Ultimate Stealth Archer Setup (Skills, Gear, & Weapons)

There’s absolutely no shame in wanting to play as a stealth archer in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. This build is the quintessential archetype within the Elder Scrolls universe and has even turned into an inside joke among fans. It’s a favorite in both Oblivion and Skyrim, and for good reason. Stealth archers can be remarkably powerful because they receive a significant damage boost when attacking from stealth. When you play as one, your main objective is to stay hidden for as long as possible and then strike invisibly for massive damage.

If you’re like me and have played the original Oblivion several times, you’re likely familiar with the mechanics of the stealth archer style. However, due to the changes in the leveling system between the original and Oblivion Remastered, the optimal build for stealth archers has changed a bit from what you may remember. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time venturing into stealth archery in an Elder Scrolls title, here’s what you need to know to create the ultimate unseen assassin in Oblivion Remastered.

Best Skills & Attributes for a Stealth Archer Build

Choosing Your Race, Class, & Birthsign

At the start of Oblivion Remastered, you’ll make three choices that will shape your gameplay: your race, class, and birthsign. First up is your race, which you select during character creation. Your choice of race grants inherent bonuses to different skills and attributes.

The Wood Elf is the best choice for a stealth archer build due to their natural enhancements to Speed, Agility, Sneak, and Marksman. They truly embody the “stealth” and “archer” elements of a stealth archer. Alternatively, Dark Elves are also a solid choice, as they receive bonuses to Speed and Agility, plus advantages in Blade and Marksman. Keep in mind that while skill bonuses are based on your race, attribute bonuses vary slightly by origin.

However, don’t stress too much about which race to choose. You can enhance your skills and attributes as you progress in the game, so feel free to design your character however you prefer.

Your choice of class and birthsign is crucial for customizing your build. Oblivion will suggest a class based on how you perform in the tutorial, but you can opt for one of your own choosing. Your selected class determines Major Skills and Favored Attributes. Major Skills experience levels up faster, while Favored Attributes receive +5 bonuses. Choose a class that grants you Major Skills you’ll actually use for steady leveling.

No surprise, the best classes for stealth archers come from the “Stealth” category. Classes like Thief, Agent, Acrobat, and Assassin are ideal. The table below lists their Favored Attributes and Major Skills. All these classes are strong candidates for stealth archer builds, so consider what other abilities you might want when choosing.

For your birthsign, definitely select The Thief. Although The Shadow offers invisibility, there are better methods to achieve it. The Thief is superior for stealth archers and arguably the best choice in Oblivion Remastered. It provides ten-point bonuses to Agility, Luck, and Speed—crucial for effective sneaking.

Creating Your Own Class

If the preset options don’t appeal to you, consider making your own class in Oblivion Remastered. I recommend selecting Agility and Speed as your Favored Attributes—Agility enhances your bow damage, while Speed helps you evade danger swiftly.

For Major Skills, you should focus on Sneak and Marksman, which directly affect your ability to remain unseen and deal damage with bows. From there, consider adding any of the following:

• Alchemy: Excellent for potion buffs to your stealth.
• Blade or Blunt: Useful for close-quarters combat.
• Illusion: Cast spells like Chameleon and Invisibility.
• Mercantile: Gain higher prices when selling items, beneficial for Thieves Guild quests.
• Mysticism: Use spells to detect enemies through walls, great for Mages Guild players.
• Light Armor: Offers safety without the burden of heavy armor, facilitating movement.
• Security: Handy for lockpicking, a useful skill for a stealth archer.
• Speechcraft: Helps in gaining quicker NPC affinity for better prices, good for Thieves Guild endeavors.

As always, think about what additional skills you want your build to master and choose skills that will support your goals.

Best Weapons & Spells for a Stealth Archer Build

Best Bows

Realistically, you can inflict considerable damage with any bow as a stealth archer. I suggest upgrading to better bows as you find them—starting with a Rusty Iron Bow and working your way to a Daedric Bow by the time you reach endgame. Due to the leveling system in Oblivion, you’ll frequently discover higher-quality bows on your defeated foes, so make sure to loot consistently.

That said, enchanted bows that deal extra damage are always desirable. The Bow of Infernal Frost, which inflicts additional Frost and Fire damage, is a good choice early in the game. You can regularly purchase it from M’raaj-Dar in the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary. Additionally, you might find Hatred’s Soul at the Chorrol Oblivion gate—this functions as a Daedric Bow, with bonuses for Drain Speed and Fire damage.

Best Spells

Your spell selection for a stealth archer should include some essential options. The table below highlights the best spells to have in your arsenal for a stealth archer build in Oblivion Remastered. Be mindful of the skill level requirements needed to cast these spells. I’ve provided suggestions for both early-mid-game and late-game versions of each.

These spells are all designed to help you stay hidden or better detect enemy locations.

Best Armor for a Stealth Archer Build

Dressed to Kill

To maintain your stealth, consider two guild questlines that enhance your skills: the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood. It’s no surprise that the Dark Brotherhood questline offers the best armor for a stealth archer. The Shrouded Armor and Shrouded Hood you receive upon joining boost your Sneak, Illusion, Marksman, Blade, and Acrobatics skills—all vital for the stealth archer build we’re discussing.

However, you should also opt for Light Armor that allows fluid movement and stealth. Since your goal is to avoid engaging in situations where your armor matters, excellent Sneak and Marksman skills, along with a reliable bow and applicable spells, are your keys to success as a stealth archer in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.