Introduction
The world of Cyrodiil in *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* is a vast and wondrous place, filled with sprawling cities, ancient ruins, and treacherous wilderness. However, this beauty comes with its own set of dangers, many of which are far more insidious than a bandit’s blade. Contracting a disease in Oblivion can quickly turn an adventurer’s life sour, draining precious attributes and hindering their progress. Ignoring these ailments can lead to a weakened state, making even simple tasks a struggle. That’s why understanding how to cure disease in Oblivion is a crucial skill for any aspiring hero. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about identifying, curing, and, most importantly, preventing diseases in the game, ensuring your character stays healthy and ready for any challenge. Protecting yourself from contracting a disease in the first place is often the better plan.
Understanding Diseases in Oblivion
Before we delve into the cures, let’s first understand how these nasty afflictions enter your character’s system. Diseases in Oblivion are primarily contracted through combat with certain creatures. Rats, wolves, and many of the undead denizens of Cyrodiil’s tombs are notorious carriers. Each successful attack from a diseased creature has a chance to inflict you with one of their specific ailments. It isn’t just creatures that spread illness though, some traps within dungeons are specifically designed to infect you with various diseases and should be avoided at all costs.
The key to successfully dealing with diseases is early detection. Fortunately, Oblivion provides clear indicators when your character is suffering from a disease. Open your character menu and navigate to the “Effects” section. Any active diseases will be listed here, along with their negative effects. Be aware of any coughs or sneezes, these can sometimes be the first indicators of something terrible. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to significant attribute damage and overall debility.
Common Diseases and Their Effects
To give you a better understanding of the threats, here are a few of the most common and debilitating diseases you might encounter in Cyrodiil, and their effects:
**Rockjoint:** This disease damages your Strength and Agility, crippling your ability to carry equipment and reducing your effectiveness in combat.
**Rattles:** Affecting Endurance and Personality, Rattles will make you weaker and negatively impact your ability to persuade others in conversations.
**Brain Rot:** One of the more dangerous diseases, Brain Rot damages your Intelligence and Willpower, reducing your magicka pool and making you more susceptible to magical attacks.
**Dementia:** Impairs your Intelligence and Speed, affecting your ability to cast spells and move swiftly through the world.
**Wandering Pox:** Damages your Agility and Luck, reducing your overall combat ability and affecting your chances of success in various actions.
This is only a small sample of the diseases that can be found throughout Cyrodiil. Each one presents unique challenges, and treating them quickly is essential to maintaining your character’s strength and effectiveness.
Methods for Curing Diseases
Fortunately, Cyrodiil offers a few reliable ways to purge these ailments from your system. The most common methods involve the use of magical potions and the blessings of the Divines.
Potions: The Alchemist’s Cure
Potions are often the quickest and most readily available cure. “Cure Disease” potions do exactly what their name suggests: they instantly remove any disease affecting your character. These potions can be found in various locations across Cyrodiil. General stores and alchemy shops are a good place to start your search, and you’ll often find them as random loot in chests and on defeated enemies.
If you have some skill in alchemy, you can even create your own Cure Disease potions. The necessary ingredients can be found throughout the land, and mastering this skill can provide a steady supply of these essential items. Several ingredients possess the ability to cure disease when used in alchemy, including:
- Garlic
- Mandrake Root
- Rotten Flesh
- Scales
The benefit of carrying at least a few Cure Disease potions is self-evident. Having one on hand means you can quickly eliminate the effects of a disease as soon as you notice it, preventing further attribute damage and allowing you to continue your adventures without interruption.
Temple Altars: Divine Intervention
The Nine Divines are benevolent beings who watch over Cyrodiil, and their temples and chapels offer a safe haven for the sick and afflicted. Most major cities will have a temple dedicated to one or more of the Divines. If you are suffering from a disease, you can visit these temples and pray at the altar. Interacting with the altar will cure you of any diseases you may have contracted.
It’s important to note that only the altars of the Nine Divines will cure disease. Shrines dedicated to other deities or beings may offer different blessings, but they will not remove diseases from your system. Finding a Temple in a major city is not hard, and they are a safe place to rest and cure your disease.
Shrine Blessings: Prevention
As previously stated, shrines will not cure your diseases, but they can provide a boost that will prevent them in the first place. These boosts are temporary but helpful. Find one of these Shrines for a boost to your character.
Specific Quests and NPCs
While less common, there may be certain quests or NPCs in Oblivion who can offer a cure for diseases as part of their services or as a reward for completing a task. This is subject to a more thorough search of specific quests and NPCs to verify if any of them provide guaranteed disease cures.
Prevention is Better than Cure
While curing diseases is essential, preventing them in the first place is even better. There are several ways to reduce your chances of contracting a disease in Oblivion.
Fortify Health
Fortifying your health can often help against disease. Some diseases have an effect of draining your health. By fortifying your health, you will be able to take diseases longer, giving you extra time to get help.
Resist Disease
The most direct method of preventing diseases is to increase your resistance to them. You can achieve this through several means:
- Potions with Resist Disease effects: Just as you can cure diseases with potions, you can also create or purchase potions that temporarily increase your resistance to them. These potions are invaluable when venturing into areas known to be infested with diseased creatures.
- Items with Resist Disease enchantments: Enchanted armor and jewelry can provide a permanent boost to your disease resistance. Seek out or create items with this enchantment to significantly reduce your chances of contracting a disease.
- Racial abilities that offer disease resistance: Certain races in Oblivion, such as the Argonians, possess innate abilities that grant them a natural resistance to diseases. Choosing one of these races can provide a significant advantage in disease-prone areas.
General Tips
Beyond these specific methods, there are a few general tips that can help you stay healthy in Cyrodiil:
- Avoiding known disease vectors: Steer clear of areas known to be infested with rats, wolves, or other disease-carrying creatures, especially when you are at a low level and lack the means to effectively cure or resist diseases.
- Being cautious when fighting disease-carrying creatures: If you must engage in combat with diseased creatures, try to maintain your distance and use ranged attacks to minimize the chance of being infected.
- Keeping an eye on your character’s status effects: Regularly check your character’s “Effects” section to catch any diseases early on. The sooner you detect a disease, the sooner you can cure it and minimize its negative impact.
- Traveling with a companion who can heal: Many companions in Oblivion have healing spells or abilities that can cure diseases. Traveling with a competent healer can provide a valuable safety net against disease.
Troubleshooting and Advanced Tips
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may find yourself struggling to find a cure for a disease. If you’re having trouble locating Cure Disease potions or reaching a temple, consider the following:
- Check smaller towns: While major cities are a good place to start, smaller towns and villages may also have alchemy shops or temples that offer the cure you need.
- Explore dungeons: Even if the dungeon is dangerous, you might find a cure while exploring
- Increase your alchemy skill: Improving your alchemy skill will allow you to create more potent Cure Disease potions, making them more effective and cheaper to produce.
- Consider mods (with caution): There are various mods available for Oblivion that can make it easier to find or create Cure Disease potions. However, be cautious when using mods, as they can sometimes introduce bugs or instability to your game. Only use mods from reputable sources and always back up your game before installing them.
Conclusion
Diseases are a constant threat in the world of Oblivion, but they don’t have to be a death sentence. By understanding how diseases are contracted, recognizing their symptoms, and knowing the various methods for curing and preventing them, you can keep your character healthy and ready for any challenge that Cyrodiil throws your way. Remember to stay vigilant, carry a few Cure Disease potions, and don’t hesitate to seek the blessings of the Divines when needed. Now go forth and explore Cyrodiil, disease-free!
