Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Agent Build

Discover everything you need to know about the best Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion including some valuable tips and tricks to run this build.

The Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion is a unique hybrid setup that focuses on Assassin, Thief, and Diplomat playstyles. Whether sneaking into a building or manipulating NPCs to gain information, they can be effective in a wide array of situations. They excel in agility, speed, and light armor, so you need to sneak around undetected and avoid taking any kind of damage. Choosing the best race, attribute, and skills is crucial for this build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion as your gameplay mostly depends on it. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion and the best skills, along with weapons and armor to choose from.

Table of Content

Everything About Agent Build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion

The Agent Build in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion focuses on sneaking, assassination, and influencing NPCs. This unique build offers a hybrid playstyle where you can act like a Thief, Assassin, and Archer in the game. Our build includes weapons like Daedric Bow and Dagger to deal damage to enemies in combat. Dagger allows for stealth takedown, making it easy to eliminate enemies from behind. Strength, Agility, and Speed are the best attributes to focus on as they make you a powerful agent. Speed boosts your overall movement speed, and Agility increases your ability to dodge attacks. Marksman, Acrobatics, Light Armor, Mercantile, Sneak, Security, and Illusion are the best skills for this build in ESO.

Marksman is essential if you want to rely on ranged attacks in combat. The Shadow is the best Birthsign to include for this build, along with the best Specialization, the Combat. The best race, like Bosmer, gives you a bonus to stealth and agility. Gear like Leather Armor offers decent protection without hindering stealth. The Thieves Guild focuses on stealth, lockpicking, and stealing. However, this build is weak in direct combat with the enemies due to less armor protection.

Agent Build Pros	Agent Build Cons
Sneak Attacks	Weak in Direct Combat
High Agility	Limited Armor Option
More Versatility

Build Key Aspect

Below are all the essential aspects of the Agent Build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion:

Class: Agent
Race: Bosmer
Birthsign: The Shadow
Specialization: Combat
Attributes: Strength, Agility, Speed
Major Skills
- Marksman
- Acrobatics
- Light Armor
- Mercantile
- Sneak
- Security
- Illusion
Minor Skills
- Blade
- Armorer
- Restoration
- Alchemy
- Lockpicking
Weapons: Daedric Bow, Daedric Dagger
Armor: Leather Armor, Glass Armor
Faction: Thieves Guild
Trainer: Pinarus Inventius

Class

The Agent is the best class for Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. If you’re a stealth-focused character, then this is the best class for you. This class has Illusion and Sneak as major skills. This makes it ideal for stealth and illusion-based gameplay. It is more versatile than the Acrobat class, allowing for a wider range of playstyles. Sneaking lets them avoid the attention of guards and house owners. Use the combination of Archery and stealth for devastating sneak attacks. Khajiit are considered good Agents due to their bonuses in nearly all skills.

Best Race

Bosmer is the best race for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. The reason is pretty simple: it provides starting bonuses in Sneak, Marksman, Acrobatics, and Light Armor. They are elven in appearance, with pointy ears. Bosmers are proficient in stealth and are bound by the Green Pact. This pact prevents them from harming or consuming plant life. What makes them excellent at sneaking and avoiding detection is their high starting agility and speed, which is paired with a sneak bonus. However, this race has penalties for Strength and Willpower. Female Bosmer has a penalty to Endurance, meaning they have low Strength. Their starting skills make them suited for a stealth-thievery playstyle. This allows you to become highly effective in the early and mid-game. Bosmer also has a +10 in Acrobatics. You can use it for mobility and reaching high places.

Best Birthsign

The Shadow is the best Birthsign for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. It provides the Moonshadow that grants a single daily use of Invisibility for 60 seconds. Brithsign is basically a constellation that grants players unique magical bonuses or powers that complement their playstyle. They have lasting effects on your character, so it’s crucial to choose the best one that works well with your build. This allows you to make stealth attacks or reposition yourself in tougher combat. The invisibility for a duration is extremely useful for sneaking past enemies, ambushing them, or escaping difficult situations. This build usually focuses on skills like Sneak, Acrobatics, Athletics, and Blade. The Shadow can complement these skills as well, making them even more effective in combat.

Best Specialization

Combat is the best specialization for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion because it focuses on skills like Blade, Blunt, Heavy Armor, Block, and Athletic. These skills are crucial for a tanky, melee-focused character. They also excel in melee combat, and choosing Combat will increase your skills in weapons, armor, and combat areas. However, you can also consider stealth if you want to focus on sneak attacks. You choose a specialization while creating a character. It heavily impacts how your skill progresses, so choose the best one according to your playstyle and build. Skills associated with your chosen specialization level up than the skills that are not in the specialization. You also get the opportunity to pick the Major Skills that increase very quickly regardless of the specialization you choose.

