Online:Races

This page details the ten playable races in Elder Scrolls Online, as well as the many non-playable NPC races you can encounter.

Playable Races

There are ten playable races in ESO. Each race has a home province (with the exception of Orcs), as well as an alliance that they are a member of. The races can be organized by what alliance they are loyal to:

Aldmeri Dominion	Daggerfall Covenant	Ebonheart Pact	Other
Altmer (High Elves) Bosmer (Wood Elves) Khajiit	Breton Orc (Orsimer) Redguard	Argonian (Saxhleel) Dunmer (Dark Elves) Nord	Imperial (Cyrodiils)

Gallery

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  Altmer, Bosmer, and Khajiit

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  Breton, Redguard, and Orc

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  Argonian, Dunmer, and Nord

Skills

All playable races have an associated skill line that complements their lore, such as the Dunmer proficiency with fire based magicka. The skill lines also give a bonus to one weapon or armor type which also complements their lore, such as the Nords bonus to Two Handed weapons.

Alliance	Race	Increased experience gain in skill	Max  Health	Max  Magicka	Max  Stamina	Health  Recovery	Magicka  Recovery	Stamina  Recovery	Other Bonus
Aldmeri Dominion	Altmer (High Elves)	Destruction Staff		10%			9%		Increases damage with Cold, Fire or Shock effects by 4%; Increases your experience gained by 1%.
	Bosmer (Wood Elves)	Bow			6%			21%	Increases Poison and disease resistance by X; Decreases stealth radius by 3 meters; Increases damage done while stealthed by 10%; Decreases your fall damage taken by 10%.
	Khajiit	Medium Armor				20%		10%	Decreases stealth radius by 3 meters; Increases damage done while stealthed by 10%; Increases weapon critical chance by 2/5/8%; Increases your chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%.
Daggerfall Covenant	Breton (Manmer)	Light Armor		10%					Reduces the magicka cost of spells by 3%; Increases spell resistance by X; Increases your Alliance Points gained by 1%.
	Redguard (Yokudans)	One Hand and Shield			10%			9%	Increases the duration of any eaten food by 15 minutes; Restores X stamina when damaging an enemy with a melee attack (only once every 3 seconds).
	Orc (Orsimer)	Heavy Armor	6%		6%	20%			Reduces sprint cost by 12%; Increases sprint speed by 10%; Increases damage done on melee weapon attacks by 4%; Increases healing received by 5%; Increases your crafting inspiration gained by 10%.
Ebonheart Pact	Nord	Two Handed	9%		6%	20%			Decreases incoming damage by 6%; Increases frost resistance by X; Increases the duration of any consumed drink by 15 minutes.
	Dunmer (Dark Elves)	Dual Wield		6% + 3%	6%				Increases Flame resistance by X; Increases spell damage with Fire effects by 7%. Increases Frost and Shock Damage by 2%.; Reduces your damage taken from environmental lava by 50%.
	Argonian (Saxhleel)	Restoration Staff	9%	3%					Increases healing done and received by 5%; Increases Poison and disease resistance by X; Increases swimming speed by 50%; Upon using a potion, gain 12% of your maximum, health, magicka and stamina.
Any	Imperial (Cyrodiils)	One Hand and Shield	12%		10%				Melee attacks have 10% chance to restore X Health; Increases your gold gained by 1%.

Many of the above 'other bonuses' do not unlock until player level 25 or above. Details can be found on each race's associated page.

Non-Playable Races

There are a number of other races throughout the game that are not available for you to play as (although some are available as costumes):

Major Races

• Ayleid
• Chimer
• Dwemer
• Kothringi
• Maormer
• Nede

Technical Races

• Dark Seducer
• Draugr (Dragon Priest)
• Dremora
• Factotum
• Goblin
• Golden Saint (Auroran)
• Pumpkin Spectre
• Riekling
• Riekr
• Scarecrow Spectre
• Shrike
• Skaafin
• Skeleton
• Spiderkith
• Wraith-of-Crows
• Xivilai
• Xivkyn

Notes

• Your choice of Alliance when creating your character, usually dictated by race, is the single biggest influence on how your game will differ compared to other players.
  • The Explorer's Pack and Adventurer Pack remove the limitation on races within Alliances, allowing any race to be played in any Alliance.
• The Imperials are only a playable race for those with the Imperial Edition of the game.
• Reachmen consider themselves a distinct race separate from their Breton ancestry, but they are considered a faction of Bretons in the game.