Abilities in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are defined by
their passive nature. They are magical effects that increase various stats and
values relative to the player.
Abilities are determined by the player's race or obtained by completing quests and tasks throughout the game. Active
abilities will appear in the Active Effects list, under Magic.
Abilities are considered separate from Powers as they do not require activation and are
not restricted to once a day use.
Contents [show]
Racial abilities
The following are abilities inherent to certain races of Skyrim. Not all races are mutually exclusive:
i.e., the player can be a Vampire or a Werewolf
in addition to whichever starting race was chosen. It is, however, impossible to
be both a Vampire and a Werewolf simultaneously.
Race
Name
Description
Altmer
Highborn
Altmer receive 50 more magicka at birth.
Argonian
Resist Disease
Your Argonian blood gives you 50% resistance to disease.
Argonian
Water Breathing
Argonians are able to breathe underwater.
Bosmer
Resist Disease and Poison
Your Bosmer blood gives you 50% resistance to poison and disease.
Breton
Resist Magic
Your Breton blood grants a 25% resistance to magic.
Dunmer
Resist Fire
Your Dunmer blood gives you 50% resistance to fire.
Imperial
Imperial Luck
Wherever there is gold to be found, Imperials seem to find a little
more (10% extra).
Khajiit
Claws
Khajiit will attack with their claws in unarmed combat.
Nord
Resist Frost
Your Nord blood gives you 50% resistance to frost.
Redguard
Resist Poison
Your Redguard blood gives you 50% resistance to poison.
Vampire
Champion of the Night
Illusion spells cast by a Vampire are 25% more
powerful.
Vampire
Nightstalker's Footsteps
Vampires are 25% harder to detect while sneaking.
Vampire
Resist Disease
Your Vampiric blood gives you 100% resistance to disease.
Vampire
Resist Frost
Your Vampiric blood gives you 25% resistance to frost. This ability
increases by 25% each day a Vampire goes without feeding, to a maximum of 100%
after three full days.
Vampire
Resist Poison
Your Vampiric blood gives you 100% resistance to poison.
Vampire
Weakness to Fire
Your Vampiric blood makes you 25% more vulnerable to fire. This ability
increases by 25% each day a Vampire goes without feeding, to a maximum of 100%
after three full days.
Werewolf
Resist Disease
Your beast blood gives you 100% resistance to disease.
Quest abilities
The following are permanent abilities granted at the conclusion of particular
quests.
Name
Description
Location
Agent of Dibella
You do more combat damage to the opposite sex.
Reward for completing the quest The Heart of Dibella
Agent of Mara
15% Resist Magicka. This is listed as "Resist Magic" in Active Effects.
Reward for completing the quest The Book of Love
Ancient Knowledge
Knowledge gained from the Lexicon gives you a 25% bonus while wearing Dwarven Armor and Smithing increases 15% faster.
Reward for completing the quest Unfathomable Depths
Dragon Infusion
You take 25% less melee damage from Dragons.
Reward for completing the quest Dragon Research
Prowler's Profit
Greater chance of finding additional gems in chests.
While it is not listed in Active Effects, this is in fact active once
obtained.
Reward for completing the quest No Stone Unturned
Sailor's Repose
Healing spells cure 10% more.
Reward for completing the quest Frostflow Lighthouse
Sinderion's Serendipity
25% chance to create a duplicate when creating a potion.
Reward for completing the quest A Return To Your Roots
Nightingale Armor full set
Increases armor rating by 25 points if wearing all Nightingale Armor.
Reward for completing the quest Trinity Restored
Shrouded Armor full set
Increases armor rating by 25 points if wearing all Shrouded Armor.
Reward for completing the quest Sanctuary
Archmage's Authority ‡
Better prices with members of the College
of Winterhold (50% with Enthir and 10% with all others).
Reward for completing the quest The Eye of Magnus
Gift of the Gab ‡
Speech skill increases 15% faster.
Reward for completing the quest Tending the Flames
‡ These abilities are listed in the Skyrim Official Game Guide,
however the Gift of the Gab and Archmage's Authority do not seem to be included
in the game whatsoever. Nothing in-game suggests that these abilities exist.
