You can get empty Grand Soul Gems in Oblivion from a mix of static locations, Mages Guild vendors, and a few quest‑related spots, especially around the vampire cure quest.

Key static locations (guaranteed gems)

These are “placed” Grand Soul Gems you can physically loot in the world (often in locked display cases):

  • Chorrol Mages Guild Hall
    • Several Grand Soul Gems in display cases on the main floor, including at least one empty one on many versions.
    • Expect very hard locks, so bring high Security or plenty of lockpicks.
  • Arcane University, Imperial City
    • Arch‑Mage’s Lobby : Display case with three Grand Soul Gems (typically one empty, two filled with lesser souls).
* **Mages’ Quarters** : Another display case with an empty Grand Soul Gem (very hard lock).

* **Chironasium upper level** : Desk with a Grand Soul Gem (may be pre‑filled).
  • Drakelowe (near the Vampire Cure quest giver Melisande)
    • Grand Soul Gem in the basement accessed through the fireplace trapdoor.
  • Crayfish Cave / Squandered Mine / Nornal ruin (Nibenay Basin)
    • These dungeons receive extra Grand Soul Gems after you reach the relevant stage of the Cure for Vampirism quest (talking to Melisande).
* Squandered Mine is just north of Drakelowe; Crayfish Cave is to the south along the Corbolo River; Nornal is west of Drakelowe under the “Nibenay Basin” map text.

Tip: If a display case looks tempting in any Mages Guild, it probably has at least one soul gem worth stealing or unlocking.

Reliable vendors for empty Grand Soul Gems

If you prefer buying instead of dungeon crawling or stealing, several merchants regularly sell or carry empty Grand Soul Gems.

Mages Guild and Mystic Emporium

  • Mystic Emporium, Imperial City Market District
    • Calindil : Sells Grand Soul Gems and often has an empty one; can also be pickpocketed.
* Another shopkeeper (Aurelinwae in several guides) may also sell Grand Soul Gems, giving you multiple chances per restock.
  • Mages Guild Hall vendors across Cyrodiil (each listed vendor carries an empty Grand Soul Gem you can buy or steal):
* **Angalmo** – Chorrol Mages Guild Hall (has a Grand Soul Gem).

* **Felen Relas** – Anvil Mages Guild Hall (empty Grand Soul Gem).

* **Ardaline** – Bravil Mages Guild Hall (empty Grand Soul Gem).

* **Selena Orania** – Bruma Mages Guild Hall (empty Grand Soul Gem).

* **Eilonwy** – Cheydinhal Mages Guild Hall (empty Grand Soul Gem).

* **Alves Uvenim** – Leyawiin Mages Guild Hall (empty Grand Soul Gem).

Most guides note that almost every Mages Guild hall has at least one Grand Soul Gem for sale, even beyond these named NPCs.

Buying vs. stealing

  • Buying is straightforward but requires gold and waiting for restocks.
  • Stealing (pickpocketing the vendors or cracking display cases) is faster once your Sneak/Security are decent.

Vampire Cure quest angle (for 5 empty gems)

The common reason people search “where to find empty Grand Soul Gems Oblivion” is the Cure for Vampirism quest, which demands five empty Grand Soul Gems for Melisande.

  • Speaking to Raminus Polus at the Arcane University as a vampire eventually leads you to Melisande at Drakelowe.
  • Once you reach the stage where she asks for five empty Grand Soul Gems, extra secret rooms/areas spawn in:
* **Squandered Mine** (north of Drakelowe)
* **Crayfish Cave** (down the river to the south)
* **Nornal** (west of Drakelowe)
  • These new areas each hold additional Grand Soul Gems for you to loot, some empty, specifically to help you complete her request.

If you combine:

  • 2–3 from Chorrol Mages Guild / Arcane University display cases,
  • 1–2 bought from Mystic Emporium / Mages Guild vendors , and
  • A couple from the quest‑spawned caves ,

you can reach five empty Grand Soul Gems without needing to grind random dungeons.

