Racial Skills in Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) are special passive bonuses that players may unlock as they level up. These bonuses vary from Race to Race, ldeading to better performance by some Classes than others. Each race has 4 bonuses: one that is unlocked by selecting the race, one that unlocks at rank 5, one that unlocks at rank 10 and one that unlocks at rank 25. Each Passive Skill which boost experience gain, has 3 ranks. Each skill requires 1 skill point to unlock and 1 per rank of the skill so choose wisely. Also of note is that the second and third ranks of each passive have higher skill line requirements that the first.
ESO Racial Skills and You
ESO Race selection is optimization for the best possible build. If this is the route you’re taking, it starts by thinking “What is my playstyle?”. Do you want to use a bow or a greatsword? Then you’ll be focusing your points into Stamina. Are you looking to manipulate the elements and command minions? Then you’re looking at magicka and spell buffs. Do you want to be an unbreakable wall of indisputable power? Then you’ll be looking for Health and Stamina boosts.
- When selecting a race for optimization, first decide a Weapon focus for your playstyle. Read the Weapon Skills to get an idea of what you’ll do. The second step is to look at the available Classes and select one that will match the role you want to play with that weapon. Once you know your role and if you’re magicka or stamina based (or health), you can look at the races and optimize for any of the roles available in game
One of the biggest misconceptions regarding “The Best Race“, is that it is somehow tied to a Class. This is not true 95% of the time, and I have noted when a Class dovetails nicely with a given Race. Which Race is right for you is largely dependent on what you plan to do, an what resources you plan to pump your Attribute points into. And, since new players don’t always know what they want to do, it can be hard to make a good recommendation.
What ESO Race to Pick?
If you are a beginner and you are not sure which Race is right for you, I highly recommend trying either Khajit or Dark Elf, as this will allow you to play both Stamina and Magicka versions of your Class. These Races are not usually regarded as “the best” for any given role, but your character does not need to be 100% optimized to do 90% of the content in ESO. The only places you may struggle are in Veteran Trials or PvP, and frankly you may struggle there anyway, since they are difficult regardless of Race.
All Racial Skills in ESO
Below is the list of the Current Passive skills, that arrived with Update 21 Wrathstone in February of 2019. Click on the buttons to scroll down to the race you want to see, and the racial link for tips for that specific choice.
Altmer (High Elf) Racial Skills
Highborn
Increases experience gain with the Destruction Staff Skill line by 15%.
Increases your experience gained by 1%.
Spell Recharge
Rank I - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 5
Reduces damage taken by 1% while you are using an ability with a cast or channel time.
Restores 200 Magicka or Stamina, based on whichever is lowest, after activating a Class Ability. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.
Rank II - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 15
Reduces damage taken by 2% while you are using an ability with a cast or channel time.
Restores 400 Magicka or Stamina, based on whichever is lowest, after activating a Class Ability. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.
Rank III - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 30
Reduces damage taken by 5% while you are using an ability with a cast or channel time.
Restores 625 Magicka or Stamina, based on whichever is lowest, after activating a Class Ability. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.
Syrabane's Boon
Rank I - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 10
Increases Max Magicka by 600
Rank II - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 20
Increases Max Magicka by 1200
Rank III - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 40
Increases Max Magicka by 2000
Elemental Talent
Rank I - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 25
Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 86
Rank II - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 35
Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 172
Rank III - Unlocked at Altmer (High Elf) 50
Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258
Argonian Racial Skills
Amphibian
Increases experience gain with the Restoration Staff Skill line by 15%
Increases your swimming speed by 50%
Resourceful
Rank I - Unlocked at Argonian 5
Increases your Max Magicka by 333
Whenever you drink a potion you restore 1000 Health, Magicka, and Stamina
Rank II - Unlocked at Argonian 15
Increases your Max Magicka by 666
Whenever you drink a potion you restore 2000 Health, Magicka, and Stamina
Rank III - Unlocked at Argonian 30
Increases your Max Magicka by 1000
Whenever you drink a potion you restore 3125 Health, Magicka, and Stamina
Argonian Resistance
Rank I - Unlocked at Argonian 10
Gain Immunity to the diseased status effect.
