Deep within Cyrodiil’s dungeons, when your armor starts falling apart mid-fight, you come to a harsh realization—this game doesn’t spare you. So, how do you repair armor in The Elder Scrolls IV: Obvlivion Remastered?
The visuals in Oblivion Remastered are crisper, but the gameplay is just as it was, so remember to repair your gear regularly, or it’ll break.
You won’t get far swinging a dull sword or wearing a busted cuirass, so learning how to repair your armor early on can save you a lot of gold, stress, and reloads.
Whether you're hoarding hammers like candy or just looking for the closest blacksmith to bail you out, here’s how to keep your gear battle-ready.
How To Repair Armor
Armor in Oblivion Remastered doesn’t just look good. It gets weaker over time and provides less defense the more damage it takes.
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+ 3Damaged armor decreases your defense and increases the challenge of fights. That's why maintaining your gear in peak condition is essential for surviving in Cyrodiil.
You can repair items in two ways: either do it yourself with Repair Hammers or pay a blacksmith to handle it for you.
They all have their own strengths, costs, and little quirks, but the most hands-on choice is using Repair Hammers.
You can find these tools in a variety of places, including chests, dungeon corners, enemy drops, or merchants in the cities. After obtaining a hammer, open your inventory, head to the Misc section, and equip the hammer.
This displays a list of all the gear you're carrying that can be repaired. Choose the item you want to repair, and if you succeed, its durability improves, though your hammer might break in the process.
Your Armorer skill directly influences the chances of success. Early on, fixing your gear feels like a roll of the dice. You'll frequently lose hammers, and your item’s condition will only improve a little.
But as you level the skill, your success rate improves, and you unlock key perks. Once you reach level 25 (Apprentice), you can repair enchanted gear on your own.
By the time you reach level 50 (Journeyman), hammers become more resilient and last twice as long. Once you hit level 75 (Expert), you can restore gear beyond the 100% durability cap, slightly improving its effectiveness.
click to enlarge+ 3When you reach level 100 (Master), your hammers stay intact, and you can repair them forever using only one tool. The progression in the Armorer skill really pays off if you stick with it.
To level Armorer effectively, you'll need to think outside the box. One solid tip is to salvage broken gear from bandits or dungeons, even if it’s basically junk. Fix those disposable items, then get rid of them.
This allows you to level up the skill without damaging your own armor or spending money. Trainers in towns can help you level up your Armorer skill, but be aware that you can only train five times per character level.
If you’re not up for all that, or if your hammer supply runs dry while dungeon diving, there’s always the fallback option: paying a blacksmith.
Most major towns and cities feature one, and places like Slash 'N Smash or The Best Defense in the Imperial City are key to the early game.
Speak with the shopkeeper, choose the repair option, and cover the fee to fully restore your armor’s durability. The price fluctuates depending on the level of damage and the type of item.
It's definitely the easier approach, but it can get pricey quickly, especially with high-level enchanted gear. Particularly, enchanted gear introduces additional challenges.
You’ll need a minimum of level 25 in Armorer to repair it with hammers, but the success rate drops even after that. That’s because the game internally treats you as one skill level lower when repairing magical items.
click to enlarge+ 3Enchanted items cause hammers to wear down faster and are more expensive to repair through NPCs. If you're using magical gear, consider leveling Armorer early or stockpiling gold for professional repairs.
Repairing gear is something you can't overlook, regardless of the path you choose. If you let your durability decline, it not only lowers your armor rating but also impacts your weapon damage.
As a general rule, try to maintain durability above 80%. If you have spare hammers, make use of them.
Otherwise, stop by a blacksmith before your next journey. For long-term savings, get to work on your Armorer skill now. You will appreciate it when a single hammer lasts the entire playthrough.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Elder Scrolls page.