The 10 Best Starting Races for Beginners in Skyrim - Skyland Guides

The 10 best starting races for beginners in Skyrim

Choosing the right race in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim can greatly impact your gameplay experience, especially for beginners. Each race has its unique strengths and abilities that can give you an advantage in combat, magic, or stealth. In this guide, we will explore the top 10 races that are perfect for beginners and provide you with a solid foundation to start your adventures in the vast world of Skyrim.

Table Of Contents

Nord: The Nord race is an excellent choice for beginners who prefer melee combat. Their natural resistance to cold, increased weapon damage, and battle cry ability make them formidable warriors.
Argonian: If you want to focus on stealth and archery, the Argonian race is a great option. Their innate ability to breathe underwater, increased resistance to disease, and bonus to sneaking make them perfect for sneaky assassins.
High Elf: High Elves are the masters of magic in Skyrim. Their increased magicka pool, faster magicka regeneration, and proficiency in all schools of magic make them ideal for those who wish to become powerful mages.
Imperial: The Imperial race is versatile and suitable for various playstyles. Their ability to find more gold, increased speech skill, and combat skills make them effective in both social interactions and combat situations.
Redguard: Redguards are natural warriors with a focus on swordplay. Their increased stamina, resistance to poison, and ability to regenerate stamina quickly make them formidable fighters.

“In Skyrim, your race can greatly impact your playstyle and capabilities. Choose wisely to start your adventure on the right foot!”

Breton: The Breton race is known for its resistance to magic, making them excellent battlemages. Their innate ability to absorb spells, increased magicka, and proficiency in conjuration magic make them a force to be reckoned with.
Wood Elf: Wood Elves, also known as Bosmer, excel in archery and stealth. Their increased archery skill, resistance to poison, and ability to command animals make them perfect for hunters and assassins.
Khajiit: Khajiits are natural thieves and assassins. Their increased sneaking skill, night vision, and claw attacks make them deadly in the shadows. If you want to play as a sneaky rogue, the Khajiit race is an excellent choice.
Orc: Orcs are known for their physical strength and prowess in combat. Their increased damage and resistance to magic, berserk ability, and ability to regenerate health make them ideal for melee-oriented playstyles.
Dunmer: The Dunmer race, also known as Dark Elves, are versatile and balanced. Their resistance to fire, increased destruction magic skill, and stealth abilities make them suitable for various playstyles, including melee combat, magic, and stealth.

By choosing one of these starting races, you can ensure that your character is well-suited for your preferred playstyle and have a more enjoyable experience in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

The Top 10 Races in Skyrim for Beginners

When starting your adventure in Skyrim, choosing the right race can greatly affect your gameplay experience. Each race has its own unique abilities and attributes that can benefit different playstyles. For beginners, it’s important to choose a race that is well-rounded and beginner-friendly. Here are the top 10 races in Skyrim for beginners:

Nord: Nords are natural warriors and have a 50% resistance to frost, making them excellent for melee combat. Their starting ability, Battle Cry, allows them to fear nearby enemies.
Redguard: Redguards are skilled with weapons and have a 50% resistance to poison. They also have the Adrenaline Rush ability, which increases their Stamina regeneration for a short period of time.
Imperial: Imperials have a natural talent for diplomacy and can find more gold in chests. They also have the Voice of the Emperor ability, which calms nearby enemies.
Dark Elf: Dark Elves are resistant to fire and have a natural bonus to destruction magic. They also have the Ancestor’s Wrath ability, which surrounds them in fire and damages nearby enemies.
Argonian: Argonians have a 50% resistance to disease and are able to breathe underwater. They also have the Histskin ability, which rapidly regenerates their health for a short time.
High Elf: High Elves have a natural talent for magic and regenerate magicka faster. They also have the Highborn ability, which allows them to regenerate magicka quickly once per day.
Breton: Bretons have a 25% resistance to magic and a bonus to conjuration magic. They also have the Dragonskin ability, which absorbs incoming magicka for a short period of time.
Wood Elf: Wood Elves are skilled archers and have a 50% resistance to poison. They also have the Command Animal ability, which makes nearby animals friendly towards them.
Khajiit: Khajiit have a natural bonus to sneak and unarmed attacks. They also have the Night Eye ability, which allows them to see in the dark for a short period of time.
Orc: Orcs are natural warriors and have a bonus to heavy armor. They also have the Berserker Rage ability, which allows them to deal double damage and take half damage for a short time.