Blessings
Blessings are passive, temporary buffs that
normally last for eight real-time hours of gameplay (as opposed to eight hours
of in-game time). They can be obtained by praying at altars, typically located
in temples. Only one blessing can be active at a time.
The Temple of the Divines located in Solitude has all the Nine Divines shrines available, with the
exception of the Shrine of Talos as his worship is currently banned in the
Empire. If the Civil War is completed in favor of the Stormcloaks, a Shrine of
Talos will be added to the temple in Solitude.
The following is a list of the blessings and locations that can be obtained
from altars and temples around Skyrim. Some blessings listed here can only be
obtained with the inclusion of Dawnguard and Dragonborn add-ons.
Name
Description
Shrine
Skyrim
Blessing of Akatosh
Magicka regenerates 10% faster.
Shrine of Akatosh
Blessing of Arkay
Increases your health by 25 points.
Shrine of Arkay
Blessing of Dibella
+10 Speechcraft.
Shrine of Dibella
Blessing of Julianos
Increases your Magicka by 25 points.
Shrine of Julianos
Blessing of Kynareth
Increases your stamina by 25 points.
Shrine of Kynareth
Blessing of Mara
Healing spells restore 10% more.
Shrine of Mara
Blessing of Nocturnal
You are 10% harder to detect.
Shrine of Nocturnal
Blessing of Stendarr
Block 10% more damage with your shield.
Shrine of Stendarr
Blessing of Talos
Time between shouts is reduced by 20%.
Shrine of Talos
Blessing of Zenithar
Prices are 10% better.
Shrine of Zenithar
Dawnguard
Blessing of Auriel DG
You are 10% more effective with missile weapons.
Shrine of Auriel
Dragonborn
Blessing of Azura DB
Resist 10% of magic.
Raven Rock Temple
Blessing of Boethiah DB
One Handed weapons do more 10% damage.
Raven Rock Temple
Blessing of Mephala DB
Prices are 10% better.
Raven Rock Temple
Temporary
abilities
These are similar to blessings in that they are temporary in nature, but they
can be active at the same time as any of the blessings.
Name
Description
Location
Blood of the Ancients DG
Your Vampiric Drain spell absorbs Magicka and Stamina
from your victims for x days
Drinking from the Bloodstone Chalice in Castle
Volkihar.
Dragonslayer's Blessing
10% increased Critical Hit chance vs. Dragons for 5 days
Asking Esbern about the blessing after "Alduin's
Wall".
Rested
All skills improve 5% faster for eight hours.
Sleep in any bed.
Well Rested
All skills improve 10% faster for eight hours.
Sleep in a bed you own or rent.
Lover's Comfort
All skills improve 15% faster for eight hours.
Sleep in the house where your spouse lives.
Father's Love HF
Healing spells and potions add 25% extra health
for eight hours
Sleep in the same house as an adopted child.
Mother's Love HF
Healing spells and potions add 25% extra health for eight hours
Sleep in the same house as an adopted child.
Tainted Blood of the Ancients DG
Your Vampiric Drain spell absorbs Magicka and Stamina
from your victims for 1 day, but at the cost of 30 less health.
Drinking from the spring in Redwater Den.
The Gift of Charity
Speechcraft is increased by 10 points for one
hour.
Donate 1 Septim to a beggar.
Vampiric Blood Rested DG
10% Resist Magic effect.
Sleeping in a coffin as a vampire.
Voice of the Sky
Animals will neither attack nor flee from you for
24 hours of actual gameplay.
Reading the 10 Etched Tablets on the Seven Thousand Steps.
Weakened Soul DG
Health, Magicka and Stamina recover slowly while in the Soul
Cairn and are reduced by 45 points.
Become partially soul trapped during "Chasing Echoes".
Guardian Stone abilities
Only one of the following passive abilities can be active at a time. They can
be acquired by visiting the desired Guardian Stone and activating it.
