This page details a brief overview of the Orc race in Skyrim, including the default stat boosts for the race, special abilities, and a breakdown of how useful those abilities actually are.

View Full-size

The Orc Race, Skyrim.

Orc Race Abilities Overview¶

Default Stat Boosts¶

Special Race Abilities¶

Orcs in RPGs rarely have a distinguished lineage. In most worlds, they are little more than sword-fodder for novice adventurers. The Elder Scrolls takes things to a new level, though; Orcs (or Orsimer - the “Pariah Folk”) are a race of Elves that were transformed into their hideous visage when their god, Trinimac, was consumed by the Daedric Prince Boethiah, and was later excreted out as Malacath. Trinimac/Malacath’s followers were likewise deformed and twisted by the incident. Make of that what you will.

Although their origins may be unappealing, their racial ability, Berserker Rage, is not. For one minute this ability will double the physical damage you deal, and cause you to receive half as much damage. This is a massive boon from the beginning of the game, to the end of your adventures, and it only gets stronger as your weapons do. The Breton’s passive, ever-present Magic Resistance might be more appealing overall, but it’s hard to argue with the potential utility of the Orc ability for any melee-focused class.