These races are great options for beginners in Skyrim, but remember that ultimately the choice of race should match your preferred playstyle. Experiment with different races and find the one that suits you best. Happy adventuring!

The Nord Race

The Nord race is one of the best starting races for beginners in Skyrim. Nords are the native inhabitants of the land and are known for their strong and hardy nature. They are excellent warriors and have a natural resistance to frost damage.

Key Benefits

50% Frost Resistance: Nords have a natural resistance to frost damage, making them more resilient in cold environments and against enemies that use frost-based attacks.
Battle Cry: Nords can use their Battle Cry ability to let out a fearsome roar that will cause enemies to flee for 30 seconds. This ability can be useful in tough combat situations.
Two-handed Weapon Bonus: Nords start with a bonus to Two-handed weapons, making them particularly skilled in this type of combat.

Recommended Playstyle

With their natural resistance to frost and their proficiency in Two-handed weapons, Nords are well-suited for a warrior playstyle. They excel in close combat and can dish out heavy damage with their powerful weapons. Their Battle Cry ability can also be used strategically to create openings in battles or to escape from difficult situations.

Roleplay Options

As a Nord, you can roleplay as a fierce and proud warrior who values honor and strength. You can align yourself with the Stormcloaks in the civil war and fight for the freedom of Skyrim. Nords also have a strong connection to the Skyrim’s history and traditions, so you can explore the rich lore of the game and immerse yourself in the Nordic culture.

Conclusion

The Nord race is an excellent choice for beginners in Skyrim, especially those who want to play as a warrior. Their natural resistance to frost, proficiency in Two-handed weapons, and Battle Cry ability make them formidable opponents in combat. Take up your sword and shield and embrace your inner Nord warrior!

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The Breton Race

The Breton race is one of the best starting races for beginners in Skyrim. They are a versatile race that excels in magic and can also be skilled warriors. Bretons have a natural resistance to magic, which makes them excellent spellcasters and allows them to shrug off enemy spells.

Skills: The Breton race starts with a +10 bonus to Conjuration, +5 bonus to Alchemy, Restoration, Illusion, Alteration, and Speech. These skills make them ideal for playing as a mage or a hybrid character that uses both magic and weapons.

Special Ability: The Breton race has a special ability called “Dragonskin.” This ability provides a 50% resistance to magic for 60 seconds once per day. This can be useful in tough situations where you need to withstand a powerful spell or in battles against mage enemies.

Playstyle: Due to their magic resistance and starting skills, Bretons are well-suited for playing as a mage. You can specialize in Conjuration, Restoration, and Illusion magic, summoning powerful creatures, healing yourself and your companions, and manipulating the minds of your enemies.

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Best Classes: The Breton race is perfect for playing as a Mage, Spellsword, or even a Battlemage. These classes allow you to harness the power of magic while also being proficient in close combat when needed.

Pros	Cons
* High magic resistance

Starting bonus to magic skills
Versatile playstyle | * Not as strong in physical combat
Other races may have better bonuses in certain skills |

In conclusion, The Breton race is a great choice for beginners who want to play as a mage or a hybrid character. Their natural resistance to magic and starting bonuses to magic skills make them powerful spellcasters. With their versatile playstyle and special ability, Bretons can overcome tough challenges and become formidable adventurers in the world of Skyrim.

