Introduction
The Arena can be found in the Imperial city, the district is dominated by a large arena in which the contests are held. Aside from the obvious battles, you can however also use the arena for betting purposes, to hopefully increase your wealth.
To start as warrior, speak to Owyn who can be found in the arena bowels. To place a bet, speak to Hundolin, the gatekeeper there.
Ranks
Nine ranks to the arena, from bottom to top they are:
- 1. Pit Dog
- 2. Brawler
- 3. Bloodletter
- 4. Myrmidon
- 5. Warrior
- 6. Gladiator
- 7. Hero
- 8. Champion
- 9. Grand Champion
The Gamblers Path
Speak to Hundolin at the gate of the arena, between 9am and 9pm. Optional amounts are; 25, 50 or 100. And winning means you get two times your entry back.
Now there is a way to influence the outcome of the contest here; through a high luck. The higher your luck, the higher the chances of success for your bet.
Return to Hundolin after the match, assuming your bet won of course, and receive your winnings.
Strategy
Should you speak to Owyn, and thus choose the warriors way in the arena, you'll be confronted by 27 opponents over 22 matches. Winning is a must for each match, as defeat means death.
Speak to Owyn to receive matches, and then again after your victory for a reward and possibly a promotion. It's alo good to know, that you're expected (and required) to wear the armor Owyn provides you with during your matches.
Now there's an overall strategy you can use here to be successfull. Based on the type of opponent they throw at you, there are a number of things that will give you, at the very least, an advantage.
First off, take a look at the arena, preferably through the gamblers section, you'll notice the pillars standing around the center of the arena, and some blocks there as well. Use those to your advantage whenever you can.
One of the best positions to take on your opponents is from the top of one of the pillars, though getting there would require either cheating, or a superhuman Acrobatics skill. So only for those superacrobats is this an option.
You'll be faced with 4 types of matches, the first one is facing a melee fighter, second is facing an archer, third is facing a magic user and fourth is facing overwhelming odds; ie facing several opponents.
Now with a melee warrior you can either outfight him, if you have the skill. If you don't then keeping him at a distance should be your main motivation. Let him wear himself out by keeping your distance, and hitting him with either arrows or magic untill he's sufficiently exhausted to take out permanently. The pillars and blocks in the arena will be very helpfull here.
With an archer there are two ways, either hide behind the pillars thus rendering his arrows useless, and all the while strike at him with your own arrows or ranged magic, or close in fast. At close distance arrows and such do no good at all, so close fast and you'll be able to take them out.
A Mage is a bit more tricky, you can take your chances and keep your distance, and let them exhaust their magicka, but there is always the risk of them having area spells and then the pillars will do you no good. So my advice is to close in on them fast and knock them down and out as soon as you can using your best weapons. Magic defence here would come in handy.
Last but certainly not least, the handicap matches. Luckily these don't occur too often, when they do though, I recommend using a smart combination of magic and deathly skills. For instance, use paralyzation to quickly freeze at least one opponent in place to even out the odds a bit, then focus on a second combatant and with some luck, repeat this for a few times to kill off one third of the opposition within minutes.
Then repeat the procedure when there are but two opponents left and victory will be within your grasp. And as rule of thumb, when faced with a combination of melee warrior(s) and ranged or magic supporters, always go after the supporters before the melee warrior.
Also, make sure that before entering the arena, no matter what match this is, you always enter with enough supplies, a main weapon and possibly a backup, enough arrows for your bow, a good amount of potions and scrolls to help aid you in your time of need.
Pit Dog Matches
You first start as pit dog, the lowest of the low. Your first match is against a woodelf Melee warrior.
Second comes an Imperial, again Melee.
And third in this round, an Argonian archer.
Brawler Matches
The second rank is Brawler, and your first match is against an Axe weilding Nord.
Second match is against a team of woodelves where one is a melee warrior and one an archer.
Third up, an Axe weilding Khajiit.
Bloodletter Matches
First off you face a redguard carrying a mace.
Second comes a Breton with a shortsword, another melee warrior.
