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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009)

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (2009) > Guides > Jennay's Guides

34 ratings

How to switch class mid-game.

By Jennay

Most sites will tell you to save and reload while in the showclassmenu to switch class without affecting skills. This has not worked for me, and I've figured out a way to switch class while keeping skills mostly intact.

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Jennay
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Category: Characters, Classes, Gameplay Basics, Modding or Configuration

Languages: English

Posted

6 Jul, 2013 @ 10:27am

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Guide Index

Overview

How to switch class

Comments

How to switch class

First things first, you will want to save in case you don't like the way things turn out.

Open the menu and write down all of your current skill values.
Use the showclassmenu console command and switch to the desired class. There's no need to save or reload your game anytime while the menu is up; simply click done when you're done.
Open up the menu and check your new skill values. You should write these down as well.
Open the console and lvl up the difference for each skill. For example, before switching class my athletics skill was 66. After switching it was 41. Therefore in the console I used the command advskill athletics 25
After switching class, some skills will be higher than they were before. As far as I know, there is no way to level down skills. When I attempted to advskill marksman -3, the game crashed. It seems it doesn't like negative numbers.
The next time you rest you will level up. If you don't want this to happen the command is player.setlevel #

Hopefully this helps other people trying to switch class!

8 Comments

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Fuzzyballs01 ꦙ 4 Jan, 2023 @ 12:44pm

honestly, the game is a lot better if you only level minor skills so you don't level up, and when you do through skill books you'll get huge bonusses
finishing the game at lvl 3 is more challenging and more fun because the slow progress and no stat boosts

256 28 Nov, 2021 @ 4:34pm

Okay but have you considered that changing class does nothing
just level the other skills you want

RipPlum 30 Jan, 2021 @ 12:23pm

Instructions unclear, I moved bios into the recycle bin and destroyed my computer.

rpgfan411 15 Oct, 2020 @ 9:18pm

The save and reload method works but you have to open the console command screen again after making the changes or the save option is not available.

[LockedIn] Nickelberg Senpai 30 Nov, 2016 @ 5:30pm

I cant set my player level down so I kept leveling up -__-

Axer 4 Jul, 2015 @ 2:08pm

The proper console command to use to change skill levels is:
player.setav {skillname} (value)
It will allow you to raise or lower skills just fine.
advskill should not be used in this case because it will grant you relevant xp as if you had properly leveled up the skill, so it was a class skill - it could cause you to inadvertently level up.

setskill is an older, deprecated command that may not work on some/all versions. certainly wont work correctly without a correct target. (The player. portion of the above command makes the setav command target your character, otherwise you can also use that command on monsters or npcs - just open the console then click them to target there refID, then just type setav X X. You can also go into third person and target yourself and do it that way.

Devlin 3 Feb, 2014 @ 4:27pm

To "downgrade" skills you should use setskill in the console. Changing your stats in the console makes it very noticeable you've cheated so bear that in mind

PixelProwler *********** 18 Jul, 2013 @ 8:34am

i just got Oblivion like 4 hours ago. its great but i wanted to switch classes and didnt want to restart my character. thanks mate (saved me alot of hassle)

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