HTML table of handy spots

Here’s an at‑a‑glance list formatted as HTML, highlighting especially good places for empty Grand Soul Gems:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Location / NPC</th>
      <th>Type</th>
      <th>Empty Grand Soul Gem?</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Chorrol Mages Guild (display cases)</td>
      <td>Static world loot</td>
      <td>Yes (at least one)</td>
      <td>Several Grand Soul Gems in locked display cases; at least one is empty in many versions.[web:4][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Arch-Mage’s Lobby, Arcane University</td>
      <td>Static world loot</td>
      <td>Yes (1 empty, 2 filled)</td>
      <td>Very hard-locked display case with one empty Grand Soul Gem and two filled with lesser souls.[web:4][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Mages’ Quarters, Arcane University</td>
      <td>Static world loot</td>
      <td>Yes</td>
      <td>Another very hard-locked display case holding an empty Grand Soul Gem.[web:4][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Drakelowe basement</td>
      <td>Static world loot</td>
      <td>Often empty (version-dependent)</td>
      <td>Access via trapdoor in fireplace; used in the Cure for Vampirism quest.[web:4][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Squandered Mine (Wind Holes)</td>
      <td>Quest-spawned loot</td>
      <td>Yes</td>
      <td>Grand Soul Gem appears after speaking to Melisande about the cure.[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Crayfish Cave (Crayfish Steep)</td>
      <td>Quest-spawned loot</td>
      <td>Yes</td>
      <td>Another Grand Soul Gem spawns here at the vampire cure stage of the quest.[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Nornal ruin (Ageasel section)</td>
      <td>Quest-spawned loot</td>
      <td>Yes</td>
      <td>Grand Soul Gem found behind a powerful enemy after quest progression.[web:4][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Calindil – Mystic Emporium, Imperial City</td>
      <td>Vendor / pickpocket target</td>
      <td>Yes</td>
      <td>Sells Grand Soul Gems and carries at least one empty; can be pickpocketed.[web:2][web:4][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Angalmo – Chorrol Mages Guild</td>
      <td>Vendor / pickpocket target</td>
      <td>Yes</td>
      <td>Has a Grand Soul Gem in inventory, often empty.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Felen Relas – Anvil Mages Guild</td>
      <td>Vendor / pickpocket target</td>
      <td>Yes (empty)</td>
      <td>Carries an empty Grand Soul Gem you can buy or steal.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Ardaline – Bravil Mages Guild</td>
      <td>Vendor / pickpocket target</td>
      <td>Yes (empty)</td>
      <td>Another easy source of an empty Grand Soul Gem.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Selena Orania – Bruma Mages Guild</td>
      <td>Vendor / pickpocket target</td>
      <td>Yes (empty)</td>
      <td>Useful if you are based in northern Cyrodiil.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Eilonwy – Cheydinhal Mages Guild</td>
      <td>Vendor / pickpocket target</td>
      <td>Yes (empty)</td>
      <td>Another consistent empty Grand Soul Gem source in the east.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Alves Uvenim – Leyawiin Mages Guild</td>
      <td>Vendor / pickpocket target</td>
      <td>Yes (empty)</td>
      <td>Good stop if you are questing in southern Cyrodiil.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Little “story” route if you want a smooth run

If you want a practical loop that fits into normal gameplay:

  1. Join the Mages Guild and unlock the Arcane University access.
  2. Hit Chorrol first: loot or steal from the display cases and check/buy from Angalmo.
  3. Travel to the Imperial City : shop at Mystic Emporium (Calindil), then raid the Arcane University cases.
  4. Once you become a vampire or decide to cure vampirism, follow the main steps until Melisande asks for five empty Grand Soul Gems, then clear Squandered Mine , Crayfish Cave , and Nornal for the quest‑spawned gems.

By the time you finish that loop, you’ll usually have more than enough empty Grand Soul Gems for enchanting, recharging, or the vampire cure.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.