Which Race Should You Pick in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of which race to choose in Skyrim is one that plagues many a new adventurer stepping into the frosty lands of Tamriel. The simple answer? It depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for. Skyrim is incredibly forgiving, and almost any race can excel at any playstyle. However, each race possesses unique starting skills, abilities, and resistances that can subtly steer your journey. To give you the most comprehensive answer, let’s delve into the strengths and weaknesses of each race, then address some common questions.
Skyrim’s Races: A Deep Dive
1. Nords
The sons and daughters of Skyrim, the Nords are natural warriors. They receive a bonus to Two-Handed weapons, Light Armor, Smithing, and Speech. Their racial ability, Battle Cry, allows them to frighten enemies, causing them to flee. They also boast a 50% resistance to Frost, which is incredibly useful in Skyrim’s harsh climate.
- Ideal For: Warriors, Barbarians, Roleplaying a Skyrim native.
- Strengths: Frost resistance, early game combat prowess.
- Weaknesses: Not particularly suited for magic.
2. Imperials
The Imperials hail from Cyrodiil, and are skilled diplomats and merchants. They receive bonuses to Restoration, Destruction, and Block. Their racial ability, Voice of the Emperor, calms nearby enemies for a short period, making them adept at controlling crowds. They also receive more gold from finding containers.
- Ideal For: Support roles, diplomatic playthroughs, gaining wealth.
- Strengths: Crowd control, increased gold, well-rounded.
- Weaknesses: Lacking in specialized combat abilities.
3. Bretons
The Bretons of High Rock possess a natural affinity for magic and are resistant to it. They receive bonuses to Conjuration, Alteration, and Restoration. Their racial ability, Dragonskin, absorbs 50% of magicka from incoming spells for 60 seconds. Furthermore, they have a 25% resistance to magic, making them formidable against mages.
- Ideal For: Mages, Spellswords, Anti-Magic builds.
- Strengths: Magic resistance, magicka absorption.
- Weaknesses: Lack specialized combat skills.
4. Redguards
The Redguards of Hammerfell are skilled warriors and possess incredible stamina. They receive bonuses to One-Handed weapons, Archery, and Block. Their racial ability, Adrenaline Rush, allows them to regenerate stamina quickly for a short duration. They also have 50% resistance to Poison, as well as being a natural warrior.
- Ideal For: Warriors, Dual-wielding builds, Stamina-focused characters.
- Strengths: Stamina regeneration, poison resistance.
- Weaknesses: Lacking in magical abilities.
5. Orcs (Orsimer)
The Orcs are fierce warriors known for their brute strength and powerful berserker rage. They receive bonuses to Heavy Armor, One-Handed weapons, and Smithing. Their racial ability, Berserker Rage, doubles their damage output while halving the damage they take.
- Ideal For: Warriors, Tank builds, High-damage melee combat.
- Strengths: High damage output, damage reduction.
- Weaknesses: Racial power is best for high damage builds.
6. Dark Elves (Dunmer)
The Dark Elves of Morrowind are versatile and skilled in both magic and combat. They receive bonuses to Destruction, Sneak, and Alchemy. Their racial ability, Ancestor’s Wrath, creates a fiery cloak that damages nearby enemies. They also have a 50% resistance to Fire.
- Ideal For: Spellswords, Assassins, Pyromancers, Vampires.
- Strengths: Fire resistance, versatile skills.
- Weaknesses: A jack-of-all-trades may be a master of none.
7. High Elves (Altmer)
The High Elves of Summerset Isle are naturally gifted mages and possess the highest base magicka. They receive bonuses to Illusion, Conjuration, and Alteration. Their racial ability, Highborn, grants them increased magicka regeneration for a short period.
- Ideal For: Pure mages, High magicka builds.
- Strengths: High magicka pool, magicka regeneration.
- Weaknesses: Weak to physical attacks early game.
8. Wood Elves (Bosmer)
The Wood Elves of Valenwood are skilled archers and stealthy hunters. They receive bonuses to Archery, Sneak, and Alchemy. Their racial ability, Command Animal, allows them to charm an animal into fighting alongside them. They also have a 50% resistance to Poison and Disease.