Increases Max Health by 333 and Poison and Disease Resistance by 660
Rank II - Unlocked at Argonian 20
Gain Immunity to the diseased status effect.
Increases Max Health by 666 and Poison and Disease Resistance by 1320
Rank III - Unlocked at Argonian 40
Gain Immunity to the diseased status effect.
Increases Max Health by 1000 and Poison and Disease Resistance by 2310
Life Mender
Rank I - Unlocked at Argonian 25
Increases your healing done by 1%
Rank II - Unlocked at Argonian 35
Increases your healing done by 3%
Rank III - Unlocked at Argonian 50
Increases your healing done by 6%
Bosmer (Wood Elf) Racial Skills
Acrobat
Increases experience gain with the Bow Skill line by 15%
Decreases your fall damage taken by 10%
Y'ffre's Endurance
Rank I - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 5
Increases Stamina Recovery by 86
Rank II - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 15
Increases Stamina Recovery by 127
Rank III - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 30
Increases Stamina Recovery by 258
Resist Affliction
Rank I - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 10
Increases your Max Stamina by 600
Increase Disease and Poison Resistance by 660.
Rank II - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 20
Increases your Max Stamina by 1200
Increase Poison and Disease Resistance by 1320.
Rank III - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 40
Increases your Max Stamina by 2000
Increase Disease and Poison Resistance by 2310.
Hunter's Eye
Rank I - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 25
Increases your detection radius in Stealth by 1m
Increases your movement speed by 1% and your Physical and Spell Penetration by 300.
Rank II - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 35
Increases your detection radius in Stealth by 2m
Increases your movement speed by 3% and your Physical and Spell Penetration by 600.
Rank III - Unlocked at Bosmer (Wood Elf) 50
Increases your detection radius in Stealth by 3m
Increases your movement speed by 5% and your Physical and Spell Penetration by 950.
Breton Racial Skills
Opportunist
Increases experience gain with the Light Armor Skill line by 15%.
Increases your Alliance Points gained by 1%.
Gift of Magnus
Rank I - Unlocked at Breton 5
Increases Max Magicka by 600
Rank II - Unlocked at Breton 15
Increases Max Magicka by 1200
Rank III - Unlocked at Breton 30
Increases Max Magicka by 2000
Spell Attunement
Rank I - Unlocked at Breton10
Increases Spell Resistance by 660. This effect is doubled if you are afflicted with Burning, Chilled, or Concussed. Increase your Magicka Recovery by 40.
Rank II - Unlocked at Breton 20
Increases Spell Resistance by 1320. This effect is doubled if you are afflicted with Burning, Chilled, or Concussed. Increase your Magicka Recovery by 80.
Rank III - Unlocked at Breton 40
Increases Spell Resistance by 2310. This effect is doubled if you are afflicted with Burning, Chilled, or Concussed. Increase your Magicka Recovery by 130.
Magicka Mastery
Rank I - Unlocked at Breton 25
Reduces the Magicka cost of your abilities by 2%
Rank II - Unlocked at Breton 35
Reduces the Magicka cost of your abilities by 4%
Rank III - Unlocked at Breton 50
Reduces the Magicka cost of your abilities by 7%
Dunmer (Dark Elf) Racial Skills
Ashlander
Increases the experience gain with the Dual Wield Skill line by 15%.
Reduces your damage taken by environmental lava by 50%.
Dynamic
Rank I - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 5
Increases Max Magicka and Max Stamina by 600
Rank II - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 15
Increases Max Magicka and Max Stamina by 1200
Rank III - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 30
Increases Max Magicka and Max Stamina by 1910
Resist Flame
Rank I - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 10
Increases your Flame Resistance by 1540.
Rank II - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 20
Increases your Flame Resistance by 3080.
Rank III - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 40
Increases your Flame Resistance by 4620.
Ruination
Rank I - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 25
Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 86
Rank II - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 35
Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 127
Rank III - Unlocked at Dunmer (Dark Elf) 50
Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258
Khajiit Racial Skills
Cutpurse
Increases the experience gain with the Medium Armor Skill line by 15%.
