How to Defeat the Gatekeeper and Enter the Shivering Isles in Oblivion Remastered
Struggling to pass the Gatekeeper in Oblivion Remastered’s Shivering Isles DLC? Here’s a full guide to defeating the Gatekeeper and completing “Through the Fringe of Madness.”
Quick Summary
- 🔍 Go to Passwall first, not the gates.
- 🧠 Talk to Shelden and witness the failed adventurer battle.
- 🧊 Team up with Jayred Ice-Veins.
- 💀 Kill Shambles at the Gardens of Flesh and Bone.
- 🏹 Use the crafted Bone Arrows to finally hurt the Gatekeeper.
- 🗝️ Loot keys and choose your path: Mania or Dementia.
How to Beat the Gatekeeper in Oblivion Remastered
When you first step into the Shivering Isles through the Strange Door, you’ll quickly hit a seemingly impossible wall—the Gatekeeper, a hulking undead guardian of the Gates of Madness. No matter how strong you are, your attacks won’t do a thing. But don’t worry—this is one of Oblivion’s more unique questlines, and there’s a clever way through it.
Let’s break it down step-by-step so you can get past this roadblock and meet Sheogorath himself.
Step 1: Visit Passwall First
Once you enter the Isles, you’ll land in The Fringe. Ignore the Gates of Madness for now and head into the small town of Passwall.
- Talk to Shelden, the self-proclaimed “mayor” of Passwall.
- Chat with Felas Sarandas as well, and they’ll talk about the Gatekeeper.
- After this conversation, follow them as they walk to the Gates of Madness.
Step 2: Watch the Adventurers’ (Doomed) Fight
You’ll arrive just in time to witness a group of overconfident adventurers attempt to take down the Gatekeeper. Spoiler: it doesn’t end well.
🐛 Bug Tip: If they just stand around instead of fighting, use the Wait function for an hour to trigger the event.
After the Gatekeeper wipes them out, talk to Shelden again. He’ll mention a man named Jayred Ice-Veins, who’s working on a way to kill the creature.
Step 3: Meet Jayred and Go to the Gardens
Head back to Passwall and find Jayred’s shack near the pond. Speak to him and agree to help.
- Follow him to the Gardens of Flesh and Bone, located just outside of town.
- Pick the Very Easy lock on the gate and enter.
- Interact with the Gatekeeper’s Skeleton inside.
Be ready for a fight—interacting with the skeleton triggers an ambush from a swarm of Shambles. Take them out, and Jayred will begin crafting Gatekeeper Bone Arrows.
🐛 Bug Tip: If Jayred doesn’t move or react, wait for an hour again to fix his AI.
After a 3-hour wait (game time), return to his house to collect your special arrows.
Step 4: Kill the Gatekeeper
Now comes the real showdown. Return to the Gates of Madness with your Bone Arrows in hand. You can either:
- Let Jayred accompany you to make the battle easier, or
- Go solo if you’re feeling confident.
Use the arrows to pierce the Gatekeeper’s defenses—now your attacks will actually do damage. Once you slay the beast, loot the body to receive:
- 🗝️ Key to Mania
- 🗝️ Key to Dementia
These unlock the paths to Sheogorath’s palace, allowing you to move forward with the DLC.
Step 5: Finish “Through the Fringe of Madness”
With the Gatekeeper defeated, Haskill (Sheogorath’s right-hand man) will appear and tell you the Madgod wants to meet you.
- Choose either Mania (more colorful and whimsical) or Dementia (darker and twisted).
- Travel through the gate to reach the city of Bliss.
- Enter Sheogorath’s palace and speak to him to complete the quest.
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