Unarmed and Hand-to-Hand Revamps in Oblivion Remastered

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Unarmed and hand-to-hand combat in Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has seen some changes compared to the original version. These modifications affect how fatigue works and alter the mechanics for knocking out opponents. As a result, the gameplay associated with monk and brawler characters feels quite different. You can no longer leave foes knocked out on the ground with a well-placed punch; they will only drop if they are already vulnerable.

If you’re curious about the updates to unarmed and hand-to-hand combat in the Oblivion Remaster, as well as whether punches are effective, you’ll find a breakdown of the changes below to help you understand this combat style.

How Does Unarmed Combat Work in Oblivion Remastered?

Since the original game, unarmed combat in Oblivion Remastered has undergone several adjustments. Here’s a straightforward overview of how it operates, based on my experience with battling bandits and monsters.

Hand-to-hand combat improves with both Strength and the Hand-to-Hand skill. To increase your punch damage, work on leveling up both stats.
Generally, unarmed punches deliver less damage compared to melee weapons and spells, but they come out much faster, sacrificing raw damage for speed.
Unarmed attacks also inflict fatigue damage equal to 50% of the impact on enemy health. So, if you deal 10 damage to an opponent’s health, you also inflict 5 fatigue damage.
When an enemy’s fatigue hits zero, they’ll stagger, but unlike in the original game, you can’t completely knock them out. Thankfully, the same rule applies to you.
Battling unarmed will help you increase your Hand-to-Hand skill, which unlocks new abilities as you progress.

Certain character builds are better suited for unarmed combat. The Monk class is among the best choices in Oblivion Remastered, as it comes with skills that complement hand-to-hand fighting. The Khajiit race also excels in this area, given their natural bonus to hand-to-hand combat.

All Hand-to-Hand Skills and Abilities

As you engage in combat and work on your hand-to-hand skills or find items that enhance those stats, you’ll unlock various abilities:

Novice (Level 10): Your strikes inflict fatigue damage, and you won’t recoil from armed opponents when blocking.
Apprentice (Level 25): Your Power Attacks do more damage, and you will recoil from armed opponents when blocking.
Journeyman (Level 50): Your Power Attacks may disarm opponents, and your strikes can affect creatures that are immune to physical damage.
Expert (Level 75): You deal increased fatigue damage.
Master (Level 100): Your attacks deal even more fatigue damage.

Is Unarmed Combat Worth It in Oblivion Remastered?

If you’re contemplating the effectiveness of unarmed combat in Oblivion Remastered, the answer is a resounding yes, though it requires some dedication initially. You’ll need to level up your hand-to-hand skill for a while before your hits start to have a significant impact.

With practice, you’ll notice your punches becoming more powerful, especially once you hit around level 50, which is about halfway through the skill tree. The increased speed of unarmed attacks makes it easier to maneuver around foes and adopt a strategy of wearing them down over time.

If you’re exploring the revamped combat mechanics or considering character builds, feel free to check out my insights on whether dual wielding is possible in Oblivion Remastered or my take on the best Birthsign for character development in the game!