Where to Get Soul Trap Spell in Oblivion Remastered: The Complete Guide
In the vast world of Oblivion Remastered, the Soul Trap spell is a vital tool for any aspiring mage. This spell allows players to capture the souls of creatures, which can then be used to enchant items or recharge magical weapons.
If you want to enhance your gameplay and make the most of your magical abilities, knowing where to find the Soul Trap spell is essential.
This guide will walk you through the various locations and NPCs that sell this spell, ensuring you can easily add it to your arsenal.
Key Takeaways
- Soul Trap is essential for enchanting items and recharging weapons.
- Mages Guilds are the primary locations to purchase the spell.
- The Apprentice level Soul Trap spell is available once you reach Apprentice level in Mysticism.
- Journeyman, Expert, and Master versions become available as your Mysticism skill improves.
- Alberic Litte in Chorrol’s Mages Guild is a reliable vendor for the spell.
- Agata in Anvil’s Mages Guild also sells the Soul Trap spell.
- Edgar Vautrine’s Discount Spellcasting in the Imperial City Market District offers the spell.
- Soul gems are needed to store captured souls, with different sizes for different creatures.
- Azura’s Star is the best soul gem as it is reusable and can hold any size soul.
- Soul Trap weapons can be crafted through enchantment as an alternative to the spell.
- Scrolls of Soul Trap can be found throughout dungeons for single-use applications.
- You need a Mysticism skill of at least 25 to use the Apprentice-level Soul Trap spell.
- Higher-level versions of the spell have longer durations but require greater Mysticism skill.
Understanding Soul Trap in Oblivion Remastered
Soul Trap is a spell from the Mysticism school of magic in Oblivion Remastered. This spell allows you to capture the soul of a creature you kill within a certain time period after casting. The main purpose of this spell is to fill soul gems, which are then used for enchanting items or recharging enchanted weapons.
The spell comes in different levels: Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, and Master. Each level increases the duration of the effect, giving you more time to kill the target and capture its soul. The Apprentice version lasts for 20 seconds, while the Master version can last up to 120 seconds.
To use Soul Trap effectively, you need three things: the spell itself, a soul gem of appropriate size, and a target creature. Once you cast the spell on a creature, you have the duration of the spell to kill it. If successful, its soul will be captured in the smallest available soul gem that can hold it.
Soul Trap is especially valuable for players who focus on enchanting or use a lot of enchanted weapons. Without this spell, you would need to rely on pre-enchanted items found throughout the game, which limits your customization options significantly.
Mages Guild Locations for Soul Trap
The Mages Guild is your primary source for acquiring the Soul Trap spell in Oblivion Remastered. Nearly all Mages Guild halls across Cyrodiil have spell vendors who sell various spells, including Soul Trap.
The most reliable locations include the Chorrol Mages Guild, where Alberic Litte offers a wide range of Mysticism spells. The Anvil Mages Guild is another excellent spot, with Agata selling the Soul Trap spell among her inventory.
When you visit these guilds, remember that spell availability sometimes depends on your character’s level and guild rank. If you’re just starting out, you might need to complete some Mages Guild quests to gain access to certain vendors or higher-level spells.
The cost of the spell varies between vendors and can be affected by your Mercantile skill and guild standing. Generally, prices range from 100 to 300 gold for the Apprentice version, with higher-level versions costing significantly more.
Most guild halls are open during regular daytime hours, so plan your visits accordingly. Some vendors might have unique schedules, so if you don’t find them at first, wait a few hours or return the next day.
The Imperial City Market District Spell Shops
The Imperial City Market District is a central hub for commerce in Oblivion Remastered and houses several shops that sell spells, including Soul Trap. The most notable establishment is Edgar Vautrine’s Discount Spellcasting, where you can find a variety of spells at competitive prices.
Edgar Vautrine offers the Apprentice-level Soul Trap spell as soon as your Mysticism skill reaches 25. His shop is popular among players because it centralizes many spell purchases in one convenient location, saving you from traveling to multiple guild halls.
