Want to save Cyrodiil without ever swinging a sword or taking a hit? The Pure Conjurer build in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered lets you do just that, and it’s a blast. The build is all about summoning creatures to fight for you while you hang back, tossing out buffs and debuffs like a master strategist. Thanks to the remaster’s smarter summon AI, your minions are more reliable than ever, making this unique approach to combat both fun and effective. Whether you’re a magic enthusiast or just want a fresh way to play, this guide will show you how to dominate with your summoned allies, from character setup to spell tactics and beyond. Let’s get started!

Character Summoning A Creature In Oblivion Remaste

1. Building Your Character

You want a character with a big Magicka pool, cheap summons, and enough defense to avoid getting wrecked.

Race

  • Breton: Top pick. They get +50 Magicka and 25% Magic Resistance, which helps you cast more and tank enemy spells. Their Dragon Skin power (50% Shield for 60 seconds) is a nice safety net.
  • High Elf (Altmer): Huge +100 Magicka boost, but they take 25% extra damage from Fire, Frost, and Shock. Risky, but great if you’re good at dodging spells.

Birthsign

  • Mage: Straight-up +50 Magicka with no downsides. Perfect for new players.
  • Apprentice: +100 Magicka, but you’re super weak to magic. Only pick this if you’re confident in staying out of trouble.
  • Atronach: High-risk, high-reward with +150 Magicka and 50% Spell Absorption. You’ll need to plan your Magicka use carefully.

Class

Specialization: Magic (levels up Conjuration faster).

Favored Attributes: Intelligence (more Magicka) and Willpower (faster Magicka regen).

Major Skills:

  • Conjuration: Your main skill for summoning creatures and bound gear.
  • Restoration: For healing yourself or summons.
  • Alteration: For Shield spells, Feather (carry more loot), or Open Lock.
  • Mysticism: For Detect Life and Absorb Magicka (great with Atronach).
  • Illusion: For Paralyze, Charm, or Night-Eye.
  • Destruction: For Weakness to Magic/Element spells to boost summon damage (optional).
  • Alchemy: To make Magicka potions and buffs.

Skip melee skills like Blade or Blunt as Major Skills. You’re not fighting up close.

2. How to Play as a Conjurer/Summoner

Oblivion Remastered Spell Vendor Header 2 1

Your job is to summon creatures to fight for you while you hang back and support them with spells. The remaster’s better summon AI means they won’t just stand around like idiots anymore.

Let your summons tank and deal damage while you cast buffs (like Fortify Health) or debuffs (like Weakness to Frost). Stay far from the action, using high ground or corners to avoid enemies. Cast Shield or Invisibility to stay safe.

Level Intelligence and Willpower to keep your Magicka high. Stock up on potions or enchanted gear if you’re running low. Support your summons with spells from other schools. The remaster makes high-Magicka spells level skills faster, so use them to grind.

Key Spells

Restoration

  • Fortify Health/Strength: Makes summons tougher and stronger.
  • Restore Health: Keeps summons alive longer.
  • Fortify Magicka: Gives you more casting juice.

Destruction

  • Weakness to Magic/Frost/Fire/Shock: Makes enemies take more damage from your summons. In the original game, stacking these could make summons like Daedroth wipe enemies fast. In the remaster, summons are stronger, so this might be overkill, but it’s still useful.
  • Flash Bolt (20 Fire Damage) or Lightning Bolt (35 Shock Damage): Cheap spells for emergencies.

Alteration

  • Shield (30% for 30 seconds): Protects you from damage.
  • Feather: Lets you carry more loot.
  • Open Lock: Gets you through locked doors without picking locks.

Illusion

  • Debilitate (Paralyze for 3 seconds): Freezes enemies so summons can pound them.
  • Invisibility/Night-Eye: Helps you stay hidden or see in the dark.

Mysticism

  • Detect Life: Spots enemies for better planning.
  • Absorb Magicka: Refills your Magicka, a must for Atronach users.