Name
Description
Location
The Apprentice Stone
100% Magicka regeneration
100% weakness to Magicka
Northwest of Morthal
The Atronach Stone
50% Spell Absorption
+50 Magicka
Magicka
regenerates 50% slower
Between Windhelm and Riften
The Lady Stone
Regenerate health and stamina 25% faster
On a small island in a lake to the west of Riverwood
The Lord Stone
50 Armor
25% Magic Resistance
East of Morthal, on top of a mountain
The Lover Stone
Learn all skills 15% faster
East of Markarth
The Mage Stone
Learn Mage skills 20% faster
Southwest of Riverwood
The Steed Stone
100 extra carrying capacity
No movement penalty is
applied due to armor
Equipped armor is weightless
Located north of Solitude
The Thief Stone
Learn Thief skills 20% faster
Southwest of Riverwood
The Warrior Stone
Learn Warrior skills 20% faster
Southwest of Riverwood
Meditation
on the Words of Power
These are made available by talking to Paarthurnax. Only one can be active at a
time.
Name
Description
Eternal Spirit
While Ethereal, you recover health 25%
faster.
Force Without Effort
You stagger 25% less and foes stagger 25% more.
The Fire Within
Your Fire Breath shout deals 25% more
damage.
their passive nature. They are magical effects that increase various stats and
values relative to the player.
Abilities are determined by the player's race or obtained by completing quests and tasks throughout the game. Active
abilities will appear in the Active Effects list, under Magic.
Abilities are considered separate from Powers as they do not require activation and are
not restricted to once a day use.
Contents [show]
- 1 Racial abilities
- 2 Quest abilities
- 3 Blessings
- 4 Temporary abilities
- 5 Guardian Stone abilities
- 6 Meditation on the Words of Power
- 7 References
- 8 See
also
Racial abilities
The following are abilities inherent to certain races of Skyrim. Not all races are mutually exclusive:
i.e., the player can be a Vampire or a Werewolf
in addition to whichever starting race was chosen. It is, however, impossible to
be both a Vampire and a Werewolf simultaneously.
Race
Name
Description
Altmer
Highborn
Altmer receive 50 more magicka at birth.
Argonian
Resist Disease
Your Argonian blood gives you 50% resistance to disease.
Argonian
Water Breathing
Argonians are able to breathe underwater.
Bosmer
Resist Disease and Poison
Your Bosmer blood gives you 50% resistance to poison and disease.
Breton
Resist Magic
Your Breton blood grants a 25% resistance to magic.
Dunmer
Resist Fire
Your Dunmer blood gives you 50% resistance to fire.
Imperial
Imperial Luck
Wherever there is gold to be found, Imperials seem to find a little
more (10% extra).
Khajiit
Claws
Khajiit will attack with their claws in unarmed combat.
Nord
Resist Frost
Your Nord blood gives you 50% resistance to frost.
Redguard
Resist Poison
Your Redguard blood gives you 50% resistance to poison.
Vampire
Champion of the Night
Illusion spells cast by a Vampire are 25% more
powerful.
Vampire
Nightstalker's Footsteps
Vampires are 25% harder to detect while sneaking.
Vampire
Resist Disease
Your Vampiric blood gives you 100% resistance to disease.
Vampire
Resist Frost
Your Vampiric blood gives you 25% resistance to frost. This ability
increases by 25% each day a Vampire goes without feeding, to a maximum of 100%
after three full days.
Vampire
Resist Poison
Your Vampiric blood gives you 100% resistance to poison.
Vampire
Weakness to Fire
Your Vampiric blood makes you 25% more vulnerable to fire. This ability
increases by 25% each day a Vampire goes without feeding, to a maximum of 100%
after three full days.
Werewolf
Resist Disease
Your beast blood gives you 100% resistance to disease.
Quest abilities
The following are permanent abilities granted at the conclusion of particular
quests.
Name
Description
Location
Agent of Dibella
You do more combat damage to the opposite sex.
Reward for completing the quest The Heart of Dibella
Agent of Mara
15% Resist Magicka. This is listed as "Resist Magic" in Active Effects.
Reward for completing the quest The Book of Love
Ancient Knowledge
Knowledge gained from the Lexicon gives you a 25% bonus while wearing Dwarven Armor and Smithing increases 15% faster.
