You’re standing in the middle of the Priory of the Nine, looking at a pedestal. It’s been hours. Maybe days. You’ve trekked across Cyrodiil, prayed at remote wayshrines, and probably fought off more wolves than you care to count. But there it is: the Armor of the Crusader. If you played the Knights of the Nine DLC for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, you know that this isn't just another pile of heavy metal. It’s a commitment. Honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing gear sets in RPG history because it forces you to actually play like a hero.
Most gear in Oblivion is just stats. You find a Daedric cuirass, you slap it on, you’re tankier. End of story. But Pelinal Whitestrake’s gear? That’s different. It’s high-maintenance. It’s moody. If your Infamy score creeps up even a single point—maybe you accidentally stole a silver spoon or defended yourself against a guard—the armor literally falls off your body. You’re left standing there in your literal underwear in the middle of a dungeon. It’s humbling. It’s frustrating. It’s brilliant game design that modern RPGs often lack.
The Relics of Pelinal: More Than Just Shiny Chrome
When we talk about the Armor of the Crusader, we’re talking about the Relics of the Divine. According to Elder Scrolls lore, these pieces were gifted by the Eight Divines to Pelinal Whitestrake so he could dismantle the Ayleid Empire. In-game, this translates to a set of heavy or light armor (depending on your skills when you first grab it) that scales with your level. That’s a huge deal. Usually, quest rewards in Oblivion are useless if you get them too early. This set stays relevant because you can put it back on its stand at the Priory to "refresh" its stats to match your current level.
The set includes the Cuirass, Gauntlets, Greaves, Boots, Shield, and the Helm of the Crusader. You also get a mace and a sword. But the Cuirass is the heart of it. It grants a "Shield" enchantment and increases your Restoration skill. The Gauntlets give you a resist disease effect, which sounds boring until you realize how annoying Porphyric Hemophilia is when you’re trying to not become a vampire.
One thing people always forget is that the armor actually changes appearance based on your character’s gender, but in a way that remains functional and bulky. It looks like a classic knight. No "boob plate" nonsense here. Just thick, white steel with the red diamond of the Amulet of Kings emblazoned on the chest. It looks iconic.
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Why Everyone Hates the Infamy Mechanic (And Why They're Wrong)
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The "unworthy" mechanic. If you commit a crime, you lose the ability to wear the Armor of the Crusader. You get a message saying you are no longer worthy. To fix it, you have to do the Pilgrimage of the Nine Wayshrines all over again.
It’s tedious. I get it.
But honestly? It’s the only thing in the game that makes being a "Paladin" feel real. In Skyrim, you can be the leader of the Companions, the Arch-Mage, and a master assassin for the Dark Brotherhood all at the same time. It makes your choices feel meaningless. Oblivion says: "No. If you want the power of the Gods, you have to follow the rules." It forces a specific playstyle. You find yourself checking your stats menu constantly, terrified that a stray accidental theft will ruin your build. It adds a layer of roleplaying tension that makes the world feel like it has actual moral weight.
The Hidden Power of the Holy Relics
Beyond the basic defense stats, the set bonuses are where the Armor of the Crusader truly shines. When you wear the full set, you get a unique ability called "Holy Aura." This isn't just flavor text. It provides a significant buff to your personality and various combat skills.
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The Mace and Sword
You get both a Mace and a Sword, though you can only use one at a time effectively depending on your specialization. The Sword of the Crusader does fire damage and has a "Chastening" effect. If you’re fighting undead or Daedra—which, let's face it, is 90% of the late game—this thing shreds. The Mace of the Crusader is equally potent, focusing more on Turn Undead and fire damage.
The Scaling Trick
Here is a specific detail many players miss: the armor’s level is determined the moment you place it on the armor stand at the Priory of the Nine. If you’re level 10 and the armor is feeling weak, go level up to 20, come back, put it on the stand, and take it back off. Boom. You now have the level 20 version. This makes it arguably the only "perpetual" end-game armor set that doesn't require a high Smithing or Enchanting skill to maintain.
Comparisons to Other Top-Tier Gear
Usually, players compare this set to Daedric or the Raiment of the Crimson Scar from the Deepscorn Hollow DLC. Daedric has higher base armor rating once you hit level 20+. That’s a fact. But Daedric is heavy. Really heavy. And it doesn't come with the massive Restoration and Personality buffs.
If you’re running a "Battlemage" or a "Paladin" build, the Armor of the Crusader is objectively better because of the utility. You save so much Magicka on healing and buffs because the armor handles the heavy lifting for you. Plus, the Shield of the Crusader has a 15% Reflect Spell enchantment. In a game where high-level Mages can one-shot you with shock spells, reflecting that damage back at them is satisfying in a way words can't describe.
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The "Light Armor" Version Myth
I’ve seen a lot of forum posts over the years where people think they’re stuck with Heavy Armor. You aren't. When you finish the "Priory of the Nine" quest, the game checks your skills. If your Light Armor skill is higher than your Heavy Armor skill, the relics will manifest as Light Armor. This is huge for scouts or more agile holy warriors. The stats adjust accordingly, offering less protection but much lower weight and stamina drain.
Is It Still Worth Getting in 2026?
With the rumors of Oblivion remasters or even just playing the original through backward compatibility, people still ask if the Knights of the Nine questline is worth the grind.
Yes.
The questline itself is one of the better-written stories in the game. It’s a classic "gathering the fellowship" tale. You rebuild a fallen order, recruit knights, and eventually take the fight to Umaril the Unfeathered in a dual-plane boss fight. It’s cinematic. And the reward—the Armor of the Crusader—is the perfect trophy. It’s more than gear. It’s a status symbol within the game world.
Actionable Tips for Using the Crusader Set
If you’re going to commit to the life of a Crusader, you need to be prepared. Here is how you actually make the most of this gear without losing your mind:
- Bind the Wayshrines to your memory: Don't just wander. Map out the most accessible shrines of the Nine Divines early. If you ever lose your "worthiness," you want to be able to hit all nine in under ten minutes.
- Watch your friendly fire: In Oblivion, if you hit a guard while fighting a bandit, it counts as an assault. This will strip you of your armor mid-combat. If you’re using area-of-effect spells, be extremely careful when allies are around.
- The "Stand" Refresh: Every time you level up, visit the Priory. It’s a bit of a trek, but keeping the armor at your current level tier is the difference between it being "good" and "overpowered."
- Check your "Active Effects" tab: The armor grants a lot of passive buffs that don't show up on the armor's tooltip itself. If you're wondering why your Disposition with NPCs is so high, it's the armor working its magic.
- Don't ignore the Mace: Even if you’re a blade user, keep the Mace of the Crusader in your inventory. Some enemies in the Shivering Isles or specific dungeons have high resistance to blades but fold under blunt damage.
The Armor of the Crusader represents a time in gaming when items had consequences. It wasn't just about the biggest number; it was about the identity of your character. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer exploring Cyrodiil for the first time, getting this set is a rite of passage. Just... try not to steal any spoons. It’s a long walk back to those wayshrines.