Custom Spells

Head to the Arcane University’s Praxographical Center to make custom spells. Try combining Weakness to Frost + Weakness to Magic or Fortify Health + Strength for summons. Make spells that fit your Magicka pool.

3. Best Summons

Overall the Frost Atronach as the best summon because it’s tough, hits hard, and takes buffs well. Other summons like the Xivilai can be annoying. Here’s the rundown, based on tests against enemies at levels 1, 10, 16, 20, and 25+.

Oblivion Remastered Frost Atronach

In the original game, Daedroth was the go-to summon, but the remaster buffs other summons like Frost Atronach, so stick with those.

Frost Atronach (Expert, Level 16+)

Tanky, strong, and doesn’t have annoying traits like Spell Absorption. CuddilyWuddily picks it over the Voracious Hunger (Shivering Isles) for its reliability and look. Buff it with Fortify Health and Strength to make it a beast. Its slow speed isn’t a big deal since it can take hits.

Where to Get: Buy the Summon Frost Atronach spell from Athragar at Chorrol Mages Guild.

Storm Atronach (Master, Level 25+)

Super strong and durable, perfect for late-game stuff like Oblivion Gates. Use Weakness to Shock to make its lightning attacks hit harder.

Where to Get: Buy from Borissean at the Arcane University.

Dremora Lord (Master, Level 25+)

High damage with Daedric weapons, great for melee-heavy fights. Boost its damage with Fortify Strength and keep it alive with Restore Health.

A Dremora Lord In Oblivion Remastered

Where to Get: Also from Borissean at the Arcane University.

Skeleton Hero (Journeyman, Level 10+)

Why It Works: Lasts 50 seconds and tanks well in mid-game fights. Use it to distract enemies while you cast support spells.

Where to Get: Buy from Athragar (Chorrol Mages Guild).

Spider Daedra (Expert, Level 16+)

Fast attacks and decent health, good for pulling enemy attention. Pair with Weakness to Poison to boost its poison damage.

A Spider Daedra In Oblivion Remastered

Where to Get: Buy from Athragar or Gaspar Stegine (Arcane University).

What to avoid

  • Xivilai: Its 50% Spell Absorption can eat your buffs half the time, which is a pain. CuddilyWuddily says it’s not worth the hassle.
  • Voracious Hunger (Shivering Isles): Strong, but too ugly (hah). Try it if you’re into it.

Early-Game Summons

  • Summon Skeleton (40 seconds): Solid early tank. Get it from Athragar.
  • Summon Zombie (30 seconds): Decent for early distraction. Also from Athragar.
  • Bound Dagger: Handy if you need to defend yourself.

4. How to Level Up

Which to put points on

  • Focus on Conjuration: Level it early to get stronger summons (Frost Atronach at Expert, Storm Atronach at Master). Cast big summons repeatedly to level faster in the remaster.
  • Grind Restoration and Alteration: Before finishing the Arena’s Champion fight, max these at the Arcane University with high-Magicka spells (like Fortify Speed from Borissean). It helps you stay alive.
  • Attributes: Boost Intelligence for more Magicka and Willpower for faster regen. Add Endurance for extra health if you’re squishy (e.g., High Elf).

Arena for Easy Gold

The Arena is a cash cow for summoners. The repeatable 3 Minotaur Lord fights give 2,300+ gold and three pricey weapons per run, so you don’t need to lug loot from dungeons. Stop before the Champion fight to grind Alteration and Restoration. Summon a Frost Atronach, buff it, and debuff enemies while staying back.

Run these fights weekly for steady gold to buy spells and potions.

Gear and Enchantments

  • Magicka Gear: Enchant robes or jewelry with Fortify Magicka or Magicka Regen to keep casting.
  • Defensive Gear: Use Shield enchantments or light armor with Intelligence/Willpower boosts.
  • Backup Weapon: Carry a light Dagger or Shortsword, or use Bound Dagger for emergencies.