Here is a list of the differences between the races in Skyrim and a general overview of their skills, powers, etc.
Argonian
- Skill Bonuses: +10 Lockpicking, +5 Restoration, Alteration, Light Armor, Sneak, Pickpocket
- Racial Power: Histskin : Invoke the power of the Hist to recover health ten times faster for 60 seconds.
- Racial Abilities:
- Resist Disease: Your Argonian blood is 50% resistant to disease.
- Water Breathing: Your Argonian Lungs can breath underwater.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEszpmy_t-jwnSsN22uSJEwV1wl8FQSd6xXCBGy8poBvAActZjgK91lbcqNXYZhKf54GuqljyE7ZfxMOaYurFzTw20OzdrlLoSG4jQek1F9eLq9GkKB7EaWish5l-uw0b-cLsbiVfS6ayB/s320/skyrimbreton.png)
Breton
Skill Bonuses: +10 Conjuration, +5 Alchemy, Illusion, Restoration, Alteration, Speech
Racial Power: Dragonskin : Absorb 50% of magicka from hostile spells for 60 seconds.
Racial Abilities:
Magic Resistance: Breton blood grants a 25% resistance to magic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbf1XPQ2iUiz53pCdPRZZDFWDFkTkk04fw3IozRQsL01g-5iihdvFFmnmaKoSn0OD9gJ0M5clbGcV13bBrWacjmW7xdaZ-ceMMmogr5NKHOb94JUZUpFR4AInO2akSOm1hesZ8niAINF_/s320/darkelf.jpg)
Skill Bonuses: +10 Destruction, +5 Alchemy, Illusion, Alteration, Light Armor, Sneak
Racial Power: Ancestor’s Wrath : For 60 seconds, opponents that get too close take 8 points per second of fire damage.
Racial Abilities:
Resist Fire – Your Dunmer blood gives you 50% resistance to fire.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsrZVyD84IjVmmU_qRfjrP7O4FffraL1HqeY9B2kmQMW0hc0bWsN0If1i7kWQYdvyoHCUAwyLghF0GtXgN-aI7O6UKD8rsppqd2ZMZUG6d3ZZAtOP7gRroAzWfz_Vx4oswFDme8VmdqNU/s320/highelf.jpg)
Skill Bonuses: +10 Illusion, +5 Conjuration, Destruction, Restoration, Alteration, Enchanting
Racial Power: Highborn: Regenerate magicka faster for 60 seconds.
Racial Abilities: Highborn: High Elves are born with 50 extra magicka.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yxO2lK2HgFWKjcenZyHixOh8-QID__16hCv54Pge1wlkNJas4L6Ga-BEKlsuT2vDNAi37vpUEh6QIOnhXOO41RQChwNJVGcjaRGz2HqXkWRwElLoVno2Vg6YfnfKUUe3uzdqv4vMtuQ7/s320/imperial-skyrim.png)
Skill Bonuses: +10 Restoration, +5 Destruction, Enchanting, Heavy Armor, Block, One-Handed
Racial Power: Voice of the Emperor: Calms nearby people for 60 seconds.
Racial Abilities:
Imperial Luck: Anywhere gold coins might be found, Imperials always seem to find a few more.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJwVICeij2Id72-BlAufoemUux9Gd_lysWFnxXj9xMOWkNUKub4ucFM6-JegErmXKt_1UDvn_HUQzlLtKKphRkkwOIN0vSaMwgmwBgoDxvAXq30VSwLQQyDgkvcLfr4CEgQ5QyR2VRQ38/s320/khajiit-skyrim.jpg)
Skill Bonuses: +10 Sneak, +5 Alchemy, One-Handed, Archery, Lockpicking, Pickpocket
Racial Power: Night Eye: Improved night vision for 60 seconds.
Racial Abilities:
Claws: Khajiit claws do 15 points of damage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4G8wGWe2rKMr9Qr37o-UuCMxVZG3K5zUp4FCojcMYQUnQzdzWSOxIfhNZPRTIBSBttzR81MWAUy93FdDllyZ3QXurqmBFGR3r4dAe6ScjtVK0UB-o4fIk5HIF3yfeZZvWSL2GwcXBEDo/s320/nord.jpg)
Skill Bonuses: +10 Two-Handed, +5 Smithing, Block, One-Handed, Light Armor, Speech
Racial Power: Battle Cry: Target flees for 30 seconds.
Racial Abilities:
Resist Frost: Your Nord blood gives you 50% resistance to frost.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLCzqj3rIh2wHKamRRR-ggdT0b7-hGorEPx0NnRuChrvRZ7vb9z1lPKooIHL5x2cCMNggyNR6FeiJtiPhGQyogTGovSFoFIgazJDQi5zTCHEeLB_pXXh0SdcrqXqwGtUB9QjiF2XIO1F5/s320/skyrimraces.jpg)
Skill Bonuses: +10 Heavy Armor, +5 Enchanting, Smithing, Block, Two-Handed, One-Handed
Racial Power:
Berserker Rage: You take half damage and do double damage for 60 seconds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8EofgLOEXGGfHHlIvneI3gvyeXqLmA0xahk-2Zmd1aMjJEdSNrdbcqVLqLTfu-8IdQOGEyYv4UaIBLGyyI2KSIzeJkH8y-BOzPtY5leeb0Mq__8AWPZBiSX99F-L-WlFLvsXKszq75O_/s320/skyrimredguard.png)
Skill Bonuses: +10 One-Handed, +5 Destruction, Alteration, Smithing, Block, Archery
Racial Power: Adrenaline Rush: Stamina regenerates 10x faster for 60 seconds.
Racial Abilities:
Resist Poison: Your Redguard blood gives you 50% resistance to poison.
Bosmer (Wood Elf)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_IVpom2HjT71CaEtWaIMsqpF2K5MF6U1WYTKOa-AMwB7If2kPuWwcSoJ4k1JLrHGv6U1dUUOuZb3uqHtZTlRLeo_QBnh3oY_uZNJeZP2KmVhTj1u3umAt90v4bUZUAjaNe1opeO03W_I/s320/skyrim-woodelf.jpg)
Skill Bonuses: +10 Archery, +5 Alchemy, Light Armor, Sneak, Lockpicking, Pickpocket
Racial Power: Command Animal: Make an animal an ally for 60 seconds.
Racial Abilities:
Resist Disease and Poison: Your Bosmer blood gives you 50% resistance to poison and disease.
Every character starts with these two spells:
Flames : A gout of fire that does 8 points per second. Targets on fire take extra damage.
Healing : Heals the caster 10 points per second.
Breton's also start with...
Conjure Familiar : Summons a Familiar for 60 seconds wherever the caster is pointing.
Dunmer also start with...
Sparks : Lightning that does 8 points of shock damage to health and magicka per second.
Altmer also start with...
Fury : Creatures and people up to level 6 will attack anything nearby for 30 seconds.
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