Arena promotion poster
- For other uses, see Arena.
Arena is the main form of public entertainment in Imperial City, located on the eastern side of the city. The Hero may watch gladiatorial combats and bet on the outcome or join the Arena to fight in it themselves.
- "Good people of the Imperial City, welcome to the Arena!"
- ―Arena Announcer[src]
They gain one rank for every three fights they win. The Arena houses two teams; the Yellow Team and the Blue Team, pitted against each other in a never-ending series of fights.
History of the Arena[]
The Arena was founded by one of the greatest warriors known to Tamriel, Gaiden Shinji, during the First Era. There is not an exact date, but the Arena was constructed sometime during the tenth century of the First Era before 1E 980, the year that marked the end of the 30-year Siege of Orsinium that killed Gaiden Shinji and many other great heroes.
Gaiden Shinji was a member of the Order of Diagna. His most famous quote was "The best techniques are passed on by the survivors," which was made in 1E 947.
Description[]
The yellow team's banner.
The Arena consists of the Bloodworks (which contains the Red Room and the practice room), and the Arena itself. The Arena Bloodworks is headed by Blademaster Owyn. Ysabel Andronicus is the Battle Matron and serves as the Grand Champion's trainer and manager. Grand Champion Agronak gro-Malog is practicing his swordsmanship skills. There is also find a Blue Team Gladiator, who is either practicing archery or hand to hand, and the Yellow Team Champion, who is practicing melee.
There are various iron weapons scattered around the Bloodworks, as well as four bedrolls for resting. There are also two Raiment Cabinets which contain both the Arena Light Raiment and the Arena Heavy Raiment, should the Hero lose track of their own.
To begin competing in the Arena, simply talk to Owyn and wear the chosen Arena Raiment. After the Hero tells him that they are prepared to battle, proceed through the Red Room to the Arena. When returning from battle, be sure to replenish health, magicka, and fatigue at the Basin of Renewal.
Battle rules[]
The exterior of the Arena.
- A match in the Arena can only be registered from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
- The provided armor must be worn while fighting in the arena until the Hero becomes Champion rank or they will be disqualified. If the Hero gets disqualified twice, Owyn will prohibit them from fighting in the arena. There is a choice between light or heavy raiment.
- The Hero may choose any weapon, shield, helmet, rings, or amulets to wear in addition to the provided armor.
- Fights may take as much time as needed, but all fights are to the death.
- Opponents' equipment is not lootable (with the exception of fired arrows), until the Grand Championship match.
- As long as the rules regarding the armor are kept, the combatants may fight using whichever methods they choose.
- Prizes for each win range from 50–500
, depending on rank.
Ranks[]
 Pit Dog |
 Brawler |
 Bloodletter |
 Myrmidon |
 Warrior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Gladiator |
 Hero |
 Champion |
 Grand Champion |
Opponents and victory rewards[]
"PC Level Offset" refers to how many levels higher the opponent will be compared to the Hero of Kvatch's level. Some opponents' weapons and armor will also be leveled appropriately.
