Skyrim Dark Elf race guide
Versatile spellswords and battlemages, strong in destruction magic and resistant to fire.
- Also called
- Dunmer
- +10 skill
- Destruction (starts at 25)
- +5 skills
- Alchemy, Alteration, Illusion, Light Armor, Sneak (start at 20)
- Power
- Ancestor's Wrath — Surround yourself with fire that burns nearby enemies for 60 seconds, once a day
- Passive
- 50% fire resistance
- Starting attributes
- 100 health · 100 magicka · 100 stamina
Best builds for a Dark Elf
Looking at the starting bonuses, the Dark Elf gets 0 points of bonuses in warrior skills, 20 in mage skills and 15 in thief skills. That makes it a natural fit for a mage build, with Destruction 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, Ancestor's Wrath, stays with you for the whole game, so pick a race whose power you will actually use.
Comparing the Dark Elf with other races
See the race comparison table for every race's bonuses side by side, or try the Dark Elf in the build planner to see how its bonuses change the level your build needs.
Dark Elf FAQ
What skills does the Dark Elf start with?
Dark Elfs start with Destruction at 25, Alchemy, Alteration, Illusion, Light Armor, Sneak at 20, and every other skill at 15.
What is the Dark Elf racial power?
Ancestor's Wrath: Surround yourself with fire that burns nearby enemies for 60 seconds, once a day.
What build is the Dark Elf best for?
The Dark Elf's bonuses lean toward mage skills, so it suits mage builds best, but any race can play any build in Skyrim.
What passive abilities do Dark Elfs have?
50% fire resistance.