Skyrim races compared
Every race starts with one skill at 25, five skills at 20 and the rest at 15, plus a once-a-day power and sometimes a passive ability. Here is how all ten compare.
| Race | +10 skill | +5 skills | Power | Passive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Elf Altmer |
Illusion | Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Enchanting, Restoration | Highborn Regenerate magicka much faster for 60 seconds, once a day |
+50 maximum magicka |
| Argonian Argonian |
Lockpicking | Alteration, Restoration, Light Armor, Pickpocket, Sneak | Histskin Recover health ten times faster for 60 seconds, once a day |
50% disease resistance, Water breathing |
| Wood Elf Bosmer |
Archery | Alchemy, Light Armor, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, Sneak | Command Animal Make an animal your ally for 60 seconds, once a day |
50% poison resistance, 50% disease resistance |
| Breton Breton |
Conjuration | Alchemy, Alteration, Illusion, Restoration, Speech | Dragonskin Absorb magicka from hostile spells for 60 seconds, once a day |
25% magic resistance |
| Dark Elf Dunmer |
Destruction | Alchemy, Alteration, Illusion, Light Armor, Sneak | Ancestor's Wrath Surround yourself with fire that burns nearby enemies for 60 seconds, once a day |
50% fire resistance |
| Imperial Imperial |
Restoration | Block, Destruction, Enchanting, Heavy Armor, One-handed | Voice of the Emperor Calm nearby people for 60 seconds, once a day |
Imperial Luck: find more gold |
| Khajiit Khajiit |
Sneak | Alchemy, Archery, Lockpicking, One-handed, Pickpocket | Night Eye Improved vision in the dark, usable any number of times a day |
Claws: strong unarmed attacks |
| Nord Nord |
Two-handed | Block, Light Armor, One-handed, Smithing, Speech | Battle Cry Make nearby enemies flee for 30 seconds, once a day |
50% frost resistance |
| Orc Orsimer |
Heavy Armor | Block, Enchanting, One-handed, Smithing, Two-handed | Berserker Rage Take half damage and deal double damage for 60 seconds, once a day |
— |
| Redguard Redguard |
One-handed | Alteration, Archery, Block, Destruction, Smithing | Adrenaline Rush Regenerate stamina ten times faster for 60 seconds, once a day |
50% poison resistance |
Starting skill bonuses by skill
| Skill | +10 (starts at 25) | +5 (starts at 20) |
|---|---|---|
| One-handed | Redguard | Imperial, Khajiit, Nord, Orc |
| Two-handed | Nord | Orc |
| Archery | Wood Elf | Khajiit, Redguard |
| Block | — | Imperial, Nord, Orc, Redguard |
| Heavy Armor | Orc | Imperial |
| Smithing | — | Nord, Orc, Redguard |
| Alteration | — | High Elf, Argonian, Breton, Dark Elf, Redguard |
| Conjuration | Breton | High Elf |
| Destruction | Dark Elf | High Elf, Imperial, Redguard |
| Enchanting | — | High Elf, Imperial, Orc |
| Illusion | High Elf | Breton, Dark Elf |
| Restoration | Imperial | High Elf, Argonian, Breton |
| Alchemy | — | Wood Elf, Breton, Dark Elf, Khajiit |
| Light Armor | — | Argonian, Wood Elf, Dark Elf, Nord |
| Lockpicking | Argonian | Wood Elf, Khajiit |
| Pickpocket | — | Argonian, Wood Elf, Khajiit |
| Sneak | Khajiit | Argonian, Wood Elf, Dark Elf |
| Speech | — | Breton, Nord |
Does race matter in Skyrim?
Less than you might think. The skill bonuses only give you a head start: by level 30 or so most characters have far outgrown them, and any race can reach 100 in every skill. What lasts is the racial power and passive ability. A Breton's 25% magic resistance or an Orc's Berserker Rage stays useful for the whole game.
- Mage builds: High Elf for the extra magicka, Breton for magic resistance, Dark Elf for a destruction-focused battlemage.
- Warrior builds: Orc for Berserker Rage, Nord for two-handed weapons and frost resistance, Redguard for one-handed and stamina, Imperial for sword and shield.
- Thief and archer builds: Khajiit for sneak attacks, Wood Elf for archery, Argonian for lockpicking and water breathing.
Try any race in the build planner to see how its bonuses change the level your build needs.