Oblivion Remastered players continue to slam the automatic enemy scaling system just like they did back in 2006. After sinking 100+ hours into both versions, I can confirm that bandits still rock Daedric armor at high levels, and it’s still absolutely bonkers.
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What Makes Oblivion’s Scaling So Frustrating?
The automatic scaling system in TES IV Remastered adjusts the game world to match your character’s level. As you level up:
Enemies gain more health and deal more damage Common foes like bandits start wearing increasingly powerful armor Loot and quest rewards change in quality based on your level
This system affects virtually everything you encounter in Cyrodiil. The original designers wanted to maintain consistent challenge throughout the game so players could tackle content in any order. Instead? It creates some deeply immersion-breaking scenarios that mess with core RPG satisfaction.
The “Daedric Bandit” Problem Breaks All Immersion
The most infamous issue with Oblivion’s level scaling has to be the “Daedric bandit” phenomenon.
At higher levels, you’ll encounter common roadside bandits wearing Daedric armor – supposedly the rarest, most valuable gear in the game world. Players on Steam forums keep pointing out this ridiculous situation persists unchanged in the Remaster, frustrating veteran players who hoped this obvious immersion-breaker would get fixed.
A bandit in full Daedric gear is wearing armor worth more than an entire castle Yet this same bandit is still a petty thief robbing travelers on back roads Guards in cities wear standard issue equipment that’s vastly inferior The economic implications make absolutely no sense
The leveled list system running this show doesn’t care about appropriate gear for different enemy types. Skyrim eventually fixed this with faction-based equipment, but Oblivion just assigns gear based on player level regardless of enemy type.
Imagine finding a homeless person wearing a Rolex and designer clothes while begging for change. The world feels completely artificial. Totally breaks the fourth wall when you’re trying to get immersed in your role as the Hero of Kvatch.
Combat Becomes a Boring Slog Against Health Sponges
As you level up in Oblivion Remastered, enemies don’t just get better gear, they get massive health pools. They turn into what gamers call “damage sponges.”
At higher levels, combat turns into a mind-numbing war of attrition:
Fights take forever as you chip away at bloated health bars Even basic enemies require dozens of hits to defeat Combat feels tedious rather than challenging The difficulty comes from inflated stats, not improved AI tactics
I faced a simple Wolf at level 18 that took nearly 20 sword strikes to kill. That’s not a boss, that’s a common forest animal! The tech behind it? While creatures have a health scaling multiplier of 0.4 in the remaster (slightly reducing their health gain per level), NPCs don’t get this limitation, making bandits particularly bullet-spongy at higher levels.
Players constantly express frustration on Steam about combat becoming tedious rather than challenging. Nobody wants easier fights – they want encounters that don’t feel like endless chip damage against unrealistically durable opponents.
I’m all for a good challenge, but turning every random encounter into a five-minute DPS check sucks. What should be quick skirmishes with low-level enemies become tedious slogs that break the rhythm of exploration.
The Treadmill Effect Makes Leveling Up Feel Useless
RPGs should make you feel stronger as you overcome previously challenging obstacles. Oblivion’s world scaling system ruins this satisfaction.
When the entire world scales with you, you get stuck on a “treadmill”:
You level up and get better gear Enemies immediately match your new power level The relative difficulty stays mostly the same Your progression feels meaningless
You never get to feel truly powerful. That satisfying moment when you return to an early area and stomp enemies that once gave you trouble? Gone. Everything stays perpetually “level appropriate.”
Players on Reddit complain about this constantly. After dozens of hours grinding skills and finding better equipment, they expect to feel significantly stronger against early-game enemies. Instead, combat takes roughly the same amount of time regardless of level – just with flashier animations and equipment.
It’s like playing an MMO where your character gets constant gear upgrades but somehow never feels any stronger. That dopamine hit from becoming legitimately OP after investing dozens of hours just isn’t there. What’s the point of the grind when you’re never truly rewarded for it?
Leveled Quest Rewards Force Meta-Gaming
The quality of unique items gets locked in at the moment you receive them. The famous Chillrend sword, for example, becomes drastically different if obtained at level 5 versus level 25. This creates a nasty situation:
Completing a major quest at level 5 gives you a permanently weak version of a unique item The same quest completed at level 25 gives a vastly superior version with better enchantments This pushes players to delay interesting quests until they reach high levels Players make decisions based on meta-gaming rather than roleplaying
Players on Nexus Mods share examples of this problem constantly. With Chillrend specifically, the frost damage enchantment scales dramatically with player level, from single-digit damage points at low levels to 20+ points at higher levels. Many admit feeling forced to postpone quests solely to ensure better versions of these unique rewards.
This system punishes exploration and early quest completion, going against what open world RPGs should be about. It’s terrible game design forcing you to choose between enjoying content naturally or min-maxing your rewards. Nobody wants to check a wiki before deciding if now is the “optimal time” to complete a quest.
The Remaster Fixed Half the Problem But Missed the Rest
Oblivion Remastered did overhaul the original’s problematic leveling for character attributes.
