The Elder Scrolls saga has iconic races that have appearances throughout the games. In Skyrim, the player can choose between 10 playable races, each with its own perks and advantages for different builds.
With these options available, which of the playable race in Skyrim is the best?
Redguards is the best Skyrim playable race for someone looking for a flexible build thanks to their skill boosts in weapons and Destruction.
If the player prioritizes One-Handed weapons, Redguards offer the best starting skill stats combined with their ability to increase their Stamina regeneration for 60 seconds, once per day.
If the player wants to create a mage character, choosing a Breton or High Elf is the best option. This is because of their skill boosts in several magic-related skill trees. In addition to this, Bretons have 25% additional Magicka resistance and High Elves will start with 50 extra points in Magicka, making them strong options for the early game.
Orcs are the best race for a tank build in Skyrim thanks to their skill boosts in Heavy Armor and Two-Handed, including their Berserker Rage ability.
| Race | Perk | Skill Boosts | Passive perks | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argonian | Histskin: 10x faster health regeneration for 60 seconds, once per da | +10 Lockpicking +5 Alteration +5 Light Armor +5 Pickpocket +5 Restoration +5 Sneak | 50% disease resistance Water breathing | Survival Mode: can eat raw meat without disease risk Increased unarmed damage |
| Breton | Dragonskin: Absorb 50% Magicka from hostile spells for 60 seconds, once per day | +10 Conjuration +5 Alchemy +5 Alteration +5 Illusion +5 Restoration +5 Speech | 25% additional Magicka resistance | Starts with Conjure Familiar spell |
| Dark Elf | Ancestor’s Wrath: Once per day, opponents in close range, including neutral NPCs, will take 8 points per second of fire damage | +10 Destruction +5 Alchemy +5 Alteration +5 Illusion +5 Light Armor +5 Sneak | 50% resistance to fire | Survival Mode: 25% fatigue resistance |
| High Elf | Highborn: Regenerate 25% of your character’s maximum Magicka per second for 60 seconds, once per day | +10 Illusion +5 Alteration +5 Conjuration +5 Destruction +5 Enchanting +5 Restoration | +50 Magicka points | Survival Mode: 25% fatigue resistance Starts with Fury spell |
| Imperial | Voice of the Emperor: Nearby hostile mobs will calm down for 30 seconds, once per day | +10 Restoration +5 Block +5 Destruction +5 Enchanting +5 Heavy Armor +5 One-Handed | Finds more gold than usual | |
| Khajit | Night Eye: Improves night vision for 60 seconds. Can be done several times during the day | +10 Sneak +5 Alchemy +5 Archery +5 Lockpicking +5 One-Handed +5 Pickpocket | Increased unarmed damage | Survival Mode: +15 Warmth Can eat raw meat without risking food poisoning |
| Nord | Battle Cry: Opponents will flee for 30 seconds, once per day | +10 Two-Handed +5 Block +5 Light Armor +5 One-Handed +5 Smithing +5 Speech | 50% frost resistance | Survival Mode: +25 Warmth |
| Orcs | Berserker Rage: Inflict double physical damage and take half damage for 60 seconds, once per day | +10 Heavy Armor +5 Block +5 Enchanting +5 One-Handed +5 Smithing +5 Two-Handed | Survival Mode: 15% hunger and fatigue resistance +10 Warmth Can enter and interact with Orc strongholds without needing to gain Bloodkin status | |
| Redguard | Adrenaline Rush: Increased stamina regeneration for 60 seconds, once per day | +10 One-Handed +5 Alteration +5 Archery +5 Block +5 Destruction +5 Smithing | 50% poison resistance | |
| Wood Elf | Command Animal: Convert an animal into an ally for 60 seconds, once per day | +10 Archery +5 Alchemy +5 Light Armor +5 Lockpicking +5 Pickpocket +5 Sneak | 50% resistance to poison and disease | Survival Mode: 25% fatigue resistance |
10. Argonians
Argonians are reptilian people originally from the Black Marsh.
In Skyrim, Argonians can always breathe underwater and their special perk allows them to increase health regeneration for 60 seconds, once per day.
They also have increased disease resistance and possess higher unarmed damage.
