Oblivion talk:Wabbajack

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Strange Creatures[edit]

I've noticed some strange things with the Wabbajack. It's not supposed to work on NPCs, but it seems to turn them into aggressive wolves for a short time; when the wolf is killed, it changes back and the NPC dies. Also, it seems to work on objects. (I've used it on the shrine statue of Sheogorath, and on the pillar in the Ayleid ruin that you have to cast several specific spells on (I forget the quest name.) Both vanished, only to have a wolf appear in their place. (I think these were with the Wabbajack staff itself; they may have been with the Wabbajack Spell I was tinkering with, and it may also be because I had god mode on at the time.) I'm fairly sure I've also had it work on non-loading doors.

My conclusion: The Wabbajack (or at least the spell) is quite buggy and possibly broken. --M2pt5 17:35, 2 August 2006 (EDT)

I just tried it, and I'm making the following observations:

  • Everything I Wabbajacked (with the staff) turned into a "Polymorphed Wolf". This includes:
    • NPCs of the playable races
    • rats
    • shop signs (the ones that can swing)
    • a bench
    • Nocturnal's Shrine (the statue)
    • gate doors (the Ayleid ruin gates)
    • a rising floor trap
  • When killed, every Polymorphed Wolf reverts to the object it originally was, at the location the wolf was when it died.
    • This can lead to very unusual circumstances (a large hole in the floor, the Nocturnal statue on the wrong side of the bridge and half sunken in the ground, half-sunken and moved gates, etc.)
    • If whatever was Wabbajacked was previously alive (an NPC, a monster) the creature will reappear, then go through its death animation.

Update of my previous conclusion: The Wabbajack staff is very broken. --M2pt5 18:11, 2 August 2006 (EDT)


Are you sure this isn't being caused by some mod? There is no "Polymorphed Wolf" anywhere in the Construction Set. The complete list of things that can be created by Wabbajack is as follows: Daedroth, Troll, Skeleton Champion, Sheep, Rat, Ogre, Goblin Skirmisher, and Deer. Anything else that you get must be from some other source. Has anybody else experienced anything like this? (Particularly X-box people, since there's no chance of a mod-related issue for them.) --TheRealLurlock 22:43, 3 August 2006 (EDT)
I just did some tests, and could not reproduce any of these behaviors. I tried zapping several NPCs, several swinging signs, and Nocturnal's statue: nothing happened. When zapping animals (unicorn, horses, scamps, flame atronachs) I always got one of the beasts in Lurlock's list. After 30 seconds, the wabbajacked creature would turn back into its original form at full health.
There does seem to be a preference for the aggressive creatures showing up. In 29 tests, I got 8 daedroth, 7 skeleton champions, 4 goblin skirmishers, 3 ogres, 3 trolls, 2 sheep, 1 rat, and 1 deer. (This was with a level 16 character). Also, these tests were all done on an XBox, so definitely no mods in play. --Nephele 23:08, 3 August 2006 (EDT)
I got, if I'm counting correctly, 1 skeleton champion, 1 goblin skirmisher, 3 ogres, 3 sheet, 2 rat. In most cases this was a decided improvement (e.g. Nether Lich into sheep). This is at level 18. I couldn't wabbajack Adoring Fan (but he got mad). Zompist 19:29, 22 September 2006 (EDT)

Final conclusion: I am a complete idiot, and Mezlo needs to mention things he changes in his Ultimate Cheat Mod. It has a "polymorph wolf" spell, and for some reason, he hijacked the Wabbajack's ability to make it. I just copy/pasted the original WabbajackSpell script from Oblivion.esm and fixed it. Sorry if I caused any confusion. --M2pt5 01:03, 7 March 2007 (EST)

Shivering Isles[edit]

Does anyone know if Sheogorath reacts if you have completed the Wabbajack quest before going to shivering isles? --193.71.103.180 13:03, 21 May 2007 (EDT)

He doesn't say anything after you get it. If you want to see what he says before you get it, but have been in the SI, look in Sheogorath 77BeTa77 22:07, 8 April 2008 (EDT)

Shivering isles[edit]

I was also supprised that Sheogorath didn't react in a different way when I met him, as his shrine quest was the last quest I compleated before I downloaded the Shivering Isles. I was also supprised that being in possesion of this item would not count as having Sheogorath's blessing, thus you could go through the gate.

