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Calliben’s Grim Retort is a one-handed mace in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered (ESOR) you can find it during an early side quest.
Calliben’s Grim Retort is one of the most iconic early-game weapons in Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remastered, especially for players drawn to a high-damage enchanted mace with crushing blows. Whether you’re a returning veteran revisiting Tamriel or a newcomer exploring the remastered version for the first time, tracking down this unique sword can give you a powerful advantage early in your journey. In this guide, we’ll explore Calliben’s Grim Retort, how to acquire it, and tips for using it effectively in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered.
What is Calliben’s Grim Retort in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered?
In Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered, Calliben’s Grim Retort is a one-handed melee weapon that has a decent charge level and comes with three effect bonuses. First, each hit with this weapon will cause you to absorb 8 points of their Blunt stat for 20 seconds. Furthermore, the second bonus is similar but allows you to absorb 5 points of the target’s Strength stat for 20 seconds.
Finally, the third bonus effect is a flat damage bonus, where you will deal 10 points of Frost Damage to your enemy.
Calliben’s Grim Retort Abilities and Effects
Below are all the features, abilities, and effects of Calliben’s Grim Retort in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered:
- Weapon Type: One-handed mace (crushing)
- Weight: 31
- Value: 2,879
- Charge: 6,160
- Uses: 70
- Location: Inside Trentius Family Mausoleum in the Imperial City, unlocked during Unfriendly Competition quest.
- Bonuses:
- Absorb Blunt on Strike – 8 points for 20 seconds
- Absorb Strength on Strike – 5 points for 20 seconds
- Frost Damage on Strike – 10 points
How to Get Calliben’s Grim Retort in Oblivion Remastered? Explained
To get Calliben’s Grim Retort in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered you need to reach the Imperial City and start the Unfriendly Competition quest, following the steps until you confront Agarmir. You can fast-travel to the Imperial City Market District anytime after you leave the sewers. To start Unfriendly Competition, visit Jensine at Jensine’s “Good as New” Merchandise. She’ll tell you about a shop that’s undercutting everyone, and ask you to investigate.
Here are all of the steps to complete the Unfriendly Competition side quest in ESOR:
- Learn of the unfriendly competition.
- Speak with Thoronir and learn about his inventory. When he leaves, between 7-8 PM, follow him.
- At midnight, follow Thoronir again to his meeting with Agarmir.
- Eavesdrop on the conversation then follow Agarmir to his house.
- Find the Macabre Manifest in the basement and confront Thoronir with it.
- Head to the Mausoleum and deal with “the competition.”
- Go back to Thoronir with final proof of Agarmir’s deeds and collect your reward, then visit Jensine for an additional amount of gold.
How to Eavesdrop on Agarmir
The step requiring you to eavesdrop on Agarmir can be confusing because trying to hide behind the obvious things like the well or the big purple bush don’t work. No matter your Sneak level, it can be frustrating to try and hide and trigger this conversation.
Significantly, you do not have to worry about Agarmir or his contact seeing you. Just get into a crouch and sneak up to the pink/white bush in front of them. This seems to be the spot where the game automatically ‘catches’ you as hiding in the bushes and starts the conversation.
It looks silly, because it’s obvious they should be able to see you, but those are the bushes you want to aim for.
Defeat Agarmir and the Guard
Be ready for a fight before you enter the Trentius Family Mausoleum because Agarmir will start a fight as soon as you confront him. Bring healing potions and/or restoration spells with you because this can be a difficult fight. Especially if you are a melee fighter, focus on Agarmir first because his weapon will drain your willpower and endurance. Furthermore, you can use the pillars in the crypt for protection, as a way to create a break in the fight or get away from their blades.
Finally, after you defeat Agarmir and his companion, look for the tomb of Calliben Trentius on the left side of the wall. Jump up on the ledge near the sarcophagus and you should see the outline of Calliben’s Grim Retort hiding behind it. Grab it for your inventory, and don’t forget to take the Debaser shortsword from Agarmir as well!
How to Use Calliben’s Grim Retort in ESOR?
The best way to use Calliben’s Grim Retort in ESOR is by equipping it to a strong melee-focused class that has Blunt as a major skill. This includes Barbarian, Battlemage, Crusader, Knight, and Warrior. While any class or build can equip this mace and level Blunt, classes with this as a major skill will level it faster.
Moreover, these classes will benefit even more from the bonus effects that allow you to absorb part of the enemy’s Blunt and Strength stats. This will make any of those classes more powerful and able to deal more damage.
Additionally, because it is a one-handed weapon, you can pair Calliben’s Grim Retort with a shield for additional protection. Or use your off-hand to cast spells for extra damage, crowd control, or healing.
Tips and Tricks for Calliben’s Grim Retort in ESOR
These are the best tips and tricks for finding and using Calliben’s Grim Retort in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered:
- You cannot enter the Trentius Family Mausoleum until it is unlocked during the Unfriendly Competition quest.
- However, if you completed the quest but didn’t get the mace, the mausoleum should still be unlocked. You can return at any time.
- Calliben’s Grim Retort is one of the best melee weapons to get in the early game. If you can manage to defeat Agarmir and the guard, you can get it as early as Level 1.
Calliben’s Grim Retort Console Command Code in ESOR
The Console Command Code you use to automatically place Calliben’s Grim Retort in your inventory is: player.additem 000CB6F3 1
To use console commands in Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remastered (ESOR), you must be playing on PC. With the game running, press the tilde key (~) or the slash key (/) on your keyboard to open the console. Make sure you’re not in your inventory or any other menu when doing this.
Once the console is open, simply paste the command for the item or gear you want, then press Enter. A message should appear confirming that the item has been added to your inventory.
Important: Using any console commands in ESOR will disable achievements for that entire playthrough. Achievements can only be earned in sessions where no console commands have been used.
FAQs about Calliben’s Grim Retort in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered
Where can I find Calliben’s Grim Retort in ESOR?
You can find Calliben’s Grim Retort inside the Trentius Family Mausoleum in the Imperial City, which can only be entered during the Unfriendly Competition side quest.
Which classes or builds benefit most from Calliben’s Grim Retort?
Strong melee classes such as Crusader, Knight, Warrior, Battlemage, or Barbarian would benefit most from equipping Calliben’s Grim Retort in ESOR.
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