Increases your chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%.
Robustness
Rank I - Unlocked at Khajiit 5
Increases your Health, Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 30.
Rank II - Unlocked at Khajiit 15
Increases your Health, Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 60.
Rank III - Unlocked at Khajiit 30
Increases your Health, Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 90.
Lunar Blessings
Rank I - Unlocked at Khajiit 10
Increases your Max Health, Magicka, and Stamina by 305
Rank II - Unlocked at Khajiit 20
Increases your Max Health, Magicka, and Stamina by 610
Rank III - Unlocked at Khajiit 40
Increases your Max Health, Magicka, and Stamina by 915
Feline Ambush
Rank I - Unlocked at Khajiit 25
Increases your Critical Hit Damage and Healing by 4%.
Reduces your detection radius by 1m
Rank II - Unlocked at Khajiit 35
Increases your Critical Hit Damage and Healing by 8%.
Reduces your detection radius by 2m
Rank III - Unlocked at Khajiit 50
Increases your Critical Hit Damage and Healing by 12%.
Reduces your detection radius by 3m
Nord Racial Skills
Reveler
Increases experience gain with the Two-Handed Skill line by 15%
Increases the duration of any consumed drink by 15 minutes.
Stalwart
Rank I - Unlocked at Nord 5
Increases your Max Stamina by 500
When you take damage, you gain 1 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 10s
Rank II - Unlocked at Nord 15
Increases your Max Stamina by 1000
When you take damage, you gain 2 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 10s
Rank III - Unlocked at Nord 30
Increases your Max Stamina by 1500
When you take damage, you gain 5 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 10s
Resist Frost
Rank I - Unlocked at Nord 10
Increases your Max Health by 333 and Frost Resistance by 1540.
Rank II - Unlocked at Nord 20
Increases your Max Health by 666 and Frost Resistance by 3080.
Rank III - Unlocked at Nord 40
Increases your Max Health by 1000 and Frost Resistance by 4620.
Orsimer (Orc) Racial Skills
Craftsman
Increases experience gain with the Heavy Armor Skill line by 15%
Increases your crafting Inspiration gained by 10%.
Brawny
Rank I - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 5
Increases your Max Stamina by 333.
Rank II - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 15
Increases your Max Stamina by 666.
Rank III - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 30
Increases your Max Stamina by 1000.
Unflinching Rage
Rank I - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 10
Grants 300 Max Health. When you deal damage, you heal for 700 Health. This can occur once every 4 seconds.
Rank II - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 20
Grants 600 Max Health. When you deal damage, you heal for 1400 Health. This can occur once every 4 seconds.
Rank III - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 40
Grants 1000 Max Health. When you deal damage, you heal for 2125 Health. This can occur once every 4 seconds.
Swift Warrior
Rank I - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 25
Increases your Weapon Damage by 86
Reduces the cost of Sprint by 4% and increases the Movement Speed bonus of Sprint by 3%
Rank II - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 35
Increases your Weapon Damage by 127
Reduces the cost of Sprint by 8% and increases the Movement Speed bonus of Sprint by 6%
Rank III - Unlocked at Orsimer (Orc) 50
Increases your weapon damage by 258
Reduces the cost of Sprint by 12% and increases the Movement Speed bonus of Sprint by 10%
Redguard Racial Skills
Wayfarer
Increases experience gain with One-Handed and Shield Skill line by 15%
Increases the duration of eaten food by 15 minutes
Martial Training
Rank I - Unlocked at Redguard 5
Reduces the cost of weapon abilities by 2%. Reduces the effectiveness of snares applied to you by 5%.
Rank II - Unlocked at 15
Reduces the cost of weapon abilities by 4%. Reduces the effectiveness of snares applied to you by 10%.
Rank III - Unlocked at 30
Reduces the cost of weapon abilities by 8%. Reduces the effectiveness of snares applied to you by 15%.
