The world of “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” is unbelievably vast. Along your quests, you’ll encounter dragons, mystical creatures, and so much more. As you launch your adventure through this epic realm, you’ll get started with choosing the race of your character.
There are 10 different races you can select from, with each possessing unique attributes and characteristics. With this array, it can be hard to make a decision. So, in this guide, we will help you narrow down your choices as we rank all playable races in “Skyrim” from best to worst. Let’s get to it.
The Best Races
1. Breton
- Domain: High Rock
- Passive bonuses: 25 percent Magic Resistance
- Active power: Dragonskin
The game won’t advise you about the best and the worst cases. It’s all up to you. But, for “Skyrim” insiders, Breton is at the top of the list. This race’s Magic Resistance is invaluable, its magical attacks, abundant. With this race, you can be protected against magic. Their bonus conjuration magic, magicka, and magical resilience make them the first choice for mages and many other character builds.
2. Orc
- Domain: High Rock and Orsinium
- Passive bonuses: Can penetrate Orc Strongholds without turning into Blood-Kin
- Active power: Berserker Rage
In the runner-up spot is the Orc race. This race is a strong warrior in the game. Its fortes are Smithing and Heavy Armor. Plus, their active power, Berserker Rage, inflicts extensive damage.
3. Altmer (High Elf)
- Domain: Summerset Isles
- Passive bonuses: +50 Magicka
- Active power: Highborn
When you need an exceptional magical aptitude, choose this race. Their Highborn active power significantly boosts regenerating magicka, making them a good choice for mage characters. They also excel in Conjuration and Illusion, among others.
4. Nord
- Domain: Skyrim
- Passive bonuses: 50 percent Frost Resistance
- Active power: Battle Cry
The race that’s the champion in combat is the Nord. Apart from excelling in Two-Handed and Blocking, their active power will rescue you when you find yourself outnumbered. In a world where ice spells are common, you can use their 50 percent Frost Resistance very well.
5. Imperial
- Domain: Cyrodil
- Passive bonuses: Locate more gold than usual
- Active power: Voice of the Emperor
This race is all about laying down distinctive abilities on the table. Its active power, Voice of the Emperor, has the capacity to defuse stressful situations. The Imperial can also locate more gold better than how others can. They are valuable for several character variants.
6. Bosmer (Wood Elf)
- Domain: Valenwood
- Passive bonuses: 50 percent Poison and Disease Resistance
- Active power: Command Animal
Defeat your enemies using their Poison and Disease Resistance. However, while its Command Animal, its active power, is fun, it can vary according to the situation. Here is where you have to think twice about choosing this race. We’re going down the ranks.
7. Dunmer (Dark Elf)
- Domain: Morrowind
- Passive bonuses: 50 percent Fire Resistance
- Active power: Ancestor’s Wrath
While at the seventh spot, this race’s Fire Resistance and their Ancestor’s Wrath active power can greatly help. The Dunmer race excels in rogue-mage hybrids, offering Destruction as a bonus. However, they are more of a balanced choice rather than something extraordinary.
The Worst Races
With such a fantastic game like “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” it is not easy to just say some features are flawed. But here are the worst races you’ll encounter.
1. Redguard
- Domain: Hammerfell
- Passive bonuses: 50 percent Poison Resistance
- Active power: Adrenaline Rush
The Redguards of Hammerfell are ideal for physical combat, as they focus on One-Handed and Block. Their active power, Adrenaline Rush, is a burst in stamina regeneration, which is very useful during fights. But, while they have Poison Resistance, this may not be essential, making them land on the lower portion of this list.
2. Argonian
- Domain: Black Marsh
- Passive bonuses: 50 percent Disease Resistance and Water Breathing
- Active power: Histskin
Let’s start with their pros. Argonians are proud of their unique and powerful skills, specifically Histskin and Water Breathing. These can significantly regenerate your health. However, its Disease Resistance passive bonus offers minor help, not to mention the limited uses of its Water Breathing bonus. You know very well that Skyrim’s underwater world isn’t so vast. Also, while its healing boost is handy, it largely depends on your situation.
3. Khajiit
- Domain: Elsweyr
- Passive bonuses: +15 Base Unarmed Damage
- Active power: Night Eye
Khajiit looks strong, but can you believe they’re the worst race of all? Right here, we’ll tell you that “Skyrim” gamers are unhappy about their abilities. For instance, their Night Eye active power (out of all attributes of a feline, why their night eye, right?) may provide better vision at night, but knowing Skyrim, where the sun seems to be always up, this may not be useful.
Conclusion
Those are every race in “Skryrim” ranked from best to worst. This guide highlights each’s unique strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide.
Concerning the best races, while others are ranked higher, it can still depend on the situation. The Breton and Altmer are stars in magic, but Orcs and Nords are more handy in combat.
Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your style. But, knowing what has worked for other “Skyrim” gamers, you can enhance your experiences and tailor your quests to suit your strategy.
