ESO Racial Passives Guide and Best Race for Each Role

This article is a complete guide to racial passives in the Elder Scrolls Online Flames of Ambition patch, as well as what races are best for each role in the game, as that is more important when deciding what race you want to play than your class choice. The goal of this is to help you make the most informed decision when you are creating your characters in ESO!

DO NOTE: The imperial is only accessible from getting the Imperial upgrade through the crown store for your account.

RACIAL PASSIVES BY FACTION

1. Daggerfall Covenant
   1. Orc
      1. Craftsman: Increases experience gain with the Heavy Armor Skill line by 15% & Increases your crafting Inspiration gained by 10%.
      2. Brawny: Increases your Max Stamina by 1000.
      3. Unflinching Rage: Grants 1000 Max Health and heals you for up to 2125 when you deal damage, with a 4 second cooldown.
      4. Swift Warrior: Increases your Weapon & Spell Damage by 258. Reduces the cost of your Sprint ability by 12% and increases your Movement Speed while Sprinting by 10%.
   2. Breton
      1. Opportunist: Increases experience gain with the Light Armor Skill line by 15% & increases your Alliance Points gained by 1%.
      2. Gift of Magnus: Increases your Max Magicka by 2000.
      3. Spell Attunement: Gain 2310 Spell Resistance and 130 Magicka Recovery. The Spell Resistance granted by this effect will be doubled if you are afflicted with Burning, Chilled, or Concussed.
      4. Magicka Mastery: Reduces the Magicka cost of your abilities by 7%.
   3. Redguard
      1. Wayfarer: Increases experience gain with One-Handed and Shield Skill line by 15% & increases the duration of eaten food by 15 minutes.
      2. Martial Training: Reduces the cost of your Weapon abilities by 8%, and reduces the effectiveness of Snares applied to you by up to 15%.
      3. Conditioning: Increases your Max Stamina by 2000.
      4. Adrenaline Rush: When you deal damage, you restore 1005 Stamina. This effect can occur once every 5 seconds.
2. Ebonheart Pact
   1. Argonian
      1. Amphibian: Increases experience gain with the Restoration Staff Skill line by 15% & increases your swimming speed by 50%.
      2. Resourceful: Increases your Max Magicka & Stamina by 1000. Restore 3125 Health, Magicka, and Stamina when you drink a potion.
      3. Argonian Resistance: Increases your Max Health by 1000 and your Disease Resistance by 2310.
      4. Life Mender: Increases your Healing Done by 6%.
   2. Nord
      1. Reveler: Increases experience gain with the Two-Handed Skill line by 15% & increases the duration of any consumed drink by 15 minutes.
      2. Stalwart: Increases your Max Stamina by 1500. When you take damage, gain 5 Ultimate. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds.
      3. Resist Frost: Increases your Max Health by 1000 and your Cold Resistance by 4620.
      4. Rugged: Increases your Physical and Spell Resistance by 2600.
   3. Dark Elf
      1. Ashlander: Increases the experience gain with the Dual Wield Skill line by 15% & reduces your damage taken by environmental lava by 50%.
      2. Dynamic: Increases your Max Stamina and Magicka by 1910.
      3. Resist Flame: Increases your Flame Resistance by 4620.
      4. Ruination: Increases your Weapon and Spell Damage by 258.
3. Aldmeri Dominion
   1. High Elf
      1. Highborn: Increases experience gain with the Destruction Staff Skill line by 15% & increases your experience gained by 1%.
      2. Spell Recharge: Restore 625 Magicka or Stamina, based on whichever is lowest, after activating a Class Ability. This effect can occur once every 6 seconds. Reduces damage taken by 5% while you are using an ability with a cast or channel time.
      3. Syrabane’s Boon: Increases your Max Magicka by 2000.
      4. Elemental Talent: Increases your Weapon & Spell Damage by 258.
   2. Wood Elf
      1. Acrobat: Increases experience gain with the Bow Skill line by 15% & decreases your fall damage taken by 10%.
      2. Y’ffre’s Endurance: Increases your Stamina Recovery by 258.
      3. Resist Affliction: Increases your Max Stamina by 2000 and your Poison & Disease Resistance by 2310.
      4. Hunter’s Eye: Increases your Stealth detection radius by 3m. You also gain 5% Movement Speed and 950 Armor Penetration.
   3. Khajiit
      1. Cutpurse: Increases the experience gain with the Medium Armor Skill line by 15% & increases your chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%.
      2. Robustness: Increases your Health Recovery by 100 and your Stamina and Magicka recovery by 85.
      3. Lunar Blessings: Increases your Max Health, Magicka, and Stamina by 915.
      4. Feline Ambush: Increases your Critical Hit Damage and Healing by 12%. Reduces your detection radius in Stealth by 3m.
4. Other
   1. Imperial
      1. Diplomat: Increases experience gain with the One-Handed and Shield Line by 15% & increases your gold gained by 1%.
      2. Tough: Increases your Max Health by 2000.
      3. Imperial Mettle: Increases your Max Stamina by 2000.
      4. Red Diamond: Reduces the cost of all abilities by 6%.

BEST RACE FOR EACH ROLE

1. Stamina DPS
   1. PvE: Dark Elf, Khajiit, Orc, Wood Elf, Redguard
   2. PvP: Same race options as PvE, but is more a matter of personal preference based on your build.
      1. Nord & Imperials are also a great option for PvP due to the passives that they offer.
2. Magicka DPS
   1. PvE: High Elf, Dark Elf, Breton, Khajiit
   2. PvP: Same race options as PvE, but is more a matter of personal preference based on your build.
      1. Argonian is also a great option for PvP due to the sustain it offers.
3. Tank
   1. PvE: Nord, Imperial, Argonian, Redguard, Khajiit
   2. PvP: Same as PvE.
4. Healer
   1. PvE: Argonian, Breton, High Elf, Dark Elf, Khajiit
   2. PvP: Same as PvE