What is the Best Armor Rating in Oblivion?
The best achievable armor rating in Oblivion, while seemingly straightforward, is a topic often surrounded by misconceptions. The game’s mechanics don’t directly display a single, definitive “best” rating in the way some players might expect. Instead, the game calculates damage reduction based on a combination of your displayed armor rating, your skill level in the relevant armor type (light or heavy), and the perks you’ve obtained.
However, here’s the crucial information: the game caps damage reduction at 80%. This cap is reached at a displayed armor rating of 567. Reaching this 567 cap is the goal for those who want to maximize their defense. It’s important to understand that having a displayed armor rating above 567 will not increase your damage reduction any further; you’ll still only be at the 80% reduction cap. The armor rating is not a direct 1:1 correlation to damage reduction.
Therefore, the “best” armor rating isn’t necessarily the highest numerical armor rating you can achieve but rather the rating that allows you to reliably hit the 80% damage reduction cap, given your character’s skills and gear. This often involves optimizing your armor type, skill, and the use of relevant perks. This also means there’s no singular best piece of armor, but a best approach to achieving maximum damage reduction.
Understanding the Mechanics of Armor in Oblivion
Displayed Armor Rating vs. Actual Damage Reduction
The displayed armor rating you see on your character screen is only part of the equation. The game uses a formula that takes into account your displayed rating, your skill level in either Light Armor or Heavy Armor, and any relevant armor perks you have unlocked. The higher your skill, the more effective your armor becomes, leading to a greater damage reduction. This is why a character with a high Heavy Armor skill and perks can achieve the 80% reduction cap with a lower base armor rating than a character with low Heavy Armor skill.
The Significance of Skill Level and Perks
Your armor skill directly increases your effective armor rating. When your skill is low, the reduction is smaller, even if your displayed rating is high. As you increase your Heavy or Light Armor skill, the damage reduction from the same displayed rating becomes larger. Perks further enhance this effect. They boost the overall effectiveness of your armor, making high skill levels essential for achieving maximum defense.
Achieving the 80% Cap
As previously mentioned, the game caps damage reduction at 80%. Once your armor rating, skill, and perks provide that level of reduction, any further increase in the numerical value of your armor rating becomes redundant. In essence, a displayed rating above 567 is functionally equivalent to 567 when it comes to damage reduction. It’s important to note that reaching 567 may require an actual smithed rating of 135 or so if you have 100 skill and all perks in the relevant skill tree.
Best Armor Set Approaches
There is not one single ‘best’ set, but there are effective combinations to maximize the 80% reduction, including combining the best armor with powerful enchantments. Here are the most effective options for both Heavy and Light Armor users.
Heavy Armor: Daedric and Crusader’s Relics
Daedric armor is generally considered the best heavy armor in the base game because it offers the highest base armor rating, making it easier to hit the 567 cap with decent skill and a full set of gear. However, if you are playing the Knights of the Nine expansion, the Crusader’s Relics armor set can also be extremely effective, with stats that scale with your level. These also provide unique enchantments that are beneficial. You want to focus on obtaining high-quality versions of this armor and enhancing it further with strong enchantments.
Light Armor: Glass and Perfect Madness
For light armor users, Glass Armor is the best in the base game due to its high rating. However, if you have the Shivering Isles expansion, the Perfect Madness Armor is just slightly better and is the best light armor in the game. Glass armor is more readily available, while Perfect Madness requires exploration. These light armor options may require a higher skill level and more investment into perks to achieve the damage reduction cap compared to heavy armor.
The Importance of Enchantments
While the 80% cap on damage reduction is crucial, you should also consider the enchantments on your armor. Adding elemental resistances (fire, frost, shock) can dramatically improve your survivability against magic-using enemies. Enchanting your armor with a constant effect of these types of elements allows you to not only reach maximum armor but have the defense to deal with spell damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly does the “Armor Rating” stat mean?
The armor rating is a numerical value indicating the defensive power of a piece of armor. However, it’s not a direct measure of damage reduction. Instead, the game uses it as part of a complex formula combined with your skill level and perks to determine actual damage reduction.
2. Is heavy armor or light armor better in Oblivion?
Heavy armor typically provides higher base armor ratings, making it easier to reach the 80% cap with less skill investment. Light armor is more agile and requires a higher skill and more perk investment to reach the cap but offers mobility advantages. There is no definitive “better” option. It depends on the player’s playstyle.
3. Can my displayed armor rating go above 567?
Yes, your displayed armor rating can go above 567. However, damage reduction is capped at 80%, rendering the extra rating functionally useless when it comes to reducing incoming damage.
4. Does the quality of the armor (e.g., poor, good, excellent) affect the armor rating?
Yes, the quality of armor directly impacts the displayed armor rating, and therefore your overall damage reduction. Higher-quality armor provides a higher displayed armor rating.
5. How do skills influence my armor rating?
Your skill in either heavy armor or light armor dramatically affects how much damage reduction you gain from your armor. As your skill level increases, your armor becomes more effective, providing greater protection.
6. Do armor perks increase damage reduction?
Yes, relevant perks obtained from the skill trees increase your overall damage reduction, making it easier to reach the 80% cap, particularly for light armor users.
7. How do I get the best armor in Oblivion easily?
Daedric armor and Glass armor (depending on your armor skill) are generally considered the best options in vanilla Oblivion and are found throughout high-level dungeons. If you have the Shivering Isles expansion you will want to obtain the Perfect Madness Armor. To get the best armor, you should focus on dungeon exploration, especially at higher levels.
8. What are the best enchantments for my armor?
The best enchantments for armor include elemental resistances (fire, frost, shock), and constant effect health or magicka boosts. These enchantments can significantly improve your survivability.
9. What is the highest level gear I can find in Oblivion?
The highest level for most gear in Oblivion is level 30, though some level at different rates or cap at 25.
10. Is the Crusader armor the best in Oblivion?
The Crusader’s Relics from the Knights of the Nine expansion are considered among the best, as they provide exceptional benefits and scale with your level. They are very good but not necessarily the single “best” due to the fact that they are not necessarily heavy or light armor. The type you get depends on your skills.
11. Is Daedric armor better than Dragon armor?
There is no Dragon Armor in Oblivion. In Skyrim, Daedric armor and Dragonplate Armor are both considered some of the best, though Daedric armor has a negligibly higher base rating but is much heavier than Dragonplate.
12. Does armor affect my spellcasting?
Yes. Wearing any armor lowers your spell efficiency in Oblivion, potentially making certain spells less effective. Wearing armor will also have the potential of lowering the magicka output from your spells.
13. How does armor scaling work in Oblivion?
Armor doesn’t level with you in the same way that some quest items do. Instead, new varieties of armor appear as you level and become available in the world, but they have a set quality at the time you find them. The Crusader Armor from Knights of the Nine is the only gear that levels up as your character gains levels.
14. What is the best weapon to pair with high armor?
The best weapon depends on playstyle, but weapons like Umbra, Goldbrand, and Mehrunes’ Razor are often considered among the best. These weapons pair well with high armor because they focus on offense while the armor protects you.
15. Who is the best person to sell high level armor to?
Varel Morvayn at Morvayn’s Peacemakers in Anvil is the best merchant to sell armor to because he buys at a high price with high skill even at lower levels.
By understanding the mechanics of armor, focusing on skills and perks, and obtaining high-quality armor, players can easily reach the 80% damage reduction cap in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Remember, achieving the maximum armor rating is a matter of optimization rather than just accumulating the highest numerical armor values. This strategy will allow you to explore and conquer all that Oblivion has to offer.