Oblivion talk:Mace of Molag Bal

Absorb Strength effect

There's one thing I don't understand about this weapon... Why is Absorb Strength 5 pts on Strike there? Absorb Attribute is a temporary transfer, unlike Health, Magicka and Fatigue, meaning that it needs a timer. I've tried it in the game, expecting the timer to be one second, but it seems there's no effect from it at all. My Strength never went up. Should we add this as a bug? Lisan al Gaib 10:26, 10 January 2007 (EST)

Sounds like a bug to me. I've noticed a small number of odd enchantments that should be timed but aren't, and I've always wondered what that meant (one other one that comes to mind is the Crimson Eviscerator). --Nephele 13:28, 10 January 2007 (EST)

I have a theory on the absorb strength effect but i doubt its correct. If ones strength had been reduced from 70 to 65 by a spell effect perhaps striking with the mace would restore the reduced strength back up to 70 but not fortify it above that. So perhaps the no duration absorb effect would be like an absorb health effect- restoring a damaged attribute while damaging the enemies attribute.--Willyhead 12:02, 6 July 2007 (EDT)

Is there any reason this still hasn't made it to the article after 21 months?

"Since the Absorb Strength effect has no duration, it does nothing."

* This bug is fixed by the Unofficial Oblivion Patch.

I think there just never was a followup. So yea, it could go into the article. --Timenn < talk > 09:14, 14 October 2008 (EDT)

I had always given it to Martin seeing its enchantments but I'm experimenting with it this time

The last 7 times I played through the game, (Animation bug eventually killed my saves after 600 hours) I had always given this Mace to Martin as I personally dislike one handed blunt weapons, being a 100% Magic effectiveness type a guy. But the only Artifact that becomes inferior to random root ones in every aspect is the Ring of Namira; though it's nice to have at level 5. So this time I kept the Mace of Molag Bal. I know Absorb Magicka 5pt is completly useless since Magicka regenerates faster than I can swing the mace. Absorb Strength on the other hand, I had hoped; rather than draining (can't absorb an attribute indefinetly obviously) since there was no duration; it was damaging Strength 5pt which after 20 strikes any NPC would be over-encumbered and would just stand in one spot. (e.g. Battle Axe of Hatred, Destarine Cleaver) But no, the Mace of Molag Bal does nothing except Absorb Magicka 5pt on strike. But on the other hand, its weapon health is extremely high although the Cursed Mace in that sense would be a superior weapon if enchanted with Absorb Magicka.

I do have a theory however, perhaps it is actually the "Cursed" Mace. Since starting level 17 when you can get the Mace, you will encounter a Nether Lich who'd reflect spell. Another idea is that normal weapons enchanted with Absorb attribute (Drain for the target) and Absorb Magicka (Damage Magicka) can be reflected or dispelled as Absorb Strength would have a minimum of 1 sec duration. But since its effect has no duration, you can use it to Absorb Magicka without worrying about it being reflected.

Only thing that contradicts my theory is that the weapon's high damage value. Before you can Absorb decent amount of Magicka, you'd be killing the thing. If there are no enemies around, you can just wait for your Magicka to regenerate... (Unless you've got stunted Magicka)

From studying and experimenting with all the other Artifacts, they all had unique purpose often overlooked by ordinary players. e.g. The Ebony Blade, many claim that it is inferior to Gold Brand, but its 10 sec Silence effect and the very offering required "Nightshade" which alone (at master in alchemy) can be converted to a poison Damage Health 8 for 30 sec. So, Absorb Health 8pt + effect of the poison 8pt x 10sec =88 When Master in Blade, Armorer, and Strength 100, the Ebony Blade does 27 damage, with sneak attack, 162. The Absorb health 8pt can only be resisted by resist magic while Goldbrand's fire damage 22pt can be resisted/reduced by nearly all creatures of Oblivion. And those that do not resist fire, reflect damage; so obviously the Ebony Blade is the one you'd want to be carrying with you in the plains of Oblivion. And regarding spell-reflection, the only creature in Oblivion that reflects spell are Scamps. You won't see them at all by the time you reach level 17.

Wabbajak, "a fun little toy" it seems quite useless, and even if you know exactly how to use it, it's pretty useless. But use it on Mehrune's Dagon; it will kill him. Yes, KILL. (though, he revives so Martin can take the credit.) Scull of Corruption, everyone knows it's used to duplicate items. Offering of Black Soul Gem was a major give away. Every artifact has a unique purpose, all except for the Mace of Molag Bal? Can't be... There's got to be some way to make it useful. If anyone knows please let me know.

From the related lore page: It seems to be a favourite for vanquishing wizards. Use it to defeat those foes who sling spells at you. Daedryon^{•T•C•E•} 02:57, 19 August 2008 (EDT)

Effect durations

Hi, In the French version of the game, with Bethesda latest patch, there are timers on both effects Absorb strength and Magicka +5 for 10 seconds. No mystery

One last thing, hitting multiple times will not add the effect but remove one Charge, so if you have a long fight, you have +5 strength/Magicka and you deplete the charges. Not so powerful. 24 September 2008 - Ironstaff

Are you sure you are not running any mods? This would be the first time I've heard to an actual gameplay change between different language versions. This would basically make the Absorb Strength effect useful instead of as it is now (useless). --Timenn < talk > 17:03, 24 September 2008 (EDT)

Base Damage 25?

I was playing the game, and when I completed the quest for Molag Bal and recieved the Mace of Molag Bal, the base damage was 27, instead of the recorded 25. I have all of my skills maxed out to 100 (including Blunt), have not completed any major questlines, and have not started the Blood of a Daedra quest. Can someone please check to see if the base damage is correct, or am I misinformed and the base damage recorded here is not from the Blunt skill being at 100? APSX3427 04:34, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

The damage done by a blunt weapon doesn't just depend on the blunt skill - it depends on your strength too. I just tried a couple of things in the game. I had a new, puny character and gave myself the mace using the console: damage 4. Set my blunt to 100: damage 20. Set my strength to 100: damage 27. My current main character gets a damage of 30, because his strength is boosted over 100. The "base" damage is definitely 25. rpeh •T•C•E• 08:49, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

I see, but did you get the damage rating recorded on this page for the mace from the Construction Set, or from in game? APSX3427 03:46, 5 June 2010 (UTC)

Nevermind, don't answer that, it was a stupid question with an obvious answer. APSX3427 03:49, 5 June 2010 (UTC)