Unlock Oblivion Remastered’s Exclusive Deluxe Gear: Your Essential Guide to Scoring Epic Armor and Weapons—Discover Why These Rewards Are Stealing the Spotlight!

The shadow-drop of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on April 22, 2025, has sent Cyrodiil into a frenzy, with Bethesda and Virtuos delivering an Unreal Engine 5-powered overhaul that soared to the top of Steam’s sales charts with 182,298 concurrent players. Among the remaster’s highlights is the Deluxe Edition, priced at $59.99, which includes exclusive quests to unlock unique Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon-themed armor, weapons, and horse armor sets. These rewards, tied to the new “A Wound in Time” and “Burning Trail” questlines, offer stylish, high-stat gear that enhances early-to-mid-game play. Whether you’re a warrior, mage, or thief, this guide details every step to claim these coveted items, leveraging the remaster’s updated mechanics and addressing challenges unique to this 2025 re-release. Dive in to equip your hero and dominate Tamriel’s dangers!

Why the Deluxe Edition Gear Matters

The Deluxe Edition of Oblivion Remastered introduces six exclusive in-game rewards: the Armor of Order, Weapons of Order, and Order Horse Armor (Akatosh-themed), and the Armor of Cataclysm, Weapons of Cataclysm, and Cataclysm Horse Armor (Mehrunes Dagon-themed). Unlike the original 2006 game’s infamous $2.50 horse armor DLC, which was purely cosmetic and widely mocked, these sets offer superior base stats compared to most early-to-mid-level gear, though they lack inherent enchantments. The armor sets come in heavy or light variants, and weapons include Blunt, Blade, or Bow options, allowing customization for any playstyle. The horse armor, while cosmetic, adds flair to your steed, available via Snak gra-Bura at Chestnut Handy Stables.

These items are locked behind two Deluxe Edition-exclusive quests, “A Wound in Time” and “Burning Trail,” which add narrative depth with themes of divine order and chaotic destruction. Accessible at any level, they’re ideal for early-game power boosts, as X user @IBrovail noted, praising the sets’ aesthetics. The remaster’s enhanced visuals make the gear visually striking, with Order’s golden sheen and Cataclysm’s fiery glow popping in 4K. However, the $10 upgrade cost (or $59.99 outright) has sparked debate, with some fans on X, like @MarcoCocomello, calling it a nostalgic nod to the 2006 horse armor fiasco.

Step 1: Purchase the Deluxe Edition or Upgrade

To access the exclusive quests, you need the Deluxe Edition ($59.99) or the Deluxe Edition Upgrade ($9.99) if you own the Standard Edition ($49.99) or play via Game Pass. Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Game Pass, the Deluxe Edition also includes a Digital Artbook and Soundtrack App, appealing to hardcore fans. Purchase through Steam, Xbox Store, or PlayStation Store, but note the 125GB file size, which demands a robust internet connection. If you’re on Game Pass, the upgrade is a cost-effective way to snag the content without buying the full Deluxe Edition.

Step 2: Trigger the Quests via Rumors

Unlike typical DLCs that auto-add quests to your log, Oblivion Remastered requires you to discover the Deluxe Edition quests organically by asking NPCs about “Rumors” in cities like the Imperial City, Kvatch, or Anvil. This mirrors the original game’s immersive quest triggers, such as joining the Thieves Guild, but can be frustrating without guidance. Speak to random NPCs—guards, merchants, or beggars—until you hear about either a priest in Kvatch (for “A Wound in Time”) or Mythic Dawn notes in the Imperial City (for “Burning Trail”). The remaster’s updated HUD, with a top-center compass, adds a map marker once the rumor is triggered, making navigation easier than in 2006.

To maximize efficiency, start in the Imperial City’s Market District and talk to merchants like Jensine or Thoronir, as Reddit user u/Leroy_Wells noted frequent rumor triggers there. If no rumors appear, fast-travel to Kvatch and speak to NPCs near the refugee camp. The quests are level-agnostic, so you can begin immediately after exiting the tutorial sewers, a boon for early-game power. Save before rumor-hunting, as the remaster’s occasional PC crashes (less common on consoles) can disrupt progress.

Step 3: Complete the “A Wound in Time” Questline (Order Set)

To unlock the Armor of Order, Weapons of Order, and Order Horse Armor, complete the “A Wound in Time” quest and its sequel, “Saving Time Itself”. Start by fast-traveling to Kvatch and finding Ilav Dralgoner, a priest on the road to the city’s Oblivion Gate, near the refugee camp. Exhaust his dialogue, asking about “disappearances” to trigger the quest. Ilav directs you to Beldaburo, an Ayleid Ruin north of Anvil, to defeat a powerful Lich.

