Supporting the defense of Bruma is one of the most significant logistical undertakings in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. While the quest "Allies for Bruma" is technically optional, the survival of Martin Septim and the success of the defense against the Mythic Dawn often hinge on the quality of the soldiers standing on the front lines. Relying solely on the Bruma militia—who are poorly armored and lower-leveled—is a risk that many experienced players prefer to avoid, especially at higher difficulty settings or character levels.

Recruiting allies involves traveling to the major cities of Cyrodiil and closing the Oblivion Gates threatening them. This process is repetitive but offers a unique chance to boost your Fame and secure high-level reinforcements. Below is a detailed breakdown of how to secure the best Oblivion allies for Bruma and which cities provide the most tactical value.

The Tactical Difference: Militia vs. City Guards

Understanding the mechanics of the Battle of Bruma is essential before deciding how many cities to visit. If you skip this quest, the battlefield will be populated by Bruma Militia. These NPCs are generally weak; they wear leather or chainmail gear and lack high health pools.

In contrast, completing the recruitment tasks replaces these militiamen with specialized City Guards. These soldiers arrive with superior equipment—typically chainmail or steel, depending on the city—and significantly higher health. More importantly, certain cities send named captains or multiple soldiers, which shifts the action economy in your favor during the chaotic phases of the Great Gate quest. For players above level 20, where Dremora Valkynaz and Xivilai become common spawns, having these sturdier allies is often the difference between a controlled victory and a frantic reload of a previous save.

City-by-City Recruitment Breakdown

Each city requires you to close a specific Oblivion Gate before the local count or countess will agree to spare troops. Here is the data on what each city contributes and the specific challenges involved.

Anvil: The High-Value Choice

Anvil is widely considered a top priority. Countess Millona Umbranox will dispatch two Anvil Soldiers upon the closure of the gate outside her walls. Having two additional bodies on the field is mathematically superior to cities that only send one. The gate itself typically follows a randomized layout, but the reward-to-effort ratio remains high.

Bravil: The Power of Viera Lerus

Bravil contributes one of the strongest individual NPCs for the battle: Viera Lerus. She is a high-level captain with better combat AI and survivability than standard guards. To recruit her, you must assist Count Regulus Terentius. It is worth noting that if Viera Lerus has already died in your playthrough due to other world interactions, the city may send a generic soldier or no one at all, depending on your game version's stability.

Cheydinhal: The Knight of the Thorn Factor

Cheydinhal offers an interesting variation. If you complete "The Wayward Knight" and save Farwil Indarys, the Count’s son, you not only get a Cheydinhal Soldier but also gain extra dialogue and fame. However, if you have already completed "Corruption and Conscience" and Ulrich Leland is not in jail, he may appear as the reinforcement. Cheydinhal usually provides two soldiers (one guard and one named NPC or second guard), making it another high-priority stop.

Chorrol: Maximum Reinforcements

Like Anvil, Chorrol is a "must-visit" because Countess Arriana Valga sends two Chorrol Soldiers. In the tight confines of the Bruma battlefield, having four extra shields (if combined with Anvil) creates a solid wall to protect Martin. The Chorrol gate is often a standard "Random World" layout, making it a predictable clear.

Skingrad: The Diplomatic Bug Risk

Skingrad provides one soldier, but the recruitment process is notoriously finicky. Count Janus Hassildor is a vampire and often uses Hal-Liurz as an intermediary. If you are currently in the middle of the Vampire Cure quest, Hal-Liurz may refuse to fetch the Count, effectively soft-locking your ability to get Skingrad’s aid. If this happens, waiting in the castle hall for several hours sometimes forces the Count’s schedule to reset, allowing the dialogue to trigger.

Leyawiin: Standard Support

Count Marius Caro will send one Leyawiin Soldier. While helpful, Leyawiin is often the furthest city to travel to and provides the least "bang for your buck" if you are looking to speed through the main quest. However, for completionists, the extra soldier still provides a valuable distraction for Daedric siege engines.

Kvatch: The Veteran's Aid

If you have already reclaimed the city in "The Battle for Castle Kvatch," Savlian Matius will provide a soldier immediately. There is no new gate to close specifically for this quest, as the original gate at the start of the game serves as the prerequisite. This is the fastest reinforcement to secure if you’ve already done the legwork.

The Imperial City: The Political Deadlock

Visiting Chancellor Ocato in the Elder Council Chambers is a common mistake for new players. Ocato will refuse to send any troops from the Imperial Legion, citing the need to protect the heart of the Empire and the other provinces. While this adds flavor to the lore, it provides zero mechanical benefit to the defense of Bruma. Do not spend time traveling here for recruitment purposes.

Strategic Prioritization: Who to Recruit First?

If you are playing on a higher difficulty or simply want to minimize the time spent in the Deadlands, a selective recruitment strategy is advised. Focus on cities that provide two soldiers or high-level captains.

  1. Tier 1 (High Priority): Anvil, Chorrol, and Cheydinhal. These three cities alone provide five to six soldiers, more than doubling your initial force.
  2. Tier 2 (Medium Priority): Bravil and Kvatch. These provide high-quality individual fighters or are very quick to complete.
  3. Tier 3 (Low Priority): Leyawiin and Skingrad. These offer single, generic reinforcements and, in Skingrad's case, carry a risk of quest-related bugs.

Level Scaling and Difficulty Considerations

A critical factor in "Allies for Bruma" is your current character level. The enemies inside the Oblivion Gates scale with you, but so do the guards to a certain extent. However, Daedric enemies like the Xivilai or Dremora Lords often scale more aggressively than city guards.

If you find yourself at level 30 or higher, the Oblivion Gates become significantly more dangerous, featuring more traps and higher-tier Daedra. In these cases, the effort to close seven gates might feel overwhelming. Conversely, this is exactly when the reinforcements are most needed, as the Bruma Militia will be killed almost instantly by high-level Daedra, leaving Martin Septim vulnerable. If you are at a high level, it is better to recruit at least the Tier 1 cities mentioned above to ensure the frontline doesn't collapse within the first minute of the battle.

Navigating the Gates Efficiently

To speed up the recruitment of Oblivion allies for Bruma, you should focus on "Tower Running." Once inside a gate, ignore as many minor enemies as possible. Use invisibility potions or high Speed/Athletics stats to bypass the wastes and head straight for the main tower (the Sigillum Sanguis).

Once inside the tower, the layout is usually vertical. Locate the "Rending Halls" or "Corridors of Dark Salvation" to move upward. The goal is always the Sigil Stone at the top. Grabbing the stone instantly closes the gate and teleports you back to the safety of Cyrodiil, despawning all enemies you ran past. This method can reduce the time spent per city from thirty minutes to under ten.

The Impact on the Defense of Bruma Quest

Once the allies are recruited, they will set up camps outside Bruma’s north gate. You can inspect your army before speaking to Martin to begin the final sequence. The presence of these allies changes the "Defense of Bruma" quest from a desperate survival mission into a structured military engagement.

When the Great Gate opens, your primary objective is to enter it, but the allies you’ve gathered are the ones keeping the Daedric hordes occupied while you are inside. If you have a full contingent of allies, you will often return from the Great Gate to find many of them still standing, which makes the subsequent march to the Imperial City for the finale much more thematic and satisfying.

In summary, while the path to gathering all Oblivion allies for Bruma is long, the tactical advantages provided by Anvil, Chorrol, and the captains of Bravil and Cheydinhal are substantial. Balancing the number of gates you close against your current level and patience is key to a successful and efficient playthrough of the Oblivion main questline.