There are a lot of powerful enemies in Oblivion Remastered, but will-o-the-wisps can be one of the most frustrating to battle if you don't know how to deal with them. These little floating balls of light have a lot of damage resistances, and some powerful moves that make it hard to take them out. They can be especially difficult depending on your class and what loadout you have when you run into them. Although not the most common enemies in the game, it's still worth knowing how to take out will-o-the-wisps so they don't cause you to lose any progress.

Another scary aspect of will-o-the-wisps is that they are pretty relentless in their pursuit of you. When I first encountered one, it chased me from near Bravil to Leyawiiin, and I only shook it off because an unfortunate traveler drew aggro from me. If you get too close to a will-o-the-wisp, it can drain your Magicka and health simultaneously while healing itself, making it hard to kill even if you are capable of damaging it. Luckily, once you know how to handle them, will-o-wisps stop being as intimidating.

How To Kill Will-O-The-Wisps

Magical Damage And Silver Weapons Are All That Hurt Them

Will-o-the-wisps can't be hurt by normal damage from standard weapons. If you're a mage, things will be a bit easier for you, because they can be hurt by magic. Just to keep your distance while attacking, because they will drain your Magicka if you get too close, which is espeically punishing if you didn't take The Lord Birthsign. A good strategy would be to kite them the best you can while hitting them with damage spells. If you're able to use the Reflect Spell ability or have potions for it, you can turn the will-o-the-wisp's drain effect back on it.

If you're running the ever-popular stealth archer build, you can damage will-o-the-wisps, but you have to make sure that you're using the right weapons. Silver can hurt will-o-the-wisps, so if you have some silver arrows kicking about now is the time to use them. In general, I would recommend saving silver arrows for these types of enemies. Enchanted weapons also work thanks to their magic damage. Luckily, will-o-the-wisps glow, and can be spotted from a distance, so you should be able to get the drop on them and keep your distance.

Melee fighters are going to have the most trouble with these, because you have to get close enough to let the will-o-the-wisp use its drain on you. A Reflect Spell potion could be a good call here, but since wisps are one of the enemies that drop ingredients for it, you may be out of luck. Like archers, you'll be restricted to the use of silver or enchanted weapons. I would recommend something with a quick attack speed, because you'll need to output damage faster than the will-o-the-wisp can heal itself by draining you.

Rewards For Killing Will-O-The-Wisps

Will-O-The-Wisps Drop Glow Dust

Will-o-the-wisps in Oblivion Remastered drop Glow Dust. This item is a valuable potion ingredient, and can be used in alchemy to create Frostcrag Spire player home for the Altar of Alchemy there. If you aren't doing alchemy, Glow Dust has a value of 40 and is pretty, so it's not a terrible thing to pick up anyway.

One might argue the greatest reward for killing will-o-the-wisps in Oblivion Remastered is simply that it won't be following you around and draining your life and Magicka. While not too difficult to kill once you know what to bring, will-o-the-wisps can still be a pretty frustrating enemy. They're harder to hit than other targets, and they can catch you pretty quickly. That said, you now at least know how to do damage to them, or to just runaway if you aren't equipped to.