Shade of the Revenant Calculator
Your essential tool for tracking the Necromancer’s Moon in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Never miss an opportunity to create Black Soul Gems again. Use this Shade of the Revenant calculator to plan your dark rituals.
Calculator
Find this value in your Journal’s General Stats tab. It’s listed as “Days Passed”.
Please enter a valid, positive number.
The next Shade will occur on: .
That is day(s) from now.
Upcoming Shade of the Revenant Dates
| Event Number | In-Game Day (‘Days Passed’) |
|---|
8-Day Cycle Visualization
What is the Shade of the Revenant?
The Shade of the Revenant is a recurring celestial event in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, essential for any aspiring necromancer. It is the only time players can perform a dark ritual to transform Grand Soul Gems into the much more powerful Black Soul Gems. Black Soul Gems are unique because they can capture the souls of sentient NPCs (like Bandits, Mages, and citizens), all of which are Grand-level souls. This makes them an incredibly efficient tool for creating powerful enchanted items. This Shade of the Revenant calculator simplifies tracking this event.
This phenomenon, also hinted at as the Necromancer’s Moon, occurs at four specific outdoor altars across Cyrodiil. When the Shade is active, a distinct purple or red light will shine down from the sky onto the altar, signaling that the ritual can be performed.
Shade of the Revenant Formula and Mathematical Explanation
The timing of the Shade of the Revenant follows a simple but strict mathematical rule. The event occurs every eight days, starting on the very first day you begin your journey in Cyrodiil. The formula to determine if the Shade is active on a given day is:
(Days Passed - 1) % 8 == 0
In this formula, the ‘%’ is the modulo operator, which gives the remainder of a division. If the remainder of (Days Passed – 1) divided by 8 is zero, it means the day is an event day. For example, on Day 9, the formula is (9 – 1) % 8, which is 8 % 8, which equals 0. Therefore, the Shade is active on Day 9. Our Shade of the Revenant calculator automates this for you.
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days Passed | The total number of in-game days that have elapsed. | Days | 1 to ∞ |
| % | The Modulo Operator, which finds the remainder after division. | Operator | N/A |
| Result | The outcome of the formula. A ‘0’ indicates an active Shade day. | Integer | 0 to 7 |
Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)
Example 1: The New Adventurer
An adventurer has just finished a few quests and checks their journal. It reads “Days Passed: 12”. They want to know when to prepare for the next Shade of the Revenant. Using the Shade of the Revenant calculator, they input 12. The calculator shows the next event is on Day 17, which is 5 days away. This gives them ample time to acquire Grand Soul Gems and find one of the ritual sites.
Example 2: The Veteran Necromancer
A master necromancer has been adventuring for a long time, and their journal shows “Days Passed: 153”. They enter this into the Shade of the Revenant calculator. The calculator instantly processes the number: (153 – 1) % 8 = 152 % 8 = 0. The result is “Yes, the Shade of the Revenant is active today!”. They can immediately travel to the nearest altar, like the one at Dark Fissure, to craft their Black Soul Gems.
How to Use This Shade of the Revenant Calculator
- Find Your ‘Days Passed’: Open your in-game journal and navigate to the “General Stats” tab. Note the number next to the “Days Passed” entry.
- Enter the Day: Type this number into the input field of our Shade of the Revenant calculator.
- Read the Results: The calculator will immediately tell you if the Shade is active today. It will also display the date of the next event and a list of upcoming dates.
- Plan Your Ritual: Use the list of upcoming dates to plan your adventures. Ensure you have your Grand Soul Gems and a Soul Trap spell ready before the next celestial alignment. You can find a list of altars on our Cyrodiil Interactive Map.
Key Factors That Affect the Ritual
Successfully creating Black Soul Gems involves more than just knowing the date. Here are key factors to consider:
- Correct Date: This is the most crucial factor. Using our Shade of the Revenant calculator ensures you don’t waste time waiting.
- Ritual Altar Location: The ritual can only be performed at one of four specific necromantic altars. These are located near Dark Fissure, Fort Istrius, Fort Linchal, and Wendelbek.
- Grand Soul Gems: You must have at least one empty Grand Soul Gem in your inventory to place on the altar.
- Soul Trap Spell: After placing the gem, you must cast a Soul Trap spell directly onto the altar. A custom spell or a purchased scroll will work. An enchanted weapon with Soul Trap will not. Check our Mages Guild Walkthrough for tips on acquiring spells.
- Visual Confirmation: On the correct day, a beam of light should appear in the sky above the altar. In some game versions, this can be faint or glitchy, so trusting the date from a reliable Shade of the Revenant calculator is often better.
- Worm Anchorites: Be prepared for a potential fight. A Worm Anchorite necromancer may appear at the altar to perform the ritual. You can either wait for them to finish or intervene.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Where do I find the ‘Days Passed’ stat in Oblivion?
Open your journal, go to the last tab (General Stats), and you will see “Days Passed” listed with your other character statistics.
2. What’s the difference between a Grand Soul Gem and a Black Soul Gem?
A Grand Soul Gem can capture any non-humanoid creature soul, with the most powerful being a “Grand” soul. A Black Soul Gem can capture the souls of humanoid NPCs (like Imperials, Nords, Elves), which are always Grand-level, making them far easier to fill with powerful souls.
3. Where are the four ritual altars located?
They are found in the wilderness near Dark Fissure (east of Cheydinhal), Fort Istrius (east of Kvatch), Fort Linchal (north-east of Kvatch), and Wendelbek (at the headwaters of the Panther River).
4. Do I have to be a part of the Mages Guild to do this?
No, any player can use the altars to create Black Soul Gems. The Mages Guild has a related quest, “Necromancer’s Moon,” but it is not a prerequisite for the ritual itself. See our Master Necromancer Build for more ideas.
5. Why can’t I see the light in the sky? It’s the right day according to the Shade of the Revenant calculator!
This is a common issue, particularly in newer or modded versions of the game. The visual effect can be faint, high in the sky, or sometimes bugged. As long as it’s the correct day, the altar should still function. Try casting Soul Trap on the altar with a gem inside even if you don’t see the light.
6. What time of day does the Shade of the Revenant start?
The event lasts for a full 24 hours, starting at midnight on the event day and ending at midnight the next day. This gives you a wide window to perform the ritual.
7. Can I just wait by the altar for the event?
Yes, you can use the “Wait” function near an altar. However, it’s more efficient to use this Shade of the Revenant calculator to know exactly how many days you need to wait, saving you a lot of real-world time.
8. I put the gem on the altar, cast the spell, and nothing happened. What’s wrong?
Double-check three things: 1) Is it the correct day? 2) Are you using an empty Grand Soul Gem? 3) Are you casting a Soul Trap spell directly on the altar, not just hitting it with an enchanted weapon? If all are true, it may be a temporary game glitch.