The new system:
Replaced the convoluted attribute bonuses with straightforward “Virtue Points” Lets players freely distribute 12 points per level among attributes Makes building an effective character way easier without “efficient leveling” meta gaming Removed the need to micromanage skill increases for optimal attribute gains
But the world scaling system stayed mostly unchanged. Modders examining the game files found that the NPC leveled lists in the Remastered version remain largely identical to the original game, with minimal changes to how enemies and their equipment scale with player level. Players discuss this extensively in modding forums.
Because Oblivion Remastered lets you level up faster (since both Major and Minor skills now contribute XP), players encounter high-level scaling issues even sooner than in the original game. The player leveling fix actually made the world scaling problems worse.
It’s like they patched one leak in the boat while ignoring the gaping hole in the hull. Sure, player progression runs smoother now, but you still fight bandits with better gear than the Emperor’s guards by mid-game. Weird flex, Bethesda.
Kvatch Quest Becomes an Accidental Nightmare
The “Breaking the Siege of Kvatch” quest perfectly shows the scaling issues in Oblivion Remastered. This main quest should be tackled early in the game, but the scaling system creates a massive difficulty variance.
If you do this quest early (around level 5), you’ll face mostly weak Scamps and a manageable challenge. But if you explore the world first and reach Kvatch at level 15+:
You’ll encounter deadly Daedroths and Flame Atronachs instead of basic Scamps The allied NPCs get slaughtered immediately because they don’t scale effectively The difficulty spikes tremendously without warning The narrative pacing feels broken since it’s meant to be an early quest
IGN ran a story with the headline: “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Players Are Warning Newcomers to Do That Kvatch Quest Before the Level Scaling Makes It an Absolute Nightmare.”
I made this mistake, hitting Kvatch at level 16 after exploring much of the map. What should have been a straightforward battle turned into an hour-long slog as guards got demolished by high-level Daedra, leaving me alone against the horde. Talk about a difficulty cliff! I went from casually exploring Cyrodiil to getting one-shotted by Flame Atronachs while Martin cowered in the chapel. Good times.
Original Designer Called the Scaling a “Mistake”
Bruce Nesmith, who designed Oblivion originally, publicly called the scaling system a “mistake.” During an April 2025 interview with VideoGamer, he stated that Oblivion’s approach to world scaling was flawed.
Nesmith told VideoGamer: “I think the world levelling with you was a mistake and that’s proven by the fact it did not happen the same way in Skryim.” He added that Skyrim implemented a “much, much better way to continue to provide the player challenge without making it feel like ‘oh, it doesn’t matter that I went up in levels, the dungeon went up in levels with me.'”
When asked why the Remaster kept this system, Nesmith explained that changing underlying game design in a remaster is “pretty much unheard of” because “the whole idea is that they want that old experience,” as noted by GamesRadar.
Yet the Remaster completely overhauled the player attribute system, showing significant design changes were possible. So why fix one broken system while leaving another equally criticized one untouched?
Other RPGs Handle Scaling Way Better
Other RPGs found more balanced approaches to the scaling challenge:
Skyrim uses a hybrid system where dungeons and zones have minimum and maximum level ranges. Areas “lock in” difficulty when you first enter them. Enemies have distinct tiered variants rather than just stat inflation. Some areas remain challenging regardless of level, while others become easier.
The encounter zone system in Skyrim represents a significant evolution from Oblivion’s approach, with locations having defined level floors and ceilings rather than unlimited scaling.
The Witcher 3 uses static enemy levels by region, creating natural progression paths through the world while maintaining challenge. Regions like Velen might have enemies around level 10, while Skellige features tougher foes around level 20. This creates a natural flow to the game without preventing exploration for bold players. Its region-based difficulty model earned praise for creating a sense of growing power as you level up.
Morrowind (Oblivion’s predecessor) featured a mostly static world where enemies had fixed levels and equipment. Some areas were deadly to low level players. Players gained a genuine sense of power as they leveled up. Exploration felt risky and rewarding.
Elden Ring takes an even more static approach, with enemy placement and difficulty fixed regardless of player level. This creates genuine risk and reward when exploring, with the satisfaction of eventually overcoming previously impossible challenges. Its encounter design focuses on carefully crafted, fixed-difficulty challenges rather than algorithmic scaling.
Fallout 4, another Bethesda title, implemented a compromise system with zone-based level ranges, where regions of the map have minimum and maximum enemy levels. This creates a natural difficulty progression across the game world while still allowing some scaling within each zone, as players frequently discuss in Fallout forums.
Final Fantasy takes yet another approach, with many entries focusing on level grinding as a core mechanic rather than scaling at all. The series has experimented with various systems over the years, from the traditional fixed-level enemies to more dynamic approaches in recent titles. The franchise continues to innovate with unique gameplay mechanics and collaborative crossovers that expand its influence beyond traditional RPGs.
Mods Save the Day Again
The modding community fixed the scaling issues within days of release. These modders built on nearly two decades of experience fixing the original game’s issues.
