Elder Scrolls Online Racial Passives
Importance of Racial Passives
In ESO, build variety is a very real thing. There are numerous variables at play when creating a new character, leveling up, choosing skills, etc. Arguably one of the most important choices a player can make regarding their build is choosing the proper race. My goal with this guide is to help you understand each race, and to help you make your choice accordingly based on your class, play-style, and goal for that character. As you'll discover, certain Races lend themselves much better towards being paired with certain classes as well as a magicka or stamina play-style.
Races by Alliance
Below you'll notice I have the races split up by alliance (Ebonheart Pact, Daggerfall Covenant, and Aldmeri Dominion). This is because at the base game when a player is creating a new character, the choice of their race will also dictate which PvP alliance they join. So for example, if you only purchased the base game of ESO and were to pick a Khajiit, then you would be locked into being a member of the Aldmeri Dominion. However there is a game "Upgrade" you can get, that will allow you to bypass this limitation. It's called the "Any Race, Any Alliance" upgrade and it's available in the Crown Store for 1,900 Crowns as part of the "Adventurer Pack." Having this will, for example, let you play as a Khajiit in the Daggerfall Covenant or Ebonheart Pact.
Racial Passives
Values listed are when the passive is at Max Level.
Ebonheart Pact
Argonian
Amphibian
- Increases your experience gain with the Restoration Staff Skill line by 15%.
- Increases your swimming speed by 50%.
Resourceful
- Increases your Max Magicka by 1000.
- Whenever you drink a potion you restore 4000 Health, Magicka, and Stamina.
Argonian Resistance
- Increases Max Health by 1000 and Poison and Disease Resistance by 2310.
- Gain immunity to the Diseased status effect.
Life Mender
- Increases your healing done by 6%.
Dark Elf (Dunmer)
Ashlander
- Increases your experience gain with the Dual Wield Skill line by 15%.
- Reduces your damage taken by environmental lava by 50%.
Dynamic
- Increases Max Magicka and Max Stamina by 1875.
Resist Flame
- Increases your Flame Resistance by 2310.
- Gain immunity to the Burning status effect.
Ruination
- Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258
Nord
Reveler
- Increases your experience gain with the Two-Handed Skill line by 15%.
- Increases the duration of any consumed drink by 15 minutes.
Stalwart
- Increases Max Stamina by 1500
- When you take damage, you gain 5 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 10s.
Resist Frost
- Increases Max Health by 1000 and Cold Resistance by 2310,
- Gain immunity to the Chilled status effect.
Rugged
- Increases your Physical and Spell resistance by 3960.
Daggerfall Covenant
Breton
Opportunist
- Increases your experience gain with the Light Armor Skill line by 15%.
- Increases your Alliance Points gained by 1%.
Gift of Magnus
- Increases your Max Magicka by 2000.
Spell Resistance
- Increases Spell Resistance by 2310 and 100 Magicka Recovery.
- The Spell Resistance granted by this effect will be doubled if you are afflicted with the Burning, Chilled, or Concussed status effect.
Magicka Mastery
- Reduces the Magicka cost of your abilities by 7%.
Orc (Orsimer)
Craftsman
- Increases your experience gain with the Heavy Armor Skill line by 15%.
- Increases your crafting inspiration gained by 10%.
Brawny
- Increases your Max Stamina by 2000.
Unflinching Rage
- Increases your Max Health by 1000.
- When you deal damage with a Weapon ability, you heal for 630 Health. This can occur once every 4 seconds.
Swift Warrior
- Increases your damage by 258.
- Reduces the cost of Sprint by 12% and increases the Movement Speed bonus of Sprint by 10%.
Redguard
Wayfarer
- Increases your experience gain with the One-Hand and Shield Skill line by 15%.
- Increases the duration of any eaten food by 15 minutes.
Martial Training
- Reduces the cost of weapon abilities by 8%. Reduces the effectiveness of snares applied to you by 15%.
Conditioning
- Increases Max Stamina by 2000.
Adrenaline Rush
- When you deal direct damage, you restore 950 Stamina. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds.
Aldmeri Dominion
High Elf (Altmer)
Highborn
- Increases your experience gain with the Destruction Staff Skill line by 15%.
- Increases your experience gained by 1%.
Spell Recharge
- Reduces damage taken by 5% while you are using an ability with a cast or channel time.
- Restores 640 Magicka or Stamina, based on whichever is lowest, after activating a Class Ability. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds.
Syrabane's Boon
- Increases Max Magicka by 2000.
Elemental Talent
- Increases your Spell Damage by 258.
Wood Elf (Bosmer)
Acrobat
- Increases your experience gain with the Bow Skill line by 15%.
- Decreases your fall damage taken by 10%.
Y'ffre's Endurance
- Increases Stamina Recovery by 258.
Resist Affliction
- Increases your Max Stamina by 2000.
- Poison Resistance by 2310, gain immunity to the poisoned status effect.
Hunter's Eye
- Increases your detection radius in Stealth by 3 meters.
- Gain 10% Movement Speed for 6s and a bonus to Physical and Spell Penetration of 1500 for the duration after using Roll Dodge.
Khajiit
Cutpurse
- Increases your experience gain with the Medium Armor Skill line by 15%.
- Increases your chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%.
Robustness
- Increases your Health Recovery by 100.
- Increases Stamina Recovery and Magicka Recovery 85.
Lunar Blessings
- Increases your Max Health, Magicka, and Stamina by 825
Feline Ambush
- Increases your Critical Hit Damage and Healing by 10%
- Reduces your detection radius by 3 meters.
Additional
(Only available via the Digital Imperial Edition Upgrade through the Crown Store)
Imperial
Diplomat
- Increases your experience gain with the One-Hand and Shield Skill line by 15%.
- Increases your gold gained by 1%.
Tough
- Increases Max Health by 2000.
Imperial Mettle
- Increases Max Stamina by 2000.
Red Diamond
- When you deal Direct Damage, you restore 333 Health, Magicka, and Stamina. This effect has a 5 second cooldown. It also will reduce the cost of all abilities by 3%.
Suggested Races for Each Role & Class
Let me preface this section by saying I strongly encourage players to play the way they want. However, as you may have already noticed or figured out, there are certain races that compliment certain classes or roles better than others.
COMING SOON