TL;DR
- Take the Black Road northwest to access Chorrol and begin the valuable Go Fish side quest
- Explore the North Sewers for early-game equipment and manageable combat encounters
- Join the Fighters and Mages Guilds immediately for training facilities and starter gear
- Visit Vilverin ruins for accessible dungeon experience and moderate treasure rewards
- Balance exploration with main quest progression to optimize character development
Emerging from the Imperial City sewers in Oblivion Remastered presents an overwhelming freedom of choice that can paralyze new adventurers. The sprawling landscape of Cyrodiil extends in every direction, with no artificial barriers restricting your exploration from the moment you step into daylight.
The game’s true journey commences when you leave the grimy underground passages behind and behold the vast wilderness awaiting discovery. You face a critical decision: pursue the main narrative by delivering the Amulet of Kings as the deceased emperor requested, or immediately diverge to forge your own path through uncharted territories. This open-world design philosophy defines the Elder Scrolls experience but demands strategic thinking.
Seasoned Oblivion veterans typically have established routes memorized, but newcomers to the remastered edition often struggle with orientation. Cyrodiil’s massive scale becomes apparent when examining the world map, which reveals numerous fast-travel destinations positioned thousands of meters apart, accessible from your initial emergence point.
Our guidance focuses on four optimized starting destinations that provide balanced risk-reward ratios for characters at level 1-3. These locations offer manageable challenges while establishing foundations for your long-term progression. For comprehensive coverage of the remastered edition’s enhancements, consult our Complete Guide to advanced gameplay mechanics.
An overview of the Black Road
The Black Road represents one of the most beginner-friendly starting routes, branching northwest from the Imperial City toward the major settlement of Chorrol. This well-traveled path introduces core game mechanics through gradual difficulty progression while providing numerous exploration opportunities.
Your journey begins in the riverside settlement of Weye, located approximately 800 meters from the sewer exit. Here you can initiate the Go Fish side quest, which involves retrieving a ring from the nearby water and rewards you with the unique Water Breathing enchantment—invaluable for aquatic exploration throughout your adventure.
Along the Black Road’s winding path, you’ll encounter multiple points of interest including abandoned forts, hidden caves, and roadside shrines. Each location offers distinct challenges and rewards, with enemy difficulty scaling appropriately for early-game characters. The road itself is relatively safe, with frequent Imperial patrols reducing random encounter frequency.
Chorrol serves as an ideal first major city destination, featuring comprehensive merchant services, skill trainers, and the Fighters Guild hall. The city’s centralized location makes it a perfect hub for subsequent expeditions into the surrounding wilderness regions. New players should allocate 45-60 minutes for this route to fully benefit from available opportunities.
Speaking with Oegir Goerick
The North Sewers entrance lies concealed along the northern bank of the Rumare river, approximately 400 meters from your emergence point. This location provides immediate access to manageable combat encounters and valuable early-game equipment without requiring extensive travel.
Within these underground passages, you’ll confront basic enemy types including rats and low-level bandits, making them perfect for combat skill development. The confined environment limits engagement numbers, allowing you to practice mechanics without becoming overwhelmed by multiple adversaries simultaneously.
Loot distribution in the North Sewers favors practical equipment over rare artifacts. You can expect to find iron weapons, leather armor, and minor healing potions—essential supplies for your initial adventures above ground. The dungeon layout features straightforward navigation with minimal branching paths, reducing disorientation risks.
A common mistake involves attempting this location without adequate torch supplies or healing capabilities. Ensure you collect at least 3-4 torches from the initial sewer area or purchase them from Imperial City merchants before venturing inside. The entire exploration typically requires 20-30 minutes and yields experience points crucial for early level progression.
The entrance to the North Sewers
Guild membership provides foundational benefits that dramatically improve your early-game survivability and progression speed. The Fighters Guild and Mages Guild maintain halls in most major cities, with the Chorrol branches being most accessible from your starting position.
The Fighters Guild offers combat-oriented resources including weapon trainers, equipment vendors, and beginner quests with modest rewards. Membership requires no special qualifications initially, making it an immediate option for character development. The guild’s training facilities allow you to practice combat techniques without permanent consequences.
Meanwhile, the Mages Guild provides access to spell vendors, alchemy laboratories, and enchanting services. Each guild hall features unique NPCs with specialized knowledge and services unavailable elsewhere in Cyrodiil.
Strategic guild progression involves joining both organizations simultaneously to maximize resource access. Each guild’s initial quests are designed for level 1-5 characters and introduce core gameplay systems gradually. For weapon specialization guidance, our Weapons Unlock resource details advanced equipment acquisition strategies.
Advanced players should prioritize guild advancement before exploring high-risk areas, as the faction rewards significantly enhance combat effectiveness. The recommendation includes completing 2-3 starter quests for each guild to establish reputation and access improved services.
The entrance to the Fighters Guild
Teekeeus is the head of the Chorrol Mages Guild
The Vilverin ruins stand as an excellent introductory dungeon experience located east of the Imperial City along the Orange Road. This Ayleid ruin features moderate challenges appropriate for characters at level 2-4, with valuable rewards justifying the investment.
Navigation to Vilverin follows a straightforward eastern route from the sewer exit, covering approximately 1.2 kilometers through relatively safe terrain. The journey presents minimal hostile encounters, allowing uninterrupted travel to the destination.
Within the ruins, you’ll encounter basic undead enemies and simple traps, providing ideal training for more dangerous dungeons later. The loot includes soul gems, early magical items, and moderate gold quantities that accelerate your economic development during the critical early game phase.
Preparation should include bringing lockpicks for novice-level locks, healing potions for sustainability, and a silver weapon for effective damage against spectral enemies. For class-specific preparation strategies, reference our Class Guide for specialized approach recommendations. The complete exploration typically requires 35-50 minutes depending on your combat efficiency and exploration thoroughness.
Common mistakes include attempting Vilverin without adequate restoration capabilities or silver weapons. The dungeon’s winding corridors can disorient unprepared explorers, so mental mapping or frequent minimap consultation is recommended.
The location of Vilverin
Action Checklist
- Exit sewers and immediately save your game, then gather basic supplies from Imperial City merchants
- Follow the Black Road northwest to Weye and complete the Go Fish quest for Water Breathing ring
- Explore North Sewers for combat practice and early equipment gathering
- Join both Fighters Guild and Mages Guild in Chorrol to access training resources
- Travel east to Vilverin ruins for dungeon experience and moderate treasure rewards
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Where To Go First In Oblivion Remastered Essential starting locations and expert strategies for new players exploring Cyrodiil after the Imperial City sewers