Conditioning
Rank I - Unlocked at Redguard 10
Increases Max Stamina by 600
Rank I - Unlocked at Redguard 20
Increases Max Stamina by 1200
Rank I - Unlocked at Redguard 40
Increases Max Stamina by 2000
Adrenaline Rush
Rank I - Unlocked at Redguard 25
When you deal direct damage, you restore 333 Stamina. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds
Rank II - Unlocked at Redguard 35
When you deal direct damage, you restore 666 Stamina. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds
Rank III - Unlocked at Redguard 50
When you deal direct damage, you restore 1005 Stamina. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds
Imperial Racial Skills
Diplomat
Increases experience gain with the One-Handed and Shield Line by 15%
Increases your gold gained by 1%.
Tough
Rank I - Unlocked at Imperial 5
Increases your Max Health by 600
Rank II - Unlocked at Imperial 15
Increases your Max Health by 1200
Rank III - Unlocked at Imperial 30
Increases your Max Health by 2000
Imperial Mettle
Rank I - Unlocked at Imperial 10
Increases your Max Stamina by 600
Rank II - Unlocked at Imperial 20
Increases your Max Stamina by 1200
Rank III - Unlocked at Imperial 40
Increases your Max Stamina by 2000
Red Diamond
Rank I - Unlocked at Imperial 25
Reduces the cost of all your abilities by 2%.
Rank II - Unlocked at Imperial 35
Reduces the cost of all your abilities by 4%.
Rank III - Unlocked at Imperial 50
Reduces the cost of all your abilities by 6%.
Anonymous
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There is a major error with High Elf racial : "Restores 400 Magicka or Stamina, based on whichever is higher, after activating a Class Ability." Should be "based on whichever is lowest", after update 21. Tried to edit myself, but "error, couldn't save".
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ESO Racial Skills page is now updated for Update 21 (Wrathstone). This patch radically changed many of the passive skills for all races, so players were gifted a race change token. Enjoy
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Dynamic Rank II = Dunmer Rank 15
Resist Flame Rank II = Dunmer Rank 20
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Reason why well I tell you the campion points you unlock at veteran 1 will make you the best how you can make that one 1% 50 % at vet 2 that is what makes it great best with a lot of class but mostly nightblade trust me I have a vet 16 red guard and he has 100% stamp every 3 secs guys do it, it is amazing
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did the max stam get removed again for khajiit?or is it just for some reason just the text in my game that does not display it??
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I can't get the thing to work for editing, so can someone fix the Argonian Quick Mending Passive. It was changed during the PTS to both healing done and healing received are increased by 1/3/5%.
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The first 8 respawns per day should be free and cats always land on their feet I think the new bosmer less fall damage should have been theirs.
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The Nimble passive has been reverted to health regen on the pts patch notes for Khajiit.
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Recent PTS change increases cooldown of Redguard's Adrenaline Rush passive to 5 seconds at all skill ranks.
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Breton racial skills, Adrenaline Rush it says "Your melee attacks resore 1% of your Max Stamina." that probably should be "restore" not "resore"
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typo error. Increases your Flaem, Frost and Shock Damage by 4%.Flame*
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What's the best race for a magicka/ stamina DK? I'm currently an argonian but I may change race once update 11 is released
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I'm new to eso and 8 don't know what to spend my skill points on based on my character.
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I thought of this and i would like your ideas to help me, my magic based tank is a redguard for the stamina passives to help with blocking and i use stamina just for blocking and magic to deal damage. should i focus more on stamina for attacks and blocks?
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Why do argonians have to always be so unbalanced when it comes to character traits? Yeah some things "LOOK" good, but the developers obviously just rushed through the argonians as to barely fit it's needs. The argonians need to be rebalance.
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I am *****ing frustrated. It says Argonians have an expertise in Restoration. Well they learn it fast but in endgame they make really *****ty healers. That is retarded, i made an argonian healer and he is useless. Give them not only increased experience but maybe an extra level in restoration. Something to buff their healing. I quit ESO one year ago because of this *****ty stats and I am still raging about this. ***** you!
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Anyone know if the elemental passive effects elemental weapon proc dmg?
outdated again
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