Starting your journey in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion can feel overwhelming with so many towns, guilds, and quests available from the beginning. Choosing the right quests early in the game can make a big difference in your character’s progression, gold income, and access to useful items. Some early quests are especially valuable because they are easy to complete, provide great rewards, or lead into larger questlines. Knowing which quests to prioritize will help you level up efficiently and enjoy the world of Cyrodiil to its fullest.
Best Early Quests in Oblivion
Deliver the Amulet
This is the first main quest after escaping the Imperial Prison. You’ll be asked to deliver the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre in Weynon Priory, near Chorrol. It’s straightforward, introduces important characters, and opens the main questline. Even if you don’t plan to continue the main story right away, completing this quest gives you fast access to the open world and lets you explore at your own pace.
A Brotherhood Betrayed (Bruma)
This murder mystery quest in Bruma is easy to start and fun to solve. Speak to the guards about a recent murder, then investigate by interviewing witnesses and examining the crime scene. It’s a light detective-style quest that rewards you with a small amount of gold and helps you gain Fame. It’s also a great introduction to how quests work in the cities.
Unfriendly Competition (Imperial City)
Found in the Imperial City Market District, this quest starts when you talk to a struggling merchant who suspects foul play. You’ll investigate a shady organization that’s sabotaging local businesses. It involves some light sneaking, combat, and dialogue. The reward includes gold and access to cheaper prices from some merchants in the future, making it a smart economic choice early on.
Joinable Guild Quests to Start Early
Fighters Guild Quests
The Fighters Guild is ideal for melee and warrior-type characters. You can join in any of the three cities: Anvil, Cheydinhal, or Chorrol. The early quests are simple tasks like clearing out rats or recovering stolen goods. These quests build your combat skills and provide good starting equipment, along with steady gold income.
Mages Guild Recommendation Quests
To join the Arcane University, you must earn recommendations from each city’s Mages Guild. These quests are not only easy but also varied in design. Whether you’re retrieving a ring from a well or dealing with a failed magical experiment, they offer unique experiences. You gain access to spell-making and enchanting tools once you’re admitted to the university, which is extremely useful even for non-mage characters.
Dark Brotherhood Introduction
After killing an innocent NPC, you’ll be approached in your sleep by Lucien Lachance, inviting you to join the Dark Brotherhood. Accepting leads to one of the most memorable questlines in Oblivion. The first mission, A Knife in the Dark, involves a simple assassination with stealth optional. Dark Brotherhood quests are rewarding and provide powerful gear like the Shrouded Armor early on.
Thieves Guild Quest: May the Best Thief Win
To join the Thieves Guild, talk to beggars in the Imperial City Waterfront about Gray Fox. Eventually, you’ll be invited to a competition against other thieves. Win it, and you join the guild. The early quests are easy and emphasize stealth and exploration, ideal for rogue or stealth-based characters. The guild fence system also allows you to sell stolen items, which is a big money-maker.
Easy and Profitable Miscellaneous Quests
No Stone Unturned (Anvil)
Visit the Anvil Mages Guild and you’ll be directed to a haunted manor quest. After clearing the spirits and investigating the house’s history, you’ll receive gold and a house in Anvil. Getting a free home early in Oblivion is a huge advantage, providing a place to safely store your items.
Canvas the Castle (Chorrol)
This quest starts when you speak to Countess Arriana Valga in Chorrol about a missing painting. It’s a dialogue-driven mystery quest with no combat, making it accessible at any level. If solved correctly, you earn a decent reward in gold and some Fame. It’s quick and builds good relationships with Chorrol’s nobility.
Raid on Greyland (Leyawiin)
Talk to the guard captain in Leyawiin and you’ll be sent to take care of a skooma dealer outside the city. The fight is simple, and the reward includes gold, loot, and potentially more interactions with the guards. It’s a good warm-up combat quest that’s easy to complete early.
Quests that Provide Unique Gear
Two Sides of the Coin (Bravil)
This quest leads to a choice between helping a thief or a merchant. Either way, you’ll get access to unique weapons and armor depending on your choice. It’s a quick quest with meaningful reward options depending on your character type great for roleplaying as well.
Severing the Fingers of the Hand (Cheydinhal)
After joining the Fighters Guild, this quest line introduces you to some internal corruption. The early missions give you access to useful enchanted weapons, gear, and a deeper plot. It’s optional but rewarding and can be started early with low requirements.
Go Fish (Weynon Priory Area)
This quest involves hunting slaughterfish for a fisherman. While it may seem trivial, completing it rewards you with the Jewel of the Rumare, a ring that grants Water Breathing and improved Athletics. It’s incredibly useful for underwater exploration and never becomes obsolete, making it worth doing right away.
Tips for Early Questing Success
- Use Fast Travel Early on, use fast travel to explore major cities and pick up guild and city quests efficiently.
- Talk to NPCs Random conversations often lead to hidden side quests that aren’t marked on your map.
- Prioritize Reward-Based Quests Focus on quests that offer permanent rewards like homes, enchanted items, or spell access.
- Don’t Ignore the Arena The Arena in the Imperial City is an easy way to earn gold and experience without needing to quest much.
There are dozens of quests available right from the beginning of Oblivion, but some offer better rewards, easier objectives, and faster progression than others. Whether you’re looking for quick gold, a good weapon, or a faction to align with, the early game is full of opportunities. Focusing on city quests, guild recommendations, and specific item-giving missions will give you a solid foundation for the rest of your journey across Cyrodiil. As you explore more and level up, these early quests will continue to pay off through story development, unique loot, and expanded world access.