How the hell am I supposed to kill these Dread Zombies?

[Swagley51]

Im playing a stealth archer build, and I was doing the last mission for the Thieves Guild. I ran into a crowd of Dread Zombies, and I got overwhelmed so easily. They never killed me, and I was able to eventually kill them, but I had to run through the area (they will follow you through doors with loading screens, and can open regular doors btw) and find a high spot to cheese them from. Blasting a single zombie constantly takes like 30+ arrows, and if I miss a shot, they will regen a decent chunk of health.

What are my options as a stealth archer when I run into these things? They are the only enemies Ive had trouble with so far. I was level 13 or so when I ran into them, and had some pretty decent equipment.

[pambapuma]

This is why I usually pair some magic and alchemy with my archers.

I would suggest getting some fire magic, an enchantment, scroll or poison, that you can use against them and vampires.

By the way, you can apply poisons to bows.

[StealthMode℠™©®]

Originally posted by Swagley51:

Im playing a stealth archer build, and I was doing the last mission for the Thieves Guild. I ran into a crowd of Dread Zombies, and I got overwhelmed so easily. They never killed me, and I was able to eventually kill them, but I had to run through the area (they will follow you through doors with loading screens, and can open regular doors btw) and find a high spot to cheese them from. Blasting a single zombie constantly takes like 30+ arrows, and if I miss a shot, they will regen a decent chunk of health.

What are my options as a stealth archer when I run into these things? They are the only enemies Ive had trouble with so far. I was level 13 or so when I ran into them, and had some pretty decent equipment.

https://www.google.com/search?q=dread+zombies+tactics+oblivion&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1043US1043&oq=dread+zombies+tactics+oblivion&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORigATIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigAdIBCDc4OTFqMGo3qAIIsAIB8QXHtQkdTpa5LA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

AI Overview
Learn more
In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Dread Zombies are weak to fire and can be defeated by using a combination of fire spells, enchantments, and potentially turn undead abilities. Exploiting weaknesses like Weakness to Fire and Weakness to Magic, along with strong fire damage, can make quick work of them.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Fire Damage:
Dread Zombies are naturally weak to fire damage.
Use spells like "Fireball" or "Fire Bolt" to inflict damage.
Enchant weapons with fire damage for an extra boost.
2. Exploiting Weaknesses:
Use spells or sigil stones to apply "Weakness to Magic" and "Weakness to Fire" to the Dread Zombie.
This will amplify both the direct fire damage and the weakness to fire, making them much more vulnerable.
3. Turn Undead:
Enchant a weapon with "Turn Undead" for a short duration to make the Dread Zombie rotate on the spot, preventing them from attacking.
This can give you time to cast spells or attack with a weapon enchanted with fire damage.
4. Other Strategies:
Command Creature: Use the "Command Creature" spell to make the Dread Zombie fight other enemies for you.
Summoning: Summon creatures to fight on your behalf, such as a Clannfear.
Frost Damage: Frost damage can also be effective, especially with area-of-effect spells.
5. Leveling and Difficulty:
On higher difficulties, Dread Zombies can regenerate faster than you can deal damage.
Efficient leveling and utilizing the game's mechanics can be crucial for success.

So,,,,
In conslucsion.
Enchant your Weapon.
Use your Core Ranger Abilities / Innate Druid / Divine Abilities.
Use Fire Arrows.
And carry Oil of Impact / Flasks of Oil.

You should find them less challenging.

I will emphasize.
I have played Rangers in D&D since the Red, Blue, Silver Books in the 1980s. Migrated through Ad&d. Dont like anything Pen & Paper past 2.5 ed. ( EFF Wizards of the Coast, Long Live Gary Gygax!! Long Live The Shadow Recruits ( TSR ) Hobbies!! HUZZAH!

You need to learn your Class Mechanics & Abilities better. Learn what Gear works best against what. Dmg type / Mitigation / etc. And research the Mobs you are fighting more.

Most of the content in this " Remake ".
Is the same exact mechanics from the original ESiV: Oblivion.
Best of luck with the Ranger Class.

[Zarkkill]

Turn down the difficulty, it is the only way.

I used them to grind 100 destruction on Expert though.

[Swagley51]

Originally posted by pambapuma:

This is why I usually pair some magic and alchemy with my archers.

I would suggest getting some fire magic, an enchantment, scroll or poison, that you can use against them and vampires.

By the way, you can apply poisons to bows.

