Races - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Guide - IGN (2024)

This page includes information on all the playable races in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This has been updated to include any new information from the DLC, Special Editions, Anniversary Editions, and each race is available on all platforms, including PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. There are 10 different Races in Skyrim. All have appeared in past Elder Scrolls games in the other regions of Tamriel. Each race has unique abilities and stats that make them better suited to different play styles. Check out the individual pages for each race for more details. All 10 Races are equal.

Choose what race you want to be carefully. You don't get a second chance to choose like in Oblivion.

Starting Stats

This chart illustrates the various stat bonuses that each race receives when starting the game. The base value for all skills is 15, so a character with +10 to Heavy Armor would start the game with a Heavy Armor rating of 25.

There are three categories of skills: Magic, Combat, and Stealth. Lavender-colored stats are for magicka-related skills. Orange-colored stats represent combat skills, and green-colored stats represent stealth-based skills.

You can click the image above for a larger view of the starting stats chart.

Race Abilities

Each race has various innate abilities unique to that race; some innate abilities are always active, while others are special powers that can be activated once per day. Some racial abilities are weaker versions of later skills that can be aquired during gameplay. These abilities can be incredibly useful in certain situations, especially early on, but they should not define character choice. They should be used as added abilities that complement your playing style, rather than used to enhance a skill path that would result in obtaining the true version of the ability.

Every character starts with these two spells

Flames: A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.

Healing: Heals the caster 10 points per second.

Bretons also start with...

Conjure Familiar: Summons a Familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing.

Dunmer also start with...

Sparks: Lightning that does 8 points of shock damage to health and magicka per second.

Altmer also start with...

Fury: Creatures and people up to level 6 will attack anything nearby for 30 seconds.

Racial Stats

Note on racial stats: Each race starts off with different stats. Unimproved skills begin at 15. A net of 35 points is added from the base skills of 15 for each race.

• Argonians start with 25 in Lockpicking, 20 in Alteration,Light Armor, Pickpocket,Restoration, and Sneak.
• Bretons start with 25 in Conjuration, 20 in Alchemy,Alteration, Illusion,Restoration, and Speech.
• Dark Elves start with 25 in Destruction, 20 in Alchemy,Alteration, Illusion,Light Armor, and Sneak.
• High Elves start with 25 in Illusion, 20 in Alteration,Conjuration, Destruction,Enchanting, and Restoration.
• Imperials start with 25 in Restoration, 20 in Block,Destruction,
  Enchanting,Heavy Armor, and One-handed.
• Khajiit start with 25 in Sneak, 20 in Alchemy,Archery,
  Lockpicking,Pickpocket, and One-handed.
• Nord start with 25 in Two-handed, 20 inBlock,Light Armor,
  One-handed,Smithing, and Speech.
• Orcs start with 25 in Heavy Armor, 20 in Block,Enchanting,
  One-handed,Smithing, and Two-handed.
• Redguards start with 25 in One-handed, 20 in Alteration,Archery, Block,Destruction, and Smithing.
• Wood Elves start with 25 in Archery, 20 in Alchemy,Light Armor, Lockpicking,Pickpocket, and Sneak.