Souls[edit]

Can this item be used to, for example, turn a rat into a Daedroth and get a greater soul? 203.33.161.223 05:03, 9 March 2008 (EDT)

Yes. You have a 1 in 8 chance of getting a Daedroth when you use it on anything. –RpehTCE 06:19, 9 March 2008 (EDT)
I realise that - the question was mostly about whether you get the soul from the original creature or the soul from the new creature. But all in all it's not very efficient even if you do get the soul of the new creature; you have a 3/8 (37.5%) chance of getting a creature with a greater soul, so on average you'll use just less than 900 Magicka from the staff to get a greater soul, which will replenish 1200 Magicka. Would be very slow, and would require being able to kill the new, harder creature within 30 seconds. 203.33.161.223 03:43, 10 March 2008 (EDT)

30 seconds?[edit]

Where did you get this number from? On 360 it works for about half that time. I'm guessing that's maybe on PC? Or you got it from the construction set and never bothered to check the game itself? I've hustled to chase down and kill enough Xivilai/Ogres turned deer to realize it's nowhere near 30 seconds. 68.166.64.187 00:12, 4 April 2008 (EDT)

It's 30 game seconds. –RpehTCE 01:37, 4 April 2008 (EDT)
How many actual seconds is that? That should be mentioned on the page. Sanguine's Rose and the Skull of Corruption seem to work in real time as do all other staffs. 68.166.65.62 15:00, 8 April 2008 (EDT)
As far as I can tell from the scripts, the duration is 10 seconds. The WabbajackCreatureScript checks to see whether the effect timer has reached 10 seconds; at that point it tells the WabbajackQuestScript to restore the original creature. I'm not sure where 30 seconds came from, because I can't see anything suggesting that the effect should last for 30 seconds. --NepheleTalk 23:26, 23 April 2008 (EDT)
In the official Oblivion game guide, it states that the Wabbajack turns the affected creature into something else for 30 seconds. The game guide appears to be error. 76.179.32.67 10:41, 25 December 2008 (EST)

Reflection?[edit]

Should there be a note somewhere detailing what happens if the wabbajack effect is reflected? Or if it can be? I see no mention of either on the article.

Possible Wabbajack Exploit[edit]

Well, I have something odd I've done with Sheogorath's stick here. I was testing out the competence of the guards in the Imperial City, and I casted Wabbajack on my summoned Skeleton. The skeleton's summon manage to last quite a few Wabbajacks, and I got quite a laugh out of the guards trash-talking it. However, the summon timer ran out while the Skeleton was wabbajacked. After it reverted, the Skeleton just stood there, as if it were still alive. (Somehow it decided to die standing up) I waited an hour, and nothing happened to the skeleton. I went inside, and then came back out. Found the skeleton still there. I think I found something that could be pretty useful, but I need your opinions on it first.XXCrocmonXx 18:36, 19 July 2008 (EDT)

This has happened to me also, but with the Staff of Worms. I was in the Shivering Isles and was using an Order Priest to carry stuff for me when he suddenly stopped in a running pose and I heard the distinctive 'UURGH'. I could take my stuff out, so I know he was dead. Benjaman36 18:49, 19 July 2008 (EDT)

Something else I forgot to mention, was that the summon ran out, and the wabbajacked version of my Skeleton was slain, however, it just stood there, a container. The guards were looting it and everything, but he didn't disappear for the longest time. I have to check and see if he has.XXCrocmonXx 18:45, 20 July 2008 (EDT)

Summons[edit]

What exactly happens if one Wabbajacks a summon and then the timer runs out for the summon? 99.238.44.36 14:22, 23 August 2008 (EDT)

That's a good question and I would mark it as such but I already answered it. :p See the revised article. –RpehTCE 15:31, 23 August 2008 (EDT)

Appearance[edit]

I realise I am almost certainly making connections that aren't there as Bethesda likely had not designed the SI order stuff when they made Wabbajack, but does anyone else think it looks a little like a dirtier version of the crystalline substance used by the Forces of Order? The-manta 12:18, 25 October 2008 (EDT)

I thought it looked like it was made from an order crystal too, and they probably deigned it during the making of oblivion and had the 'idea' and plans to make the SI expansion and added it as a small little hint thing to show you that they had the idea to make SI but im probably wrong--LuciusZelgius 22:21, 19 November 2008 (EST)

Problem[edit]

I play on the Xbox and have no custom/unofficial patches but I have found a problem. The staff worked perfectly for a long time, but eventually only about half of the staff blows turned them into another creature. Then if the staff blow hit them, the creature remained but a new creature was created. If ether died then the creature die. Now the staff is not functioning at all. The spell leaves the staff hits the creature the red mist appears (the sign that the spell hit) but the creature is still there. if this is done on a human this is recognized as assault but no other action happens. Please if someone knows or can fix this problem please contact at Grifter_shadowscale@hotmail.com or threw this web sight. As a point of intresset i carry around allot of stuff. at minimum 400 pounds but i have been know to carry over 2000 pounds this may be a part of the problem because the staffs condution worsened over the time in which my average inventory grew. — Unsigned comment by 71.179.121.16 (talk) on 3 March 2009

