In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, rings are a big deal, packing strong enchantments that can seriously level up your character. Whether you’re swinging a sword, sneaking around, or casting spells, these one-of-a-kind, non-scaling items let you customize your build—perfect for warriors, thieves, or mages.
This guide rounds up the top rings from the base game and DLCs like Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine, breaking down their effects, how to get them, and why they’re worth grabbing.
1. Mundane Ring
- Enchantment: Resist Magic 35%, Reflect Spell 50% (constant effects).
- Location: Random loot, most reliably in a chest in Vilverin (Ayleid ruin, northeast of Imperial City, “Sel Vanua” section).
- How to Obtain: Loot boss chests in Vilverin or other Ayleid ruins/Oblivion Gates (level 15+ for best odds). Save before looting to “reroll” loot.
Why It’s Great
Top-tier defensive ring with massive magic resistance and spell reflection, ideal against mages, Liches, or Daedra in Oblivion Gates.
Extremely rare due to random loot table, making it a prized find. Stacks with other rings for near-invincibility against magic.
Playstyle Fit: Mages, tanks, or any build facing spellcasters.
Remastered Note: Vilverin’s chest is still a prime farming spot; enhanced visuals in Oblivion Remastered aid exploration.
2. Ring of the Iron Fist
- Enchantment: Fortify Hand to Hand 10 points, Fortify Strength 10 points (constant effects).
- Location: Fort Farragut (near Cheydinhal) or random Ayleid ruin loot.
- How to Obtain: Found in a chest during the Dark Brotherhood quest “The Purification” (requires joining and progressing Dark Brotherhood). Rarely appears in boss chests.
Why It’s Great
Essential for unarmed builds, boosting Hand to Hand damage significantly. Strength boost enhances melee damage and carry weight, versatile for warriors.
Rare due to quest exclusivity or low-drop-rate loot.
Playstyle Fit: Unarmed fighters, warriors, hybrid melee builds.
Remastered Note: Dark Brotherhood questline unchanged; a must-have for unarmed players in Remastered.
3. Ring of Khajiiti
- Enchantment: Chameleon 35%, Fortify Speed 10 points (constant effects).
- Location: Meridia’s Shrine (west of Skingrad).
- How to Obtain: Complete Meridia’s Daedric quest “Meridia” (level 10+), clearing a necromancer cave and offering undead remains.
Why It’s Great
35% Chameleon grants partial invisibility, perfect for stealth, pickpocketing, or avoiding combat. Speed boost aids kiting and exploration.
This is a Daedric artifact with Khajiit lore, exclusive to the quest.
Playstyle Fit: Thieves, archers, stealth builds, explorers.
Remastered Note: Chameleon remains a stealth powerhouse in Oblivion Remastered.
4. Ring of Vitality
- Enchantment: Fortify Health 50 points, Resist Disease 100%, Resist Poison 100% (constant effects).
- Location: Random loot, often in Sancre Tor (main quest) or high-level boss chests (Ayleid ruins, Oblivion Gates).
- How to Obtain: Check chests during “The Path of Dawn” (main quest) or loot from Daedra/Liches (level 15+). Save before looting.
Why It’s Great
+50 Health boosts survivability, especially for low-health builds. Full disease/poison immunity prevents vampirism or poisoned weapon effects. Rare random loot makes it a lucky find.
Playstyle Fit: All builds, especially warriors or mages needing durability.
Remastered Note: Sancre Tor chests are reliable; health boost shines in Remastered’s tougher fights.
5. Ring of Perfection
- Enchantment: Fortify Strength 10 points, Fortify Agility 10 points, Fortify Speed 10 points, Fortify Endurance 10 points (constant effects).
- Location: Mystic Emporium, Imperial City Market District.
- How to Obtain: Buy from Calindil for ~6,000–7,000 gold (high disposition needed via persuasion/bribes). Limited stock.
Why It’s Great
Boost four attributes, enhancing melee damage, stamina, critical hits, movement, and health/stamina regen.
Versatile for any physical build; accessible early with enough gold. Missable if Calindil dies or stock depletes.
Playstyle Fit: Warriors, rogues, hybrid builds.
Remastered Note: Early Mystic Emporium visit recommended in Remastered to secure it.
