Assassins have always held a certain charm within fantasy games, and the Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is no exception. Whether with the Dark Brotherhood or flying solo, players can craft as many stealthy criminals and killers as they wish to plague Skyrim.
But not all of Tamriel’s peoples are equally gifted in navigating the shadows. There are certain skills assassins need for their craft, that some have, and others lack. So, here are all of Skyrim’s races, ranked as assassins.
Updated March 14, 2022, By Olivia Titus: Skyrim has now passed its tenth anniversary. Even a decade later, the game still has players returning to these frozen lands and colorful characters, the Dark Brotherhood among them. And now is as great a time as any, to see who would or wouldn't make a great member among their ranks.
10 Orsimer/Orc
Any good assassin needs a few basic skills: impressive stealth, an arsenal of killing methods, and backup support for both. While Orcs are gifted warriors in their own right, they, unfortunately, lack any inborn ability for shadow work.
Stealth Skills: None
Offensive Skills: +5 One-Handed and Two-Handed Weapons; from the trusty dagger to the heavy warhammer, Orcs have access to a litany of weapons to take out their targets.
Support Skills: +5 Enchanting; Sneak enchantments can make up for lack of natural stealth, and further boost offensive abilities. But the skill will need heavy grinding before it helps stealth or offense.
Racial Skills: Berserker Rage - players take half damage and do double damage for 60 seconds, once per day; great for killing targets, or fending off hostiles, if caught.
The ability to kill is crucial for any assassin, but so too is stealth. And it’s stealth that, sadly, Orcs lack. Unless you want to grind Enchanting or rack up thousands in bounties, there are better races to play as killers.
9 Nord
Given that Skyrim is the Nordic native homeland, it makes sense that they make up many of its assassins and killers. But their abundance in these shadowy services doesn't mean that they're cut out for the position.
Stealth Skills: None
Offensive Skills: +10 Two-Handed Weapons and +5 One-Handed Weapons; though they favor the heavier, more direct methods of murder, Nords can make do with a dagger or short blade just as well.
Support Skills: None
Racial Skills: Resist Frost 50 percent. Battle Cry - Targets flee for 30 seconds, once per day; an excellent tool for creating enough chaos to kill a target, or to stave off hostiles, if caught in the act.
Like Orcs, Nordic culture produces fierce warriors, but doesn’t make for the sneakiest of assassins. While players can find kinship amid Skyim’s Dark Brotherhood, there are better-suited peoples for this path.
8 Imperial
Imperials are yet another people without inborn stealth. Not that it's stopped skilled assassins, like Cicero or Lucien Lachance. But despite their presence in the Dark Brotherhoods of Oblivion and Skyrim, Imperial assassins have their struggles.
Stealth Skills: None
Offensive Skills: +5 Destruction and One-Handed Weapons; While most Destruction spells may be loud, placing Runes can be a quieter way of killing targets.
Support Skills: +10 Restoration and +5 Enchanting; Restoration provides access to its own offensive Rune, alongside always-useful healing abilities.
Racial Skills: Imperial Luck - increases the amount/chance of gold found. Voice of the Emperor - Calms nearby people for 60 seconds, once per day; an excellent tool for calming any hostiles, if caught.
The Imperials’ varied offensive skills make them an asset for any assassins' guild. But without any natural stealth, is it worth it? That’s for players to decide, but there are many more races still ahead.
7 Redguard
No one tell Nazir, but Redguards probably aren't the best assassins. After all, Redguards are another people who lack natural stealthiness.
Stealth Skills: None
Offensive Skills: +10 One-Handed Weapons, and +5 Archery and Destruction; bows are just as valuable to any assassin as a blade. Taking down enemies silently and from afar is always of use to hidden killers.
Support Skills: None
Racial Skills: Resist Poison 50 percent. Adrenaline Rush - Stamina regenerates 10x faster for 60 seconds, once per day; a great ability when taking on multiple enemies or targets, especially for one-hit, Power Attack assassinations.
While they have many excellent killing methods, it'll be hard to hit targets who can see them coming. Redguards make fantastic warriors and fighters, but with no stealth, or skills to bolster it? There's much to be desired, for any assassin.
6 Argonian
The people of Black Marsh are one of Tamriel's few races gifted at stealth. So why would anyone not play them as an assassin? Well, their lack of offensive skills would deter players.
