effective.

The bigger they are

Initially, the battles seemed straightforward. Arena Blademaster Owyn may have issued some cautions, but it wasn’t long before I found myself returning to the Red Room, leaving behind a trail of fallen enemies across the sand. The weaker opponents in Oblivion lacked the health points required to withstand the rapid attack speed that Hand-to-Hand combat provides, contrasting significantly with Blunt and Blade fighting.

Regardless of their thick armor, the heavier fighters were unable to stand up against my attack. Unlike other close combat techniques, mine targeted both their Health and Stamina, making each strike from my Orc swiftly deplete their energy reserves. In most cases, I would chase them down, corner them against a wall, and pummel them until they fell unconscious. My approach was simple – brute force.

I pondered about the guidance the Yellow Team’s captain might provide his combatants. As Owyn hinted at strategies for avoiding a toxic dagger or evading heavy warhammer blows, I visualized a coach on the Arena sidelines, visibly shaken – ‘He’s a dangerous opponent, he’ll knock you out in no time, I’m afraid there’s no way to stop him’.

Initially, I rapidly advanced in position, but later, my adversaries began resorting to underhanded tactics. Earlier instances of being outnumbered were manageable, as there was just one Wood Elf to deal with swiftly and restore balance. However, this time around, I’d be squaring off against three determined Argonians, putting me at a significant disadvantage. If I concentrated on the lizardman brandishing a sword, I’d get pummeled by his two accomplices’ fists. If I aimed to subdue the brawlers, the swordsman would dismember me. If I passively allowed them to approach, I’d be overpowered. A change was needed.

The harder they fall

Fortunately, it turned out that Orcs have an initial advantage in Hand-to-Hand combat, and this skill progresses at a slightly quicker pace compared to other melee skills. This constant sparring elevated the skill level to Journeyman rank, at which point my powerful strikes had a small chance of disarming my adversary. I put these odds to the test against the Argonians, and soon enough, their swordsmanship was reduced to mere fist-fighting – a skill that wasn’t as refined in hand combat as mine.

From then on, my preferred approach in the Arena continued to serve me well. As the Yellow Team consistently sent larger opponents my way, I would move to the arena’s center and launch powerful attacks until they were unable to hold onto their weapons. This left them standing with clenched fists, ready to fight, but they could never equal my attack power in a fair fight. Swords and shields would frequently remain scattered across the Arena floor, far from the defeated fighters who once used them.

In the end, I reached the championship battle, where the Yellow Team sent three combatants against me. However, this time they didn’t pose much of a threat. After disarming their strongest warrior and taking away the bow from their skilled marksman, it was straightforward to defeat the fragile mage in the corner, followed by engaging the remaining duo. A few minutes later, I emerged victorious, walking over discarded weapons and fallen comrades as I exited the Arena.

I haven’t claimed the title of Grand Champion just yet, but that’s because there’s a character with that title who has a quest I’d like to finish first before challenging him. His enchanted armor is intimidating, but his massive warhammer doesn’t scare me as much as others might. Frankly, he won’t be carrying it for long.

As a gaming aficionado, I’ve sunk in 20 hours into the revamped Oblivion, embracing the role of an unscrupulous sightseer. It seems like I’ve stumbled upon the perfect way to experience Bethesda’s most vibrant RPG, the chaotic yet captivating world of Cyrodiil.

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2025-05-17 14:10