With all of the options Skyrim is throwing at you in terms of Races to choose from how are you supposed to figure out which one suites you best? From delving through Lore to examining Racial Abilities picking a Race to play as might be one of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make during your time with Skyrim. The races in The Elder Scrolls series come in all shapes and sizes, from furry to scaly and blue to tan. Which is best for you? Take a look at the brief histories of each race as well as racial abilities below; maybe you’ll come up with an answer after all?
Note: All races begin with two spells, which are listed below.
- Flames: A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
- Healing: Heals the caster 10 points per second.
The Breton, Dunmer and Altmer races start out with additional spells: Conjure Familiar, Sparks and Fury respectively.
The Khajiit
The Khajiit are the feline beast race of The Elder Scrolls series. They’re excellent thieves and assassins due to their heightened sneak and acrobatic skills, they also make great warriors so don’t let that furry exterior fool you. Although the Khajiit is skilled in physical combat their magic skills are somewhat lacking, don’t expect a Khajiit to fill the frozen skies of Skyrim with blistering fireballs anytime soon.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Sneak
- +5 Alchemy
- +5 One-Handed
- +5 Archery
- +5 Lockpicking
- +5 Pickpocket
Racial Abilites
- Night Eye: Improved night vision for 60 seconds.
- Claws: Khajiit claws do 15 points of damage.
The Orc
Orcs or Orsimer are a beast-like race noted for their barbarianism. Fearless and never tiring, Orcs make excellent warriors. They are notorious for their beserker rage as well as using heavy two-handed weapons such as Battle Axes, War Hammers and Claymores. Orcs also practice magic which is deeply respected among their tribal societies. Not falling to sexism Orcs see each other as equals and are loyal to each others tribesmen.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Heavy Armor
- +5 Enchanting
- +5 Smithing
- +5 Block
- +5 Two-handed
- +5 One-Handed
Racial Abilites
- Beserker: You take half damage and hit twice as hard for 60 seconds.
The Redguard
Redguards are a dark-skinned, wirey-haired people hailing from Hammerfell. They are natural born fighters with independent spirits and an uncontrollable urge to explore. Redguards make great scouts and adventurers due to the missing need for assistance. They have no preference when it comes to weapons and armor; they enjoy them all.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 One-handed
- +5 Destruction
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Smithing
- +5 Block
- +5 Archery
Racial Abilities
- Adrenaline Rush: Stamina regenerates 10x faster for 60 seconds.
- Resist Poison: 50% resistant to poison.
The Bosmer
The Bosmer, or Wood Elves as they are commonly called, originated in the Tamriel province of Valenwood. The Bosmer have chosen to take a different path differing from the high-style of their Elven brothers and prefer simplicity. They are one with the land of Tamriel and the wild creatures that inhabit it. Nimble and Agile, the Bosmer people move swiftly through the forests of Tamriel relying on their agility and archery skills to defend their honor. They make great scouts and thieves as well as scholars.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Archery
- +5 Alchemy
- +5 Light Armor
- +5 Sneak
- +5 Lockpicking
- +5 Pickpocket
Racial Abilities
- Resist Poison and Disease: 50% resistant to poison and disease.
- Command Animals: Make an animal an ally for 60 seconds.
The Nord
Mainly located in Skyrim and the Northern reaches of Tamriel the Nord have developed a resistance to frost. Battle hardened by their military-like society the Nord fear no one in battle. Often times they are seen with large two-handed weapons and heavy armor while taking down their enemies. Due to the heavy reliance on melee weapons and armor Nords make excellent soldiers and blacksmiths.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Two-Handed
- +5 Smithing
- +5 Block
- +5 One-Handed
- +5 Light Armor
- +5 Speech
Racial Abilities
- Battlecry: Target flees for 30 seconds.
- Resist Frost: 50% resistant to frost.
The Imperial
The Imperial people focus more on bureaucratic society characteristics, they are also the voice of the emperor. They are well spoken and civilized individuals hailing from the province of Cryodiil. Physically the Imperial people are not nearly as imposing as other races but this does not mean they are not a threat in the field of battle. Imperials tend to train as light infantrymen using their cunning and knowledge of light armor and one-handed weapons to defeat their foes.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Restoration
- +5 Destruction
- +5 Enchanting
- +5 Heavy Armor
- +5 Block
- +5 One-Handed
Racial Abilities
- Voice of the Emperor: Calms nearby people for 60 seconds.
- Imperial Luck: Imperials find more coins.