Quest Steps: Follow the map marker to Beldaburo, a dungeon with traps and undead. Sneak or use Invisibility to avoid early fights, as the remaster’s improved AI makes enemies tougher. At the dungeon’s end, defeat the Lich (level-scaled, ~200 health at level 10), which requires melee or magic (Fire spells work well). Return to Ilav, who initiates “Saving Time Itself,” a shorter quest to secure the ruin. Save before the Lich fight, as the remaster’s blood splatter and low-health vignette can obscure visibility.

Rewards: After completing both quests, Ilav offers a choice: heavy or light Armor of Order (~55 armor rating, comparable to Daedric), a Blunt, Blade, or Bow Weapon of Order (base damage ~20, unenchanted), and Order Horse Armor. Select all items at once via dialogue, and visit Snak gra-Bura at Chestnut Handy Stables to equip the horse armor (free if you lack a horse).

The Order set’s golden aesthetic, enhanced by the remaster’s dynamic lighting, suits Paladins or Crusaders, though its 100 encumbrance demands high Strength.

Step 4: Complete the “Burning Trail” Questline (Cataclysm Set)

To unlock the Armor of Cataclysm, Weapons of Cataclysm, and Cataclysm Horse Armor, tackle the “Burning Trail” questline, a more complex scavenger hunt. Start by finding the first Mythic Dawn note in the Imperial City’s Talos Plaza, attached to a barrel near the central fountain.

Quest Steps: Follow the note’s hint to Hircine’s Shrine, south of the Imperial City. Face the wolf statue, turn ~140° right toward a birch tree downhill, and find the next note on its back. This leads to Molag Bal’s Shrine for another note, following “the Light of the Dawn” (check the shrine at sunrise for a glowing clue). The trail culminates in a confrontation with a Mehrunes Dagon cult in a hidden lair, requiring stealth or combat (use the remaster’s Skyrim-style stealth meter for easier sneaking). Defeat the cult leader (level-scaled, ~150 health), and return to the quest’s starting NPC, typically a Talos Plaza guard. Save frequently, as the remaster’s 125GB PC version has reported crashes in open-world areas.

Rewards: Post-quest, the NPC offers heavy or light Armor of Cataclysm (~55 armor rating), a Blunt, Blade, or Bow Weapon of Cataclysm (~20 damage), and Cataclysm Horse Armor. Equip horse armor at Chestnut Handy Stables, where Snak gra-Bura provides a free Old Nag if needed.

The Cataclysm set’s fiery design, with glowing accents, suits chaotic warriors or Battlemages, but its high encumbrance requires Strength investment.

Tips for Success

Start Early: Both quests are accessible post-tutorial, offering gear that outclasses early items like Iron or Leather armor. Complete them before level 10 for a significant power spike.

Use Stealth or Magic: The remaster’s enhanced AI and visual effects (e.g., dynamic lighting) make dungeons tougher, so use Invisibility spells or Sneak (boosted by the new detection meter) to avoid fights.

Repair Gear: The sets are unenchanted, so maintain them with Repair Hammers or blacksmiths. The remaster’s Apprentice Armorer perk (level 25) allows enchanted item repairs, but these sets don’t need it.

Save Often: PC crashes and tough enemies (e.g., the Lich) demand multiple save slots, especially with the remaster’s occasional stutters.

Roleplay Your Choice: Pick Order for noble builds or Cataclysm for aggressive ones, as the aesthetics enhance immersion, per @Pirat_Nation’s X post.

Why It’s Worth It

The Deluxe Edition gear, while not game-breaking like Daedric artifacts, offers style and stats that shine early-to-mid-game, as GameRant noted. The quests add ~2-3 hours of content, weaving Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon’s lore into Cyrodiil’s narrative, a treat for lore fans. Unlike the original’s cosmetic horse armor, these sets balance utility and flair, though their $10 cost has drawn ire, with PC Gamer joking Bethesda “learned to charge more” for horse armor. The remaster’s success—4.93/5 PlayStation Store ratings and Game Pass accessibility—proves its appeal, despite modding controversies like Nexus Mods’ ban on a “male/female” body type mod.

With The Elder Scrolls VI years away, these Deluxe rewards make Oblivion Remastered a vibrant return to Tamriel. Equip the Armor of Order or Cataclysm, wield your chosen weapon, and ride an armored steed to close the Oblivion Gates!