Best Attributes

Strength, Agility, and Speed are the best attributes to invest your points in for Agent build in ESO. Prefer Agility and Speed for stealth and mobility and Strength for melee combat and carrying capacity. Investing more points in Agility allows you to avoid attacks and improve sneak abilities. Strength enhances melee damage and makes you a powerful character in the game. These attributes ensure that your character is a powerful Agent who can dominate enemies from a safe distance without taking any damage and being detected. You can increase three attributes by a total of 5 points at each level and Luck by 1 point. Keep in mind that the attributes are capped at 100. The other attributes that you can invest in are intelligence, Endurance, and Willpower. However, these attributes don’t affect your playstyle.

Major Skills

Marksman, Acrobatics, Light Armor, Mercantile, Sneak, Security, and Illusion are the best Major skills for Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. Major Skills in Elder Scrolls Oblivion is a set of seven skills that you choose at character creation. These skills are initiated at the higher base level. These skills level up faster than the Minor Skills and impact your attribute bonuses along with the character’s leveling. Blades is one of the best skills that we recommend you use and level up as they increase the damage output of your melee weapon. Skills are unlocked by repeatedly using them, training with NPCs, and reading special books. The primary way to level up skills is by actively using them.

Illusion- It provides powerful spells like Invisibility and Chameleon to boost your stealth and combat approaches.
Marksman- This skill allows you to deal damage from a safe distance with more accuracy and precision.
Acrobatics- It grants agility and evasion, making you harder to hit.
Light Armor- Provides defense without hindering your agility.
Mercantile- Get better deals when buying or selling goods.
Sneak- Allows you to take down enemies silently in combat.
Security- Use lockpicks to open locked doors and containers.

Minor Skills

Blade, Armorer, Restoration, Alchemy, and Lockpicking are the best Minor Skills for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. Minor skills are not that effective but they support your character with other aspects. Choose the minor skills wisely as they can make your character internally stronger. Prefer leveling minor skills to gain attribute bonuses.

Lockpicking- Allows you to access locked chests and doors.
Blade- grants a solid melee option for close-quarters combat. This is more effective when combined with sneak attacks.
Armorer- Use this skill for repairing enchanted gear and improving your armor.
Restoration- Use this skill to gain healing, and it can be useful for survival.
Alchemy- Use this skill to create powerful poisons and other helpful potions.

Equipment

Equipment in Elder Scrolls Oblivion encompasses weapons, armor, clothing, and various other items. Players can equip them to increase their character’s abilities and stats. Weapons are crafted from different items and each has different stats and appearances. You can even enchant the weapons with magical effects like damage, debuff, or health regen. Use the soul gems to recharge the enchanted weapons. Armor is another piece of equipment that protects you from incoming attacks from enemies. Each piece of armor has an armor rating, which determines how much damage it can absorb. You can equip up to 9 pieces at one time. Light armor is the best option available for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Best Weapons

Here are the best weapons for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Daedric Bow

Damage: 20
Value: 3200
Health: 420
Weight: 22

Daedric Bow is the best bow to include in your build. This weapon offers the highest base damage in the game, making it a perfect choice for a stealth approach. It’s even better when enchanted with powerful effects, like draining health or damage. This weapon is found in higher-level locations but can also be obtained through quests. Although the weight of this bow is more, it deals significant damage with the right approach. Use the Daedric Arrow with this weapon to deal high damage in combat. These arrows can be found as loot from certain enemies, particularly in bandit dungeons.

Daedric Dagger

Damage: 19
Health: 532
Base Value: 2700
Weight: 10

The Daedric Dagger is a one-handed weapon that has the highest base damage among any other dagger in the game. Daggers are the fastest melee weapons, allowing you to deliver their enchantments faster. Use this dagger to take down enemies in melee range or for stealth take down. You can enchant the Daedric Dagger with effects like Poison, damage, or fatigue. Daggers are lightweight but deal less damage than swords or maces. Pair it with skills like Blades to enhance the effectiveness of this weapon, allowing it to complement your build.

Best Armor

Here are the best armors for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Leather Armor

Armor Health: 640
Class: Light Armor
Base Value: 105
Weight: 19.5

Leather Armor is a good starting armor, especially for rogues and stealth characters. It offers light protection and allows for agility. This is not a durable or powerful option compared to heavier armor types. The appearance of leather armor can suit a rogue or Agent character. This makes it a good choice for players who want to look inconspicuous. Use this armor for stealth and agility-focused builds. The armor can be found early on and starts appearing in the leveled lists at level three. It’s worth mentioning that you need to increase your mobility for fast movement, allowing you to complement the thievery playstyle.

