Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Lets not beat around the bush here you all read the title and thumbnail. We all know this is a top 10 list for Skyrim’s playable races. But before I start this list I should go over how I ranked the entries on this list so that when someone disagrees with me they can make an argument that actually makes sense and isn’t just my favorite race should be number 1. Simply put I divided the racial features into 3 categories then rated them based on a 5 star rating and added the 3 totals together. The categories are: Racial Passives like the nords frost resistance or agonian water breathing. The Once a Day racial power all player races get. And everything else aka the starting still bonus. You get 5 skills with a plus 5 and 1 gets a plus 10. The more useful I see them as the better and if you get a bonus starting spell even better. This means the lore and flavor of the race will not be factored in any way beyond my own unconscious bias so if you wanna argue about how X race is so good because insert lorenerdy thing here shut up. Lastly please keep in mind this list is more a tool for those of yinz trying to get over choice paralysis for your next playthrough rather than a be all end all. If you have your heart set on a race even if they suck go for it this game barely acknowledges race beyond deciding on whether to use gender pronouns or the word elf in game so your not missing out on anything unique like in BG3.
Lets not beat around the bush here you all read the title and thumbnail. We all know this is a top 10 list for Skyrim’s playable races. But before I start this list I should go over how I ranked the entries on this list so that when someone disagrees with me they can make an argument that actually makes sense and isn’t just my favorite race should be number 1. Simply put I divided the racial features into 3 categories then rated them based on a 5 star rating and added the 3 totals together. The categories are: Racial Passives like the nords frost resistance or agonian water breathing. The Once a Day racial power all player races get. And everything else aka the starting still bonus. You get 5 skills with a plus 5 and 1 gets a plus 10. The more useful I see them as the better and if you get a bonus starting spell even better. This means the lore and flavor of the race will not be factored in any way beyond my own unconscious bias so if you wanna argue about how X race is so good because insert lorenerdy thing here shut up. Lastly please keep in mind this list is more a tool for those of yinz trying to get over choice paralysis for your next playthrough rather than a be all end all. If you have your heart set on a race even if they suck go for it this game barely acknowledges race beyond deciding on whether to use gender pronouns or the word elf in game so your not missing out on anything unique like in BG3.
