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.

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	Altmer	Destruction Staff	+2000 Max +258			Activating a class ability restores 640 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%.
	Bosmer	Bow			+2000 Max +258 Recovery	Roll dodging increases movement speed by 10% and both physical and spell penetration by 1500 for 6 seconds. Decreases fall damage taken by 10%. Poison Resistance increased by 2310. Immunity to the Poisoned status effect. Increased stealth detection radius by 3 meters.
	Khajiit	Medium Armor	+825 Max +85 Recovery	+825 Max +100 Recovery	+825 Max +85 Recovery	Increased chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%. Decreased detection radius in Stealth by 3 meters. Increased Critical Damage and Critical healing by 10%
Daggerfall Covenant	Breton	Light Armor	+2000 Max +100 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%. When dealing direct damage, restores 950 Stamina once every 5 seconds.
	Orc	Heavy Armor		+1000 Max	+2000 Max +258	Increased crafting inspiration gain by 10%. Dealing damage with a weapon ability heals for 600 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 2310. Immunity to chilled. When taking damage gain 5 Ultimate once every 10 seconds. Physical and Spell Resistance increased by 3960.
	Dunmer	Dual Wield	+1875 Max +258		+1875 Max +258	Reduces damage taken from environmental lava by 50%. Increased Flame Resistance by 2310. Immunity to burning status effect.
	Argonian	Restoration Staff	+1000 Max	+1000 Max		Increased swimming speed by 50%. Increased healing done by 6%. Increased Disease Resistance by 2310 and immunity to Diseased status effect. Restore 4000 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 3%. Dealing direct damage restores 333 Health, Magicka and Stamina once every 5 seconds

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):

Major Races

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

Technical Races

• Auroran
• Dark Seducer
• Draugr (Dragon Priest)
• Dremora
• Factotum
• Giant
• Goblin
• Golden Saint
• Lamia
• Huntsman
• Pumpkin Spectre
• Riekling
• Riekr
• Scarecrow Spectre
• Shrike
• Sea Giant
• Sea Sload
• 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.