Oblivion:Athletics

The UESPWiki – Your source for The Elder Scrolls since 1995

Skill: Athletics
Governing Attribute: Speed
Specialization: Combat

Athletics is the skill that determines how quickly you run and swim. As your level increases, your Fatigue regenerates progressively faster when running.

Contents 1 Mastery 1.1 Mastery Perks 1.2 Skill Benefits 1.3 Skill Increases 1.4 Dialogue 2 Character Creation 3 Messages 4 Notes

[edit] Mastery

[edit] Mastery Perks

• A Novice regenerates Fatigue slowly when running
• An Apprentice regenerates Fatigue 25% faster when running
• A Journeyman regenerates Fatigue 50% faster when running
• An Expert regenerates Fatigue 75% faster when running
• A Master does not suffer from a reduction in Fatigue regeneration.

[edit] Skill Benefits

Your athletics skill level determines how quickly you run and swim.

[edit] Skill Increases

Your athletics skill increases by 0.03 points for every second (real time) spent running, and 0.04 points for every second spent swimming. (No athletics skill is gained if you are sneaking while running).

Because you gain athletics skill whenever your character runs, you will tend to constantly (but slowly) gain athletics skill. One implication it is very difficult to control athletics skill increases.

Tricks to increase your athletics skill somewhat more artificially include:

• Swimming increases athletics faster than running. Try using a Water Breathing spell or enchantment, especially if you want to leave your character auto-swimming. A way for Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 users to do this, is to take a rubber band and tie it around the thumbstick so that the character runs constantly without you having to do it yourself.

See also:

• Increasing Skills: General tips on how to improve your skills semi-naturally.
• Trainers: Pay for athletics lessons.
• Athletics Training: Prove to an expert athlete that you are well-traveled enough to receive master training.
• Skill Books: Books that provide lessons in athletics.
• Increasing Attributes: Tips on training skills to improve the Speed attribute.
• Free Skill Boosts: one free athletics skill boost (for three points) is available by completing the Origin of the Gray Prince quest; athletics bonuses are also available to Vampires.

[edit] Dialogue

When your skill level reaches 70 or higher, people will start saying: "You're a fit one. Been running a lot?"

[edit] Character Creation

The following races provide initial skill bonuses in athletics:

• +5 bonus: Dunmer, Khajiit
• +10 bonus: Argonian, Redguard

The following standard classes include athletics as a major skill:

• Barbarian, Crusader, Monk, Nightblade, Rogue, Scout, Warrior, Witchhunter

[edit] Messages

The following table provides the messages that are displayed when your Athletics skill levels up.

Level	Message
Apprentice	'Why walk when you can run' has always been your motto. Now the miles of running and hours of swimming have paid off. You are an Apprentice of Athletics. Your rate of fatigue regeneration when running is increased by 25%.
Journeyman	'Why walk when you can run' has always been your motto. Now the miles of running and hours of swimming have paid off. You are a Journeyman of Athletics. Your rate of fatigue regeneration when running is increased by 50%.
Expert	'Why walk when you can run' has always been your motto. Now the miles of running and hours of swimming have paid off. You are an Expert of Athletics. Your rate of fatigue regeneration when running is increased by 75%.
Master	'Why walk when you can run' has always been your motto. Now the miles of running and hours of swimming have paid off. You are a Master of Athletics. Running never reduces your rate of fatigue regeneration.

[edit] Notes

• Athletics is one of only two skills (the other is acrobatics) that can be meaningfully fortified above 100. Increasing athletics past 100 continues to increase the character's run speed, up to a maximum value of 255. On the other hand, athletics is not modified by your character's luck.
• Once your renown reaches 10, you can visit the Jone heaven doomstone to receive the greater power Jone's Shadow. One of several benefits of this power is that it fortifies your athletics skill 30 points once a day for 120 seconds.
• See Movement Formulas for details of how athletics affects running speed.