Unlike many games, Skyrim doesn't impose restrictions on starting character decisions. The choice of race makes some playing styles much easier, but it doesn't stop you from trying others. You will always be able to practice any type of combat, magic, crafting or stealth skills, improving them through use. Check out this guide to learn about the most important bonuses and what play styles they encourage, but don't hesitate to experiment with your own path if you find an idea that appeals to you.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Choosing a Race Based on Play Style
Step 1. Play a warrior
Feel like playing a direct, hand-to-hand character that can deal a lot of damage? In this case, you have two main options. In the following steps you will also find more versatile options always geared towards hand-to-hand combat.
- The North it's a great option for your first character. It has a two-handed weapons bonus, receives more money when it sells its items, and has a bonus to Light Armor and racial abilities that allow you to be mobile and survive the early game.
- L' Orc it's phenomenal at absorbing damage, and dealing it in close combat. With instant access to orc shops and trainers, weapon and armor crafting bonuses, and one-handed and two-handed weapon bonuses, you'll have plenty of options to choose from.
Step 2. Create a thief
If you love to play stealthy characters, but want to specialize in stealing and exploration rather than combat, choose a Argonian or a Khajiit. The Smash and Swift Hand bonuses are particularly useful early in the game, as these actions must be completed successfully in order to level them up at a decent pace.
- Argonians have a better bonus to Pick, a bonus to Light Armor, and a racial ability that allows you to regenerate health once per day. All of these bonuses favor a low-level stealth character.
- Kahjiit have an unarmed damage bonus, a better Stealth bonus, an Archery bonus, and are more versatile. Choose this race if you don't want to limit your character to the role of a thief, or if you want a character skilled in combat.
Step 3. Create an assassin or archer
Stealth combat-capable characters prefer the bonuses to Stealth, Archery, Alchemy, and Light Armor. The Khajiit and the Wood Elf are great options, while the Dark Elf is the race to choose if you have an interest in magic too.
Step 4. Play as a magician
There are many different types of magic, but you don't have to just pick one. The High Elves they have bonuses to all schools of magic, plus a large bonus to Magicka (the energy used to cast spells). Also Bretons they are versatile wizards, particularly effective in Summoning.
Step 5. Choose a more complex character
The Dark Elves they have bonuses to attack spells and stealth, and can be played as assassin mages or rogue mages. The Imperial they are quite strong in both hand-to-hand combat and magic, particularly healing. Finally, i Redguard they are the best at using one-handed weapons, but have bonuses with little synergy between them. Consider Redguard if you want to try out different playstyles right away, but don't expect to be very skilled in one area.
Part 2 of 2: Consider Other Factors
Step 1. Learn about the most powerful racial skills
If you don't know what to choose, you may want to opt for a race whose skill here remains useful throughout the game. Here are some skills that remain useful even for high-level adventurers:
- The Orc's berserk ability and the Breton's magic resist are arguably the most powerful and useful.
- The active abilities of the North and the Imperial remain unique and effective, but rather limited.
Step 2. Think about convenience
Some skills are not very powerful, but you can use them often to save prep time or time to heal yourself. The Dark Elf's play resistance is more useful than most other racial resistances for example. The Wood Elf's resistance to poison and disease is next to useless, but it saves you time using potions and visiting temples. (Redguards and Argonians gain one of these resistances)
While the underwater breathing ability of the Argonians and the night vision of the Khajiit may seem like abilities that open up unique exploration possibilities, you will find that they will rarely be useful
Step 3. Don't think too much about racial bonuses
Your bonuses and raiding skills will come in handy in the early stages, and can make some play styles much easier than others, but as you gain skills and talents, race will count less and less. In general, once you've narrowed it down to a couple of options, it won't make a big difference to pick the breed you like best aesthetically or as a story.
Step 4. Choose the gender of your character
Your character's gender has less of an impact on the game. Some missions and talents give bonuses to interactions with the opposite sex, such as lower prices in shops or a damage bonus. Some believe that female characters move at a slightly slower pace, but it's hard to notice. Options involving romance and marriage are not influenced by sex.
Step 5. Think about the story or the dialogue
Your character's race and gender will alter the dialogue with NPCs, but this will rarely radically alter the content of the conversation. Unless you've played other Elder Scrolls games and have a favorite race, there's no reason to choose one race over another as your first character. Of course, new players also have a favorite race based on their first impression and the game will be more fun if you choose a race you like.
If you create more than one character, consider choosing different races and both genders so you can explore all the alternate dialogue
Step 6. Learn how "classes" work
If you've played Elder Scrolls games before, you may be wondering why you don't have the option to choose a class. In Skyrim, all actions you perform improve the skill related to them. For example, when you manage to hit an enemy with a bow, the Archery skill improves. You can further customize your character with the "Talent" system, but both of these progression methods are not limited by character creation decisions.
In the early stages of the game, you will encounter the Guardian Stones. Although the first ones you will see have names that resemble the classes (Thief, Mage or Warrior), you can change them whenever you want
Step 7. Plan your skills
If you want to delve into the mechanics of Skyrim's characters, you can plan your character's entire progress before creating it. This is only recommended for people who enjoy optimizing their characters or experienced Skyrim players. Try searching online for character planning guides, or create your own plan using SkyrimCalculator or IGN Skills Builder.