In Skyrim’s Anniversary Upgrade, if the player chooses to play in Survival Mode, Argonians can eat raw meat without risking diseases as an additional perk.
At the start of the game, Argonians have the following skill point bonuses
- +10 Lockpicking
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Light Armor
- +5 Pickpocket
- +5 Restoration
- +5 Sneak
Argonians are a good option for a thief thanks to their skill bonuses in Lockpicking, Sneak and Pickpocket. However, compared to other playable races, their ability to breathe underwater can have limited uses, and using potions for increased health regeneration proves to be a more efficient way to deal with enemy damage.
9. Imperial
Imperials are people native to Cyrodiil, and their Imperial Luck increases the chance of finding 2-10 extra gold in chests that normally contain gold and enemies by 100%.
An Imperial character can use The Voice of the Emperor once per day to calm nearby NPCs for 60 seconds, but will only work with humans, Mer or beastfolk.
The player, if choosing Imperial, will start with the following skill boosts:
- +10 Restoration
- +5 Block
- +5 Destruction
- +5 Enchanting
- +5 Heavy Armor
- +5 One-Handed
This playable race offers a standard template for a warrior build that can also lean into magic. While Imperials have skill boosts in magic-related skill trees, the player will only have Flames and Healing as starter spells.
The Voice of the Emperor can offer a good alternative to overcoming several human enemies at once during a battle. However, the passive perk will become obsolete as the player progresses into the game and earns gold via completing quests, selling, or stealing.
8. Wood Elf
Wood Elves, or Bosmer, are the elven people from Valenwood.
Wood Elves can use Command Animal once per day, which will convert an animal into an ally for 60 seconds. As a passive perk, a Wood Elf has 50% resistance to poison and disease, making it a valuable race option when avoiding vampirism or damage from enemies.
If the player decides to play in Survival mode, thanks to the Anniversary Upgrade, a Wood Elf will have 25% resistance to fatigue.
A Wood Elf starts with the following skill boosts:
- +10 Archery
- +5 Alchemy
- +5 Light Armor
- +5 Lockpicking
- +5 Pickpocket
- +5 Sneak
Wood Elves are better suited for archery or sneak builds thanks to their starting skills, also supported by Skyrim’s lore.
Their Command Animal perk can work with all types of animals regardless of their level, making it a useful tool when dealing with enemies in the wild.
7. Khajit
Khajits are natives from Elsweyr and are classified as beastfolk in the Elder Scrolls universe for their cat-like traits.
As a passive ability, Khajit’s claws will do additional unarmed damage. Most races deal 10 points of damage in unarmed combat, but Khajit will have a boost of 12 points totalling 22 damage per swing.
Khajits, unlike other playable races, can activate their active perk several times per day. In this case, Night Eye will improve your night vision for 60 seconds.
During Survival mode, Khajits can consume raw meat without suffering food poisoning and have a +15 Warmth bonus.
A Khajit character will start with the following skill boosts
- +10 Sneak
- +5 Alchemy
- +5 Archery
- +5 Lockpicking
- +5 Pickpocket
- +5 One-handed
Khajit is one of the best playable races in Skyrim for a thief or assassin build, thanks to their skill boost in Sneak and using Night Eye to move around darker areas without getting detected.
The increased unarmed damage will also stack with other sources of damage increase, making it a viable way to fight certain enemies.
When playing Survival, their increased resistance to cold weather and ability to eat raw meat without risking food poisoning are vital perks to survive harsher environments across Skyrim.
6. Nord
Nords are the native people of Skyrim, starting with 50% frost resistance as their unique passive perk.
If the player chooses a Nord character, they can activate Battle Cry to make targets flee from fighting for 30 seconds with a one in-game day cooldown.
Playing in Survival mode as a Nord will grant +25 Warmth.
As a Nord, the player will start with the following skill boosts:
- +10 Two-Handed
- +5 Block
- +5 Light Armor
- +5 One-handed
- +5 Smithing
- +5 Speech
Playing as a Nord in Skyrim offers a versatile base for warriors. Their Battle Cry is a useful resource during battle when swarmed by enemies, and frost resistance can help when dealing against enemy casters.
In addition to this, their frost resistance can prove a solid base for additional defense against enemies using ice spells, including Frost Dragons.
