
Interestingly, they don't get a bonus to Speech in spite of their in-game description. Imperial: Imperials get boosts to several combat skills that fit sword-and-shield fighters or spellswords. High Elf: Highly magic-oriented, the High Elves have an innate extra 50 magicka, a daily rapid magicka regeneration ability, and starting bonuses to a variety of magic types. Characters who wish to play as a vampire may find their resistance to fire useful for combating a vampire's natural weakness to fire. Dark Elf: The Dark Elves receive several magic boosts, including +10 Destruction, and their innate 50% Resist Fire gives them a good starting point for achieving maximum resistances.

Bretons are usually a popular choice for players who want to level up quickly in Conjuration, Restoration, Destruction, and Illusion. Combine that with the Breton's Magic Resistance and you have a well-suited anti-mage.

Their Dragonskin ability also allows them to absorb magicka from spells once per day. Breton: Bretons start with bonuses to many magic skills, and they have an innate 25% Magic Resistance, widely regarded as one of the most broadly useful passive abilities. Their waterbreathing ability is also useful in a few circumstances. There are ten playable races to choose from: Argonian: A versatile race, they receive many bonuses that are useful for thieves yet also get boosts to Alteration and Restoration their rapid-healing daily ability is also better suited to combat than stealth. These choices have no effect on gameplay.

For certain races, your height is dependent on your sex. As there are more male shopkeepers and enemies, female characters garner a greater benefit from these effects. Also, there is a quest that provides you with the added bonus of dealing more damage to the opposite sex. However, NPCs will address you differently, and may treat you differently, depending upon your sex (the Allure perk in Speech skill allows you to get 10% better prices with the opposite sex).

