Skyrim Nintendo Switch Character Creation Guide: Best Races, Builds, And Bonuses

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The arrival of Skyrim on Nintendo Switch introduces countless new adventurers to Tamriel’s frozen northlands. Your racial selection represents one of the most critical early decisions, establishing your character’s fundamental capabilities and growth trajectory. Each of Skyrim’s ten playable races features unique skill bonuses, racial powers, and passive abilities that significantly influence your gameplay experience.

Skyrim currently runs on Nintendo Switch, with critics praising it as “one of the best Switch ports available.” The game originally launched in 2011 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, followed by Special Edition releases for PS4 and Xbox One in 2016. PlayStation VR owners can also experience Skyrim through virtual reality.

Argonians excel as stealth operatives with inherent advantages in lockpicking, sneaking, and light armor proficiency. Their unique Histskin ability enables rapid health regeneration during combat emergencies, while natural water breathing opens exploration opportunities unavailable to other races. Combine their disease resistance with these traits for characters capable of surviving hostile environments through evasion and environmental mastery.

Khajiit naturally dominate stealth gameplay with night vision capabilities and claw attacks delivering +15 unarmed damage. Their proficiency in sneaking, archery, and pickpocketing makes them ideal for players preferring subterfuge over direct confrontation. However, prepare for frequent prejudicial treatment from NPCs throughout your journey.

Dark Elves provide exceptional versatility, blending stealth capabilities with destructive magical prowess. They begin with Skyrim’s highest Destruction magic statistic while maintaining solid sneaking and light armor skills. Their ancestral fire resistance proves invaluable against dragon encounters and flame-wielding mages.

Breton spellcasters benefit from 25% magic resistance and the Dragonskin power, absorbing 50% of incoming magical damage as magicka. This racial advantage makes them exceptionally durable against magical assaults while their conjuration and alchemy bonuses support versatile magical approaches.

High Elves represent the pinnacle of magical specialization with +50 extra magicka and enhanced regeneration rates. Their Highborn ability temporarily eliminates magicka consumption, enabling spell spamming during critical combat situations. This race suits players committed to mastering all schools of magic.

Imperials offer remarkable adaptability with balanced skill distributions ideal for custom hybrid builds. Their Voice of the Emperor ability can pacify hostile enemies for 60 seconds, creating tactical opportunities for escape or repositioning. Additionally, they frequently discover extra gold in containers.

Nords embody Skyrim’s native warriors with 50% frost resistance and battle cries that terrify opponents. Their combat-focused skill set emphasizes heavy armor, two-handed weapons, and smithing for maximum durability and damage output.

Orc warriors possess Berserker Rage, doubling physical damage dealt while halving damage received. This temporary power transforms them into nearly unstoppable combatants during boss fights and challenging encounters.

Redguards demonstrate martial excellence with adrenaline rush that dramatically accelerates stamina regeneration. Their natural aptitude for one-handed weapons and blocking makes them exceptional frontline fighters.

Wood Elves combine archery mastery with command animal abilities, temporarily turning wildlife allies against your enemies. Their resistance to poison and disease provides additional survivability in wilderness regions.

When selecting your race, consider both immediate advantages and long-term character development. Many players mistakenly prioritize early-game benefits without considering how racial abilities scale into late-game content. For players planning specialized builds, your Class Guide offers additional insights into specialization strategies.

Avoid the common mistake of choosing races solely for cosmetic preferences. Instead, align racial strengths with your intended playstyle—stealth characters benefit most from Argonians or Khajiit, while magic users should prioritize Bretons or High Elves. Advanced players can exploit racial synergies with specific skill trees for optimized performance.

For comprehensive gameplay strategies beyond race selection, consult our Complete Guide for detailed mechanics explanations. Players interested in equipment optimization should reference the Weapons Unlock guide for weapon proficiency recommendations.

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