Elder Scrolls Online Guide: Racial Skills Overview

Elder Scrolls Online has 10 total races to choose from. The 10th is Imperial and you must have the Imperial Edition to create this race. Like other Elder Scrolls games, each race has their own skills. Each skill is passive, but you have to put skill points in all except the first one.

That’s not all. Each race belongs to 1 of 3 factions. Picking a race puts you in that particular faction, unless you pre-ordered the game. Pre-ordering lets you pick any faction regardless of race.

The skills each race provides are significant and you may want to pick a race that gives bonuses to the play style you plan on using. I’ll go over each race, their skills, and what faction they are in. I’ll also give detailed information on the Imperial race.

For detailed info on every other race, and other guides in general, check out the ESO Guide Team Directory.

This guide will cover the basics of Racial Skills including:

• Ebonheart Pact Races – Overview of each races skills and basic tips on play styles each fits.
• Daggerfall Covenant Races – Overview of each races skills and basic tips on play styles each fits.
• Aldmeri Dominion Races – Overview of each races skills and basic tips on play styles each fits.
• Imperial Race – Full detail on the skills of this race, when you unlock them, and tips on play styles this race fits.

Ebonheart Pact Races

Nord

• Health, Armor, and Cold Resistance Bonuses.
• Learns Two-Handed weapon skills faster.
• Good tanks and stamina users.

Dark Elf

• Magicka, Stamina, Fire Resistance, and Fire Spell bonuses.
• Learns Dual-wield weapon skills faster.
• Good balance for using both stamina and magicka skills. 
• Great for heavy focus on Fire.

Argonian – Lizard People

• Swim Speed, Potion effectiveness, health, poison and disease resistance, and healing bonuses.
• Learns Restoration Staff weapon skills faster.
• Good for full exploration that requires swimming.
• Great for people wanting to heal.

Daggerfall Covenant Races

Breton – Lighter Skinned Human

• Magicka and Spell Resistance bonuses.
• Learns Light Armor skills faster.
• Great for heavy focus on Magicka abilities of any kind.

Redguard – Darker Skinned Human

• Many stamina bonuses.
• Learns One-handed and Shield weapon skills faster.
• Great for heavy stamina users or tanks.

Orc

• Health, Stamina, and Sprint bonuses.
• Learns Heavy Armor skills faster.
• Good foy hybrid tank and dps.

Aldmeri Dominion Races

High Elf

• Magicka and Elemental Damage (Fire, Cold, and Shock) bonuses.
• Learns Destruction Staff weapon skills faster.

Wood Elf

• Stamina, Poison and Disease Resistance, and Stealth bonuses.
• Learns Bow weapon skills faster.
• Great for people wanting stealth and plan on using bows a lot.

Khajiit – Cat People

• Health, Stealth, and Melee Critical Hit bonuses.
• Learns Medium Armor skills faster.
• Great for stealth users who plan on using melee attack more.

Imperial Race – Only available with Imperial Edition of the game

Shield Affinity – Gives a 15% experience boost to One-Handed and Shield weapon skill line.

• Unlocks – When you create a character. Imperial Rank 1.

Tough – Increases Max Health by 4%.

• Unlocks – Imperial Rank 5. There are 3 total ranks of the skill, each rank increases by an extra 4%.

Conditioning – Increases Maximum Stamina by 4%.

• Unlocks – Imperial Rank 10. There are 3 total ranks, each increases by an extra 3%.

Red Diamond – Melee attacks have a 10% chance to restore 2 health.

• Unlocks – Imperial Rank 25. There are 3 total ranks, each increases the health restored by an extra 2.

Imperial Play styles – Good for stamina users. Great one to pick for tanking or just melee users in general.

That’s it for the basic overview of every race. If you have any questions, or suggestions, let me know in the comments. Be sure to visit the ESO Guide Team Directory for other helpful guides and tips.