Another option in the Market District is the Mystic Emporium, run by Calindil and Aurelinwae. This shop specializes in magical items and occasionally sells Soul Trap scrolls, which are useful if your Mysticism skill isn’t high enough to cast the spell directly.
The Market District shops often have more flexible hours than the Mages Guild, making them accessible even in the evening. However, their prices might be slightly higher than what you’d find at the guild halls if you’re a guild member.
Remember to check their inventory regularly, as it can change with your level progression. Higher-level versions of Soul Trap might become available as you advance in the game and improve your Mysticism skill.
Specific NPCs Who Sell Soul Trap
Several specific NPCs throughout Cyrodiil sell the Soul Trap spell. Knowing exactly who to visit can save you time when you’re looking to acquire this spell.
Alberic Litte in the Chorrol Mages Guild is one of the most reliable vendors. As a spell merchant specializing in Mysticism, he always has Soul Trap available once you meet the skill requirements. His friendly demeanor and central location make him a favorite among players.
Agata in the Anvil Mages Guild is another guaranteed source for the spell. She offers a wide range of magical services and can sell you Soul Trap along with complementary spells that work well with soul capturing.
Delphine Jend at the Bravil Mages Guild stocks the spell, though her inventory might vary more than some other vendors. The same applies to Trayvond the Redguard in Cheydinhal and Druja in Skingrad.
If you’re in Leyawiin, Alves Uvenim can provide the Soul Trap spell, while Tumindil serves the same purpose in Bruma. These guild-affiliated vendors typically offer better prices to guild members, so joining the Mages Guild is beneficial if you plan to purchase many spells.
Remember that each vendor has their own schedule and might not be available at all hours. Some might step away from their posts during guild quests or special events, so having multiple options is always good.
Soul Trap Spell Levels and Requirements
Soul Trap comes in four distinct levels in Oblivion Remastered, each with different requirements and effects. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right version for your character’s abilities.
The Apprentice level Soul Trap requires a Mysticism skill of 25. This version lasts for 20 seconds, giving you a brief window to kill your target after casting. It costs around 100-150 gold and is the most basic version available to new players.
Once your Mysticism reaches 50, you can purchase the Journeyman level Soul Trap. This improved version lasts for 60 seconds, tripling the duration of the Apprentice version. The extended time makes it much easier to capture souls, especially from more powerful creatures that take longer to defeat.
The Expert level Soul Trap becomes available at Mysticism 75. With a duration of 90 seconds, it gives you even more time to defeat your target. This version is particularly useful for difficult encounters where you might need to use multiple tactics to bring down a powerful enemy.
Finally, the Master level Soul Trap, accessible with Mysticism 100, lasts for a full 120 seconds. This generous duration ensures you have plenty of time to capture even the most challenging creatures’ souls. However, its higher magicka cost means you need a substantial magicka pool to cast it effectively.
Each level also increases in magicka cost, so consider your character’s magicka reserves when deciding which version to use. For most regular soul capturing, the Journeyman version offers a good balance of duration and magicka efficiency.
Alternative Methods to Obtain Soul Trap
Beyond purchasing the spell directly, there are several alternative methods to obtain and use Soul Trap in Oblivion Remastered.
Enchanted weapons with the Soul Trap effect offer a passive way to capture souls without casting the spell. You can find these weapons throughout your adventures or create them yourself once you have access to enchanting. These weapons apply the Soul Trap effect automatically when you hit an enemy, making soul capturing more convenient for warrior-type characters.
Scrolls of Soul Trap provide one-time use of the spell, regardless of your Mysticism skill level. These can be found in dungeons, purchased from select vendors, or obtained as quest rewards. They’re particularly useful for characters who don’t invest in Mysticism but occasionally need to capture souls.
Some quests reward you with the Soul Trap spell directly. The Mages Guild questline, in particular, can provide access to this spell without purchasing it. Pay attention to quest rewards as you progress through the game.
Certain artifacts and special items have built-in Soul Trap capabilities. The most famous is Azura’s Star, a reusable soul gem that can capture any size soul. While not providing the spell itself, it complements Soul Trap perfectly and is essential for serious enchanters.