| Opponent | PC Level Offset | Description and Tips | Reward | Fame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Dog
| ||||
| Wood Elf | 3 | Standard blade and shield wielding opponent, Light Armor. | 50 
|
1 |
| Imperial | 3 | Standard blade and shield wielding opponent, Heavy Armor. | 50
|
1 |
| Argonian | 3 | Archer, Heavy Armor | 100 and Brawler rank
|
1 |
| Brawler
| ||||
| Nord | 4 | War Axe, Light Armor | 100
|
1 |
| Wood Elf Wood Elf |
3 3 |
Dwarven Claymore, Heavy Armor, Fortify Strength potion Bow, Light Armor, chameleon potion |
100
|
1 |
| Khajiit | 3 | Silver Battle Axe, Heavy Armor | 150 and Bloodletter rank
|
1 |
| Bloodletter
| ||||
| Redguard | 3 | Heavy armor, Orcish Shield, Silver Mace | 150
|
1 |
| Breton | 3 | Silver Shortsword, Heavy Armor, shield | 150
|
1 |
| Dark Elf | 3 | Archer, Light Armor | 200 and Myrmidon rank
|
1 |
| Myrmidon
| ||||
| Wood Elf | 4 | Shimmerstrike dagger, Light Armor | 200
|
1 |
| High Elf | 4 | Longsword, shield, Light Armor | 200
|
1 |
| Orc | 4 | Silver Battle Axe, Heavy Armor | 250 and Warrior rank
|
1 |
| Warrior
| ||||
| Nord | 5 | Silver Longsword, Mithril Shield, Heavy Armor | 250
|
1 |
| High Elf | 6 | Silver Longsword, Light Armor, casts Destruction spells, particularly a shock spell | 250
|
1 |
| Orc | 5 | Orcish Helmet, Glass Warhammer, Heavy Armor | 300 and Gladiator rank
|
1 |
| Gladiator
| ||||
| Argonian prisoner Argonian prisoner (F) Argonian prisoner |
7 7 7 |
Silver Shortsword, Light Armor Light Armor, Hand-to-Hand Light Armor, Hand to Hand Killing these prisoners is sometimes considered a murder by the Dark Brotherhood, so it is possible to be seen by "unknown forces" |
300
|
1 |
| Khajiit | 7 | Elven Long Sword, Elven Shield, Heavy Armor | 300
|
1 |
| Breton | 6 | Long Sword and Heavy Armor | 350 and Hero rank
|
1 |
| Hero
| ||||
| Imperial (former Blades member) | 8 | Akaviri
Longsword, Blades Helmet and Blades Shield, Heavy Armor |
350
|
1 |
| High Elf | 7 | Light Armor, The Gray Aegis shield that resists magic completely It is imperative to use melee or ranged normal damage as he is immune to any sort of magical damage. |
350
|
1 |
| Nord Champion Bloodletter (Dark Elf) ally Pit Dog (Dark Elf) ally |
6 4 5 |
Longsword, Orcish Shield, Heavy Armor Ebony Bow, Light Armor, Elven Helmet Destruction with minor health spell Porkchop the Boar will help distract opponents. |
500 and Champion rank
|
1 |
| Champion
| ||||
| Agronak gro-Malog (Grand Champion) | 10 |
Longsword, Heavy Armor and shield This also counts as murder, making it an easy (and cheap) way to get into the Dark Brotherhood with no risk of a fine. |
1000 , Grand Champion rank, Light or Heavy Raiment of Valor, Adoring Fan, Arena Title
|
10 |
| Totals: | 5650
|
31 | ||
Championship[]
The blue team's banner.
Once the Hero has achieved the rank of Champion, they are given the option of challenging Grand Champion Agronak gro-Malog. Speak to the battle matron, Ysabel, for more information. She will let them choose an Arena Title from a list and people will then call them by this name after they become Grand Champion. The available names are as follows (some choices depend on the Hero's sex):
- The Spellslinger
- The Butcher
- Shadowstep
- The Black Arrow
- Skullcrusher
- The Divine Avenger
- The Messenger of Death
- The Crimson Blade
- The Iron Maiden (female only)
- Lady Luck (female only)
- Man o' War (male only)
- Sir Slaughter (male only)
- The Tamriel Terror
- Dragonheart
Unlike other fights, they are allowed to wear any equipment they wish. Upon victory, they can loot the longsword, shield, and heavily enchanted armor their opponent wears. To finish the quest, they must give gro-Malog's enchanted armor to Ysabel, who then rewards them with their own version with identical enchantments, again giving them the choice of a heavy or light version.
Although an uncommon issue, if one completes Origin of the Gray Prince for Grand Champion Agronak gro-Malog before they fight him, it may count as a murder. This is because he does not fight back. He discovered the truth about his father who was a vampire, and now despises himself knowing he is half vampire.
As a result, the Dark Brotherhood may visit the Hero (if they are not already part of the faction) with the message: "Your murder has been seen by unknown forces." If one wishes to kill Agronak when he gives up via the console (see Exploits), it will not count as a murder and the Dark Brotherhood will not visit them.
