If it’s to be smashing through front lines, hacking down enemies with rabid melee attacks, and withstanding damage with vigor and willpower that you’re after, then the Barbarian is the build suited most for you. While similar to the Warrior, the Barbarian emphasizes mobility, raw damage, and self-sufficiency — especially in Oblivion Remastered, wherein a good build can make you all but invulnerable.
Here’s what you’ll require to create the best and most enjoyable-to-play Barbarian build in Oblivion Remastered.
Barbarian Playstyle Summary
The Barbarian is a melee bruiser that takes advantage of high Endurance and Strength to bludgeon foes. However, unlike heavily armored tanks, Barbarians take advantage of mobility, stamina, and quick engagements to dominate on their terms.
Key Traits:
- Uses two-handed or one-handed melee weapons (swords, axes, hammers)
- Is fond of Light Armor for speed and agility
- Uses Restoration potions or Alchemy to heal
- Doesn’t utilize magic (other than for buffs or healing)
Best Races for a Barbarian Build
Choosing the best race gives you a good early-game advantage and decides your long-term progression. For Barbarians, choose races with bonus Strength, Endurance, or combat skill bonuses.
Orc
- Best for plain melee-specialized Barbarians
- Starting high Strength (45), Endurance (50), and Willpower (50) (from the Stronghold Origin)
- Inherent 25% Magic Resistance
- Bonuses to Blunt and Armorer skills
Redguard
- Best suited for aggressive, high-speed combat
- +10 to Blade, +10 Athletics, +10 Acrobatics
- Adrenaline Rush Greater Power has increased Strength, Endurance, and Speed
- Best suited for hit-and-run playing style and hybrid melee builds
Nord
- Middle ground between strength and endurance
- +10 to Blunt, Restoration, and Armorer
- Natural 50% Frost Resistance
- Ever so slightly more skilled at ranged combat and defense than Redguard
Best Birthsign for a Barbarian
The Lord
- Blesses with the Blood of the North spell (Heal 90 pts over time)
- Increases Armor Rating and Magic Resistance
- Recommended for a solo frontliner who needs sustain without the necessity of full magic builds
Alternative Options:
- The Warrior: +10 Strength and Endurance — recommended for a pure damage-focused Barbarian
- The Atronach: For high-level characters who want to soak Magicka instead of regenerating it
Custom Barbarian Class Setup
While there is a vanilla Barbarian class, creating your own custom class offers more optimization, flexibility, and synergy.
Specialization
Combat — Gives +5 to Strength and Endurance-based skills.
Favored Attributes
- Strength: Melee damage and carry weight
- Endurance: Max health and survivability
- (Optional: Add Speed or Agility for mobility builds)
Best Barbarian Major Skills
The following are the seven most efficient Major Skills to add to your custom Barbarian build:
| Skill | Why It’s Important |
| Blunt or Blade | Choose based on weapon type (axes/hammers vs. swords/daggers) |
| Light Armor | Keeps speed and agility but does not lose defense |
| Armorer | Let’s you fix armor and equipment in the field — even more important on long dungeon crawls |
| Block | Caps damage received and offers a tactical option when fighting at close range |
| Alchemy | Craft your own buff, healing, and fatigue potions — especially useful for self-sustaining |
| Athletics | Raises stamina recovery and speed |
| Acrobatics | Increases jumping and evasive ability; useful with Light Armor builds |
