Oblivion Remastered: Best Race Tier List Master Mode

If you’re eager to play on Master difficulty mode in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, you’ll want to check out our tier list to pick the best race.

Each one of the distinct races in this game has its pros and cons. This isn’t just their stats, either, they also have different skill bonuses. Some classes even have special abilities that are completely unique to them. If you’re planning to play on the highest difficulty, you’ll definitely need to pick your race right.

Read on and we’ll give you our tier list as well as our reasoning for every race’s placement!

Best Race Tier List for Master Mode | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

• S – Breton, High Elf, Wood Elf.
• A – Orc, Nord, Argonian.
• B – Redguard, Dark Elf.
• C – Khajiit.
• D – Imperial.

Since you’re looking to play on Master Mode, this tier list primarily focuses on each race’s prowess in combat. To get them out of the way, this is why the Khajiit and Imperial races rank so low.

The Khajiit are great for stealth, but they are sadly underwhelming in combat early on. As for the Imperials, they are mediocre in combat by design, as they focus on diplomacy. This, however, makes them a poor choice for Master difficulty.

With that said, let’s explain our S tier picks:

• Breton is extremely versatile due to having +50 Magicka as well as 50% Magic Resistance. Their innate skills make them perfect for versatile playstyles, such as spellblade builds, which are ideal in Master mode.
• High Elf is more of a glass cannon race. It has +100 Magicka, which combines greatly with their innate magic skills. You’ll be able to cast more powerful spells than other races from the very start of the game. However, they can be risky to play as they have -25% Resistance to Fire, Shock, and Frost.
• Wood Elf is the ideal race for those who want to stealth and use archery. They have innately high Agility and Speed, which goes great with their Marksman and Sneak skills. You’ll still need to use Destruction magic for certain enemies, such as undead, however.

A and B Tiers

Moving on below the S tier, let’s cover our A tier picks:

• Orc is pretty good as a tank choice. They have high Willpower and Endurance, as well as a natural +10 to Heavy Armor. What’s more, they also have 25% Magic Resistance, so they aren’t just tanky for melee combat. However, their lower mobility and focus on Blunt makes them fall out of S tier.
• Nord is a solid choice mostly due to the Woad ability. If you’re unaware, as a Nord you can cast Woad once a day to get 30% Shield for 60 seconds. The duration and use are limited, but 30% Shield can greatly help your survivability throughout the game. This combines well with the Nord’s innate Endurance attribute and Heavy Armor skill.
• Argonian is primarily a good pick if you want to play as a melee-focused stealth build. Make sure to pick Arnesia as your origin here, as it boosts Agility and Speed. Aside from being speedy and sneaky, Argonians also have immunity to Poison and can breathe underwater. Melee stealth is riskier than a stealth archer build, but it can work!

As for our B tier, these are simply races that get outdone by others. Redguard has good versatility for melee, but its niche is better filled by Breton, Orc, and Nord. Similarly, the Dark Elf race is a bit too much of a “jack of all trades, master of none” race. It doesn’t have anything that really makes it shine, even if it’s not particularly bad either… there just are better choices that are more focused.

So, there you have it, that’s our tier list to help you pick the best race for Master difficulty in Oblivion Remastered. For more help with your build, check out our Birthsign tier list as well!