5. Orc
Orcs are one of the ten playable races in Skyrim, native to Orsinium.
While Orcs don’t have a unique passive perk like other playable races, Orcs possess the Berserk Rage ability. The Dragonborn will take half the damage and will do double damage for 60 seconds, with a cooldown of one in-game day.
If the player chooses the Orc race, they will be automatically accepted into the three Orc strongholds without going through the Blood-Kin quest.
When playing Survival mode in the Anniversary Upgrade, Orcs have +10 Warmth and increased resistance to fatigue and hunger by 15%.
Orcs have the following skill boosts:
- +10 Heavy Armor
- +5 Block
- +5 Enchanting
- +5 One-handed
- +5 Smithing
- +5 Two-Handed
Orcs are the best option for tank builds thanks to their Heavy Armor and Two-Handed skill boosts, combined with their active perk which can be activated during battle once per day to clear out enemies faster.
4. Dark Elf
Dark Elves, or Dunmer, are the grey-skinned Mel natives from Morrowind. This playable race is one of the few in the game that starts with an additional starting spell, specifically Sparks.
Their passive perk allows them to have 50% fire resistance. When the player activates the Ancestral Wrath perk, the Dragonborn will cause 8 points of fire damage per second to opponents within close range.
In Survival Mode, a Dark Elf will have 25% resistance to fatigue, similar to other Elven races in Skyrim.
If the player chooses to play as a Dark Elf, they will have the following skill boosts
- +10 Destruction
- +5 Alchemy
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Illusion
- +5 Light Armor
- +5 Sneak
Playing as a Dark Elf offers a strong base for an offensive mage build. Dark Elves can activate their Ancestral Wrath and stack it with other ward spells to increase their defence.
Their increased fire resistance can also prove useful when battling other enemy casters.
3. Breton
Bretons originate from High Rock and are believed to have Aldmeri ancestry combined with human blood, according to the saga’s lore.
A Breton character will start with an additional 25% magic resistance, which can stack with other enchantments and bonuses.
The player can also use the active perk Dragonskin to absorb 50% Magicka from hostile spells for 60 seconds, with a one-day in-game cooldown.
When playing as a Breton, the player will have access to Conjure Familiar as their third starter spell.
Bretons have the following skill boosts:
- +10 Conjuration
- +5 Alchemy
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Illusion
- +5 Restoration
- +5 Speech
Bretons are ideal for a mage build reliant on Conjuration spells. Playing as a Breton offers more versatility in defence and support since they don’t start with a Destruction skill boost.
Their magic resistance and Dragonskin power can significantly help the player even at higher levels, increasing their survivability against enemy casters and recovering Magicka during battle.
2. High Elf
High Elves, also known as Altmer, originate from the Summerset Isle in the Tamriel lore.
In Skyrim, High Elves will add 50 extra Magicka points as their race’s passive perk. The player will also have the Highborn active perk, increasing their Magicka regen for 60 seconds, once per day. The player will also have Fury as an additional spell.
If the player chooses to play Survival mode, High Elves also have 25% resist fatigue.
High Elves have the following skill point bonuses:
- +10 Illusion
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Conjuration
- +5 Destruction
- +5 Enchanting
- +5 Restoration
Choosing a High Elf is the best option for a mage build in Skyrim, thanks to their boosted skills and perks. Their Illusion skill boost also helps them significantly to build a stealth build for magic-reliant thieves.
High Elves also have a less-known perk where they can walk slightly faster compared to other playable races. This happens because the game’s code gives sightly more speed to taller characters.
1. Redguard
Redguard, native to the lands of Hammerfell, start with 50% resistance to poison as their passive racial ability. They’re also able to use Adrenaline Rush, increasing their Stamina regeneration x10 for 60 seconds, once per day.
If the player starts as a Redguard, they will have the following skill boosts
- +10 One-handed
- +5 Alteration
- +5 Archery
- +5 Block
- +5 Destruction
- +5 Smithing
Redguards offer the best starting skills and perks for a one-handed or ranged warrior, with the possibility to complement with magic if the player wishes to do so.
The player can choose between Light or Heavy Armor equally, making it a more versatile choice compared to Orcs.
See more: