To preface this guide, racial stats and bonuses in Oblivion Remastered are all viable, and most of them offer smaller perks and changes compared to classes. Still, in the spirit of min-maxing and foresight, some races offer more interesting bonuses regardless of their appearance (don’t be a High Elven Karen). Hence, these folks are what we recommend for your character’s best race in Oblivion Remastered.
Breton for High Magic Defense Mages
Bretons really have it unfair if you go the spellcaster or mage route, because they not only have high resistance to magic but also get bonuses in all magic disciplines.
They do suffer a bit on the athleticism (mainly because of their canonically smaller stature). They’re also not as fast as other races right out of the sewer. However, you can always count on a Breton to be predisposed to magic, making them ideal for a Mages Guild playthrough.
Orc for Melee Combat
Nords can peacock all they want, but when it comes to bashing skulls, Orcs are still at the top of the melee food chain. They also tend to have high Endurance, making them ideal for swinging those big chunky melee weapons.
Surprisingly enough, Orcs also share a bit of the Bretons’ magic resistance, though it’s significantly less. In any case, if you’re looking for a mage-killer bruiser build, Orcs tend to be the best, even their greater power racial ability ensures this.
Dunmer for a Spellsword Hybrid
You might be tempted to go Imperial for a jack-of-all-trades class, but I’d argue that Dunmer or the Dark Elves are better all-arounders when it comes to combat. They get good bonuses across the board for all combat-related skills.
Moreover, Dunmer have good innate fire resistance, which is one of the most common damage types in the game. Going the mage-fighter hybrid is also a good choice for Dunmer, as they get bonuses in both Blade and Destruction magic.
Argonian for Water-Breathing All-Rounders
I assume not many people pick the Argonian because they’re the least “humanoid” out of all the races, but the Oblivion Remastered ensures a good reward for treading off the beaten path.
Argonians are basically like Dunmer. They’re good combat mage-fighter hybrids except they resist disease, poison, and can also breathe underwater— indefinitely.
Altmer for Spellcasters
The other alternative for a mage class would be the Altmer or High Elves, and what they lack in magic resistance, they make up for in higher sustained spellcasting. Altmer get higher Magicka and can spam Destruction magic better.
If combined with the Atronach birthsign, you get the largest Magicka pool in the game, so you know what to do if you want to impress those snobs at the Mages Guild. They’re among the best races in Oblivion Remastered for that reason.
Khajiit for a Sneaky Martial Artist
Picking a Khajiit is often a must for a Thieves Guild playthrough because they’re proficient in Sneak, Security, and Acrobatics. They can also basically cast a night vision racial ability with unlimited uses.
Of course, as a cat, you also get claws and won’t need to bother much with weapons if you want to go the Unarmed combat route. That’s a lot of savings, perfect if you want to roleplay as a stingy cat.
Bosmer for Stealth Archery
The Khajiit might have nightvision on command, but the Bosmer or Wood Elf excel when it comes to sneaking and archery. You know what that means, the good old Stealth Archer build that can trivialize the Elder Scrolls universe.
Other perks you get to enjoy as a Wood Elf would be resistance to pesky diseases and even a cool (but often useless) ability to pacify animals.
Imperial for the Charisma Roleplay
A smooth-talker playstyle is also viable in Oblivion, though you will want to pick the Imperial for that. After all, you’re in the province of the Imperials or Cyrodiil. Imperials get a good Speechcraft bonus and can haggle better (if you’re thrifty).
So, for merchant or even pacifist playstyles, the Imperial should be your go-to. When push comes to shove, they can still stand and fight with some smaller bonuses in melee combat. They can still walk the talk if need be.
