You're standing in the middle of a Daedric ruin, your health bar is blinking red, and that Dremora Valkynaz is closing in. You realize, far too late, that your puny Scamp just isn't cutting it anymore. We've all been there. Finding out exactly where to get conjuration spells Oblivion players actually need is the difference between ruling Cyrodiil and becoming another skeleton in a dungeon. It’s not just about walking into a shop; it’s about knowing which Mages Guild basement holds the high-tier Daedroth or Xivilai summons.
Cyrodiil is massive. If you're wandering around blindly, you're going to end up with a collection of useless "Turn Undead" spells while you really wanted a Clannfear. The game doesn't hold your hand. Honestly, the spell merchants in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion are scattered in a way that feels almost spiteful if you don't have a map or a guide.
The Best Places for Conjuration Spells Oblivion Offers Early On
Don't bother with the Imperial City Market District for serious magic. Sure, Edgar's Low Price Spells exists, but the name tells you everything you need to know. He’s cheap for a reason. His stock is basically the "budget" version of mysticism and conjuration. If you want the real stuff, you have to hit the Mages Guild.
Chorrol is your first real stop. Alberic Litte is the man you need to see. He's usually hanging out in the Chorrol Mages Guild, and he specializes in Conjuration. Most players miss him because they’re too busy doing the "Finger of the Mountain" quest, which—let's be real—is a total trap for your Magicka bar anyway. Alberic sells the staple summons: Scamps, Skeletons, and the ever-reliable Bound Armor pieces. Bound boots might sound lame, but in the early game, having weightless Daedric-quality armor is a literal life-saver.
Then there’s the Leyawiin Mages Guild. If you can stomach the constant rain in the Blackwood region, go talk to Alves Uvenim. She has a weird mix of spells, but her Conjuration inventory is solid for mid-level characters. Leyawiin is out of the way, so most people skip it. Big mistake.
High-Level Daedra and Where to Find Them
Once your Conjuration skill hits 50 or 75, the game changes. You stop summoning "pets" and start summoning "problems" for your enemies. For the heavy hitters, you need to head back to the Arcane University in the Imperial City. But there’s a catch. You can't just walk in and buy the best spells. You need access, which means finishing all those tedious Mages Guild recommendations.
Is it worth it? Yes.
Once you’re in, Borissean is the primary merchant for the high-end stuff. We’re talking Summon Daedroth, Summon Xivilai, and Summon Flame Atronach. The Daedroth is particularly nasty because it has a high health pool and breathes fire. It acts as a perfect tank while you hang back and pelt enemies with arrows or destruction magic.
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If you haven't gained access to the University yet, don't panic. You can still find some decent spells in Bruma. Selena Orania sells a few summons, though she’s more of a generalist. Bruma is usually the guild hall that gets "destroyed" later in the questline, so if you want her spells, get them early. If you wait until the plot kicks in, she might not be around to help you anymore.
The Secret of Spell Making
Here is the thing about where to get conjuration spells Oblivion doesn't tell you: the best spells aren't bought. They are made.
Once you have access to the Altar of Spellmaking, you only need to know one basic version of a "Summon" effect. If you own "Summon Scamp," you can now create a custom spell to summon a Scamp for exactly 12 seconds—or 120 seconds. You can even chain effects. Imagine summoning a Dremora Lord while simultaneously casting a "Shield" spell on him. It’s broken. It’s beautiful.
Most people overspend on pre-made spells that last 60 seconds. In a typical Oblivion fight, 20 seconds is more than enough. By making custom, shorter-duration spells, you save a massive amount of Magicka, allowing you to cast more often without chugging potions.
The DLC Advantage: Frostcrag Spire
If you have the Wizard's Tower DLC, forget half of what I just said. Frostcrag Spire is the ultimate "cheat code" for mages. It has its own spellmaking and enchanting altars, and you don't need to do a single Mages Guild recommendation to use them.
The vault in Frostcrag also contains some unique spell tomes if you have the Spell Tomes DLC installed. These are random drops, but they can grant you summons that aren't available anywhere else in the base game. It’s basically RNG magic. Some people hate it, but finding a "Summon Bear" tome in a random chest feels like winning the lottery.
