For the “Blood of the Daedra” quest in Oblivion, the usual advice is: give Martin whichever artifact you care about least for your build, because it’s gone forever.

How the choice works

  • Martin will accept any one of the main Daedric artifacts you can get from shrine quests.
  • Once you hand it over at Cloud Ruler Temple, you can’t get that specific item back in normal play.
  • The “best” choice is therefore the artifact that:
    • Doesn’t fit your playstyle.
    • Has a weak or niche effect.
    • Is easily replaced by other gear or spells.

Think of it like a permanent trade: “one cool unique item” in exchange for “main story progress.”

Commonly recommended artifacts to sacrifice

Players and guides often converge on a few “least painful” options.

1. Sanguine Rose

  • Summons a Daedra that you don’t control directly; the effect is fun but unreliable.
  • Its utility falls off as you get stronger and have better summons, gear, and spells.
  • Many players consider it “a tad useless” long-term, so it’s a popular choice to dump.

2. Volendrung

  • Heavy two‑handed blunt weapon with poor damage for its weight and slow swing speed.
  • Costs a big chunk of carry weight (around 60), which hurts if you’re already hauling loot.
  • If you’re not a blunt specialist, or you prefer lighter weapons, it’s a very safe sacrifice.

3. Ring of Khajiiti

  • Grants a small speed boost and 35% Chameleon.
  • Nice early on, but the effect can be replicated or beaten by custom enchantments later, especially if you aim for near‑100% Chameleon with other gear.
  • If you don’t build around sneaking, this ring often ends up unused and is easy to hand over.

Artifacts many players prefer to keep

From forum discussions and player opinions, some items are usually seen as “too good” to lose unless you truly hate them.

  • Skeleton Key – Makes lockpicking trivial; many players warn not to sacrifice it because you may get tired of the lockpicking minigame.
  • Oghma Infinium – One‑time book that boosts skills and attributes; some argue it’s actually a good candidate to give away after using it, but if you haven’t used it yet, it’s incredibly valuable.
  • Masque of Clavicus Vile – Some players dislike its stats and looks and happily sacrifice it; others keep it for collection/RP.
  • High‑impact weapons/armor you actively use (e.g., Molag Bal’s mace for certain builds, strong defensive gear) are usually not good choices.

Simple rule by playstyle

Use this as a quick mental checklist:

  1. Are you melee (blade or blunt), archer, or mage?
  2. Which artifact do you never equip in actual fights?
  3. Which artifact’s effect can you easily replace with:
    • Spells you already have,
    • Crafted enchantments,
    • Or other unique gear?

The one that scores worst on all three is your best candidate for Martin.

  • If you’re a blade specialist : Volendrung is a common pick to sacrifice.
  • If you’re a sneak/thief : You might value Skeleton Key and stealth rings more, so consider Sanguine Rose or a clunky weapon instead.
  • If you’re a mage : Giving up a mediocre melee artifact you never swing is usually painless.

A quick “story-flavor” angle

If you like to role‑play, some players enjoy choosing an artifact that feels thematically appropriate:

  • Handing over a chaotic item like Sanguine Rose can feel like “putting dangerous Daedric influence to better use” in a world‑saving ritual.
  • Offering a heavy, cursed warhammer like Volendrung can feel like sacrificing brute Daedric might to fuel Martin’s noble cause.

It doesn’t change the mechanics, but it makes the moment more memorable.

TL;DR

  • There is no single universal “right” artifact; you should give Martin the Daedric item that you use the least or dislike the most.
  • Sanguine Rose, Volendrung, or Ring of Khajiiti are among the most commonly sacrificed, with Skeleton Key and powerful stat‑boosting items being the ones people strongly advise you to keep.

“Pick the artifact that doesn’t fit your build, and you’ll never miss it.”