You’re standing in the rain outside the Priory of the Nine, your character is covered in mud, and you've finally gathered all the pieces. There’s a specific feeling when you first equip the full set of Oblivion Knights of the Nine armor. It’s not just about the stats. It’s the weight of the history behind it. Honestly, even back in 2006, Bethesda knew they were onto something special with the Relics of the Crusader. Most RPG gear is just a numbers game—higher defense, better enchantments, maybe a cool glow. This set is different because it’s a burden. If you mess up and your Infamy rises even a single point, the armor literally falls off your body. You’re unworthy. It’s a mechanic that forced players to actually roleplay in an RPG, which is rarer than you'd think.
The Struggle for the Relics
Getting your hands on this gear isn't a simple "go to dungeon, kill boss" loop. It’s a pilgrimage. You have to visit the wayshrines of the Nine Divines, which, if we’re being real, is a bit of a slog the first time you do it without a map. But that’s the point. The questline, released as part of the Knights of the Nine DLC, was Bethesda’s way of fixing the fact that being a "good guy" in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion didn't have many tangible rewards compared to the Dark Brotherhood or the Thieves Guild.
The armor itself—the Cuirass, Greaves, Gauntlets, Boots, and Helm—along with the Shield and the Mace or Sword, forms the Raiment of the Crusader. It belonged to Pelinal Whitestrake. If you know the lore, Pelinal was basically a divine cyborg from the future who went on a genocidal rampage against the Ayleids. It’s a bit dark for a "holy" set of armor, but that's the nuance of Cyrodiil’s history.
The Leveling Problem Most People Ignore
One thing that confuses a lot of players is how the armor scales. In Oblivion, most leveled items are locked at the stats they had when you first picked them up. If you find a cool sword at level 5, it’s useless by level 20.
The Oblivion Knights of the Nine armor bypasses this entirely through the armor stands in the Priory. You place the armor on the stand, and when you take it back off, the stats update to your current level. It's brilliant. It's one of the few sets in the entire game that stays relevant from the moment you start the DLC until you're fighting level 50 leveled monsters.
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Breaking Down the Pieces
Let's look at what you’re actually getting. The Helm of the Crusader is usually the favorite. It gives you a buff to Restoration and Personality. More importantly, it grants the "Serenity" spell, which is a powerful calm effect. It’s perfect for when a fight gets out of hand and you need a second to breathe.
Then there’s the Cuirass of the Crusader. It’s heavy. It’s shiny. It boosts your Health and Resistance to Normal Weapons. When you combine it with the Greaves of the Crusader, which provides Destruction resistance and a buff to Restoration, you become a tank. A literal walking fortress of divine will.
- The Gauntlets: They grant Resistance to Disease. This sounds boring until you realize how many annoying diseases you catch while crawling through vampire-infested ruins.
- The Boots: These give you the "Woodsman's Benevolence" ability. Animals won't attack you. It’s a nice touch, though mostly it just means you don't have to stop every five minutes to kill a wolf while traveling between cities.
- The Shield: It reflects damage. In a game where the combat is mostly clicking until things die, reflecting 15% of incoming damage back at a Dremora Lord is incredibly satisfying.
Why the Infamy Mechanic is a Genius Move
Most games let you be a saint on Monday and a serial killer on Tuesday with zero consequences. Not here. If you commit a crime and your Infamy goes up, the Oblivion Knights of the Nine armor becomes unequipped. You can’t put it back on. To wear it again, you have to redo the Pilgrimage of the Nine Wayshrines.
It's annoying. It's frustrating. It's exactly what should happen. It forces a "Lawful Good" playstyle that is actually challenging to maintain in a world where stealing a loaf of bread gets the guards trying to execute you. It makes the armor feel earned every single time you wear it.
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The Visual Identity
Visually, the armor stands out because it’s "cleaner" than anything else in the game. Cyrodiil is a gritty place. Even the high-end Daedric and Glass armors look a bit alien or jagged. The Crusader’s gear looks like it came straight out of a King Arthur legend. White surcoat, red cross, polished steel. It’s iconic. It fits the aesthetic of the Imperial Province perfectly, especially when you’re walking through the streets of the Imperial City.
Combat Performance and Late-Game Viability
Is it the absolute "best" armor in the game statistically? Probably not if you’re a master enchanter. If you have 100 Enchanting and access to Sigil Stones from the planes of Oblivion, you can technically craft gear that makes you invisible or 100% immune to magic.
But for a standard playthrough, the Oblivion Knights of the Nine armor is the most consistent. You don't have to grind for soul gems. You don't have to save-scum at the top of a Sigil Tower to get the right enchantment. The set provides a balanced spread of defensive buffs, attribute boosts, and useful spells that cover almost every weakness a melee or hybrid character has.
The Sword and Mace of the Crusader are the cherries on top. The sword has a fire damage enchantment and a "Holy Damage" effect that specifically wrecks undead and Daedra. Since 90% of the enemies in the main quest are Daedra, you can see why this is a big deal.
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Common Misconceptions
People often think you have to wait until level 30 to start the quest to get the best version of the armor. As I mentioned earlier, you don't. Start it whenever you want. The armor stand at the Priory is your best friend.
Another mistake is thinking you can’t use the armor if you're a mage. While it is Heavy Armor—meaning it will hurt your Spell Effectiveness until you max out your Heavy Armor skill—the Restoration buffs actually make it a decent choice for a "Paladin" build. You might not be slinging fireballs with 100% efficiency, but you’ll never die.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re heading back into Cyrodiil soon, here’s how to handle the Knights of the Nine content efficiently:
- Start early. Pick up the quest in Anvil as soon as you leave the sewers. The early pieces of the armor are great for survival in those first ten levels.
- Map the shrines. Don't just wander aimlessly. Use a reference map for the wayshrines because some of them are tucked away in corners of the map you'd never visit otherwise.
- Watch your bounty. Seriously. One accidental theft will ruin your day. Keep your nose clean or be prepared to walk across the entire province to pray at shrines again.
- Use the Priory. Every 5 levels or so, go back to the Priory of the Nine and put your gear on the stand. Keep those stats scaling with your enemies.
- Pair it with the right Birthsign. The Warrior or The Lady works well, but if you're going for the full holy warrior vibe, The Ritual can provide some extra healing that complements the armor's natural buffs.
The Oblivion Knights of the Nine armor isn't just a set of items; it’s the centerpiece of one of the best expansions Bethesda ever produced. It demands respect, a specific playstyle, and a bit of patience. In return, it makes you feel like the most powerful force for good in all of Tamriel.