The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is celebrated for its deep and flexible magic system, allowing players to craft custom spells tailored to their playstyle. For mage characters, this feature is indispensable, as it enables them to design spells perfectly suited for combat, exploration, or utility. The ability to create unique magical effects is one of the most rewarding aspects of the game and a key reason why many fans consider Oblivion to have one of the best magic systems in RPG history.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about spellmaking in Oblivion Remastered, including where to find Altars of Spellmaking, how to unlock them, and the mechanics of crafting powerful custom spells.
Where to Find Altars of Spellmaking in Oblivion Remastered
Custom spells can only be created at special
Altars of Spellmaking, which are rare and often locked behind progression requirements. There are
two primary locations where you can access these altars:
1. The Mages Guild (Arcane University)
The most well-known Altar of Spellmaking is located in the
Praxographical Center of the
Arcane University, southeast of the Imperial City. However, gaining access to this facility requires
joining the Mages Guild and advancing to the rank of Apprentice.
How to Unlock the Mages Guild Altar
Join the Mages Guild – Speak with any local Mages Guild representative in major cities (e.g., Skingrad, Chorrol, or Bruma).Complete Recommendation Quests – Each city’s guild hall requires you to complete a task to earn a recommendation. Collect all recommendations to gain entry to the Arcane University.Reach Apprentice Rank – After joining, complete additional quests to rank up. Once you become an Apprentice, you’ll gain access to the Praxographical Center, where the Altar of Spellmaking is located.2. Frostcrag Spire (Player Home DLC)
If you don’t want to go through the Mages Guild questline, an alternative option is
Frostcrag Spire, a
player home added by the Wizard’s Tower DLC (included in Oblivion Remastered).
How to Unlock the Frostcrag Spire Altar
Travel to Frostcrag Spire – Located east of Bruma, atop Gnoll Mountain.Enter the Tower – Inside, you’ll find a book explaining that you need to upgrade the tower to unlock its full features, including the Altar of Spellmaking.Purchase Magetallow Candles – Visit Aurelinwae at the Mystic Emporium in the Imperial City’s Market District and buy a Magetallow Candles Box.Return and Activate the Altar – Place the candles in the spire to unlock the Altar of Spellmaking.How to Craft Custom Spells in Oblivion Remastered
Once you’ve accessed an Altar of Spellmaking, you can begin crafting your own spells. The spellmaking interface allows for deep customization, with several key parameters to consider:
Spell Attributes
Range – Determines how the spell is delivered:Magnitude – Controls the strength of the spell’s effect (e.g., damage, healing amount, or stat buff).- Ranges from 3 to 100, depending on the effect.
Area – Defines the radius of effect (useful for AoE spells).- Ranges from 0 (single target) to 100 (large area).
Duration – Sets how long the spell’s effects last.- Ranges from 1 to 120 seconds (instant effects like damage spells ignore duration).
Creating Your Spell
- Select Effects – Choose from a list of magical effects (e.g., Fire Damage, Invisibility, Fortify Attribute).
- Adjust Sliders – Fine-tune magnitude, area, and duration to balance cost and effectiveness.
- Naming & Finalizing – Give your spell a unique name and confirm creation.
Spell Cost Considerations
- Magicka Cost (left icon) – Higher magnitude, duration, and area increase magicka requirements.
- Gold Cost (right icon) – More powerful spells require more gold to create.
Tips for Effective Spellcrafting
- Combine Effects – Create multi-purpose spells (e.g., Fire Damage + Weakness to Fire for increased DPS).
- Optimize for Efficiency – Avoid unnecessarily high durations or areas if not needed.
- Experiment – Some effects (like Drain Attribute) can be used creatively in combat or stealth.
Can You Delete Custom Spells?
In the vanilla game, there is no way to delete custom spells once created. However, you can use:
- Console Commands (PC) – Use the removespell command.
- Mods – Some mods add spell management features.
Conclusion
Spellmaking in Oblivion Remastered is one of the most rewarding and immersive mechanics for mage characters, offering unparalleled flexibility in magic customization. Whether you unlock the Arcane University’s altar through the Mages Guild or Frostcrag Spire’s via the Wizard’s Tower DLC, mastering spellcrafting will give you a significant edge in combat and exploration.
By understanding range, magnitude, area, and duration, you can design spells that perfectly fit your playstyle—whether you’re a destructive battlemage, a stealthy illusionist, or a supportive healer.
Now, go forth and unleash your creativity—Tamriel’s fate is in your hands!
Tags: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Developer(s): Virtuos, Bethesda
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