6. Ring of the Gray (Shivering Isles DLC)
- Enchantment: Fortify Sneak 10 points, Fortify Security 10 points, Resist Magic 20% (constant effects).
- Location: Crucible, New Sheoth (Shivering Isles).
- How to Obtain: Complete the main Shivering Isles questline, choosing to become the leader of either Mania or Dementia. The ring is a reward from Sheogorath (replaces the Ring of Lordship if you side with Dementia).
Why It’s Great
Boosts Sneak and Security for better stealth and lockpicking, ideal for thieves. 20% magic resistance adds defensive utility against Shivering Isles’ spellcasting enemies (e.g., Gnarls).
Exclusive to the Shivering Isles endgame, with lore ties to Sheogorath’s realm.
Playstyle Fit: Thieves, stealth builds, or mages needing magic resistance.
Remastered Note: A top DLC ring in Oblivion Remastered, especially for Shivering Isles stealth runs.
7. Ring of Intrigue (Shivering Isles DLC)
- Enchantment: Fortify Speed 10 points, Fortify Acrobatics 10 points, Fortify Athletics 10 points (constant effects).
- Location: Crucible or Bliss, New Sheoth (Shivering Isles).
- How to Obtain: Reward for completing the Shivering Isles quest “The Antipodean Hammer” by crafting amber or madness armor for Cutter or Dumag gro-Bonk.
Why It’s Great
Enhances movement with Speed, Acrobatics, and Athletics, perfect for agile characters or fast exploration in the Shivering Isles.
Synergizes with Ring of Khajiiti for a mobile stealth build. Relatively easy to obtain compared to endgame quest rewards.
Playstyle Fit: Rogues, explorers, or builds prioritizing mobility.
Remastered Note: Boosts traversal in Remastered’s vibrant Shivering Isles landscapes.
8. Denel’s Ring (Knights of the Nine DLC)
- Enchantment: Fortify Speechcraft 10 points, Fortify Personality 10 points (constant effects).
- Location: Priory of the Nine (West Weald).
- How to Obtain: Found in a chest in the Priory’s undercroft during the Knights of the Nine quest “The Faithful Squire” or later quests.
Why It’s Great
Boosts Speechcraft and Personality for better persuasion and merchant deals, saving gold on bribes or purchases (e.g., houses). Unique for social builds or roleplayers focusing on dialogue. Easy to acquire during the Knights of the Nine questline.
Playstyle Fit: Roleplayers, merchants, or builds needing high disposition.
Remastered Note: Useful in Remastered for lowering house purchase costs (e.g., Rosethorn Hall).
Honorable Mentions
Ring of Namira
- Enchantment: Reflect Damage 12 points, Reflect Spell 10% (constant effects).
- Location: Namira’s Shrine (northeast of Bruma).
- How to Obtain: Complete Namira’s Daedric quest “Namira” (level 5+, requires Personality ≤20).
Reflects physical/magical damage for tanks, but outclassed by Mundane Ring.
Ring of the Vipereye
- Enchantment: Resist Magic 15%, Fortify Agility 10 points (constant effects).
- Location: Leyawiin Castle or random loot.
- How to Obtain: Found during Mages Guild quest “Leyawiin Recommendation” or Ayleid ruins.
Decent for archers, but weaker than Mundane Ring or Ring of the Gray.
Strategies to Obtain
Random Loot
Farm Vilverin (Mundane Ring) or Sancre Tor (Ring of Vitality) at level 15+. Save before boss chests.
Check Ayleid ruins or Oblivion Gates for rare drops.
Daedric Quests
Meridia’s quest (level 10+, west of Skingrad) for Ring of Khajiiti.
Namira’s quest (level 5+, low Personality) for Ring of Namira.
DLC Quests
Complete Shivering Isles main quest for Ring of the Gray (choose Dementia for best version).
Finish “The Antipodean Hammer” in Shivering Isles for Ring of Intrigue.
Progress through Knights of the Nine for Denel’s Ring (Priory chest).
Shop
Raise Calindil’s disposition (80+) at Mystic Emporium for Ring of Perfection; buy early.
Dark Brotherhood
Join by murdering an innocent, then progress to “The Purification” for Ring of the Iron Fist.
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