Glass Armor

Armor Health: 5275
Base Armor: 50
Base Value: 5300
Class: Light Armor

Glass Armor is the best armor to choose for the Agent build. It offers excellent protection while remaining light, allowing for agility and stealth. You want to prioritize light armor to benefit stealth and movement speed. Glass armor provides a high armor rating, which is crucial for surviving encounters with enemies. You will be fighting the enemies in close range and having this armor equipped increases your survivability. It reduces the effectiveness of the incoming attacks from the enemies. This armor also helps you level up your light armor skill, which is important for increasing your armor rating.

Leveling Strategy

Focus on skills like Sneak, Acrobatics, Marksman, Illusion, and potentially Conjuration or Light Armor. Select skills that you will use less frequently but can level up to maximize attribute bonuses. Don’t focus solely on leveling your major skills. Level up your minor skills as well to ensure you reach the 10-point threshold. You must focus on leveling your Major Skills when you level up to get the most out of your character. Jump around to raise your Athletics skills. It’s best to sneak around to level up your Sneak skill, making it even more effective. Your Birthsign gives a significant bonus to your stats. You must sleep in a bed to level up.

Leveling in Oblivion can take time, so try to balance your activities between exploring, combat, and practicing skills. Keep in mind that enemies also scale when you level up, meaning they become more powerful. Every time you level up, you will get to increase three attributes. Focus on attributes that align with your playstyle. Complete all the available side quests to level up your character. Leveling up is based on Skill Increases and the Attributes you assign.

Factions

Thieves Guild is considered as one of the best factions to choose for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. It provides opportunities to practice stealth, lockpicking, and pickpocketing. This faction complements a stealthy Agent in dangerous scenarios in the game. You can even use Dark Brotherhood, as it offers opportunities for marksmen practice. This allows you to hone your skills with a bow from a distance. The Thieves Guild rewards players for their stealth skills. The Thieves Guild provides access to fences, who are essential for selling stolen goods. Each faction offers a unique gameplay experience, so choose the one that complements your playstyle.

Trainers

Certain NPC trainers in the game can train your skills. These trainers can train a specific skill for a set number of times per character level. Find them to speed up leveling in key skills. Pinarus Inventius is a good expert trainer. He is located outside Anvil’s main gate from 2 PM to 5 PM. He’ll give you a quest to find a master trainer after you’ve reached his skill ceiling. Trainers allow you to spend gold to increase your skill levels, which can help you level up your skills. Different types of trainers allow you to reach different skill level caps.

How to Play the Agent Build

Focus on skills like Sneak, Lockpicking, Marksman, Light Armor, and Illusion to enhance the effectiveness of your Agent build in ESO. Use a Dagger to deal melee damage in close-quarter combats and a bow for dealing damage from a distance. You can hide behind a wall or any obstacle when enemies approach. Upgrade your weapon regularly to make it more effective in combat where you want to deal high damage. Use potions that are crucial during long fights, so always be prepared.

You can even use spells like Invisibility that allow you to reposition and deal massive damage without being detected. Use Light Armor like Glass Armor and Leather Armor that boosts your Agility and Endurance, increasing your survivability. Join the faction to support your playstyle, making you an unstoppable character in the game. Strength, Speed, and Agility are the best attributes to invest your points in as they increase your Strength in the game.

Best Gameplay Tips and Tricks for the Agent Build

Here are the best tips and tricks for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

Use skills like Marksman and Sneak as major skills.
All races cannot be a successful Agent, so choose the one that complements your playstyle.
Use run and tactics to dominate the enemies with your dagger. This gives you an opening where you can use your sword to defeat the enemy.
Practice your lockpicking skills to access valuable loot and secrets.
Use invisibility and paralysis spells to your advantage in combat and stealth situations.
Use a lightweight weapon as a backup while fighting the enemies in close range.
Use Stealth to get the jump on enemies and deal increased damage with sneak attacks
Use a blunt weapon as a backup while fighting the enemies in close range.

FAQs about Agent build in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion

What is an Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

Which is the best weapon for an Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

Daedric Bow and Daedric Dagger are the best weapons for an Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivions because they can deal massive damage to enemies without exposing yourself completely.

Which is the best race for an Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion?

Bosmer is the best race for the Agent build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion because it provides starting bonuses in Sneak, Marksman, Acrobatics, and Light Armor.

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