ESO: Best race for tank, DD and healer – Which one you should choose

In the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, you must choose a class and a race during character creation. This can be difficult at first, as each race has certain bonuses. We provide you with an overview of which race is best suited for your plans.

Why is the race so important? In ESO, you gain 4 passive skills through your racial skill. You can unlock and improve 3 of these skills. Depending on what you want to do in the game with your character, a race can be more or less useful.

We from MeinMMO will therefore take a look at the different races and give you suitable tips.

What races are there in Elder Scrolls Online?

You can choose between 10 races. Without a specific feature, the race is tied to a specific alliance in PvP (Cyrodiil). If you want to choose your race independently of the alliance, you need the “Away from Home” feature. You can purchase it for 2000 crowns in the crown store (via ESO).

These are the 10 races in ESO:

• Nord
• Argonian
• Dark Elf (Dunmer)
• Khajiit
• Wood Elf (Bosmer)
• High Elf (Altmer)
• Orc (Orsimer)
• Redguard
• Breton
• Imperial

Which race is suitable for which class?

It is a common misconception that there is a best race for each class. The class is independent of the race and the role (tank, DD, healer) you want to play. Instead, you should choose the race according to your role.

As a Magicka DD, for example, you might choose a Khajiit, Dark Elf, or High Elf. Whether you turn that character into a Nightblade, Dragonknight, Necromancer, Templar, Warden, or Sorcerer DD is quite irrelevant. Of course, sometimes one class is stronger than another, but that changes from patch to patch.

Depending on which role you want to play, it makes sense to choose the race that gives you the most advantages. Of course, you can also choose the race freely and independently of your playstyle. However, you should be aware that you cannot maximize your potential.

The racial passives at a glance

First of all, I recommend not to pay too much attention to the first passive ability of the races. Each race has an increased experience gain with a type of armor or weapon. However, this is only noticeable until your character reaches level 50 in that skill line.

And you’ll notice that it goes faster than you might think. Even when your character reaches level 50, there are still 3600 champion points waiting for you. Therefore, the playtime below level 50 is negligibly short. Here you can learn more about the champion point system.

The Nord

These are the passive abilities of the Nord, child of the skies:

• Drinker: Increases experience gain with two-handed weapons by 15%. Increases the duration of consumed drinks by 15 minutes.
• Frost Resistance (3/3): Increases your maximum health by 1000 and your frost resistance by 4620.
• Stalwart (3/3): Increases your maximum stamina by 1500. When you take damage, you gain 5 ultimate power. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.
• Hardened (3/3): Increases your physical resistance and magic resistance by 2600.

The Argonian

These are the passive skills of the Argonian, child of the Hist:

• Amphibious: Increases experience gain with healing staves by 15%. Increases your swimming speed by 50%.
• Life Giver (3/3): Increases healing done by 6%.
• Argonian Resistance (3/3): Increases your maximum health by 1000 and your disease and poison resistance by 2310.
• Resourceful (3/3): Increases your maximum Magicka and maximum stamina by 1000. When you drink a potion, you restore 3125 health, Magicka, and stamina.

The Dark Elf (Dunmer)

These are the passive skills of the Dunmer, pupil of Veloth:

• Ashlander: Increases your experience gain with dual-wielding by 15%. Reduces the environmental damage you take from lava by 50%.
• Dynamic (3/3): Increases your maximum Magicka and stamina by 1910.
• Flame Resistance (3/3): Increases your flame resistance by 4620.
• Destruction (3/3): Increases your magic and weapon power by 258.

The Khajiit

These are the passive skills of the Khajiit, part of the Ja-Kha’jay:

• Pickpocket: Increases experience gain with medium armor by 15%. Increases your success rate with pickpocketing by 5%.
• Robustness (3/3): Increases your health regeneration by 100 and your stamina and Magicka regeneration by 85.
• Lunar Blessing (3/3): Increases your maximum health, maximum Magicka, and maximum stamina by 915.
• Feline Ambush (3/3): Increases your critical damage and critical healing by 12%. Decreases your detection radius while sneaking by 3 meters.