The Altmer
The Altmer also known as High Elves are a magical people. They’ve focused their long lives on each of the 5 magical schools to dominate their enemies. Unfortunately because of this High Elves lack the physical strength needed to be war-hardened warriors and a resistance to very skill they have devoted their lives to; magic. They’re best suited when wearing a robe and using magic as their main form of combat, keeping a light weapon at their side just in case.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Illusion
- +5 Conjuration
- +5 Destruction
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Enchanting
Racial Abilites
- Highborn: Regenerate Magicka faster for 60 seconds
- Highborn: High Elves are born with 50 extra magicka.
Extra Starting Spell
- Fury: Creatures and people up to level 6 will attack anything nearby for 30 seconds.
The Dunmer
Born from the ashes of Battle of Red Mountain the Dunmer, also known as the Dark Elves, are a race many of the other races look down upon. They are blue skinned red eyed elves and tend to have a bit of an attitude. However, the Dunmer make very versatile warriors with the ability to use blades, bows or magicka without too much of an issue. They’re naturally resistant to fire and take the time to honor their ancestors that fell before them.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Destruction
- +5 Alchemy
- +5 Illusion
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Light Armor
- +5 Sneak
Racial Abilities
- Resist Fire: 50% resistant to fire.
- Ancestor’s Wrath: For 60 seconds, enemies that get too close take 8 fire damage per second.
Extra Starting Spell
- Sparks: Lightning that does 8 points of shock damage to health and magicka per second.
The Breton
The Bretons inhabit the province of High Rock dividing themselves up through political factions. Bretons come in all shapes and sizes from peasants, to soldiers and powerful sorcerers. They’ve developed a resistance to magicka making them handy in the field of battle. Bretons tend to make great warriors despite their scrawny build compared to other races.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Conjuration
- +5 Alchemy
- +5 Illusion
- +5 Restoration
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Speech
Racial Abilities
- Dragonskin: Absorb 50% of magicka from hostile spells for 60 seconds.
- Magicka Resistance: 25% resistance to magicka.
Extra Starting Spell
- Conjure Familiar: Summons a Familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing.
The Argonian
Argonians are scaly reptilian humanoids originating from the Black Marsh. They are swift swimmers and can breathe underwater with the small gills located behind their ears. Not much is known about the Argonian race but it is known that they change genders as they grow, being male or female is a mere phase in the life of an Argonian. Being masters of sneak, agility and magic makes them incredible thieves and sorcerers.
Racial Starting Stats
- +10 Lockpicking
- +5 Restoration
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Light Armor
- +5 Sneak
- +5 Pickpocket
Racial Abilities
- Histskin: Recover health 10x faster for 60 seconds.
- Resist Disease: 50% resistant to disease.
- Underwater Breathing: Breathe underwater.
Hopefully these brief summaries and lists of racial abilities have at least started you on the path of choosing the race you’ll play in the world of Skyrim this November 11th. Have you already decided, which race are you planning to play?
Kristine said on December 24, 2012
Im Stuck Choosing between the High Elves and the Dunmer. I Like Magic but in some cases i would like to get up close and personal its a really hard choice >:/ ,I Want to be balenced in each but i dont know what to choose. HELP
TJ Neel said on November 19, 2012
The Khajiit are the only race whose Racial Ability can be used as often as you want. It is NOT limited to once per day as all the others. I have 3 characters so far right now, A Khajiit Assassin, Altmer Sorceress, and Dunmer Vampire Mage. The one thing I really like about the Khajiit is being able to see in the dark (especially after taking all the torches down while sneaking) and blindshooting all the bandits in a dark cave. When it wears off after 60s, just turn it on again and keep going. Also, you can turn it off on command as well if you get somewhere bright and need to see normal before it wears off.
TJ Neel said on November 19, 2012
Agreed. Also, the Imperials are working to enforce a law brought about by the Thalmor Embassy which embodies the Orcs’ ancectral enemy from whom they broke off from way back when. This may be a dealbreaker for your character if you wish it to be.
TJ Neel said on November 19, 2012
I completely agree with you devil. My Dark Elf is a Vampire. With the 50% Fire Resistance, the varied levels of Fire Susceptability cancels out to normal instead of negative. So, a Dark Elf effectively swaps Fire Resistance for Frost Resistance as the stages progress on a teeter-scale. Also, I noticed that with the Racial Ability Ancestor’s Wrath (basically Fire Cloak similar) active I don’t take any fire damage at all from Dragon Breathe. Not sure if that is a bug or intended, but I like it.
