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

The Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered is focused on unarmed combat, healing magic, and light armor. This is a challenging setup that requires the player to focus on speed, agility, and resource management. They may struggle with raw damage output compared to other combat-focused builds. Monks rely on high agility and speed to evade enemies and strike when required. They don’t have the raw damage output of a warrior, so you’ll need to use Restoration spells and buffs to improve your defensive capabilities. Choosing the best race, attribute, and skills are crucial for this build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion as your gameplay mostly depends on it. They don’t rely on heavy armor but instead wear light armor for tanking damage. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion, the best skills, and weapons and armor.
This Oblivion build is getting a full update for the remastered version of the game! We’ll revamp everything you need to start – how to create your character, what gear and weapons to use, the best skills to focus on, and the most useful spells.
Everything About Monk Build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered
The Monk build in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered is a unique setup that focuses on unarmed combat, light armor, and restoration magic. This build heavily depends on speed, agility, and healing to survive in battle. Our build includes weapons like hand-to-hand combat and a shield. Spell Breaker can protect your character while fighting the enemies in melee range. Hand-to-Hand, Athletics, Acrobatics, Sneak, Marksman, Alteration, and Security are the best skills to add in a build. Playing this build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion highly depends on your initial decisions of choosing the effective Race and Birthsign.
Khajit is the best race for the Monk build because it complements the hand-to-hand playstyle. Restoration magic is vital to the survival because they don’t wear heavy armor or use weapons. Invest attribute points in Agility to avoid attacks and increase unarmed combat damage. However, this build lacks high damage potential and is vulnerable against high-level enemies. You also have limited weapon options while running this build.
Monk Build Pros | Monk Build Cons |
---|---|
Agility & Speed | Lower Damage Output |
Hand-To-Hand Combat | Vulnerability to Tougher Enemies |
Healing and Buffing Magic | Limited Weapon Options |
Build Key Aspect
Below are all the essential aspects of the Monk Build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered:
- Class: Monk
- Race: Khajiit
- Origin: Pellitine
- Birthsign: Warrior
- Specialization: Stealth
- Attributes: Agility, Willpower, Endurance
- Major Skills
- Hand-to-Hand
- Athletics
- Marksman
- Minor Skills
- Restoration
- Alchemy
- Mercantile
- Weapons: Fists, Spellbreaker
- Armor: Leather Armor, Shrouded Armor
- Faction: Mage Guild
- Trainer: Astrid
Class
Monk is the best class for a powerful fisticuffs build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered. This class is a viable, albeit challenging, option, especially with a focus on hand-to-hand combat and magic. Monks are not proficient in any armor types. Therefore, this can make them vulnerable in direct physical combat.
Furthermore, Monks can level up quickly, especially in the early game. It’s versatility allows for a hybrid approach, combining melee combat with ranged attacks and magic. You can become a powerful character due to the major skills like hand-to-hand. Magic abilities like alteration can be used to enhance combat capabilities.
Best Race

Khajiit is the best race for the Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remasterd because of their +10 bonus to Hand-to-Hand. Furthermore, they also have innate bonuses to Athletics and Acrobatics, which are all skills they will heavily rely on. Khajiit start with higher base stats in Agility and Speed. This is beneficial for their agility and movement, making your build more powerful. They have a racial ability called Claws, which deals 15 points of damage and has a 2.5x damage multiplier when power-attacking. This is one of the best playable races due to their natural agility and stealth, which makes them a good choice.
Best Origin

Pellitine is the best Origin selection for a Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered because it avoids a penalty to Endurance. Endurance will be very crucial for Monk combat because it boosts your total HP and affects your Fatigue. On the other hand, the Anequina origin will penalize Strength by -10 instead. While this will debuff your attack, we can get these points back with the right selection of Birthsign.
In ESOR, your background isn’t just for roleplay, it directly affects your character’s stats. Unlike the original Oblivion, where gender choice gave different stat bonuses depending on your race, the Remaster removes that system entirely. Instead, you choose between ‘Body Type 1’ (female) and ‘Body Type 2’ (male) purely for appearance. All stat differences are now handled through your selected Origin, making character customization more flexible and streamlined.
Best Birthsign

Warrior is the best Birthsign for the Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered. It grants +10 to Endurance, which directly translates to increased starting health. This makes it a crucial stat for a character relying on hand-to-hand combat. The boost in strength makes it best for melee combat. The strength allows you to increase maximum fatigue and melee damage along with the carrying capacity. The boost in Endurance enhances maximum fatigue and health.
Overall, Warrior is the best Birthsign if you focus on combat and don’t plan on using magic or stealth.
Best Attributes

Agility, Willpower, and Endurance, are the best attributes for the Monk build because they increase your mobility in combat, and make you more persuasive in conversation.
- Agility: Increases your sprint and swimming speed.
- Willpower: determines how quickly you regenerate magicka and increases maximum Fatigue.
- Endurance: increases your max health and how much health you gain with each level. Also, determines your health regeneration.
Major Skills

Hand-to-Hand, Athletics, and Marksman are the best major skills for the Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered because they increase damage, and give you better mobility in combat. Additionally, Sneak is another Major skill the Monk has, too. Therefore, a great combination to start combat would be to fire an arrow from stealth for greater damage.
- Hand-to-Hand: Allows you to fight with your fists and build up your combat prowess.
- Athletics: Increases your movement, sprint, and swimming speed.
- Marksman: This skill allows you to deal damage from a safe distance with more accuracy and precision.
Minor Skills

