Oblivion Remastered Frostcrag Spire- Gain Access To Enchanting And Spellmaking Early

A lot of fun tools in the original release of The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion were hidden inside the Arcane University, requiring players to get through the progression of the Mages Guild before having access to them.

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Thankfully, Virtuos and Bethesda bundled all DLCs into the remaster, including the Wizard’s Tower. Here’s how you can acquire the Frostcrag Spire in Oblivion Remastered, giving you a direct shortcut to the Enchanting and Spellmaking systems.

Requirements

Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks. Screenshot taken by Blast.

Before we go into anything, you’ll want to save up a bit of money if you want to have access to everything in one go. Enchanting and Spellmaking also costs money, but don’t fret about that. If you’re having trouble making some coins, we have a piece that’ll help you.

Other than this, there is nothing else you need before gaining access to the Frostcrag Spire. If you don’t have the cash on hand right now and you don’t want to spend time farming it, you can also just unlock access to it and to its fast-travel point so you can go back to it later, as the access to it is a bit of a trek, and a vertical one at that.

Location

The Frostcrag Spire’s location gives us the impression that it was built by and for mountain goats. To reach it, fast travel to Bruma, exit through the stables and follow the road on the map that heads North. Walk until the area of the map highlighted below, and if you look Southeast you will see the Frostcrag Spire looming at the top of the mountain.

Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks. Screenshot taken by Blast.

In our experience, the easiest way to get up there is by heading straight from the area we highlighted above. The inclination isn't too bad, and you will barely have to jump. Keep going up until you spot a campsite on your right, and then head towards there. You'll spot a dirt road leading to the Spire. Behind the building you will find another campsite with a chest, with the Frostcrag's key inside. You can also pick the lock for some Security points.

What Is Inside

When you first walk inside, the Frostcrag Spire does not have much, but it does have three things to which you did not have access to before: a spellmaking table, an enchanting table, and an Atronach Altar. To use the tables you need to acquire Magetallow Candles, but we will get to those later.

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Aside from these, you will also have access to portals that will get you inside all Mages Guild Halls, including the Arcane University in the Imperial City. Lastly, the Frostcrag Spire also features a garden full of useful ingredients for Alchemy which respawn every few days.

Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks. Screenshot taken by Blast.

With a few investments using the money you saved previously, this building can become the most useful house you own, though. Here is everything you have access to alongside their respective costs (all costs are base and will be influenced by your haggling skills):

• Alchemy Lab (1500 gold)- This upgrade will spawn an Alchemy table in the Living Area featuring all four apprentice level apparatus. Additionally, a small bookshelf with multiple books is added, including A Game at Dinner, which is an Alchemy skill book. Standing close to the table with give you a +15 boost to your Alchemy, affecting your mastery perks. So if, for example, you are sitting at level 60 Alchemy, this boost will temporarily give you the Expert perk, allowing you to see all four effects of each ingredient.

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• Altar of Enchanting (2000 gold)- As the name implies, this altar allows you to enchant any piece of gear that you own that isn't enchanted already. You will need a filled Soul Gem and a bit of cash. The enchants you have access too will be based on what spells you know how to cast that are compatible with the piece of gear or weapon you are enchanting. The 2000g cost comes from the necessary purchase of a Magetallow Candle box.
• Altar of Spellmaking (2000 gold)- After purchasing the second Magetallow Candle box you will gain access to the Altar of Spellmaking, which will allow you to create your own spells. Much like enchanting, you will only be able to use spells that you can already cast, and those spells will cost money to create. Their cost will raise exponentially as the spell gets stronger.

Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks. Screenshot taken by Blast.

• Atronach Altar- There is no monetary cost to get the Atronach Altar working, but there is an ingredient cost every time you use it. You can use this altar to summon Atronach Familiars, which will accompany you until they die. You will have to spend three Fire, Frost, or Void salts in order to summon a Fire, Frost, or Storm Atronach. You can only have one summoned at a time.
• Bedroom Area (1000 gold)- Located in the Living Area to the left of the Alchemy Lab, this upgrade will spawn a bed in which you can sleep. It also comes with a chest, cupboard, and jewelry box. Items kept here will be safe.
• Library Area (1000 gold)- The only upgrade which will alter the main area of the Frostcrag Spire, this one is more cosmetic than anything else. It spawns a few tables, stands, and shelves with a ton of books. As far as we know, none of these are skill books.
• Vault Area (1000 gold)- Purchasing this will restore the Vault to its former glory, bringing with it seven Imps which will be your Vault Guardians. The vault features a ton of containers and also a collection of rare wines, including Surili Brothers Vintage and Tamika Vintage, both from the year 399, and a bottle of Shadowbanish wine. All of these are quest items.

All upgrades and Magetallow Candle boxes are sold by Aurelinwae in the Mystic Emporium. The shop can be found in the Market Distric of the Imperial City.

The Frostcrag Spire is the only way to access the Enchanting and Spellmaking systems without going through the Mages Guild recommentation quest and, given that it doesn't include any fighting whatsoever, can be accessed as soon as you leave the Imperial Sewers. With a less than 10000 gold, even with poor haggling skills, you can purchase the Alchemy Lab and the needed Magetallow Candles to gain access to most of the utility of the building.

Unlocking this prior to starting off your Mages Guild recommendation quest will also make it much easier to complete due to the portals saving you some time every time you travel.

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