Life of the Grand Champion[]
After becoming the Grand Champion, they are given the option of fighting a selection of monsters gathered from around Cyrodiil once a week. The selection of monsters and the gold prize depends on the Hero's level. They can use whatever armor and weapons they wish, and the corpses can be looted.
The total amount of gold earned is as follows: the lower level, the lower amount of gold. The fewer monsters fought, the lower the amount of gold. The less damage taken, the lower the amount of gold. For the most gold, fight three Minotaur Lords and take as much damage as possible.
Fighting beasts in the Arena
Monster selections[]
| Level | Monster selections |
|---|---|
| 1–5 | 1 Boar 1 Boar, 1 Wolf 2 Wolves, 1 Goblin Skirmisher. |
| 6–8 | 1 Goblin Berserker 2 Trolls 2 Goblin Berserkers, 1 Troll |
| 9–11 | 1 Mountain Lion 2 Mountain Lions 2 Mountain Lions, 1 Spriggan |
| 12–14 | 1 Bear 2 Minotaurs 1 Bear 2 Minotaurs |
| 15–17 | 1 Ogre 2 Ogres 2 Ogres, 1 Land Dreugh |
| 18+ | 1 Minotaur Lord 2 Minotaur Lords 3 Minotaur Lords |
Tips for arena battles[]
Easy arena fights[]
When the fight starts, run to the right side where there is a gray pillar near the closed fence and hop up on top of it. It might take a couple tries, but once on top of it, they can stand there without worrying about being hit. Sit there and simply use ranged attacks, such as spells.
While on top of the pillar explained above, just go into sneaking mode and they will end up turning around and lose sight of them. This way, they can deal extra damage with stealthy attacks for easier killing.
For melee-focused characters, melee fighting is fairly straightforward, and health potions/Restoration spells can be very useful.
When using either a one-handed weapon and a shield, or a two-handed, it is recommended to wait for an incoming enemy attack, block it, strike twice while the enemy is staggered, block again and so on. They can also do the same thing but when attacking, run around while hitting their opponent when they are staggered.
Thieves and stealthy Heroes[]
For thieves and the stealthy types, assuming they have points in Acrobatics and/or Athletics, a good tactic is to hit-and-run. This involves attacking with a few attacks and then stepping back to avoid the incoming enemy attack. If one is an archer, shooting a couple of arrows and then running when the opponent gets closer is also effective.
If low on arrows, wait for a fight with a single archer enemy. Begin the fight and walk backwards down the hallway they entered from. The enemy will follow down and attempt to shoot them repeatedly with his/her bow. The enemy will never run out of leveled arrows and when they see one coming, sidestep slightly, letting it stick into the wooden door behind. Then, whenever one wants, turn back and collect all the arrows.
Acrobatics[]
If they have high points in Acrobatics, it is also possible to jump up on the walls and behind the fences (it may take an extra nudge by their opponent to get them up there) around the arena, where most enemies will be unable to reach them. Simply shoot them down with a bow, or use magic to take enemies down.
Enemy archers and spellcasters may be a bit more difficult to fight this way, since they are ranged and can shoot them. It is best to simply rush them. When the Hero becomes the Grand Champion, the fences in the arena are open, so they can no longer hide behind them. Use the fences as a good place to heal, it will help conserve healing potions and increase their restoration skill. They can also aim through the crack between the wall and the fence, though it is quite difficult to accomplish this. It will only work it one masters hitting the opponent through the crack or have a high Acrobatics skill.
Mages and thieves[]
For mages and thief/mages, a good combination is to use Conjuration to summon a monster and then use Invisibility (or Chameleon if their stealth is reasonably good) to skulk around in stealth mode. Summoning in conjunction with Illusion can even be used to train their stealth and backstab skills.
Combatants rarely pay any attention to conjured monsters so in general one can just sit back and re-summon, re-invisible as needed. Best of all, stealth, conjuration, and illusion are skills that are quickly trainable, the former by sneaking behind friendlies (do it with a summon, for instance) and the latter with simple spells. It is possible to beat the three-on-one fights without taking a hit using this method.
