Venture into Vilverin, one of the first dungeons you’ll face in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, where ancient Ayleid ruins hide deadly puzzles, treacherous traps, and valuable treasures like the coveted Varla Stone. Whether you’re on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, this guide unlocks every secret and puzzle solution you need to conquer Vilverin’s labyrinthine corridors and emerge victorious with rare loot and powerful artifacts.
This Oblivion Remastered guide will show you how to solve all the puzzles in the Vilverin dungeon plus show you some of the loot you can get.
Vilverin dungeon location in Oblivion Remastered
Vilverin dungeon in Oblivion Remastered is located just northeast of the Imperial City, easily recognizable by the scattered ruins and a door marked with a glowing blue sigil. It is one of the earliest dungeons players encounter after leaving the Imperial Prison Sewer, making it a key early-game exploration site. The dungeon consists of multiple sections, including Vilverin, Vilverin Canosel, and Vilverin Wendesel, filled with bandits, undead enemies, traps, and valuable loot such as Welkynd Stones, an Ayleid Statue, and the highly prized Varla Stone. Accessing the dungeon involves approaching the “Stone Door to Vilverin,” which grants entry into this ancient Ayleid ruin.
Vilverin is located just northeast of the Imperial City. You know you’ve found it when you find scattered ruins and a door with a glowing blue sigil. Walk up to the door, and the game will allow you to pass through the “Stone Door to Vilverin” and enter the dungeon.
All Vilverin dungeon puzzle solutions in Oblivion Remastered
The Vilverin dungeon in Oblivion Remastered is an early-game dungeon located northeast of the Imperial City, featuring multiple puzzles and valuable loot such as the Varla Stone. Players must navigate through areas like Vilverin Canosel and Vilverin Wendesel, solving key puzzles including a secret door in Canosel and a six-block button puzzle in Wendesel that unlocks critical doors and treasure chests. Defeating undead enemies, avoiding traps, and activating switches to lower the Varla Stone cage are essential steps to progress. Successfully solving these puzzles grants access to rare items and the chamber key needed to advance through the dungeon and exit safely.
There are a handful of puzzles (and other moments where finding the right key will help you) where it’s not always clear what you have to do. Below we explain how to solve the puzzles and make your way through the dungeon.
Vilverin puzzle #1 solution
The first little puzzle in this dungeon is a secret door located in the Vilverin Canosel section of the dungeon.
The stone door to Vilverin Canosel will take you to a room with hallways that branch north, south, east, and west from a central point. Walk forward from where you entered and turn left to arrive at the hallway with the secret door in it. If you are confused at any point, pull up your dungeon map and it shows you the path to the next room (even if you haven’t discovered the door). The door will automatically open once you walk far enough into the room.
Vilverin puzzle #2 solution
The second puzzle is a block puzzle in Vilverin Wendesel.
In the southern part of Vilverin Wendesel the dungeon, there is a puzzle with six blocks inside a room with six doors. Each block opens and closes a certain door in the room. Pressing the upper right block will open the door with the Vilverin chamber key (the key you need to proceed). Two of the other two blocks will open doors to rooms that contains chests, but be prepared to fight some undead.
There is a special switch you need to use to get a rare item called a varla stone.
You can get a varla Stone, a valuable item worth 1,000 gold, if you know the right switch to press. When in the far south room of Vilverin Wendesel, you will see a “Varla Stone Cage” hanging in the center. Defeat the undead and walk up the stairs that lead to the upper level of the room. There is a cube-shaped switch there. Press it and the cage containing the stone will lower and you can go collect it.
Vilverin dungeon loot in Oblivion Remastered
Vilverin dungeon in Oblivion Remastered offers a variety of valuable loot for players who navigate its puzzles and enemies successfully. Key treasures include the Varla Stone, an artifact worth 1000 gold, which is found deep within the dungeon, as well as Welkynd Stones that restore magicka, and an Ayelid Reliquary containing gold and a Starlight Spell Scroll. Additional loot includes a Manual of Spellcraft, Fundamentals of Alchemy, a Weak Potion of Dispel, and basic armor sets. Players can also find treasure pots and small chests hidden behind puzzle-activated secret doors, making thorough exploration rewarding. The dungeon’s loot not only provides useful resources early in the game but also helps players prepare for tougher challenges ahead.
Other than the varla stone, this dungeon is a good opportunity to get some starter armor for your journey and other items like the ayeleid statue and welkynd stones. You can collect loads of welkynd stones as you explore the dungeon, they are the glowing blue stones that help light the building. Here is how to get everything else.
Just as you enter the dungeon, walk down the spiral staircase to the first room. Defeat the bandits so you’re safe and look around. Near the center of the room there is a crate with a chest and other items on top of it. The chest contains 11 gold. Here is what you can grab sitting on crate:
- Iron curiass
- Iron boots
- Iron claymore
If you look to the right of the cart, you’ll see some sleeping bags on the ground. You can also pick up a set of iron greaves that are sitting on the ground.
The other item you will want to grab is the Ayeleid Statue located in Sel Sancremathi. It’s sitting right in the open but it’s easy to walk past if you aren’t looking for it. Just walk up to it to collect it. It’s worth 250 gold.
What are the most effective strategies to solve Vilverin’s puzzles in Oblivion Remastered
The most effective strategies to solve Vilverin’s puzzles in Oblivion Remastered focus on careful exploration, observation, and methodical interaction with puzzle elements:
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For the first puzzle, locate the concealed door in the Vilverin Canosel area by moving forward from the entrance and then turning left into the hallway with the secret door. Use the dungeon map if uncertain, as it reveals the route even if the door is undiscovered. The door opens automatically once you advance far enough into the room.
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The second major puzzle is the block puzzle in Vilverin Wendesel, where six blocks correspond to six doors. Pressing the upper right block unlocks the door containing the Vilverin chamber key, essential for progression. Other blocks open doors to rooms with chests but also trigger undead enemies. It is advisable to open doors one by one to manage combat strategically, unless confident in handling multiple foes simultaneously.
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To obtain the valuable Varla Stone, defeat the undead in the southernmost room of Vilverin Wendesel, then ascend to the upper level to find a cube-shaped switch. Activating this switch lowers the cage holding the stone, allowing you to collect it.
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When navigating traps such as spike pits and swinging blades, proceed cautiously by walking along walls or timing your movements carefully to avoid damage.
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Utilize lockpicking skills to open locked gates and chests, which often contain keys or valuable loot needed to advance and enhance your inventory.
These strategies combine careful observation, tactical combat, and puzzle-solving to efficiently progress through Vilverin while maximizing loot and minimizing risk.
What is the best way to identify the correct blocks in Vilverin’s puzzle room
The best way to identify the correct blocks in Vilverin’s puzzle room (Vilverin Wendesel) is to understand that each of the six blocks corresponds to one of six doors-three on the left and three on the right. Pressing a block opens its matching door, often releasing skeleton enemies guarding treasure. The key to progression is pressing the top right block, which opens the door containing the Vilverin chamber key needed to advance further in the dungeon. Other blocks open doors with chests but also trigger skeleton attacks, so it is wise to open them cautiously, one at a time, unless you are prepared for combat. This layout aligns the bottom blocks with the front doors, the middle blocks with the middle doors, and the top blocks with the doors at the far ends of the room.
