Should I Kill The Strange Ox?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are playing an evil or ruthless character who resolves suspicious encounters through violence, and you want the immediate loot and experience that the ox may provide.
• Good fit: You have already completed the ox’s related content in a previous playthrough and now want to see the combat outcome or collect any rewards tied to defeating it.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: This is your first playthrough and you want to experience as much story content as possible, because killing the creature can cut off later dialogue and quest opportunities.
• Warning sign: You are roleplaying a compassionate or diplomatic character who prefers to investigate before attacking, since the ox can be interacted with peacefully using the right abilities.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Killing the Strange Ox can yield experience points and loot, giving your party an immediate power boost with no long-term waiting required.
• It removes a potentially deceptive NPC from the world, which may fit a paranoid or hostile playstyle and prevent any future betrayal.

Cons

• You may miss unique dialogue, a later quest, and roleplay moments that are only available if the ox remains alive through subsequent acts.
• Some companions may disapprove of killing a seemingly harmless animal, which can strain party relationships and affect approval-based outcomes.

Decision Checklist

• Have you used Speak with Animals or a similar ability to learn what the ox actually is and what it wants?
• Are you more interested in immediate rewards, or in preserving content and companion approval for a complete playthrough?
• Does your current character’s morality align with attacking a creature that has not yet acted hostile toward you?

Alternatives to Consider

Before attacking, try speaking with the ox through the Speak with Animals spell or a druid’s Wild Shape dialogue option. You can also simply leave it alone and revisit the decision later in the game when you have more information and stronger party members. If you are unsure, save your game before the encounter and test both outcomes without committing permanently.

Final Recommendation

On a first playthrough, sparing the Strange Ox is usually the better choice because it preserves potential quest lines and companion approval. On repeat playthroughs or evil-oriented runs, killing it can be a reasonable way to collect rewards and see a different outcome. Since this is a low-stakes video game decision, the best path depends on your roleplay goals and how much side content you want to experience.