In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, diseases can sneak up on you after fights with animals, undead, and other infected enemies. Left untreated, these diseases can negatively impact your stats, abilities, and even lead to vampirism. Luckily, curing diseases in Oblivion is easy once you know your options. In this guide, we’ll break down how to cure diseases, what items and locations help, how to prevent them, and how to tell if you’ve been infected.
How Do You Get Diseases in Oblivion?
Diseases in Oblivion are often contracted by coming into contact with specific enemies or creatures. For example, rats, zombies, and other infected monsters can transmit diseases when they hit you. You won’t always notice right away, but your character’s stats will start to drop, and you’ll see a message in your Active Effects.
Some common diseases include:
- Collywobbles – reduces Strength and Intelligence
- Helljoint – lowers Agility
- Astral Vapors – decreases Willpower and Intelligence (can lead to Vampirism)
How to Know If You’re Diseased
To check for diseases:
- Open your menu and go to the Active Effects tab
- Look for any effect listed under Disease
- Negative stat changes and odd debuffs may signal you’ve caught something
Some diseases like Porphyric Hemophilia (from vampires) have delayed effects, so it’s important to treat them early.
Methods to Cure Diseases in Oblivion
There are several reliable ways to cure diseases in Oblivion, and most are easy to access.
1. Cure Disease Potions
The fastest method is drinking a Cure Disease potion.
- Found in alchemy shops, loot chests, or on certain enemies
- Can be crafted with the Restore Health or Cure Disease effect (if you have the right ingredients)
- Common potion names: “Cure Disease,” “Elixir of Cleansing,” or “Potion of Cleansing”
Keep a few on hand before exploring crypts or fighting vampires.
2. Visit a Chapel Altar
Each major city in Cyrodiil has a Chapel of the Nine, and inside you’ll find an altar that provides a full cleanse.
How to use it:
- Enter the chapel
- Walk up to the altar of the Nine Divines
- Activate it to receive a blessing that cures all diseases and restores health
This is completely free, but you must not have a very high Infamy score or be in the middle of a Dark Brotherhood quest, or the gods may reject you.
3. Use a Cure Disease Spell
If you’re playing as a magic-using character, you can cast your own cure spell.
- Look for the Cure Disease spell from restoration vendors (usually Mages Guild members)
- Requires Apprentice-level Restoration to cast
- Efficient for ongoing exploration or if you’re roleplaying a self-sufficient adventurer
You can also create custom Cure Disease spells at the Arcane University later in the game.
4. Use a Scroll
Certain scrolls provide instant disease cures, such as Scroll of Cleansing Light or similar items. They’re less common but handy in a pinch.
5. Alchemical Ingredients with Cure Disease Effect
If you have decent alchemy skill, you can craft your own potions using ingredients like:
- Mandrake Root (most common)
- Sacred Lotus Seeds
- Redwort Flower
Mandrake Root is especially easy to find around the Imperial City, so gather a few early in your playthrough.
Can Vampirism Be Cured the Same Way?
Not exactly. If you’ve been infected with Porphyric Hemophilia, you have 3 in-game days to cure it using a potion, spell, or altar before it turns into full vampirism.
Once you’ve turned into a vampire, curing it becomes much more complicated. You’ll need to complete the “Vampire Cure” quest, which involves rare ingredients and several steps.
So if you’re bitten by a vampire, cure it quickly—don’t wait!
Final Thoughts
Diseases are a common threat in Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion, but curing them is quick and manageable once you know what to do. Keep a few Cure Disease potions on you, visit chapels regularly, and don’t ignore your Active Effects tab. Whether you’re avoiding a nasty stat debuff or trying to dodge vampirism, keeping your hero healthy will make your journey across Cyrodiil a lot smoother.
Want more Oblivion tips? Check out our guides on How to Cure Vampirism and How to Pick Locks to stay sharp and ready for anything!