Stealth Skills: +5 Sneak; the ability to move in the shadows is key to any assassin. To take down a target unseen is vital, and Argonians have the unseen down part in spades.
Offensive Skills: None
Support Skills: +5 Restoration.
Racial Skills: Resist Disease 50 percent. Waterbreathing. High Unarmed Damage; this is the only base form of direct offense they have, but it’s not much. Histskin - Recover health 10x faster for 60 seconds, once per day; an excellent ability when facing any enemy.
Whether using weapons or magic, Argonians have an offensive disadvantage. The time spent having to grind those skills could be better spent completing contracts, if players choose another race.
5 Altmer/High Elf
How can a mage make a good assassin? If Festus Krex and Gabriella prove anything, it's that magic can be applied to everything, even cold-blooded murder. And High Elves are extremely adept in all sorts of magic.
Stealth Skills: +10 Illusion; Illusion magic has spells like Muffle and Invisibility, more than making up for other lacking stealthiness.
Offensive Skills: +5 Destruction and Conjuration; Conjuration has the Bound Weapons as a silent alternative to loud Destruction spells. Or players can raise Atronachs, undead, and Daedra to do their dirty work.
Support Skills: +5 Enchanting and Restoration.
Racial Skills: +50 Magica; more magica means more spells to cast, be it for sneaking or killing. Highborn - Regenerate magicka 25x faster for 60 seconds, once per day; again, excellent for casting various spells.
Altmer have access to a variety of spells, from Illusion, to Conjuration, to Destruction, and more. So the question is, not will they kill their targets but how?
4 Breton
Yet another race that can put a more magical spin on assassination, Bretons can use their spells to more than make up for their lack of Sneak skills.
Stealth Skills: +5 Illusion.
Offensive Skills: +10 Conjuration.
Support Skills: +5 Alchemy and Restoration; chugging a potion can always boost other assassination skills, if only temporarily. It also allows players to craft a litany of deadly poisons.
Racial Skills: Resist Magic 25 percent; a generally great defensive ability against any magical targets or enemies. Dragon Skin - Absorb 50 percent of the magicka from hostile spells for 60 seconds, once per day; again, an excellent ability when facing down any mage.
Breton players will find good company among assassins like Babette or Festus Krex. So for those feeling creative, try out this magical spin on the common assassin!
3 Dunmer/Dark Elf
Morrowind's native people have a natural gift for all things arcane and magical, and they're also a people with some natural talents in stealth. This makes them excellent candidates for assassins.
Stealth Skills: +5 Illusion and Sneak.
Offensive Skills: +10 Destruction.
Support Skills: +5 Alchemy.
Racial Skills: Resist Fire 50 percent; great defense against magical enemies. Ancestor’s Wrath - Opponents getting too close take 8 points of fire damage per second for 60 seconds, once per day; a unique offensive ability for taking down targets and foes alike.
Skyrim has the Dark Brotherhood and Gabriella. Solstheim has the Morag Tong. And players? They have an excellent assassin race.
2 Bosmer/Wood Elf
The people of Valenwood are renowned for their skills as archers, as it's their best starting ability. But they also have natural talents in stealth, making a perfect combination for the sneakiest of assassins.
Stealth Skills: +5 Sneak.
Offensive Skills: +10 Archery.
Support Skills: +5 Alchemy.
Racial Skills: Resist Poison and Disease 50 percent; useful against animals, or any hostile who uses poisons. Command Animal - Make an animal an ally for 60 seconds, once per day; a unique way to take down any enemy.
Sneak for remaining undetected. Archery for killing from afar. Alchemy for brewing poisons and skill-boosting potions. The Bosmer undoubtedly make for excellent assassins, and players should definitely give them a try.
1 Khajiit
The catfolk of Elsweyr have the best stealth skills of all Tamriel's races. And like Bosmer, these beastfolk have fantastic skills regarding archery and alchemy. But they also have that little extra that goes above and beyond.
Stealth Skills: +10 Sneak.
Offensive Skills: +5 Archery and One-Handed Weapons.
Support Skills: +5 Alchemy.
Racial Skills: Claws; deals an extra 12 points of unarmed damage. Nighteye - Improved night vision for 60 seconds, can be used multiple times a day; excellent for navigating in the dark, especially as an assassin.
Adept in stealth, bows and blades, and poisons? Without a doubt, these felines make for excellent assassins. Even if there are few killer Khajiit within Skyrim, players should definitely give them a try.