- Ideal For: Archers, Stealth characters, Hunters.
- Strengths: Archery bonuses, disease resistance.
- Weaknesses: Not strong in close combat or with magic.
9. Khajiit
The Khajiit of Elsweyr are stealthy and agile, possessing natural claws. They receive bonuses to Sneak, Lockpicking, and Archery. Their racial ability, Night Eye, improves their vision in the dark.
- Ideal For: Thieves, Assassins, Unarmed combat.
- Strengths: Stealth bonuses, night vision.
- Weaknesses: Lack specific combat skills.
10. Argonians
The Argonians of Black Marsh are amphibious and resistant to disease. They receive bonuses to Lockpicking, Restoration, and Sneak. Their racial ability, Histskin, rapidly regenerates their health for a short period. They are also 100% resistant to Disease and can breathe underwater.
- Ideal For: Thieves, Healers, Explorers, role-playing as a freed slave.
- Strengths: Disease resistance, water breathing, rapid healing.
- Weaknesses: No specialized offensive skills.
FAQ: Race Selection in Skyrim
1. Does my race choice really matter in Skyrim?
Yes and no. Skyrim is designed to be flexible. You can become a powerful mage as an Orc or a deadly warrior as a High Elf, but your starting skills and racial abilities will give you a slight edge in certain areas. Ultimately, player skill and build specialization are more important than race.
2. What’s the best race for a beginner in Skyrim?
Nords are a good starting choice due to their resistance to frost and bonuses to combat skills, making the early game easier. Bretons are also beginner friendly, as their magic resistance makes the game more forgiving against magical enemies.
3. Which race is best for a warrior build?
Orcs are excellent warriors due to their Berserker Rage ability. Nords and Redguards are also strong contenders.
4. What’s the best race for a mage build?
High Elves have the highest base magicka, making them ideal for pure mage builds. Bretons are also excellent due to their magic resistance.
5. Which race is best for a stealth build?
Khajiit and Wood Elves are both strong choices for stealthy characters due to their bonuses to Sneak and Archery. Dark Elves are also a good option if you want to incorporate magic into your stealth build.
6. Can I marry any race in Skyrim?
Yes, you can marry any race in Skyrim, regardless of your own race or gender.
7. What race is best for a vampire character in Skyrim?
Dark Elves are often considered the best choice for vampires due to their natural resistance to fire, which helps offset the vampire’s fire weakness.
8. Which race is the weakest in Skyrim?
There isn’t a single “weakest” race. Each race has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice depends on your playstyle. However, Imperials might be considered less specialized than other races, as their abilities are more focused on diplomacy and utility rather than raw power.
9. Does race affect my character’s appearance?
Yes, race determines your character’s base appearance, including skin tone, hair style, and facial features. However, you can customize your appearance further during character creation.
10. Can I change my race after starting the game?
Without mods, you cannot change your race after starting the game.
11. What race is most common in Skyrim?
Nords make up the majority of the population of Skyrim.
12. Which race is best for a werewolf character in Skyrim?
Redguards are a good choice for werewolves due to their Adrenaline Rush ability, which helps with stamina management in werewolf form. Nords are also viable due to their overall combat prowess.
13. Do races have different dialogue options in Skyrim?
While rare, there are a few instances where your race can influence dialogue options or NPC reactions. For example, playing as an Argonian might lead to different interactions with certain NPCs in Windhelm due to the city’s prejudiced views.
14. What is the most fun race to play in Skyrim?
This is entirely subjective and depends on your personal preferences. Experiment with different races and playstyles to find what you enjoy most! Perhaps consider reviewing some fun builds at GamesLearningSociety.org, which can often add value to your overall game experience.
15. Does race affect my character’s stats in the long run?
While your starting skills and racial abilities provide an initial advantage, they do not significantly impact your character’s stats in the long run. With enough training, any race can master any skill.
In conclusion, the “best” race in Skyrim is subjective and depends on your desired playstyle. Experiment with different races, explore their unique abilities, and find the one that resonates with you the most. After all, the most important thing is to have fun exploring the vast and immersive world of Skyrim!