The Redguard Race

The Redguard race is known for their impressive skills in combat, making them an excellent choice for beginners who want to focus on melee combat. With their starting bonuses in One-Handed, Archery, and Block, Redguards can easily excel in close-quarters combat.

Starting Skills:

One-Handed: +10 bonus
Archery: +5 bonus
Block: +5 bonus
Smithing: +5 bonus
Light Armor: +5 bonus

Special Abilities:

Adrenaline Rush: Once a day, Redguards can regenerate Stamina 10 times faster for 60 seconds.

The Redguard race also benefits from their natural resistance to poison, making them even more formidable in combat. Their cultural background as warriors and swordsmen further enhances their combat abilities.

If you choose to play as a Redguard, it is recommended to focus on melee combat skills and consider specializing in the One-Handed skill tree. Use your starting bonuses to your advantage and wield a powerful one-handed weapon, complemented by a shield or bow for versatility.

In addition to their combat prowess, Redguards make excellent rogues and archers due to their Archery bonus and their natural agility. Consider investing in sneak and archery skills to become a deadly silent assassin or a master of ranged attacks.

Overall, the Redguard race offers a solid foundation for beginners who want to focus on melee combat and/or archery. Their starting bonuses and special abilities make them a versatile and powerful race that can excel in various playstyles.

The High Elf Race

The High Elves, also known as Altmer, are a race of elves in Skyrim. They are known for their high intelligence and magical abilities. High Elves have a natural affinity for magic and excel in all schools of magic, making them a perfect choice for players interested in playing as a mage.

The High Elves start with the following racial abilities:

Highborn: Once a day, regenerate Magicka 10 times faster for 60 seconds.
Frost Resistance: High Elves have a 50% resistance to frost damage.
Weakness to Shock: High Elves are 25% more susceptible to shock damage.

These racial abilities make High Elves powerful spellcasters, allowing them to use magic more effectively and resist the cold climate of Skyrim.

In addition to their racial abilities, High Elves also start with increased starting levels in the following skills:

Alteration: 10
Conjuration: 10
Destruction: 10
Enchanting: 10
Illusion: 10
Restoration: 10

These starting skill levels give High Elves a head start in the magical arts, allowing players to quickly become proficient in various schools of magic.

Overall, the High Elf race is an excellent choice for players who want to play as a powerful mage in Skyrim. Their racial abilities and starting skill levels make them highly skilled in the magical arts, allowing players to cast powerful spells and dominate their enemies.

FAQ:

What are some good starting races for beginners in Skyrim?

Some good starting races for beginners in Skyrim are Nord, Breton, and Dark Elf. These races have unique abilities and starting bonuses that can be helpful for beginners.

What are the benefits of playing as a Nord in Skyrim?

Playing as a Nord in Skyrim gives you a natural resistance to frost, which can be useful when facing enemies that use frost-based attacks. Nords also have a war cry ability that can temporarily frighten enemies. Additionally, Nords start with bonuses to two-handed weapons, block, and speech.

What advantages does playing as a Breton have for beginners?

Playing as a Breton in Skyrim gives you a 25% resistance to magic, which can be helpful when facing enemy spellcasters. Bretons also have a bonus to conjuration, allowing them to summon creatures to aid in battle. In addition, Bretons start with a bonus to the restoration skill.

Why are Dark Elves a good choice for beginners in Skyrim?

Dark Elves, also known as Dunmer, have a natural resistance to fire, making them more resistant to fire-based attacks. They also start with a bonus to destruction magic, allowing them to deal more damage with spells. Dark Elves have a bonus to the light armor skill as well.

Are there any races in Skyrim that are not recommended for beginners?

Although all races in Skyrim can be played by beginners, some races may be more challenging due to their starting abilities. For example, the Orc race starts with higher health, but they also have a berserker rage ability that increases their damage taken. This can make them more difficult to play for beginners who may struggle with surviving battles.