In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the Chameleon effect is a magical illusion that makes your character partially or fully invisible depending on the percentage of Chameleon you have. It reduces the range at which NPCs and creatures can detect you, rather than simply lowering the chance of detection. Visually, your character becomes increasingly transparent as the Chameleon percentage rises, becoming completely invisible at 100% Chameleon
. At 100% Chameleon, you are effectively invisible to all NPCs and enemies, allowing you to move freely, steal, sneak, kill, and perform almost any action without being seen or confronted. However, you are not silent-NPCs can still detect you by sound if your stealth skill is low or if you wear heavy boots. Also, you can still be harmed by traps or environmental hazards. NPCs will only interact with you if scripted by quests or if guards attempt to arrest you, though with 100% Chameleon you can often resist arrest and sneak away undetected
. You can achieve 100% Chameleon by combining multiple enchanted items (e.g., five pieces of armor or jewelry each enchanted with 20% Chameleon using Grand Soul Gems or Sigil Stones), potions, or spells. The Ring of Khajiiti, for example, grants 35% Chameleon. Custom spells can also be created once you have a high Illusion skill, and these effects stack to reach full invisibility
. Unlike invisibility spells, Chameleon does not break when you perform actions such as fighting or opening doors, making it a more versatile stealth tool. However, it does not make you silent, so stealth skill and noise management remain important for avoiding detection
. In summary, Chameleon in Oblivion is a powerful illusion effect that grants partial to full invisibility, greatly enhancing stealth gameplay by reducing the detection range of enemies and NPCs, with 100% Chameleon rendering you nearly undetectable and visually invisible
