It's not all about grinding in Oblivion Remastered—the new system actually rewards you for your efforts.
In the original game, only Major Skills impacted your level-ups, but the remaster adds Minor Skills to the equation as well.
Major Skills provide a larger portion of the experience, but improving Minor Skills still offers a helpful boost.
You can level up faster with this more efficient system as long as you know how to handle it without over-managing.
Here's how to level up fast in Oblivion Remastered without stressing over every little detail:
Why Major Skills Are Your Best Bet
The foundation of fast leveling starts with your Major Skills.
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+ 8Since they give a lot more experience compared to Minor Skills, you'll want to focus on improving them as much as possible.
Tasks like swinging a sword, casting spells, sneaking around NPCs, or brewing potions all help you level up your skills.
All skills follow the same basic rule: the more you practice, the quicker they improve.
Running everywhere helps build up athletics, while constantly crafting potions will improve your alchemy skills.
Even skills like Acrobatics — leveled up just by jumping — still count toward your overall progression, but at a slower pace.
Spellcasters and Fighters Both Win Big Here
If you want to level up quickly, one of the best moves is to make your way directly to the Arena in the Imperial City.
click to enlarge+ 8Fighting multiple opponents simultaneously efficiently raises combat skills like Blade, Blunt, Block, and both Heavy and Light Armor.
Stick around long enough, and you'll notice significant improvements in every area.
On the other hand, spellcasters can rapidly train Destruction, Conjuration, Illusion, and Restoration by spamming spells — it works even better if you target non-hostile NPCs at Peryite's Shrine, who won't retaliate.
They're prime candidates for magic spam from a safe distance.
Level Alchemy and Merchant Skills Without Breaking the Bank
When it comes to boosting non-combat skills, a little planning goes a long way.
click to enlarge+ 8If you're looking to level up your Alchemy, grab tomatoes and grapes near Skingrad and make Restore Fatigue potions.
Not only does this provide a lot of easy potions for skill XP, but selling them to vendors boosts your Mercantile skill too.
Engaging in haggling with merchants and persuading NPCs boosts your Speechcraft and Mercantile skills over time.
The higher the item's value in the transaction, the bigger the experience gain.
Skill Trainers Are Worth Every Gold Piece
Gaining skills from NPCs is also critical.
click to enlarge+ 8You can buy up to five training sessions per level, available for any skill, Major or Minor.
Though it costs gold, it's an efficient way to speed up those sluggish skills, especially if your septims are stacking up.
Find trainers who focus on your Major Skills to get the best return on your gold.
Building a Stronger Character with Every Level
You'll find attribute management more versatile in the remaster.
click to enlarge+ 8After resting in a bed and actually sleeping (waiting won't count), you'll gain 12 Virtue Points to distribute among your Attributes when you level up.
You can assign up to 5 points per Attribute, and unlike the original Oblivion, your choices aren't limited by the skills you leveled.
This gives you the ability to level up your top stats consistently; there is no need to worry about wasting any levels.
Strength works best for melee characters, Intelligence is key for mages, and Endurance is a reliable way to increase health.
If you're focusing on a stealthy playstyle, Agility and Speed should be your go-to stats.
Just keep in mind that Luck is more expensive — it takes 4 points to raise it by one.
The Classic Exploits That Still Work
A handful of classic exploits still work if you're looking for an even quicker route.
click to enlarge+ 8You can level up Sneak by simply creeping into a corner at the Arena Bloodworks and walking into a wall — the game still registers it as active sneaking.
You can boost your Acrobatics by jumping off the corner of wells, especially the one in Hackdirt.
Security has a weird yet effective trick: keep interacting with tumblers you've already set during lockpicking to level up your skill at an incredible rate.
You can grind Conjuration and Restoration by summoning creatures or casting basic healing spells, even outside of combat situations.
Expensive spells level your magic skills faster than cheaper ones, which means it's time to move on from the basics as you progress.
Secret Spots for Easy Skill Farming
If you're looking for the best places to level up, there are a few hidden spots.
click to enlarge+ 8Just outside Bravil at Peryite's Shrine, you'll encounter worshipers who are great for raising Blade, Blunt, Hand-to-Hand, or even spamming Destruction spells.
Over in Anvil, Arvena Thelas' basement offers another chance—lure her rats in and block their weak attacks to grind your Block and Heavy Armor skills, all while using Repair Hammers to fix your gear and earn extra Armorer XP.
Why You Shouldn't Touch Skill Books Early
Save your Skill Books for when you're at levels 20 to 25 to get the most out of them.
click to enlarge+ 8As making progress gets tougher, reading skill books at advanced levels can give you the boosts you need.
Rushing through them early just diminishes their worth, so it's best to wait until your skill progress slows down on its own.
When it all comes down to it, Oblivion Remastered values clever play over mindless grinding.
Whether you keep it straight or use a few clever shortcuts, leveling up remains satisfying without getting dull — and watching your character grow stronger across Cyrodiil is what still makes Oblivion Remastered so rewarding.
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