How to Join Mages Guild & Arcane University in Oblivion Remastered

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a massive role-playing game that you can literally sink hundreds of hours into. The game has 9 major cities to explore: Anvil, Bravil, Bruma, Cheydinhal, Chorrol, Imperial City, Kvatch, Leyawin, and Skingrad. Kvatch is unfortunately being seiged by the malevolent Daedra enemies. Most of Kvatch is destroyed. I'm hoping Bethesda will include a DLC that enables players to restore Kvatch to its former glory. Some gamers are speculating that DLC may be added in the future considering the game has sold millions of digital copies already. A physical release is a real possibility as well.

Each of the major cities in the world of Cyrodiil has a Mages Guild building where other practicing mages hangout at. Many of these NPCs (non-playable characters) will sell you spells from the different schools of magic such as Destruction, Conjuration, Illusion etc.

How to Join the Mages Guild in Oblivion Remastered

To join the Mages Guild in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, simply ask one of the branch leaders: Carahil in the Anvil Guild, Kud-Ei in Bravil, Jeanne Frasoric in Bruma, Falcar in Cheydinhal, Teekeeus in Chorrol, Dagail in Leyawiin, or Adrienne Berene in Skingrad.

Only Requirement: The Mages Guild will not accept you if you're a criminal with a record, so make sure to avoid committing any crimes or clear the bounty on your head. Otherwise, you won't be able to become an Associate.

To gain access to the Arcane University in the Imperial City, you must first acquire seven recommendations from each of the Mages Guild branch leaders in each city. Once you gain access to the Arcane University, you'll be able to continue the story and rank up. You'll also gain access to an Altar of Enchanting and Altar of Spellmaking. While it's possible to use those at Frostcrag Spire, you'll need gold to purchase the expensive Magetallow Candles.

Bruma Recommendation

Speak to the lively leader Jeanne Frasoric who asks you to find J'skar, who has apparently gone missing, seemingly vanishing into thin air. Find J'skar to secure a recommendation from Jeanne. It turns out that J'skar was merely hiding and wanted to play a prank on the branch leader.

Bravil Recommendation

Apparently, Varon Vamori fancies Ardaline. You must retrieve the staff that Varon stole from Ardaline to receive a recommendation from Kud-Ei. Unfortunately, it's no longer in Varon's possession. You must go to the Imperial City to the Talos Plaza District and purchase the staff from Soris Arenim, the current owner of Ardaline's staff.

Cheydinhal Recommendation

The Ring of Burden has been dropped into the well behind the guild by a novice mage. Falcar wants you to obtain the Ring of Burden. He sends you to Deetsan who will provide a key.

Note, the Ring of Burden is no ordinary key! It will weigh you down to the point where you'll probably be over-encumbered. You discover that the novice mage, Vidkun, tragically drowned in the well after picking the Ring of Burden up. Reduce your weight to avoid being over-encumbered by the ring or use a water-breathing item or spell to avoid drowning. It's possible to swim out of the well when over-encumbered, but it's more difficult.

Anvil Recommendation

Citizens and merchants have been going missing or found dead when traveling around the Gold Road between Imperial City and the Gold Coast. The Mages Guild wants branch leader Carahil to investigate and stop the murders. Carahil will send you to the Brina Cross Inn. Follow her instructions. It's revealed that Caminalda is the enemy whom was putting on a benevolent facade at the Brina Cross Inn. Kill the murderer who is responsible and you'll get the recommendation from Carahil.

Skingrad Recommendation

Speak to Adrienne Berene who reveals Erthor hasn't been around. He was forbidden to practice in the guild after making a monumental mistake involving a scamp creature. You must find Ethor and bring him back to the Skingrad Mages to acquire a recommendation.

Travel to Bleak Flats Cave. Head west of Skingrad to find it. There are zombies inside that must be eliminated before Ethor will join and follow you out.

Leyawin Recommendation

Dagail, Archmagister, of the Leyawin Mages Guild is rather strange and incoherent. It sounds as if she's mumbling a bunch of gibberish and cryptic nonsense. Apparently, she has some sort of "visions" that are perturbing and ailing her mind because she doesn't have the protection of the "Seers Stone" amulet. Kalthar harbors resentment over Dagail's position, as he sees her as unqualified.

Dagail will eventually spout out some kind of riddle after you speak to the other guild members. The journal interprets it for you, revealing the location of Fort Blueblood, southeast of Leyawiin. You'll find the remains of Dagail's father, Manduin. Obtain the amulet that's inside a coffin at Fort Blueblood. Before leaving, Kalthar confronts you. He confesses that he stole the amulet and was going to give it back if Dagail stepped down from her position while he advanced. He becomes hostile, forcing you to fight and kill him.

Speak to Teekeeus who wants you to clear up a "small matter." It ends up being bit more convoluted than that. Both Teekeeus and Earana do not like each other very much. Teekeeus sees Earana as a reckless and impetuous person who disobeys regulations. Earana thinks that Teekeeus abuses his power and authority.

Earana can be found outside on the streets of Chorrol, outside the guild. She also frequents the Gray Mare Inn. She wants you to procure a book called the "Fingers of the Mountain." It's at a ruin called the Cloud Top, high up the mountain, north of Chorrol.

Whoever obtains the book is up to you to decide. The recommendation can still be acquired, but the events and quests play out differently depending on your choice.

The Arcane University

Once you've got all seven recommendations from each guild leader from every city in Cyrodiil, you'll gain entry to the Arcane University in the Imperial City. Note, you don't have to be a pure-mage to progress through the ranks in the Mages Guild. In fact, your character can mostly be a barbarian or warrior who mainly has skills accumulated in Blade or Blunt etc. Of course, some quests do involve magic, so it's good to have a few spells handy.

What Race Excels at Magic in Oblivion?

The Breton is sometimes considered to be one of the best races for battlemage classes because they resist magic by 50% which is very significant. They also have 50 more magic to draw upon. If a Breton is born under the sign of The Lord, they'll have an additional 15% resistance to magic!

High Elves are generally considered to be the best pure-mage class since they have 100 more magicka. And if they're born under under the Atronach, they have 150 more magicka. Unfortunately, that extra magicka boost comes with a cost; High Elves have a 25% weakness to all elemental damage (ice, fire and frost). And the Atronach Sign does not provide magic regeneration, so you'll have to rely on Sorcery Potions or Welkynd Stones to regenerate magicka pool.

Truth be told, any race can be used as a mage, but some of the races are better suited for it. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered provides you with many options and a lot of freedom to play as you please. I'm really enjoying my return to Oblivion. Besides the frame rate stutters, I'm having a great time!