Spells and staves[]
Some spells, such as Black Winter (Frost Damage + Paralyze), can be very useful against single opponents. Just paralyze them and then rush. For multiple enemies, use Fire Ball, or other splash-damage spells.
Some of the staves found around Cyrodiil provide potent effects. However, be sure to check that the opponent is not resistant to the staff's effects.
Fighting in the Arena at low levels[]
Strangely, it is entirely possible to become Grand Champion as low as level 1, although the fight against three simultaneous opponents can be very difficult. The Grand Champion, and nearly all other single opponents, can be defeated with a simple block and swing strategy.
Another easy way to defeat opponents is simply staying put and sneak attacking with a bow. If one is a stealthy character, this will make arena fights very easy, as one never have to do any actual fighting. However, this requires a very high sneak skill. After becoming Grand Champion at a low level, the enemy monsters will be scaled to their level, including their reward for defeating them.
A way to defeat Minotaur Lords (as Grand Champion): since the Minotaur Lords are so tall (especially due to the length of their horns), one can simply retreat back down the stairs of the team entrance after the gate opens and wait for the Minotaur Lords to attack. Due to their size, they will not be able to get down the stairs and the Hero will be able to use any ranged attack to defeat them. This allows them to fight three Minotaur Lords at once.
Betting at the Arena[]
Besides fighting in the Arena, there is also the option of betting on daily fights between the two teams; the Yellow Team and the Blue Team. Regardless of whether or not one has fought any fights in the Arena, one is able to bet on either team. To bet, one must speak to the gatekeeper Hundolin, a Wood Elf, at the entrance to the Arena.
Speak with him between 9am and 9pm in order to place a bet of 25, 50 or 100 . After that, enter either of the doors to his left and watch the fight. The Hero's Luck plays a small part in the outcome of the bet. At least one of the effects luck has is to modify the health of the chosen combatant upward.
- For luck 50–59, health is increased by 5.
- For luck 60–69, health is increased by 10.
- For luck 70–79, health is increased by 15.
- For luck 80–89, health is increased by 20.
- For luck 90–99, health is increased by 25.
- For luck 100, health is increased by 30.
- For luck greater than 100, health is unmodified (bug).
If one's bet wins, the reward is double the amount of what was bet on.
One can neither fight in an Arena match while one has an outstanding bet, nor can one bet on one's own match.
If the Hero is over 400 in Acrobatics, they can jump over the invisible wall and kill the enemy combatant themselves.
If the Hero steals the contents of Hundolin's takings chest, he will attack every time he sees the Hero. This means that one can no longer bet on the fight, as he will not talk to the Hero. However, if one steals the contents while nobody is watching, the Hero can still bet on the fights. The chest has 500 in it when no bets are placed in it, but the contents never respawn, even if one bets more and loses.
One can easily make a good amount of gold without doing any work at all by just saving before betting on a match. Then, if one loses, reload the saved game and repeat the process.
It is also possible to cheat using the console. Simply hit "~" to open the console, and select the NPC of the opposing team. Type kill into the console and hit enter. This will count as a "win" and the Hero will receive gold for the bet.
Quests[]
Arena[]
The Hero can join the Arena and eventually become the new Grand Champion. Ask Hundolin or speak to Owyn directly at the Arena Bloodworks. When talking to him, he will be a bit angry, as he has other things to do. When asked about joining, he will be delighted, but still a bit condescending towards them.
Trivia[]
- The Arena still exists in the Fourth Era, as it is possible to join it in The Elder Scrolls: Blades.
- The Arena announcer was voiced by Wes Johnson.
- The poster for the Arena slightly resembles the cover art for The Elder Scrolls: Arena.
Bugs[]
|
This section contains bugs related to Arena (Faction). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:
|
- 360 During the later stages of matches, the blue teams entrance light floating above the doorway will disappear sometimes, and not return.
- PS3 Sometimes the Hero will get disqualified from a match for not wearing the Arena Raiment, when they actually are wearing the Raiment.
- 360 During the matches, upon killing the opponent, the Hero may get a notification that says "your killing has been observed by forces unknown...". The next time you sleep, Lucien Lachance will appear requesting the Hero to kill Rufio for the dark brotherhood.