The Wood Elf (Bosmer)

These are the passive skills of the Bosmer, child of the forest:

• Acrobat: Increases experience gain with bows by 15%. Reduces your fall damage by 10%
• Hunter’s View (3/3): Increases your detection radius by 3 meters. Increases your movement speed by 5%, as well as your armor penetration and magic penetration by 950.
• Y’ffre’s Resilience (3/3): Increases your stamina regeneration by 258.
• Innate Resistance (3/3): Increases your maximum stamina by 2000 and your disease and poison resistance by 2310.

The High Elf (Altmer)

These are the passive skills of the Altmer, Aldmeri descent:

• Well-Born: Increases experience gain with destruction staves by 15%. Increases your experience gain by 1%.
• Magicka Recovery (3/3): When you activate a skill, you restore 625 Magicka or stamina, depending on which value is lower. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds. While activating a skill with a casting time or a channeled skill, you take 5% less damage.
• Syrabann’s Blessing (3/3): Increases your maximum Magicka by 2000.
• Elemental Skills (3/3): Increases your magic and weapon power by 258.

The Orc (Orsimer)

These are the passive skills of the Orcs, tribe children:

• Craftsman: Increases your experience gain with heavy armor by 15%. Increases your inspiration gain in crafting by 10%.
• Muscular (3/3): Increases your maximum stamina by 1000.
• Unyielding Wrath (3/3): Increases your maximum health by 1000. When you deal damage, you heal for 2146 health. This effect can occur once every 4 seconds.
• Swift Warrior (3/3): Increases your magic and weapon power by 258. Reduces the cost of sprinting by 12% and increases your sprinting speed by 10%.

The Redguard

These are the passive skills of the Redguards, desert souls:

• Traveler: Increases your experience gain with one-handed weapons and shield by 15%. Increases the duration of eaten foods by 15 minutes.
• Combat Training (3/3): Reduces the cost of your weapon skills by 8%. Reduces the effectiveness of stuns applied to you by 15%.
• Hardening (3/3): Increases your maximum stamina by 2000.
• Adrenaline Rush (3/3): When you deal damage, you restore 1005 stamina. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds.

The Breton

These are the passive skills of the Bretons, child of the bay:

• Opportunist: Increases experience gain with light armor by 15%. Increases your received alliance points by 1%.
• Gift of Magnus (3/3): Increases your maximum Magicka by 2000.
• Magic Affinity (3/3): Increases your magic resistance by 2310. This effect doubles if you are burning, chilled, or confused. Increases your Magicka regeneration by 130.
• Magical Mastery (3/3): Reduces the Magicka cost of your abilities by 7%.

The Imperial

These are the passive skills of the Imperials, imperial blood:

• Diplomat: Increases your experience gain with a shield and one-handed weapon by 15%. Increases the gold you receive by 1%.
• Tough (3/3): Increases your maximum health by 2000.
• Imperial Zeal (3/3): Increases your maximum stamina by 2000.
• Red Diamond (3/3): Reduces the cost of all your abilities by 6%.

Which race is particularly suitable for a tank?

The Nord

This race is currently probably the best choice as a tank. Its passive racial abilities give it increased maximum health and maximum stamina. Moreover, the resistances it gains are important for a tank. Through the passive skill Stalwart, the Nord also gains ultimate power when it takes damage.

The Argonian

The Argonian was the first choice for a tank before the rework of the Nord. It remains a good choice. With its last passive skill, it is also a popular race in PvP. But even in PvE, this property can save your life once in a while. The skill Life Giver increases healing done, making a tank more resilient when the healer is not so reliable.

The Imperial

The race of the Imperials is independent of the 3 alliances. However, you need the DLC Imperial City to select it. But since you now get this DLC for free, there are no barriers. Here you can learn more.