Balanced NPC Level Cap Remastered by PushTheWinButton adds maximum levels to enemies, preventing the infinite scaling problem. This mod offers various algorithms for capping NPC levels, often pegging their maximum level to what they would be if the player were level 30, or using a “Diverse” system that assigns caps based on NPC type and encounter location. The mod adds “consistent level caps to 1,400+ NPCs from the base game and all DLCs” making it “the comprehensive solution to Oblivion’s NPC scaling problem,” as described on Nexus Mods.
Unleveled Item Rewards by Trainwiz ensures you always get the best version of unique items regardless of your level at acquisition. The creator noted they made this mod “after blacking out in an incomprehensible fury” upon discovering the leveled rewards were unchanged in the Remaster.
Ascension Remastered offers a comprehensive “vanilla plus” rebalance that maintains Oblivion’s feel while fixing its worst scaling issues. It focuses on rebalancing core game elements like weapons, armor, spells, loot distribution, and player level progression to create a “tighter, smarter, and more rewarding” experience.
Simple Creature Level Cap specifically addresses the health scaling of creatures, complementing the CreatureHealthScalingMultiplier that was adjusted in the Remaster by adding hard caps to prevent creatures from becoming too powerful.
Honestly, the modding scene saved Oblivion back in 2006, and they’re saving it again now. Mad respect to these modders who somehow fixed these issues in days while Bethesda had years to address them.
How to Deal With Scaling Without Mods
If you can’t use mods (especially relevant for console players), try these strategies veteran players developed over years:
Controlled leveling – Only sleep (which triggers level ups) when you’re ready to face stronger enemies. I kept a spreadsheet tracking skill increases to avoid accidental level ups.
Focus on combat skills first – Make sure your offensive capabilities keep pace with scaling enemies. In Oblivion Remastered, this matters less than in the original, but experienced players still recommend it.
Lower the difficulty – Use the preset difficulty options when combat becomes too spongy. The Remaster replaced the original’s slider with five presets (Novice to Master), giving you fewer options.
Use alchemy and enchanting – Create powerful potions and enchanted gear to overcome difficult encounters. Stacking Weakness to Magic and elemental damage creates powerful combinations that overcome even the spongiest enemies, as player strategy guides often mention.
Plan quest timing – Save important quests with unique rewards for higher levels. The UESP wiki lists all leveled items to help you decide which quests to delay.
These workarounds require meta-gaming that pulls you out of the immersive experience. But they’ve become essential knowledge for Oblivion without mods. That’s the true Oblivion experience though, right? Half playing the game, half playing the weird meta-game of not leveling up too fast.
Common Questions About Oblivion Remastered’s Scaling
Can any mods completely remove enemy scaling?
Most mods don’t remove scaling entirely but instead add caps, reduce aggressive scaling, or create logical limitations on enemy equipment. Complete removal would create its own problems, making some areas trivial and others impossible, as mod creators often explain on Nexus forums.
Did they fix the “Daedric bandit” problem in the remaster?
Nope, bandits at high levels still appear in high end gear like Daedric and Glass armor, just like they did in the original game. Modders examining the game files confirmed the leveled lists governing NPC equipment stayed virtually identical to the original.
Is combat harder in Oblivion Remastered compared to the original?
Not inherently, but players level up faster in the Remaster due to changes in how skills contribute to leveling, which means they encounter high level enemies sooner. A technical change called CreatureHealthScalingMultiplier (set to 0.4) does reduce creature health scaling somewhat, but this doesn’t apply to NPCs.
How does Oblivion Remastered’s scaling compare to Skyrim?
Skyrim uses a more balanced approach with level ranges for areas and enemies, while Oblivion Remastered keeps the original game’s more aggressive global scaling. Skyrim’s dungeons typically have minimum and maximum levels that lock in when you first enter, creating a better sense of progression.
Can I play Oblivion Remastered on consoles with mods that fix scaling?
Limited mod support exists for console versions. PC offers the most comprehensive modding options for fixing the scaling issues, while Xbox has some mod support. PlayStation has the most restricted modding capabilities due to platform limitations.
Worth Playing Despite the Scaling Issues
Oblivion Remastered delivered stunning visual upgrades and quality of life improvements, but keeping the original’s controversial scaling system disappoints many.
The mismatch between modernizing player leveling while keeping the flawed world scaling creates an odd half solution that still frustrates players. After 100+ hours with both versions, I rely on mods to fix issues that should’ve been addressed officially.
The game’s core strengths in quest design, writing, and world-building still shine through. The Radiant AI system, while quirky, creates memorable moments, and the faction questlines like the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild remain some of the best in RPG history. You’ll still fight bandits wearing armor worth more than small nations, and watch guards in iron equipment somehow contain these walking treasure vaults.
After nearly two decades, Oblivion Remastered players criticize the automatic enemy scaling with good reason, but the vibrant modding community ensures players have options to experience Cyrodiil with a more balanced, satisfying progression system. Whether Bethesda takes these lessons forward into The Elder Scrolls VI remains to be seen, but the community clearly prefers more nuanced scaling systems.
So grab your mods, be careful when you sleep, and try to ignore the bandits flexing their endgame gear while still being complete pushovers. Despite its frustrating scaling issues, Oblivion remains a fantastic game, jank and all.