Remember that custom spell creation becomes available once you gain access to the Arcane University. This allows you to create combination spells that include Soul Trap along with damage effects, making it easier to capture souls with a single cast.
Soul Gems and Their Importance
Soul gems are essential components of the soul trapping process in Oblivion Remastered. Without them, the Soul Trap spell has no purpose, as they serve as containers for the captured souls.
Soul gems come in five main sizes: Petty, Lesser, Common, Greater, and Grand. Each size corresponds to the power of the soul it can hold. Petty soul gems can only contain the souls of the weakest creatures, while Grand soul gems can hold powerful souls from creatures like Xivilai or Storm Atronachs.
The relationship between soul gem size and creature type is important to understand. Using a Grand soul gem to capture a rat’s soul is possible but wasteful, as that petty soul could have been stored in a much smaller gem. Conversely, attempting to capture a troll’s soul in a Lesser soul gem will fail because the soul is too powerful for the container.
Empty soul gems can be purchased from general goods merchants and Mages Guild vendors throughout Cyrodiil. Their prices vary based on size, with Petty gems costing around 10 gold and Grand gems fetching 500 gold or more.
The most valuable soul gem in the game is Azura’s Star, which can be obtained through Azura’s Daedric quest. This special artifact functions like a Grand soul gem but is reusable, making it incredibly valuable for frequent enchanters.
When planning your soul capturing activities, make sure to stock up on appropriate soul gems for the creatures you’ll be hunting. Having a variety of sizes ensures you can efficiently capture souls without wasting valuable larger gems on weaker creatures.
Best Locations to Practice Soul Trapping
Once you’ve acquired the Soul Trap spell and a supply of soul gems, you’ll want to practice this skill in suitable locations. Certain areas in Oblivion Remastered are ideal for soul trapping due to the abundance of creatures and relative safety.
The forests around Chorrol contain numerous deer, wolves, and bears, making them perfect for filling Petty and Lesser soul gems. These creatures are relatively weak but provide good practice for beginners learning the timing of the Soul Trap spell.
Ayleid ruins throughout Cyrodiil often contain undead creatures like skeletons and zombies, which are good targets for Common soul gems. Many of these ruins are close to main roads and cities, making them accessible early in the game.
For more powerful souls, the Oblivion gates that open during the main questline provide access to Daedra, whose souls can fill Greater and Grand soul gems. These areas are more dangerous but yield more valuable souls for advanced enchanting.
The caves near Skingrad contain a good mix of creature types, allowing you to practice on various targets without traveling far. These locations also often contain empty soul gems, helping you build your collection while practicing.
Remember that humanoid NPCs like bandits and marauders cannot have their souls trapped in normal soul gems. This is an intentional game limitation that prevents players from easily obtaining powerful souls from human enemies.
When practicing, bring plenty of magicka potions and ensure you have enough inventory space for the filled soul gems you’ll collect. Starting with weaker creatures helps you get a feel for the timing between casting Soul Trap and delivering the killing blow.
Using Soul Trap for Enchanting
The primary purpose of Soul Trap in Oblivion Remastered is to fuel the enchanting system. Understanding how to use your captured souls effectively maximizes the value of your soul trapping efforts.
To enchant items, you need access to an enchanting altar, which can be found in all Mages Guild halls and the Arcane University. Once at an altar, you select an item to enchant, choose your desired magical effect, and then use a filled soul gem to power the enchantment.
The power and durability of your enchantment directly relates to the quality of the soul used. A Grand soul will create a much stronger enchantment with more charges than a Petty soul. This makes capturing powerful souls from strong creatures particularly valuable for creating quality enchanted items.
Different item types can receive different enchantments. Weapons can be enchanted with offensive spells like fire damage or Soul Trap itself. Armor and clothing can receive defensive or attribute-boosting enchantments. Each item type has limitations on what effects can be applied to it.
A popular strategy is to create weapons with Soul Trap enchantments, which allow you to capture souls while fighting without manually casting the spell. These weapons effectively automate the soul capturing process, though their enchantment strength depends on the soul used to create them.
