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 individual pages for each race for more details.
Choose what race you want to be carefully. You don't get a second chance.

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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.

Argonian

Histskin : Invoke the power of the Hist to recover health ten times faster for 60 seconds.
Resist Disease : Your Argonian blood is 50% resistant to disease.
Water Breathing : Your Argonian Lungs can breath underwater. It is also rumored that argonians can swim faster than the other races

Breton

Dragonskin : Absorb 50% of magicka from hostile spells for 60 seconds.
Magic Resistance : Breton blood grants a 25% resistance to magic.

Dark Elf (Dunmer)

Ancestors Wrath : For 60 seconds, opponents that get too close take 8 points per second of fire damage.
Resist Fire : Your Dunmer blood gives you 50% resistance to fire.

High Elf (Altmer)

Highborn : Regenerate magicka faster for 60 seconds.
Highborn : High Elves are born with 50 extra magicka.

Imperial

Voice of the Emperor : Calms nearby people for 60 seconds.
Imperial Luck : Anywhere gold coins might be found, Imperials always seem to find a few more.

Khajiit

Night Eye :Improved night vision for 60 seconds.
Claws : Khajiit claws do 15 points of damage.

Nord

Battle Cry : Target flees for 30 seconds.
Resist Frost : Your Nord blood gives you 50% resistance to frost.

Orc (Orsimer)

Berserker Rage : You take half damage and do double damage for 60 seconds.

Redguard

Adrenaline Rush : Stamina regenerates 10x faster for 60 seconds.
Resist Poison : Your Redguard blood gives you 50% resistance to poison.

Wood Elf (Bosmer)

Command Animal : Make an animal an ally for 60 seconds.
Resist Disease and Poison : Your Bosmer blood gives you 50% resistance to poison and disease.