Djgreenzweig said on November 7, 2012
ok ive played as a nord cuz im a run in and beat the boogers out of em kind a guy, hes awsome but i wanna start a new person. i really know nothing about this game but the fact that my first choice worked great for what i used him for. id like the new guy to be based mainly on archery and and duel wielding, maybe a little magic for the just incase. any advise would be great
Marvo said on October 19, 2012
Holy Monkey ! Ther’s alot of talk about nothing on here . Pick a race and get over it . Trial and error people you can speculate all you whant . Until you play the game who cares about what 2 or 3 races you can’t choose from . Seems all you guys whant to do is talk about what you think you now . If you now so much then freaking choose a race and get over it!
PaigeGirRitter said on October 13, 2012
Just thought I’d throw this out there. I’m a 17 y/o girl that’s NOT fat and gross and I LOVE Skyrim….that is all.. :D
Also, argonians for the win, because I like to use bows from the water to attack my foes from a safe distance.
Ebony armor and ebony warhammer and/or bow are boss.
Now, that is all….
iwhoopurass8D said on September 24, 2012
i went imperial :-)
Arlyon said on September 14, 2012
My best character was a charming but dumb orc warrior in Morrowind (birthsign of the Lady but no ID on anything in a bottle not even alcohol!). I made a Bosmer in Oblivion. I like shooting things with arrows. :D But it took about 50 arrows to kill one ogre! Even with a Daedric bow and heavy enchanting, it always took close to 20 unless I had a sneak vantage…then it was 10. ><)
Tiernand_123 said on September 10, 2012
I have children now with hearth fire they’re annoying sometimes
Tiernand_123 said on September 10, 2012
Dawnguard or vamp lord ?
Tiernand_123 said on September 8, 2012
Its so hard to choose a race I think that I’ve played everyplace at least 3 times
Benpenn101 said on August 26, 2012
i don’t think races with disease resistance matter if your a vampire or werewolf but choose wisely :) I’m a nord and I’m a happy, sneaky,slashy, big armor type o guy, o and buy the way
I used to be a(n) ___________ like you then i took a(n) ___________ to the ______________ please make your own creation and respond :D
Stephen Miller said on August 16, 2012
Dunmer are the best for people that like to get up close and personal but also like using magic and they start with the spell sparks
shelby said on August 16, 2012
Would an orc be with the empire or the stormcloaks?? And im confused why exactly did ulfric murder the high king? why does he want to be the high king?? what the helll? lol
Arlyon said on September 14, 2012
Adventurous orcs often join the Legion for battleglory. The Imperials are very open to recruitment. However, Ulfric is fighting a war for honor and tradition which may resonant with an orc mercenary. While honorbound as worshippers of Malacath, they also thrive as “outcasts” who defy all odds. The greater the challenge, the better! Both sides offer battle so the only choice an orc wouldn’t make is to stay out of the fray. For your storyline questions, talk to the Jarls about the war including Ulfric.
Loltroll said on August 14, 2012
all those people who never die probly play on novice lol
Joe said on August 14, 2012
i loveeeeeeee the kahjiit
Joe said on August 10, 2012
bosmer are da best
Amy said on August 2, 2012
im about to start a new game, but am not sure what race to pick. I wanted a magic race but am not sure if they are any good when it comes to combat… any ideas on what race and how to start off ??
Arlyon said on September 14, 2012
The best mage races are Altmer and Breton. Alteration has perks to improve armor rating so you don’t need armor as a pure mage. If you want to use melee as a battlemage or stealth mage–the Imperial, Dunmer, and Argonian have some magic and armor bonuses. Dunmer and Argonian lean toward stealth (assassin or thief) while the Imperial favors heavy combat as a paladin or battlemage. Low skills level fast so skill bonuses aren’t racial absolutes. I mostly choose race by racial ability, racial bonus(es), and the race itself. Magic resists on Breton, Dunmer, and Nord are excellent and Redguards or Bosmer resist poison (Chaurus Reaper nuff said). You cannot enchant anything with poison resist. So unless you’re an alchemist, chaurus are noxious. (Breton, Dunmer, Bosmer, Khajiit–alchemy bonus ^^) If you want a Nord mage who uses Battlecry when cornered, more power to ya. At least the Restless Draugr only do 50% frost damage. ;) (Btw, no race has shock resist which damages magicka except the Breton).
skyrimfan said on August 2, 2012
So no one uses the race of argonian?
Amy said on August 2, 2012
i have an argonian, they ar the best build i think for dark brother hood and theiving :) its pretty good so far!!