And third you face a Dunmer armed with both a bow and sword.
Myrmidon Matches
In the first match here you face a Bosmer using an enchanted dagger.
Second is an Altmer Melee warrior.
And lastly a battleaxe weilding Orc.
Warrior Matches
In this first match you meet a Nord melee blade figther.
Second comes the first magical opponent. Unless you have a good magic resistance orso, close with her quickly.
And last is an Orc weilding a warhammer.
Gladiator Matches
This first match is your second handicap match. You face three unarmed Argonians.
Second comes a Khajiit melee warrior.
And last in this round is a Breton warrior.
Hero Matches
This second to last round of matches is where things become really serious. I can't mention enough to be prepared in supplies before going into this round.
First off, you face a former Blades member. Armed with a sword and shield, he'll give you a good run for your money.
After him comes another magic user. As with the first, closing fast with her is the way to go, provided you don't have good magic resistance that is.
The last fight in this round will be the second toughest battle in the Arena, depending on a choice you make next this could be the toughest.
You face three opponents, an archer, a magic user and a melee warrior who's very very good. A small addition to my earlier strategy for this peticular match; if you have good magic resistance, go after the archer first, then the magic user then the melee. If you don't have magic resistance, go after the magis user first, then the archer and then the melee.
After killing off the two supporting combatants, make sure to get your energy back to full before going one on one with the melee lady. At the start of the match you're joined by a boar, who can assist you in this battle. Mainly by distracting the second supporting fighter while you take care of one of them.
Grand Champion Match
Well this is it, you're ready to challenge the Gray Prince, the current grand champion. This will be a battle for the ages should you choose to do battle that is.
When you speak to Agronak gro-Malog he'll mention he's not sure about some things in his personal life and asks you if you would care to look into them and explain your findings to Agronak.
Be mindfull though, persuing this quest and returning the answer to Agronak will take away this last battle in the arena. So if you wish to test your skill against Agronak, don't pursue this quest. If you're interested in the quest, check here: The Origin of the Gray Prince
Anyway, assuming you're still reading this, I assume you're interested in the battle? Well alrighty then. First off, you're not required to wear the standard arena armor in this one, so get the best you can.
And that same goes for weapon and other things, make sure you have the best possible as you'll need it. Agronak himself is armed with sword and shield, and has armor that boost his health, fatigue and athletics stats (among others).
During the battle, I would suggest either keeping your distance, or using your block skill to an advantage. Unless of course you're a godlike man yourself, in which case you won't have to be too carefull.
And one last note, before the match, you get to choose a nickname, I suggest choosing one you like as it will stick with you the rest of the game.
Origin of the Gray Prince
Speak to Agronak to learn he's of noble birth, but has no way to prove that. So he asks you to find him that proof. travel to the fortress of Crowhaven, to be found in the western part of Cyrodiil. To the northwest of Anvil to be precise.
Travel there and once inside, find the locked door at the top of a staircase. It's in the first hall, so no need to enter either the burial halls or the catacombs.
Use the key you were given by Agronak to open that door, and step inside. Soon you'll be attacked by the father of Agronak who turns out to be a vampire. Kill him and walk a bit further into the room to find the journal of Lord Lovidicus.
Take it and return to the Arena, speak to Agronak about that and he'll change quite a bit.
Now when you challenge him he will accept, and inside the arena he will come charging at you, but then when he's about halfway to you, he'll stop, put up his weapon and won't defend himself anymore so you'll have an easy victory over him.
The End
Well, that's it. Take everything Agronak has and return to the matchmaker to be named the new grand champion, be rewarded money and a good piece of armor.
This isn't the end of the arena though, once a week you'll be able to do battle with creatures in there. Depending on your level they can range from rats to minotaur lords and you get the choice between one, two or three creatures at once.
The money to be gained from this is really pretty good. Speak to the matchmaker whenever you wish to start such a match.
A second smaller reward is another person to join your entourage, the adoring fan. Helpfull for lighting up dark rooms and makes for a nice danger sensor, as he'll vanish the minute danger gets near you.