Alchemy, Restoration, and Mercantile are the best minor skills for the Monk build in Oblivion Remastered because they help with healing and regen, and earning gold.
- Alchemy: Create better potions to sell or use in combat
- Restoration: Spells that restore health, and offer protection or cures.
- Mercantile: Get better prices by selling all of the stuff you loot and/or steal.
Equipment
Equipment in Elder Scrolls Oblivion consists of 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 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 to choose as it increases your survivability and provides decent protection by reducing the effectiveness of incoming attacks.
Best Weapons
Here are the best weapons for the Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered.
Fists
Unarmed combat is the most thematic and fitting option for a Monk. The build focuses on hand-to-hand combat as its primary form of attack. This makes it the best choice in terms of both roleplaying and mechanics. Use Hand-to-hand skills as it increases the damage from your punches and kicks. You can increase the damage of your unarmed attacks by enchanting rings, amulets, or gloves. The Fists of the Righteous might be an option if you’re playing with the mods. The Unarmed combat allows for fast, agile combat where you can focus on dodging and hitting quickly. You need to use the healing spells or defensive buffs while still engaging in melee combat.
Spellbreaker (Shield)
- Armor Health: 1,500
- Base Armor: 17
- Weight: 18
- Base Value: 16,500
Shields are a valuable piece of equipment that provide defense by raising your Armor Rating. Some shields, especially those obtained from Transcendent Sigil Stones, can offer resistance to specific elements. They can also be enchanted with various effects, such as spell reflection, damage absorption, or increased AR. Spell Breaker is a heavy armor shield that provides 30% spell reflection. You acquire the Spellbreaker as a reward from Peryite, a Daedric Prince, after completing his Daedric quest. The shield’s primary strength lies in its “Reflect Spell 30” enchantment. This makes the Spellbreaker extremely useful against mages and enemies who rely heavily on magic.
Best Armor

Here is the best armor for a Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered.
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 Monk 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.
Shrouded Armor
- Armor Health: 520
- Base Armor: 17.5
- Base Value: 0
- Class: Light Armor
Shrouded Armor is another good option to use while running a Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered. This armor set consists of two parts, the Shrouded Armor and the Shrouded Hood. It offers several enhancements that favor stealth-oriented characters. The Ancient Shrouded Armor is relatively easy to acquire. Shrouded armor is a single piece of equipment that covers the whole body except the head. It also has unleveled stats and enchantments, meaning the effectiveness increases as you level up in the game. This armor includes the enchantment that boosts backstab damage with dagger and poison resistance.
Leveling Strategy
Focus on Hand-to-Hand, Athletics, and Acrobatics while also utilizing skills like Sneak and Security. These skills can help you bypass enemies and access valuable loot, which is helpful in a Monk build. Magic can provide support, such as restoration for healing or destruction for dealing damage. You need to heal yourself and others with Restoration spells to keep your skills active. Invest in attributes that will enhance your major skills. Leveling up is based on Skill Increases and the Attributes you assign. Every time you level up, you will get to increase three attributes. Focus on attributes that align with your playstyle. 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.
Factions

Mage Guild is the best choice for the Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered because it focuses on magic and skills that complement abilities. They excel with skills like Hand-to-Hand to deal damage, Alteration for buffs, and Restoration for healing. This makes the Mage Guild a good fit for their playstyle, allowing you to dominate enemies. The Imperial Legion is another faction that works well with this build in most scenarios. This is useful for players who might need to engage in combat or negotiate.
Trainers
Astrid is the best trainer for the Monk build, as she helps train Sneak, but she isn’t as commonly available early in the game. She is the leader of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim. Trainers allow you to spend gold to increase your skill levels, which can help you level up skills. Different types of trainers allow you to reach different skill level caps. These trainers can train a specific skill for a set number of times per character level.
How to Play the Monk Build
Focus on Hand-to-Hand, Block, Acrobatics, and Athletics as major skills. Khajit is a good choice for their bonuses, and you’ll rely on dodging and varying combat techniques. Consider Illusion, Alteration, and Restoration for spells and buffs, enhancing the effectiveness of your Monk build. Master the art of dodging and blocking to survive encounters. Use spells like Stave of Ferocity, Blazing Strikes, and Orc Strength for added power. You can even use spells like Invisibility that allow you to reposition and deal massive damage without being detected. Use Light Armor like Shrouded Armor and Leather Armor that boosts your Agility and Endurance, increasing your survivability. Join the faction to support your playstyle, making you an unstoppable player in the game. Use potions that are crucial during long fights, so always be prepared.
Best Gameplay Tips and Tricks for the Monk Build
Here are the best gameplay tips and tricks for Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered.
- Use potions to heal your character from time to time in combat, so carry them in your inventory.
- Practice your lockpicking skills to access valuable loot and secrets.
- Use invisibility and paralysis spells to your advantage in combat and stealth situations.
- Focus on light armor for stealth, as it increases your movement speed.
- All races cannot be a successful Monk, so choose the one that complements your playstyle.
- You need to use stamina wisely or else you can become vulnerable in most combat situations.
- Focus on leveling your Destruction, Alteration, Restoration, and Conjuration for casting higher-level magic spells.
- Use magic to weaken the enemies from a distance, then use fists when closer to them.
- Choose the faction, race, and specialization that complements your playstyle and synergizes with the build.
FAQs about Monk build in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered
What is a Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered?
The Monk build in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion is a unique setup that focuses on unarmed combat, light armor, and restoration magic.
Which is the best weapon for a Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered?
Fist and Spell Breaker are the best weapons for a Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion because you will deal damage to the enemies with punches.
Which is the best race for a Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered?
Khajit is the best race for the Monk build in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. This is due to their innate bonus to Hand-to-Hand, Athletics, and Acrobatics, which are all skills a Monk will heavily rely on.
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