The Necromancer’s Amulet is one of the most sought-after items in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It features prominently in the main questline, but acquiring it and dealing with the quest’s peculiar triggers can be a source of frustration. Many players want to keep the amulet for its powerful enchantments rather than hand it over, while others encounter a game-breaking bug that prevents them from progressing when they try to speak with Jauffre. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Necromancer’s Amulet, from legitimate ways to retain it to troubleshooting the most common quest progression issues.
Whether you are playing the original release or the Oblivion Remaster, understanding the mechanics behind the amulet and the associated quest stages is essential. We will walk you through both minor exploits and official workarounds, ensuring you can enjoy the amulet’s benefits without derailing your adventure.
Understanding the Necromancer Amulet Quest
The amulet is central to the “Spies” quest, which takes place early in the main story. You are tasked by Jauffre, the Grandmaster of the Blades, with retrieving the amulet from the sewers beneath the Imperial City. Once you acquire it, you must return it to Jauffre at Weynon Priory. However, the game is designed so that you cannot permanently keep the amulet through normal play; attempting to drop or sell it may cause unpredictable behavior. That said, there are several methods to bypass this restriction.
Quest Synopsis
After escaping the Imperial Prison Sewer with the Emperor’s last instructions, you will eventually meet Jauffre at Weynon Priory. He sends you to the Imperial City to meet Baurus, a Blade agent, who guides you through the next steps. The quest culminates in a trip to the sewers where you confront the Mythic Dawn agents and recover the amulet from the body of the Emperor’s assassin. Once you have it, Jauffre expects you to bring it back immediately to prove your loyalty and advance the quest.
How to Keep the Necromancer Amulet
While the game intends for you to surrender the amulet, there are several ways to keep it in your inventory permanently. Be aware that some methods may be considered exploits, but they generally do not corrupt your save if executed carefully.
Method 1: The Duplicate Glitch (Scroll Method)
One of the most reliable exploits in Oblivion involves duplicating items using scrolls. To duplicate the amulet, you will need at least two identical scrolls. Equip the scrolls, then click on the amulet in your inventory and drop it. If done correctly, the amulet will duplicate, and you can pick up both copies. Turn one in to Jauffre and keep the other. This glitch works on all platforms and versions, including the Remaster.
Method 2: Reverse Pickpocketing
If you have a high Sneak skill, you can attempt to place the amulet in Jauffre’s inventory before turning in the quest. First, drop the amulet, then pickpocket Jauffre while he is sleeping. Place the amulet on him, then initiate the quest dialogue. When he asks for the amulet, it will already be in his inventory, and the quest will advance as normal. Afterward, you can pickpocket it back from him. This method is riskier and may require saving beforehand.
Method 3: Console Commands (PC Only)
If you are playing on PC, you can use console commands to both progress the quest and keep the amulet. Open the console with the tilde key (~) and type:
player.additem 000250A0 1
This adds a fresh copy of the Necromancer’s Amulet to your inventory. You can then turn in the original or simply set the quest stage manually if you are stuck. Use the command setstage MQ05 40 to advance past the point where you hand over the amulet. Be cautious with quest stages, as skipping critical ones can cause issues later.
Method 4: Mods and Unofficial Patches
If you are using the Oblivion Remaster or mods, unofficial patches often fix the forced removal of the amulet. Some mods allow you to keep it legitimately by adding an alternative dialogue option or by marking it as non-essential after the quest. Check your mod list for features related to quest items.
Fixing Progression Issues with Jauffre
A common bug prevents you from speaking to Jauffre after you have the amulet, leaving you stuck at the “I should bring the amulet to Jauffre” stage. The dialogue option to hand it over may not appear, or Jauffre may be missing or unresponsive. Here is how to resolve this.
Wait or Rest
Sometimes the quest simply needs time to update. Leave Weynon Priory and wait or sleep for 24 hours in a different cell, then return. This can reset Jauffre’s AI and trigger the correct dialogue. Make sure you have the amulet in your inventory (not equipped) when you approach him.
Check the Amulet’s Quest Status
Open your quest journal and verify that the objective says “Bring the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre.” If it still reads “Find the Amulet of Kings” or something similar, you may have missed a step. Double-check that you have the actual amulet from the sewer and not a replica. The base ID of the correct item is 000250A0. You can use the console command player.showinventory to confirm.
Teleport Jauffre to You (Console)
If Jauffre is missing, you can bring him to your location with the console. Type:
prid 00023999moveto player
This will place Jauffre directly in front of you. Then try speaking with him. If he still does not have the dialogue, you may need to reset his AI with disable followed by enable.
Set the Quest Stage Manually
As a last resort, you can force the quest to advance. Use setstage MQ05 50 to complete the handover and start the next quest, “The Path of Dawn.” Ensure you have the amulet in your inventory when you do this, or you might break future stages. This method should only be used if all else fails.
Remaster-Specific Fixes
In the Oblivion Remaster, certain engine changes may cause script lag. If dialogue options do not appear, try lowering your frame rate cap or disabling V-Sync temporarily. Some players have reported that enabling the “Borderless Window” mode can improve script responsiveness. Additionally, ensure your game is fully updated, as day-one patches often address these bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep the Necromancer Amulet without cheating?
Legitimately, no. The game is designed to remove the amulet from your inventory when you turn it in. However, the duplicate glitch and reverse pickpocket method are considered exploits rather than cheats, as they use in-game mechanics. If you want a lore-friendly way, some mod creators have added alternative quest resolutions where you can convince Jauffre you need the amulet for research, but such mods are not part of the base game.
Why won’t Jauffre talk to me even though I have the amulet?
This is a known bug often caused by script lag or the game failing to recognize that you have the item. First, try dropping the amulet and picking it up again, then speak to Jauffre. If that does not work, use the waiting method or console commands as detailed above. In some cases, having the amulet equipped rather than in your inventory can prevent the dialogue; so always make sure it is unequipped.
Will keeping the amulet break my game?
If you use the duplicate method or console commands carefully, no. The game checks for the amulet only during the handover. Once the quest is advanced, the amulet in your inventory is just a normal item. However, if you use console commands to skip stages without the amulet in Jauffre’s possession, you might miss dialogue or trigger events out of order. Always keep a backup save.
Does the Oblivion Remaster fix these bugs?
The Remaster includes some bug fixes but not all. The Jauffre dialogue bug still occurs for some players. The unofficial patches included in the Remaster may have fixed the forced removal of the amulet, but it varies by platform. Check the official patch notes for your version.
Can I get the amulet back if I already turned it in?
Without cheats or mods, no. Once you give the amulet to Jauffre, it becomes a quest item that stays with him. You can pickpocket it back if your skill is high enough, but it may be marked as a quest item still and cannot be dropped. You can use the console to add another copy if you are on PC.
Mastering the Necromancer’s Amulet quest line is a small but rewarding part of the Oblivion experience. With the methods described here, you can enjoy the amulet’s powerful enchantment while continuing the main story without interruption. Always remember to save often, especially before attempting any glitches, so you can revert if something goes awry.
