Cancel Bow Draw in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Using AutoHotKey

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has brought new life to a classic RPG, with visual upgrades and performance enhancements. However, one thing that hasn’t changed much is the clunky combat interface – especially for archers.

If you’ve ever drawn your bow and needed to cancel the action, you’ve probably noticed there’s no quick, native way to do it. But with the help of AutoHotKey (AHK) – a lightweight scripting tool – you can easily fix that without installing any mods.

Guide To Cancel Bow Draw in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use a simple AutoHotKey script to cancel bow draw in Oblivion Remastered, making archery gameplay smoother and more responsive.

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Why Canceling Bow Draw Is a Problem in Oblivion

In Oblivion, once you start drawing your bow, your only in-game options to cancel are:

• Sheathing your weapon – slow and requires two key presses to continue using your bow.
• Holding the HUD Shortcut key – faster, but prone to opening the menu if held too long.

Both options are either too clunky or too inconsistent, especially in combat. What players really want is a quick, one-button way to cancel bow draw, similar to how modern games handle input.

That’s where AutoHotKey comes in.

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What Is AutoHotKey (AHK)?

AutoHotKey is a free scripting language for Windows that allows you to automate keystrokes and mouse movements. It’s ideal for games like Oblivion, where small QoL (quality-of-life) fixes can make a big difference.

In this case, we’ll use AHK to simulate a very short press of the HUD Shortcut key (default: Q) to cancel your bow draw without opening the menu or sheathing your weapon.

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How the Script Works

This script does the following:

• Listens for a key press (e.g., your mouse’s forward button).
• Simulates a very short press of the “Q” key (used in Oblivion to open HUD Shortcuts).
• Holds it for 100 milliseconds—enough to cancel bow draw but not enough to open the menu.
• Resets when the button is released.

You’ll experience a tiny cursor flicker (as the game briefly thinks about opening the HUD), but it won’t interrupt gameplay.

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Requirements

Before we start, make sure you have:

1. AutoHotKey v2.0 installed
   Download from the official site: https://www.autohotkey.com
2. Basic knowledge of how to:
   • Create a .ahk script
   • Compile it into .exe (optional)
   • Run the script in the background while playing

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The AutoHotKey Script (v2.0)

Here’s the full script:

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0
#SingleInstance Force

; Flag to prevent repeat while holding
pressed := false

XButton2::  ; Replace with your preferred key
{
    if !pressed {
        pressed := true
        Send("q")          ; Simulate press
        Sleep(100)         ; Hold for 100ms
        Send("{q up}")     ; Simulate release
    }
}

XButton2 Up::pressed := false

Customizing the Keybind

If you want to use a different key than XButton2 (commonly the “Mouse Forward” button), simply replace that with your desired key.

For example, to use the middle mouse button instead, replace XButton2 with MButton.

👉 Full list of keys: AHK Key List

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Best Sleep Timing (Why 100ms Works Best)

Through trial and error, I found that Sleep(100) gives the best results:

• Shorter delays (<100ms): Game often fails to recognize the press.
• Longer delays (>100ms): Increases the risk of the HUD menu actually opening.

Stick to 100ms for optimal balance between responsiveness and consistency.

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Advantages of Using This Method

• No mods required – Fully external to the game.
• Fast and seamless – Mimics native behavior.
• Customizable – Change the keybind to fit your playstyle.
• Low overhead – AutoHotKey is lightweight and safe.

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Things to Keep in Mind

• You might see a slight flicker (small mouse cursor flash).
• If you change the default HUD Shortcut key in Oblivion, update the script accordingly.
• This won’t work on console or non-Windows platforms.

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Final Thoughts

While Oblivion Remastered still has its fair share of quirks, simple fixes like this AutoHotKey script can dramatically improve gameplay—especially for archers who rely on quick actions and minimal interruptions.

If you’re tired of fumbling with slow sheathing mechanics or accidentally opening the HUD menu, this script is your best no-mod solution to canceling bow draw fast and efficiently.

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Last Updated on May 7, 2025