Oblivion guilds: joining and getting all seven Mages Guild recommendations
Find the original Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood entry routes.
Original 2006 PC base game with official patches. The 2025 Remastered leveling system, Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, other add-ons and mods are outside this guide. Publisher screenshots use the original engine; the title artwork is from the Game of the Year listing.
Join a public guild at its hall
The Fighters Guild and Mages Guild have halls in several Cyrodiil cities. Speak to a recruiting guild member about joining and check any legal or membership restrictions if refused. You can belong to multiple major guilds. Their questlines provide equipment, contacts and direction without requiring you to complete the main Oblivion Crisis first.
Earn all seven Mages Guild recommendations
University access requires recommendations from Anvil, Bravil, Bruma, Cheydinhal, Chorrol, Leyawiin and Skingrad. Visit each local hall and complete its recommendation assignment; the order is flexible. The journal tracks the broader task, while individual quests explain what each leader wants. Being admitted to a local hall alone does not immediately unlock the University’s inner facilities.
Report to Raminus at the Arcane University
After collecting every recommendation, speak with Raminus Polus at the Arcane University in the Imperial City. Admission opens the route to further guild work and access to spellmaking and enchanting facilities. Bring gold and appropriate materials when using those services. Buying a spell and being able to cast it remain separate questions if your skill or magicka is insufficient.
Find the criminal guild introductions
The Thieves Guild uses rumors, contacts and a meeting in the Imperial City Waterfront rather than a normal public recruiting desk. The Dark Brotherhood approaches a character after a qualifying murder and a later sleep. Those paths can carry crime consequences, so keep a manual save and decide whether the resulting role fits your playthrough before treating either as a routine errand.
For the University, count the seven city names rather than assuming one guild questline automatically completes the other recommendations.
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