Part I: The Races of Skyrim

As you begin your adventure across Skyrim, the historic Elder Scrolls mantra “you are what you play” rings true: Although statistically, an Orc Wizard or a High Elven Thief may not be the optimal character choices based on starting skill bonuses and racial powers, this doesn’t matter in the long run. Choose the race that most appeals to you, and don’t worry about statistics and abilities.

You can overcome low starting skill values by using the skills in which you wish to become more proficient. No races have any intrinsic shortfalls that will prevent you from becoming the type of hero you want to be.

However, there are certain advantages to picking a particular race. For those adventurers who wish to maximize every advantage, it is useful to know which favored skills each race begins with bonuses to, and to understand the unique racial powers they posess; this can aid you when choosing a particular play style.

In short, this section reveals which races are best suited to a particular style of adventuring, whether that be with melee weapons, magic, stealth, or some combination of these styles.

Racial Skill Advantages

The following table shows the starting skill statistics for each race. The higher the number (over the base level of 15), the better. Values of 20 indicate this is a favored skill of the race. Values of 25 indicate this is a primary skill of the race.