Skyrim Argonian race guide

Natural thieves and survivors who can breathe underwater and shrug off disease.

Also called
Argonian
+10 skill
Lockpicking (starts at 25)
+5 skills
Alteration, Restoration, Light Armor, Pickpocket, Sneak (start at 20)
Power
Histskin — Recover health ten times faster for 60 seconds, once a day
Passive
50% disease resistance, Water breathing
Starting attributes
100 health · 100 magicka · 100 stamina

Plan a Argonian build

Best builds for a Argonian

Looking at the starting bonuses, the Argonian gets 0 points of bonuses in warrior skills, 10 in mage skills and 25 in thief skills. That makes it a natural fit for a thief build, with Lockpicking as its strongest early skill.

Remember that the starting bonuses fade in importance as you level. A skill that starts at 25 instead of 15 saves you only a few hours of play. The racial power, Histskin, stays with you for the whole game, so pick a race whose power you will actually use.

Comparing the Argonian with other races

See the race comparison table for every race's bonuses side by side, or try the Argonian in the build planner to see how its bonuses change the level your build needs.

Argonian FAQ

What skills does the Argonian start with?
Argonians start with Lockpicking at 25, Alteration, Restoration, Light Armor, Pickpocket, Sneak at 20, and every other skill at 15.
What is the Argonian racial power?
Histskin: Recover health ten times faster for 60 seconds, once a day.
What build is the Argonian best for?
The Argonian's bonuses lean toward thief skills, so it suits thief builds best, but any race can play any build in Skyrim.
What passive abilities do Argonians have?
50% disease resistance. Water breathing.