For most Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered players, your playstyle will fall into some type of melee, archery, or magician category. While having a good bow is especially helpful for stealthy characters who want to pull off quick assassinations from afar, any character can benefit from acquiring one.
Although Oblivion Remastered has several great bow options for any character build, a few have long been considered the best, even before the remaster came out. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on unlocking the best bow for your Oblivion character.
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How to find the best bow in Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered
The best bow you can get your hands on in Oblivion Remastered is Hatreds Soul from the southern Chorrol Oblivion Gate. After completing the Dagon Shrine main story quest, you’ll unlock this gate permanently until you go in and clear it out. Along the way, you’ll pick up this bow by entering the gate’s Fume Vaults, traveling to the Embers of Hatred, and reaching its top floor.
Your first step is traveling to Chorrol’s Gate of Oblivion. You can find it directly south of the town, letting you discover it shortly after arriving here. Head out of the south gates or fast-travel to Chorrol to access the gate. However, if you want the best version of this bow available, wait until you’re level 19 or higher before entering this gate, or hope you enter another version later in your playthrough.
How to find the Fume Vaults door
Once you arrive, you’ll quickly notice that this is a large region. Fortunately, you can easily access the Hatreds Soul bow through the Fume Vaults door on the region’s northwest side. Below is a complete step-by-step to accessing this spot:
- Enter the Chorrol Oblivion gate.
- Turn right and run northwest along the path.
- Continue forward until you spot a large metal bridge-like structure. Jump across the lava to the boulders just before it.
- Cross the metal bridge and continue directly north, avoiding the lava, until you reach the land’s tip.
- Jump down the cliff onto some lower-level terrain. Turn 180 degrees to spot the Fume Vaults door hidden inside the rocks.
Before finding the Hatreds Soul bow, you’ll need to navigate the Fume Vaults area until you find the Embers of Hatred door. This’ll lead you to a tower like those you traverse during Oblivion’s main story quests. Enter this door, defeat the two Dremora Hatred Keepers, and pick up their keys of Dark Hate.
Collecting both keys lets you visit the Embers of Hatred’s second floor through the Halls of Dark Hate. Climb the ramp to step on a portal, bringing you directly to the Hatreds Soul Bow’s prize sac. On the opposite side is the Hatreds Heart if you want a new weapon and have enough strength to effectively wield a mace.
Hatreds Soul bow stats
Oblivion Remastered’s Hatreds Soul bow is the best in the game, with a base damage of 15 points at low levels and up to 24 when you’re level 19 or higher. It also deals Fire Damage with every hit, alongside giving your opponent a speed reduction debuff for anywhere between 10 to 45 seconds, depending on your level. If you use the Hatred Soul arrows as well, you’ll gain Soul Trap per strike, letting you absorb your enemy’s souls into soul gems and making it easier to recharge your bow in the future.
Overall, this is a fantastic bow to pick up after you’ve progressed halfway through Oblivion’s main story. While the level 19 version is the strongest in the game, picking it up at early levels can still be a massive upgrade, especially if you manage to find an upgraded version later through random gates.
Alternative bow options in Oblivion Remastered
You have a few extra bow options if your character isn’t quite level 19 or you have a low-level version of the Hatreds Soul that you want to upgrade. Below are some alternative bow options and where to find them in Oblivion Remastered:
| Bow | Where to find | Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Frostwyrm | Defeat the Uderfrykte Matron at Dive Rock (north of Cheydinhal) | Damage: 15+ Frost Damage on Strike (15 points) |
| Bow of Infliction | Purchase from Daenlin at The Archer’s Paradox in Bravil | Damage: 14+ Damage Agility on Strike (5 points) Drain Marksman on Strike (15 points for 60 seconds) |
| Bow of Infernal Frost | Purchase from M’raaj-Dar in The Dark Brotherhood | Damage: 8+ Fire Damage on Strike (10 points) Frost Damage on Strike (10 points) |
All three of these bows have pros and cons, from the Bow of Infliction having solid damage but mediocre enchantments to the Bow of Infernal Frost having the opposite problem. The Bow of Infernal Frost is also exclusive to The Dark Brotherhood members, while Frostwyrm is available as soon as you discover the Horror of Dive Rock quest and defeat the Uderfrykte Matron. Their effectiveness will also depend on your level and the elemental damage you need for your fight, making these all useful in their own ways.
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