The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Essential Beginner Tips

Learn how to join the Thieves Guild in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion by getting arrested and serving time. This guide details initial steps for new players.

Essential Beginner Tips

To join the Thieves Guild, one reliable method is to get arrested. Commit a crime, such as attacking a guard in the Imperial City or stealing a red-highlighted item. Choose to go to jail and sleep to serve your sentence, which will decrease one of your skills by a single point. This action is the initial step in triggering the Thieves Guild questline.

Finding the Thieves Guild

You have a few ways to trigger the initial quest for joining the Thieves Guild. There are three, though one can be glitchy. Two surefire ways exist to get started.

Getting Arrested

One of the easiest ways to trigger the Thieves Guild chain is to simply get arrested. You can do this in a variety of ways, like walking up to a guard in the Imperial City and attacking them, or you could simply get caught stealing. Note that the item must be red in order for it to count as stealing. Once you get arrested, choose to go to jail and while there, just go to sleep to serve your sentence (this will decrease one of your skills by a single point). This is just the first part of this method, as there is something else that needs to be done.

Joining the Mages Guild

Speak to any of the seven Guild Hall leaders to join the Mages Guild. Do not have a bounty on your head. Joining the Mages Guild offers several benefits:

  • You will be able to freely obtain alchemical supplies within the Guild Halls across Cyrodiil. Display cabinets may hold useful items like Skill Books. You can also use their beds to rest and level up once you have earned enough experience.
  • Joining the Mages Guild will also improve the Disposition of all Mages Guild members by a solid 20 points. This improves by 20 points with each promotion, meaning you can max out their Disposition scores towards you by the time you become a Conjurer.
  • Clear all the recommendation quests and you will gain access to the Arcane University. You can enchant items and create custom spells here to improve your spellcasting powers.
  • If you become an Arch-Mage by clearing all of the Mages Guild’s quests, you will gain access into the Arch-Mage’s Quarters in the Arch-Mage’s Tower. In addition to altars for spellmaking and enchantment, you get a neat Enchanted Chest that can duplicate common ingredients. You can also ask Mage Apprentices to follow you into combat.