Skyrim Orc race guide
Fearsome warriors and smiths whose Berserker Rage is one of the strongest racial powers.
- Also called
- Orsimer
- +10 skill
- Heavy Armor (starts at 25)
- +5 skills
- Block, Enchanting, One-handed, Smithing, Two-handed (start at 20)
- Power
- Berserker Rage — Take half damage and deal double damage for 60 seconds, once a day
- Passive
- None
- Starting attributes
- 100 health · 100 magicka · 100 stamina
Best builds for a Orc
Looking at the starting bonuses, the Orc gets 30 points of bonuses in warrior skills, 5 in mage skills and 0 in thief skills. That makes it a natural fit for a warrior build, with Heavy Armor 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, Berserker Rage, stays with you for the whole game, so pick a race whose power you will actually use.
Comparing the Orc with other races
See the race comparison table for every race's bonuses side by side, or try the Orc in the build planner to see how its bonuses change the level your build needs.
Orc FAQ
What skills does the Orc start with?
Orcs start with Heavy Armor at 25, Block, Enchanting, One-handed, Smithing, Two-handed at 20, and every other skill at 15.
What is the Orc racial power?
Berserker Rage: Take half damage and deal double damage for 60 seconds, once a day.
What build is the Orc best for?
The Orc's bonuses lean toward warrior skills, so it suits warrior builds best, but any race can play any build in Skyrim.