The maximum level in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is not strictly capped, but generally, the level cap is considered to be around 50 under normal gameplay conditions. This cap is a "soft cap" that can be exceeded depending on how you manage your major skills during leveling
Key points about leveling and max level in Oblivion:
- You level up by increasing your major skills by a total of 10 points, then resting to gain a level
- The maximum level you can reach depends on your choice of major skills. If your major skills start at 25 and you avoid racial or specialization bonuses that increase them beyond 25, you can reach about level 50
- If your major skills are boosted by racial or specialization bonuses, your max level will be lower because those bonuses count toward skill increases needed for leveling
- It is possible to continue leveling beyond the normal max level by using exploits such as serving jail time to reduce major skills and thus continue leveling
- Some players report reaching very high levels (e.g., level 234) using exploits or mods, but this is not typical gameplay
- Skills and attributes can be raised above 100 using special items like the Oghma Infinium or exploits, but this does not necessarily increase your character level further
In summary, the practical max level for most players is around 50, but with specific strategies or exploits, you can surpass this limit significantly. References:
- Level 50 is the typical soft cap, influenced by major skill setup
- Leveling mechanics depend on major skill increases by 10 points per level
- Higher levels possible with jail exploits or mods, but not standard