I had two basic fire spells. But they were pretty useless as my destruction is very low. I’ve been focusing on conjuration.

[frank teh bunny]

Originally posted by Swagley51:

Im playing a stealth archer build, and I was doing the last mission for the Thieves Guild. I ran into a crowd of Dread Zombies, and I got overwhelmed so easily. They never killed me, and I was able to eventually kill them, but I had to run through the area (they will follow you through doors with loading screens, and can open regular doors btw) and find a high spot to cheese them from. Blasting a single zombie constantly takes like 30+ arrows, and if I miss a shot, they will regen a decent chunk of health.

What are my options as a stealth archer when I run into these things? They are the only enemies Ive had trouble with so far. I was level 13 or so when I ran into them, and had some pretty decent equipment.

try bow enchantments and combine poisons/magic.

Maybe a bow with fire enchant on it and weakness to fire and weakness to magic spells, combined with reduced endurance poison (but i think zombs are immune to poison)

[frank teh bunny]

---+++ Could cast weakness to magic and fire, then bow fire enchant while stacking reduced endurance poison

[Ommamar]

If you have put time into alchemy a good rotation I found was a burden poison, then a weakness to fire poison, then a fire poison. It can get annoying as you have to open your inventory to apply them. I tried using the hot buttons but those seem to make it so you drink the potion.

Another option is if you can enchant putting one of the enchants on your bow I would choose the fire one and just use the weakness to fire poison or even the spell which is a low level one you can spam cast.

[frank teh bunny]

Originally posted by Swagley51:

Originally posted by pambapuma:

This is why I usually pair some magic and alchemy with my archers.

I would suggest getting some fire magic, an enchantment, scroll or poison, that you can use against them and vampires.

By the way, you can apply poisons to bows.

I had two basic fire spells. But they were pretty useless as my destruction is very low. I’ve been focusing on conjuration.

the scamp has a very strong melee attack btw, and decent flare. You can cast your weakness to fire and the flare is decent.

[ChefNorby]

Originally posted by Swagley51:

Im playing a stealth archer build, and I was doing the last mission for the Thieves Guild. I ran into a crowd of Dread Zombies, and I got overwhelmed so easily. They never killed me, and I was able to eventually kill them, but I had to run through the area (they will follow you through doors with loading screens, and can open regular doors btw) and find a high spot to cheese them from. Blasting a single zombie constantly takes like 30+ arrows, and if I miss a shot, they will regen a decent chunk of health.

What are my options as a stealth archer when I run into these things? They are the only enemies Ive had trouble with so far. I was level 13 or so when I ran into them, and had some pretty decent equipment.

Oh get the ultimate weapon? huh huh? You guessed it the Wabbajack thats right! That "insane" staff will solve your problems with overpowered enemies.

[Daskard]

Originally posted by pambapuma:

This is why I usually pair some magic and alchemy with my archers.

I would suggest getting some fire magic, an enchantment, scroll or poison, that you can use against them and vampires.

By the way, you can apply poisons to bows.

Dread Zombies appear to be immune to fire damage. They don't take a single point of damage from a fireball.
Update:
My Fireball is just too weak. I found a fire staff and I 3-shotted a Dread zombie. I guess, my assassin needs to become a wizard now, just because of those OP dread zombies.

[Scraps]

Originally posted by Swagley51:

Im playing a stealth archer build

That's your problem. Marksman reeeeally falls off late game. Sneak crits get outpaced by the gigantic hp bars, and unlike a pure mage using Destruction, you only get one opportunity (conventionally) to do your burst, and it's while you're hidden. Marksman is rightfully weak for an easy resource cost, which is pretty standard for rpgs at the time (Diablo comes to mind).If you're familiar with Dark Souls, low-level is like... lesser-Skyrim Stealth Archer, and late-game turns into Elden Ring Bow Build.

Bows and Arrows can be enchanted with traits that makes enemies weaker to a damage type, so do this in conjuction with Destruction is the best way to go about stealth archer. If you're playing on higher difficulties, Conjuration summons aren't affected by the modifiers iirc, so they're very strong the harder the game is. So, enchant your weaponry with weakness to fire and let a Flame Atronach go ham on the target, for example.

I can't say I'm familiar with this game's AI regarding conjuration, as I detest the zookeeper archtype.

[xPEDx]

Dreads are tough, and hit with a wholop. always end up diseased from them too unless Race etc..Use fire Dot if possible or at least fire instant or enchanted bow of fire . as said above alchemy poisons are great for the regaining health problem