Remember that self-enchanted items can be recharged using filled soul gems when their magical charges run low. This creates a sustainable cycle where captured souls are used to both create and maintain your magical equipment.
For efficient enchanting, focus on capturing souls that match your needs. Use smaller souls for recharging and save your Grand souls for creating powerful new enchantments that will serve you throughout your adventures.
Maximizing Soul Trap Efficiency in Gameplay
To make the most of Soul Trap in Oblivion Remastered, consider these efficient practices that experienced players use to streamline the soul capturing process.
Develop a tiered approach to soul gems, reserving specific sizes for particular creatures. For example, use Petty gems only for rats and small animals, Lesser gems for wolves and weak undead, and so on. This systematic approach prevents wasting valuable larger gems on weaker souls.
Create a dedicated Soul Trap weapon early in your enchanting career. This frees up your magicka for other spells during combat and ensures you never miss an opportunity to capture a soul. Even a weak Soul Trap enchantment lasting 1-2 seconds can be effective if you use it for the finishing blow.
Consider creating custom spells that combine Soul Trap with damage effects once you gain access to spell making. A spell that deals damage and applies Soul Trap simultaneously eliminates the need to cast two separate spells, making the process more magicka-efficient.
Prioritize obtaining Azura’s Star as early as possible in your playthrough. This reusable soul gem dramatically increases your soul capturing efficiency by eliminating the need to constantly purchase new Grand soul gems for powerful souls.
When hunting for specific soul types, research the respawn mechanics of creatures in Oblivion. Many locations reset after a few in-game days, allowing you to revisit them for more soul capturing opportunities without extensive travel.
For mage characters, consider the Atronach birthsign or Spell Absorption enchantments, which can convert hostile spells into magicka. This helps maintain your magicka reserves for casting Soul Trap repeatedly during extended hunting sessions.
Finally, keep track of your inventory of empty soul gems to ensure you always have appropriate containers available. There’s nothing more frustrating than successfully casting Soul Trap only to discover you have no suitable gems to capture the soul.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Soul Trap spell in Oblivion Remastered?
Soul Trap is a Mysticism spell that allows you to capture the souls of creatures you kill within a certain time period after casting. These souls are stored in soul gems and used for enchanting or recharging enchanted items.
Where can I buy the Soul Trap spell?
You can buy Soul Trap from Mages Guild halls in most major cities, particularly from Alberic Litte in Chorrol and Agata in Anvil. Edgar Vautrine’s Discount Spellcasting in the Imperial City Market District also sells it.
What skill level do I need for Soul Trap?
You need a Mysticism skill of at least 25 to use the Apprentice level Soul Trap. Higher level versions require 50 for Journeyman, 75 for Expert, and 100 for Master.
Can I trap NPC souls in Oblivion?
No, you cannot trap the souls of humanoid NPCs like bandits or other characters in regular soul gems. Only creature souls can be captured.
What is the best soul gem to use?
Azura’s Star is the best soul gem because it is reusable and can hold any size soul. You can obtain it by completing Azura’s Daedric quest.
How long does the Soul Trap effect last?
The duration depends on the spell level: Apprentice lasts 20 seconds, Journeyman 60 seconds, Expert 90 seconds, and Master 120 seconds.
Can I enchant weapons with Soul Trap?
Yes, you can enchant weapons with the Soul Trap effect, creating a convenient way to capture souls while fighting without casting the spell separately.
Where can I find soul gems in Oblivion?
Soul gems can be purchased from Mages Guild vendors, general goods merchants, and found as loot in dungeons, particularly in Ayleid ruins and mage-related locations.
What souls fill what size gems?
Petty gems hold small animal souls, Lesser gems hold wolves and weak undead, Common gems hold trolls and similar creatures, Greater gems hold powerful creatures like ogres, and Grand gems hold the strongest creatures like Xivilai.
Can I create custom Soul Trap spells?
Yes, once you gain access to the Arcane University, you can create custom spells that combine Soul Trap with other effects for more efficient soul capturing.
