Oblivion Remastered: How to Get Black Soul Gems
Image Credits: Bethesda Game Studios, Oblivion Remastered,
Black Soul Gems are special items in Oblivion Remastered that let you capture human souls. They’re rare, but you can create them yourself if you know the right steps.
How to Make Black Soul Gems
You need a few things before you can create a Black Soul Gem:
An empty Grand Soul Gem (not filled with any soul)
A Soul Trap spell
Access to a Necromancer's Altar (also called a Shade Altar)
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Find a Necromancer’s Altar
These altars are found at specific locations across Cyrodiil, like Dark Fissure, Fort Istirus, Wendelbek, Fort Linchal, and others.
They look like stone pillars and usually have a Grand Soul Gem sitting on top.
Step 2: Wait for the Right Day
The altars only work when a magical beam of light shines down on them that looks red.
This happens every 8 in-game days, starting from the 28th of Last Seed (Day 1).
Sample dates when the light appears:
| Days Passed | Date |
|---|---|
| 1 | Last Seed 27 (use altar at midnight into 28) |
| 9 | Heartfire 4 |
| 17 | Heartfire 12 |
| 25 | Heartfire 20 |
| 33 | Heartfire 28 |
| 41 | Frostfall 6 |
| 49 | Frostfall 14 |
The best time to check is at midnight (12:00 AM) when the new day begins.
If you don't see the light, rest 24 hours at a time and check again.
Step 3: Turn a Grand Soul Gem into a Black Soul Gem
When the light is active:
Place an empty Grand Soul Gem onto the altar (some altars already have one).
Cast Soul Trap on the altar.
The gem will transform into a Black Soul Gem.
If the Grand Soul Gem is already filled with a soul, this will not work — it must be empty.
Other Ways to Find Black Soul Gems
Rare Loot Drops: Sometimes necromancers drop Black Soul Gems, especially during quests like the Meridia Shrine quest.
Dungeon Containers: Rarely found inside caves, vampire lairs, or necromancer strongholds.
They’re very uncommon without making them yourself, so crafting is the easiest method.
Final Blurb
Getting Black Soul Gems in Oblivion Remastered takes patience, but the payoff is huge if you want to trap human souls. Find a necromancer altar, wait for the Shade Light, and turn empty Grand Soul Gems into some of the most powerful tools in the game.
Recommended | View all Oblivion Remastered