As an Imperial, you gain a bonus to your maximum stamina, as well as your maximum health. Additionally, you have a general reduction in the cost of your abilities. Resource management as a tank can be a bit tricky, and the reduced costs could make it easier for you to get started.

Which race is suitable for a Magicka DD?

The Khajiit

The cat race has also been playable as a Magicka DD since the race rework and is currently even the strongest choice by a narrow margin. The skill “Feline Ambush” makes the Khajiit a strong choice right now as it increases your critical damage. You can also play it as a stamina DD.

The Dark Elf (Dunmer)

The Dark Elves can be played as either Magicka or stamina DD. Currently, they sit just behind the Khajiit and offer you other advantages. The Dark Elf has a natural flame resistance, which can save your life in case of doubt and makes you more resilient to fire damage.

In addition, you receive bonuses to magic and weapon power as well as to your maximum stamina and Magicka. The Dunmer is therefore a good all-rounder.

The High Elf (Altmer)

The High Elves are born mages. The passive racial skills give you a bonus to your maximum Magicka and increase your magic and weapon power.

The Breton

The Bretons are suitable for both a Magicka DD and a healer. They are not the race with the highest damage potential, but they have very good sustain (good resource management). With the latest passive skill, you receive a reduction in the cost of your (Magicka) abilities. Additionally, you gain extra maximum Magicka and Magicka regeneration.

So your resources won’t run out so quickly.

Which race is suitable for a stamina DD?

The Khajiit

The cat race is not only a good Magicka DD but also strong for a stamina DD. The skill “Feline Ambush” currently makes the Khajiit a strong choice as it increases your critical damage. And you’ll definitely need that for a stamina DD.

The Dark Elf (Dunmer)

Here I can only repeat myself: The Dark Elves can be played as either Magicka or stamina DD. They currently sit just behind the Khajiit and offer you other advantages.

The Dark Elf has natural flame resistance. This can save your life in case of doubt and makes you more resistant to fire damage. In addition, you receive bonuses to magic and weapon power as well as to your maximum stamina and Magicka. The Dunmer is therefore a good all-rounder.

The Orc (Orsimer)

The Orc is well suited for a stamina DD. Its racial bonuses give it increased maximum stamina and increased magic and weapon power. Additionally, you heal yourself when you deal damage. This makes it a DD with resilience. As a Magicka DD, it is rather less suitable despite the bonus to magic power.

Due to its increased movement speed, it is popular in PvP. With the right class choice and certain sets, you can develop it into a super fast character.

The Redguard

The Redguard is a sustain machine. Similar to the Breton as a Magicka DD, it doesn’t run out of stamina quickly. The costs of weapon skills are reduced and you have a chance to restore stamina when you deal damage. Additionally, there is a bonus to maximum stamina. It is no longer the strongest choice, but you won’t have to worry about resources.

The Wood Elf (Bosmer)

The Wood Elf receives bonuses to stamina regeneration and maximum stamina. In PvE, it is not the strongest choice, though. You see it more in PvP because regeneration is particularly important there.

Which race is particularly suitable for a healer?

The Breton

Due to the reduction in Magicka costs of abilities and the bonuses to maximum Magicka and Magicka regeneration, the Breton is wonderfully suited as a healer. You will notice that healing is a very resource-intensive role. So you need to pay very close attention to your resource management. The Breton makes it easier for you.

The Argonian

The skill Life Giver increases healing done, which is ideal for a healer. Additionally, you have a bonus to your maximum Magicka and maximum health. The restoration of all three resources when you drink a potion is also a good support.

The High Elf (Altmer)

The High Elf is not necessarily the first choice for a healer. However, if you also want to deal a little damage alongside (as off-heal), then this race is a good choice. You have a bonus to your maximum Magicka, which benefits both a DD and a healer. And the bonus to your magic power helps you deal a little damage on the side. The Magicka recovery also restores resources. You always need that as a healer.

Which race will you decide on? Feel free to write it in the comments. Do you have a favorite race or one that you do not like at all? We have a ranking for you: All races of ESO in ranking – From unpopular to popular.