The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim features 10 distinct races and if you have played the previous Elder Scrolls games, you should be familiar with most of these races.
Choosing your race is very critical because it would then influence your approach to the game as each race comes with different set of abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Each race has a unique racial power, which may only be used once in a day. When you create a specific race character, you would notice that each race has different stats in the basic skills, so it becomes ever important to choose a race, that compliments your game style.
Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Races
In this guide, we will give you a detailed overview of each class, which should ultimately shape your character development decisions in Skyrim. For more help on Skyrim, read our Walkthrough and Crashes Troubleshooting Guide.
Argonian
They are well adapted to aquatic and land habitat, can breathe underwater and are 50% resistance to disease. Their Hitskin ability is crucial to their survival – it helps them regenerate health rapidly, once a day. If you like Stealth, you should go for the Argonian race.
Skills and Abilities
- Histskin – Health is regenerated 10x faster for a duration of 60 seconds.
- Resist Disease – You have 50% resistance to diseases.
- Water Breathing – You can breathe underwater
Skill Bonus
- +10 Lockpicking
- +5 Alteration, Light Armor, Pickpocket, Restoration, Sneak
Breton
Living in the mountainous terrain of highrock – this race is well adaptive to magic skills and would make a good mage based character. Their skill isn’t limited to magic – they can learn magic, stealth, and even become good warriors so they are an overall balanced race. If you want a good mix or best of all worlds, go for Breton.
Skills and Abilities
- Dragonskin – 50% of Magicka from all incoming spells is absorbed for a duration of 60 seconds.
- Magic Resistance – You have 25% resistance to magic
Skill Bonus
- +10 Conjuration
- +5 Alchemy, Alteration, Illusion, Restoration, Speech
Dunmer – Dark Elf
These are the residents of Morrowind. They are known for their resistance to fire but that’s not the only thing they are known for. They are prejudiced, disciplined, and tradition heavy.
They are ruthless in war and are very skilled. They are arguably the most balanced combat race with proficiency in combat magic, weaponry, and archery.
Skills and Abilities
- Ancestor’s Wrath – The character is surrounded by fire for a duration of 60 seconds.
- Resist Fire – You have 50% resistance to fire
Skill Bonus
- +10 Destruction
- +5 Alchemy, Alteration, Illusion, Light Armor, Sneak
Altmer – High Elf
They are the natives of Summerset Isle and are magically proficient race in Tamriel. They are most hubristic and the constant effect of their racial power lets them regenerate magicka faster than other races. Plus, they are born with an extra 50 Magicka.
Skills and Abilities
- Highborn – 25% of the character’s total Magicka is regenerated every second, for a duration of 60 seconds
Skill Bonus
- +10 Illusion
- +5 Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Enchanting, Restoration
Imperial
Carrying the voice of an emperor of the falling empire, Imperials are educated, good in communication, and disciplined race. They are known for their great armies and their perception allows them to find more coins when looting.
Skills and Abilities
- Voice of the Emperor – All people nearby are calmed for a duration of 30 seconds.
- Imperial Luck – You will somehow find a lot more coins than the other races.
Skill Bonus
- +10 Restoration
- +5 Block, Destruction, Enchanting, Heavy Armor, One-handed
Khajiit
They inhabit the forest province of Elsweyr. Know for their speed and stealth and ability to see in the dark, they make great warriors and thieves. They also have sharp claws that come in handy when fighting enemies.
Skills and Abilities
- Night Eye – Night vision is made significantly better for a duration of 60 seconds. This can be toggled several times in a day.
- Claw Attacks – Unarmed attacks deal 15 damage
Skill Bonus
- +10 Sneak
- +5 Alchemy, Archery, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, One-handed
Nord
It’s a tough race, which inhabits cold, mountainous, province of Skyrim. They are resistant to frost so it makes them easy to survive harsh cold weather. Known for their fabled battlecry, they can become great heavy warriors. Their starting spells are Nordic Frost and Woad, which grant 50 points of Frost Damage on touch, and 30 points of Shield to themselves for 60 seconds, respectively
Skills and Abilities
- Battle Cry – All enemies nearby are frightened for a duration of 30 seconds.
- Resist Frost – You have 50% resistance to frost.
Skill Bonus
- +10 Two-handed
- +5 Block, Light Armor, One-handed, Smithing, Speech
Orc – Orsimer
Orcs are brutal race, with no homeland, but can be found in Wrothgarian Mountains. They are powerful, nomadic race and can become the best heavy armored warriors.
They also have high will power, which becomes useful in tough situations. Their fearsome Berserker Rage makes toughest fights easy. Though, you can only use it once a day.
Skills and Abilities
- Berserker Rage (Starting Spell) – All incoming damage is halved, and the character’s damage is doubled for a duration of 60 seconds
Skill Bonus
- +10 Heavy Armor
- +5 Block, Enchanting, One-handed, Smithing, Two-handed
Redguard
They are the dark-skinned people of Hammerfell. Redguard is a warrior focused race in Tamriel and they can become great warriors, only to be topped by Orcs. They are good with weapons and all types of armors and famous for their adrenaline rush. They along with, orcs and nords make great warriors.
Skills and Abilities
- Adrenaline Rush (Starting Spell) – Stamina is regenerated 10x faster for a duration of 60 seconds.
- Resist Poison – You have 50% resistance to poison
Skill Bonus
- +10 One-handed
- +5 Alteration, Archery, Block, Destruction, Smithing
Bosmer – Wood Elf
Wood Elf inhabit Valenwood forest and are skilled archers. They are proficient in Stealth and are known to command creatures as it is one of their racial powers. Though like other racial powers, you can use it only once a day. They are also resistant to poison and disease.
Skills and Abilities
- Command Animal – All animals nearby team up with you for a duration of 60 seconds.
- Resist Disease and Poison – You have 50% resistance to disease and poison
Skill Bonus
- +10 Archery
- +5 Alchemy, Light Armor, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, Sneak
Tell us which race you plan to play first and why?