Common Mistakes When Hunting for Spells
A lot of players think they can just buy a spell and use it. Oblivion isn't Skyrim. If your Conjuration skill is 15 and you try to cast a Master-level "Summon Storm Atronach," the game won't even let you equip it. You need to grind.
The fastest way to level up so you can actually use the spells you find? Spam a low-level Bound Dagger spell. It’s cheap, it’s fast, and you can do it while walking between cities. By the time you reach Alberic in Chorrol, you’ll actually have the skill level required to buy his better stock.
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Another thing: don't ignore the Priests in the Chapels. While they mostly focus on Restoration, occasionally a traveling healer or a specific priest like Trevaia in Anvil will have something surprising in their inventory. It's rare, but worth a check if you're already there to heal your attributes.
Dark Brotherhood and Alternative Sources
If you’re playing a "bad" character and the Mages Guild hates you, your options for where to get conjuration spells Oblivion provides are slightly more limited but way cooler. The Dark Brotherhood sanctuary in Cheydinhal has M'raaj-Dar.
M'raaj-Dar is a jerk. He will insult you every time you speak to him. However, he sells unique spells that you can’t get anywhere else, specifically geared toward assassins. While his Conjuration list isn't the biggest, his "Bound Dagger" and "Summon Ghost" spells fit a stealth-mage build perfectly. If you end up "cleaning out" the sanctuary as part of the questline, make sure you've bought everything you wanted from him first. Once he's gone, his unique inventory goes with him to the Void.
Shivering Isles: The Golden Saint and Dark Seducer
If you have the Shivering Isles expansion, you’re looking at a whole different level of summoning. You can get the ability to summon Golden Saints and Dark Seducers. You don't buy these in a shop, though. You earn them through the main quest of the expansion.
These are some of the most powerful summons in the entire game. The Golden Saints are basically walking tanks with high magic resistance, while the Dark Seducers are faster and more aggressive. To get them, you have to progress through the "Ritual of Accession" and choose which house (Mania or Dementia) you want to lead. Your choice determines which summon you get first.
Why You Need Bound Weapons
People sleep on Bound Weapon spells. Seriously.
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When you buy a "Bound Sword" spell from someone like Edgar Vautrine or a Mages Guild member, you're getting a Daedric-tier weapon that weighs zero. In Oblivion, encumbrance is a nightmare. Using conjured weapons allows you to carry more loot out of dungeons. Plus, it increases your Conjuration skill every time you cast it. It’s a win-win.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Session
If you’re starting a new character or just trying to beef up your current mage, follow this path. First, hit Chorrol and buy everything Alberic Litte has. He is the backbone of any Conjuration build. Second, grind your skill to 50 by spamming "Bound Dagger" during your travels.
Once you hit 50, head to the Imperial City and finish those Mages Guild recommendations. You need that University access. Once inside, talk to Borissean and buy the "Summon Daedroth" spell. Take that spell to the Altar of Spellmaking and create a version that lasts 20 seconds instead of 60. This will cut the Magicka cost in half, making you way more efficient in combat.
Lastly, if you find yourself struggling with Magicka, look for the "Birthsign" stones around Cyrodiil. The Atronach stone is risky because it stops your Magicka from regenerating, but it gives you a massive pool and spell absorption. If you’re a pure Conjurer, you can just absorb the spells of the creatures you summon. It’s a bit of an advanced tactic, but it makes you nearly invincible against other mages.
Stop checking every general store for magic. Focus on the Guild Halls in Chorrol, Leyawiin, and Bruma, get your University credentials, and start crafting custom summons. That's the real way to master Conjuration in Oblivion.
Next Steps for Your Character
- Travel to Chorrol and find Alberic Litte in the Mages Guild to secure your first Daedric summons.
- Complete the Mages Guild Recommendations to unlock the Arcane University and custom spellmaking altars.
- Practice "Bound Dagger" casting while traveling to level your Conjuration skill to at least 50.
- Invest in the Frostcrag Spire DLC if you want immediate access to spellmaking without the guild requirements.