Im having the same problem, Wabbajack just stoped working (Xbox 360)If anyone has some info it would be great, Thanks. — Unsigned comment by 190.162.62.42 (talk) on 16 March 2009
try repairing it? i noticed you said it's condition had worsened and that might be why its messing up Lindenbrock 20:32, 10 October 2010 (UTC)
You mean recharging. Wabbajack would not be damaged, seeing as it is a staff.--Corevette789 20:34, 10 October 2010 (UTC)
It would if you used it to block.--Ghurhak gro-Demril or TAOYes? 20:41, 10 October 2010 (UTC)

() Staff is recharged and repaired it doesn't work on random creatures it worked on before in Isles. (xbox aug. 31, 2013) — Unsigned comment by 108.199.19.35 (talk) at 06:16 on 31 August 2013

Wabbajack Duplication Not Impossible.[edit]

This exploit has been done on the Xbox 360 version with the latest patches. I have just completed Sheogorath's quest and duplicated Wabbajack (full energy, 100 pts of health) the moment I've retrieved it using the scroll-dupe glitch. I have read that this item cannot be duplicated but was suprised to see this work. It's kind of odd however... Some enchanted armor/weapons, though not rare, cannot be duplicated in some instances. Please note with the latest patches, I can only use the Scroll method of duplicating (anything). Both Melee and Bow/Arrows methods do not work.

I would like further confirmation from others that they pulled this off, too. Duplicating Wabbajack opens up further hope for me duping more items.

Stephanie 11:52, 7 April 2009 (EDT)Stephanie

Did you duplicate it using the Skull of Corruption? I'm sure it can be duplicated using scrolls, but the scripts on the skull explicitly stop Wabbajack being duplicated that way. –RpehTCE 12:38, 7 April 2009 (EDT)
I did not use the Skull of Corruption and do not have it in my inventory. On my way to go do that quest today to retrieve the Skull of Corruption to experiment with it. I duplicated Wabbajack using the Scrolls exploit. I've only tried it with 2 of the same scroll to give me 2 Wabbajacks and the cloning worked. I've read around that enchanted items can't be duped without full power and full health (health must be at 100 and not repaired past it, ie: 125) so I have not touched Wabbajack and cloned it the way it was given to me. Though some people have had some luck with other enchanted items. I've been trying to think for the longest of time that there must be other factors that determine what can and can't be cloned. Apparently some people can use the Melee/Bow trick to dupe even with the latest patches. I do not condone presenting false information to this site as I'm a huge fan of Elder Scrolls as well as an honest person. I'd like for more people to confirm this as well. Maybe someone who hasn't completed this quest yet can try it as soon as possible! :) Also, I have removed my edit from the Skull of Corruption page and returned it to what it was before until further clarity.
Stephanie 12:49, 7 April 2009 (EDT)Stephanie
Okay, I just wanted to check you didn't do it using the skull. Scrolls definitely work - I don't know about bows in patched versions, although I've never managed it myself. I'll revert the skull-specific edits. –RpehTCE 12:58, 7 April 2009 (EDT)
Sorry about that.
Stephanie 13:01, 7 April 2009 (EDT)Stephanie
Don't worry about it. We all make mistakes - I made a really good one at the weekend on Caranya's page :( It's always good to see new editors! –RpehTCE 13:10, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

vice versa?[edit]

If you can "Wabbajack" Mehrunes Dagon at the end of the main quest to turn him into something weak. Surely that means you can "Wabbajack" something into a creature with the same stats as Mehrunes Dagon?--Repeater 16:45, 19 April 2009 (EDT)

There's a predetermined list of what a creature can be Wabbajacked into. Fortunately or unfortunately, Mehrunes Dagon is not a part of that list. The strongest creature is a Xivilai, the weakest is probably the sheep. You have an equal chance of getting any of the creatures on the list. Hope that helps. :) Vesna 16:53, 19 April 2009 (EDT)

A Xivilai is not on the list, the strongest creature you can summon is a Daedroth--Corevette789 23:16, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

recharge?[edit]

When my Wabbajack runs out of uses, how do I recharge it? It's not listed as needing repair, but I can't get it to work. I thought the Welkynd Stone would recharge it but I don't think the Welkynd stone works that way, I think it only recharges the PC's magic. Please help, thanks. Freewaydog 18:09, 30 April 2009 (EDT)

