The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Guide | Best Bow Locations

Oblivion Remastered offers a diverse selection of bows, each with unique enchantments, damage outputs, and acquisition methods.

Here's a list of the most notable bows in the game, ranked by effectiveness and accessibility. Detailed information is provided for damage values, enchantments, market value, and precise steps to obtain each weapon.

Shadow Hunt

The Shadow Hunt is a leveled, enchanted Steel Bow that inflicts 10 damage and carries a market value of 50 gold. It features two enchantments: Turn Undead on strike and Weakness to Poison on strike. 

Despite these attributes, neither enchantment functions reliably. Turn Undead fails to cause undead adversaries such as skeletons and zombies to flee, and Weakness to Poison offers no benefit against foes with total Poison resistance.

This bow is obtained as a bonus reward during the Dark Brotherhood quest, The Lonely Wanderer, the sixth main quest in that quest line.

Bow of Infernal Frost

The Bow of Infernal Frost deals 8 damage and has a market value of approximately 7,000 gold. It employs the Dwarven Bow model and carries the enchantments Fire Damage on strike and Frost Damage on strike. 

With only seven charges, frequent use requires capturing souls in Soul Gems for recharging. This bow can be purchased from the Dark Brotherhood vendor within the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary in Chad, provided the player has joined the faction.

Frostworm Bow

The Frostworm Bow is arguably the most powerful bow available at low character levels. It deals 15 damage, weighs 14 units, and has a nominal value of 500 gold. Its unique enchantment grants 15 points of Frost Damage on every strike. 

To obtain this bow, travel to Dive Rock in the Jerall Mountains, locate and slay the frost troll Uderfrykte Matron, and loot the Frostworm Bow from its corpse. The bow once belonged to Svenja Snow-Song, as recorded in Agnar's Journal found nearby.

Black Bow

The Black Bow delivers 10 damage and is valued at 75 gold. It is wielded exclusively by Black Bow Bandits, who rarely use it despite their name. Mizoga gives the quest to acquire this bow at the White Stallion Lodge after completing the Knights of the White Stallion quest.

As Mizoga hunts bandits, she loots up to five bows per outing; these can be pickpocketed or looted directly from corpses.

Each bow can then be turned in to the Count of Leyawiin for a 100 gold reward. Alternatively, Black Bow Bandits can be farmed at the ruined Telvanni Overlook northwest of Leyawiin.

Bow of Infliction

The Bow of Infliction inflicts 18 damage and commands a value of around 5,000 gold. It possesses two enchantments: +5 Agility and a 15-point Drain Skill (Marksman) for 60 seconds on strike, making it highly effective against archers and melee fighters. 

This bow uses an Ebony Bow base and becomes available for purchase from Archer's Paradox in Bravil once sufficient gold is accumulated. Players may reduce their costs by increasing the vendor's disposition and haggling.

Madness Bow

Introduced in the Shivering Isles DLC, the Madness Bow is considered one of the highest-grade bows when fully leveled. Its raw damage and enchantment strength can surpass even Drieghan bows.

Acquiring the Madness Bow requires completion of the Antipodean Hammer quest and delivery of weapons to the smith Madness Cutter, who crafts this weapon for the player.

Hatred Soul Bow

The Hatred Soul Bow deals 24 damage with a base value of around 5,000 gold. It arrives as a leveled Drieghan Bow and features enchantments of Fire Damage on strike and Drain Speed (30 points for 45 seconds) on strike.

This bow scales with character level; obtaining the level 19+ version ensures maximum potency, surpassing the Frostworm Bow in raw damage.

Ruin's Edge

Ruin's Edge casts a random spell on strike, with probabilities assigned to effects such as Burden (30% for 100 points), Frenzy (30%), Silence (10%), Demoralize (20%), and a rare Paralysis (1% for 15 seconds).

Lady Sheogorath awards this organic-looking bow with an ever-blinking eye upon completing the Lady of Paranoia quest in the Shivering Isles.