In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion , the Luck attribute provides a hidden, broad bonus to almost all your skills rather than directly governing any specific skill. Here's what Luck does:
- Luck modifies your skills behind the scenes by adding a bonus based on how much your Luck exceeds 50. The formula is roughly:
SkillModifiedByLuck = Skill + 0.4 × (Luck - 50)
For example, if your Luck is 60, you get an effective +4 boost to all skills (40% of 10 points over 50)
- This bonus applies to most skills except Acrobatics, Athletics, and Speechcraft, and it affects things like combat effectiveness, spellcasting, and other skill-related actions
- The Luck bonus does not count towards unlocking skill perks, which only consider your base skill level without the Luck modifier
- Luck also influences random events and probabilities in the game, such as the chance that Mehrunes Razor will trigger its Daedric Banishing effect and the initial health of gladiators in the Arena
- Contrary to some beliefs, Luck does not affect the quality or quantity of loot you receive from containers or leveled lists
- Having Luck below 50 negatively impacts your skills, effectively reducing their levels by the same formula in reverse
- Because increasing Luck only grants a fractional boost to all skills and is harder to level compared to other attributes, it is often considered less efficient to invest heavily in Luck for maximizing skill growth
In summary, Luck in Oblivion acts as a subtle, universal skill enhancer and influences some random game mechanics, but it does not affect loot and does not directly govern any single skill. Its benefits are mostly behind the scenes and provide a modest overall boost to your character's abilities when above 50.
