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.

"NPCs" are programmed and classified differently than "creatures" in-game, with the former sharing similar shapes and animations to the playable characters while the latter consist of non-humanoid monsters and animals; this article defines "races" based on this technical categorization.

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, which unlocks at level 5. 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.

Race bonuses at maximum level

Alliance	Race	+15% exp gain in skill	Max Magicka Magicka Recovery Spell Damage	Max Health Health Recovery	Max Stamina Stamina Recovery Weapon Damage	Other Bonuses
Aldmeri Dominion	High Elf	Destruction Staff	+2000 Max +258		+258	Activating an ability restores 625 Magicka or Stamina, based on whichever is lowest, once every 6 sec. Take 5% less damage when using ability with a channel or cast time. Increased experience gain by 1%.
	Wood Elf	Bow			+2000 Max +258 Recovery	Increased movement speed by 5%. Increased physical and spell penetration by 950. Decreases fall damage taken by 10%. Poison and Disease Resistance increased by 2310. Increased stealth detection radius by 3 meters.
	Khajiit	Medium Armor	+915 Max +90 Recovery	+915 Max +90 Recovery	+915 Max +90 Recovery	Increased chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%. Decreased detection radius in Stealth by 3 meters. Increased Critical Damage and Critical healing by 12%
Daggerfall Covenant	Breton	Light Armor	+2000 Max +130 Recovery			Increased Spell Resistance by 2310, doubled while affected with Burning, Chilled, or Concussed. Reduced cost of Magicka abilities by 7%. Increased alliance points gain by 1%.
	Redguard	One Hand and Shield			+2000 Max	Increased duration of any eaten food by 15 minutes. Reduced cost of weapon abilities by 8%. Reduces the effectiveness of snares by 15%. Dealing damage restores 1005 Stamina once every 5 seconds.
	Orc	Heavy Armor	+258	+1000 Max	+1000 Max +258	Increased crafting inspiration gain by 10%. Dealing damage restores 2125 Health once every 4 seconds. The cost of Sprinting is reduced by 12%, and its speed bonus is increased by 10%.
Ebonheart Pact	Nord	Two Handed		+1000 Max	+1500 Max	Consumed drinks duration increased by 15 minutes. Cold Resistance increased by 4620. When taking damage gain 5 Ultimate once every 10 seconds. Physical and Spell Resistance increased by 2600.
	Dark Elf	Dual Wield	+1910 Max +258		+1910 Max +258	Reduces damage taken from environmental lava by 50%. Increased Flame Resistance by 4620.
	Argonian	Restoration Staff	+1000 Max	+1000 Max	+1000 Max	Increased swimming speed by 50%. Increased healing done by 6%. Increased Disease and Poison Resistance by 2310. Restore 3125 Health, Magicka, and Stamina when drinking a potion.
Any	Imperial	One Hand and Shield		+2000 Max	+2000 Max	Increased gold gain by 1%. Reduced cost of all abilities by 6%.

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 polymorphs):

Subspecies of Playable Races

Khajiit:

• Alfiq*
• Cathay-raht
• Dagi
• Dagi-raht
• Pahmar
• Pahmar-raht
• Senche-raht*

Argonian:

• Naga
• Argonian Behemoth*

*These races are of the same species as playable ones, but are classified as "creatures" in-game due to being non-humanoid.

Other Extant Races

• Akaviri
• Maormer
• Reachfolk

Historical Races

These races are extinct in the present day, but can be encountered in undead form or in flashbacks.

• Ayleid
• Chimer
• Dwemer
• Kothringi
• Nede
• Snow Elf

Monstrous Humanoids

These races are uncivilized beings that are nonetheless humanoid enough to share the same programming template as NPCs from playable races as opposed to being "creatures".

• Falmer
• Goblin
• Riekling
• Riekr
• Sea Giant
• Spriggan (humanoid versions)

Daedric Races

These races are varieties of the demonic Daedra that are classified as humanoid NPCs as opposed to their more monstrous brethren.

• Auroran
• Dark Seducer
• Dremora
• Fire Behemoth
• Golden Saint
• Havocrel
• Huntsman
• Glass Atronach (humanoid versions)
• Iron Atronach (humanoid versions)
• Storm Atronach (humanoid versions)
• Pumpkin Spectre
• Shrike
• Skaafin
• Spiderkith
• Wraith-of-Crows
• Xivilai
• Xivkyn

Synthetic Races

The following are robotic humanoid beings.

• Dwarven Architon
• Factotum

Technical Races

These "races" do not fictionally represent such, but are still programmed and classified as their own in-game humanoid "species".

• Blood Scion
• Bone Goliath
• Draugr (Dragon Priest)
• Hushed
• Mannequin
• Shade
• Scarecrow Spectre
• Skeleton
• Soulrazer Knight

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.