All the information you need to recharge your magic items is found here. –RpehTCE 00:46, 1 May 2009 (EDT)

Bug[edit]

Whenever I use Wabbajack the NPC just runs away (100% chameleon). It does not turn into a listed animal. If I try to start a conversation the the effected NPC I get a message saying, "This character is fleeing" --Corevette789 23:20, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

No bug. As the page says: "It transforms any non-NPC creature into another random creature for 10 seconds." (my emphasis) –rpeh TCE 23:49, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Sorry, thanks missed that. Well, if anyone needs me I'll be over here being dumb.--Corevette789 00:51, 17 January 2010 (UTC)

Redundant?[edit]

moved here from previous version

*In order to trap the soul of a wabbajaked creature, the soul trap spell must be cast after the creature has been transformed and the creature must be killed before it reverts back to its original form. The soul received will be that of the transformed creature, not that of the original.

Edit was reverted, the edit summary simply reads redundant however the information removed is not mentioned anywhere else in the article and is relevant so calling it redundant is hardly justified.--RhomphaiaTC 19:58, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

I reverted it because the original sentence: "If the soul of a creature affected by Wabbajack is trapped, it will be the soul of the transformed creature, not the original" already explains this very well. If I am wrong feel free to revert it --MC S'drassa T2M 20:04, 12 January 2010 (UTC)
the relevant info was the fact that wabajacking clears the new creature of any effects on the original. Not really specific to soul trap though, so I added it elsewhere.--RhomphaiaTC 20:18, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

More Then Just Creatures[edit]

As soon as i got the staff i went back on the rode going to bravil i saw a guard fighting a will-of-the-wisp when he died i hit the will-of-the-isp with the wabbajack and it turn into the guards silver sword and imperial shield i dont know if that was a bbug or not— Unsigned comment by Allgreto (talkcontribs) on 25 January 2010

Priory of the Nine Stable Glitch[edit]

whenever wabbajack is used on one of the three horses kept to the left of the main house the random creature will appear beside the horse, leaving the horse intact, you then have to deal with a random creature and a horse extremely displeased with you both at the same time. after the 10 second limit the random creature dissapears and the horse turns around and reappears back in the stable

Another one?[edit]

Question: if i sacrified it for the main question can i get another one?~— Unsigned comment by 75.254.236.75 (talk) at 19:26 on 15 June 2010

Answer: No. Talk Wolok gro-Barok Contributions 19:39, 15 June 2010 (UTC)

Experiment[edit]

Does Wabbajack work on NPC's that are considered part of the "Creatures" Factions? Perfect Example: Sibylla Draconis. Shianni 21:00, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

I'm 99% sure it won't work, as she is still listed as an NPC, and i think the game checks that before factions (if it checks factions at all) would be fun though... Razor 21:09, 2 February 2011 (UTC)
Tried with no success. Faction are mainly used to help determine dispositions, the Wabbajack obviously test another factor. RaidensTechSupp 23:14, 2 February 2011 (UTC)
Checked the CS, the script effect specifically checks to see if the target is a creature. It shouldn't work on any NPC. mxk101Talk 23:20, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

moved bug[edit]

  • It is possible that if you transform an enemy such as a Will-of-the-Wisp, when you kill it, it's dead shape will glitch and float in midair. In this state, you will not be able to search it. Discovered on the PS3, currently unknown if it is present in any other version
i moved this because it needs verifying and checking on the other consoles, ill try it on the 360 soonish (From Fear to Eternity- Eddie The Head 08:07, 17 August 2011 (UTC))
Definitely sounds like a one-off to me. rpeh •TCE 11:24, 17 August 2011 (UTC)

Acquired after completing The Shivering Isles[edit]

If you have already completed the The Shivering Isles, Haskill shows up when you approach the shrine. He has some funny things to say at this point. — Unsigned comment by 98.213.52.234 (talk) at 17:56 on November 11, 2011

This is all documented on the quest page. --DKong27 Tk Ctr Em 23:10, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

Bug on PC[edit]

This has been marked as a question that needs to be answered.

I was going to use the Wabbajack for the daedric item main quest, but as soon as i recieved it (and got the quest update to bring it to martin) it was gone from my inventory, and my character refuses to hand it over to martin. i thought at first it had simply become invisible, another annoying bug i have encountered, but nope. — Unsigned comment by 94.246.3.74 (talk) on 10 April 2012

Maybe Try Hot-Keying? 66.186.66.3 00:18, 9 September 2013 (GMT) Dunehelm