Reward for completing the quest Unfathomable Depths
Dragon Infusion
You take 25% less melee damage from Dragons.
Reward for completing the quest Dragon Research
Prowler's Profit
Greater chance of finding additional gems in chests.
While it is not listed in Active Effects, this is in fact active once
obtained.
Reward for completing the quest No Stone Unturned
Sailor's Repose
Healing spells cure 10% more.
Reward for completing the quest Frostflow Lighthouse
Sinderion's Serendipity
25% chance to create a duplicate when creating a potion.
Reward for completing the quest A Return To Your Roots
Nightingale Armor full set
Increases armor rating by 25 points if wearing all Nightingale Armor.
Reward for completing the quest Trinity Restored
Shrouded Armor full set
Increases armor rating by 25 points if wearing all Shrouded Armor.
Reward for completing the quest Sanctuary
Archmage's Authority ‡
Better prices with members of the College
of Winterhold (50% with Enthir and 10% with all others).
Reward for completing the quest The Eye of Magnus
Gift of the Gab ‡
Speech skill increases 15% faster.
Reward for completing the quest Tending the Flames
‡ These abilities are listed in the Skyrim Official Game Guide,
however the Gift of the Gab and Archmage's Authority do not seem to be included
in the game whatsoever. Nothing in-game suggests that these abilities exist.
Blessings
Blessings are passive, temporary buffs that
normally last for eight real-time hours of gameplay (as opposed to eight hours
of in-game time). They can be obtained by praying at altars, typically located
in temples. Only one blessing can be active at a time.
The Temple of the Divines located in Solitude has all the Nine Divines shrines available, with the
exception of the Shrine of Talos as his worship is currently banned in the
Empire. If the Civil War is completed in favor of the Stormcloaks, a Shrine of
Talos will be added to the temple in Solitude.
The following is a list of the blessings and locations that can be obtained
from altars and temples around Skyrim. Some blessings listed here can only be
obtained with the inclusion of Dawnguard and Dragonborn add-ons.
Name
Description
Shrine
Skyrim
Blessing of Akatosh
Magicka regenerates 10% faster.
Shrine of Akatosh
Blessing of Arkay
Increases your health by 25 points.
Shrine of Arkay
Blessing of Dibella
+10 Speechcraft.
Shrine of Dibella
Blessing of Julianos
Increases your Magicka by 25 points.
Shrine of Julianos
Blessing of Kynareth
Increases your stamina by 25 points.
Shrine of Kynareth
Blessing of Mara
Healing spells restore 10% more.
Shrine of Mara
Blessing of Nocturnal
You are 10% harder to detect.
Shrine of Nocturnal
Blessing of Stendarr
Block 10% more damage with your shield.
Shrine of Stendarr
Blessing of Talos
Time between shouts is reduced by 20%.
Shrine of Talos
Blessing of Zenithar
Prices are 10% better.
Shrine of Zenithar
Dawnguard
Blessing of Auriel DG
You are 10% more effective with missile weapons.
Shrine of Auriel
Dragonborn
Blessing of Azura DB
Resist 10% of magic.
Raven Rock Temple
Blessing of Boethiah DB
One Handed weapons do more 10% damage.
Raven Rock Temple
Blessing of Mephala DB
Prices are 10% better.
Raven Rock Temple
Temporary
abilities
These are similar to blessings in that they are temporary in nature, but they
can be active at the same time as any of the blessings.
Name
Description
Location
Blood of the Ancients DG
Your Vampiric Drain spell absorbs Magicka and Stamina
from your victims for x days
Drinking from the Bloodstone Chalice in Castle
Volkihar.
Dragonslayer's Blessing
10% increased Critical Hit chance vs. Dragons for 5 days
Asking Esbern about the blessing after "Alduin's
Wall".
Rested
All skills improve 5% faster for eight hours.
Sleep in any bed.
Well Rested
All skills improve 10% faster for eight hours.
Sleep in a bed you own or rent.
Lover's Comfort
All skills improve 15% faster for eight hours.
Sleep in the house where your spouse lives.
Father's Love HF
Healing spells and potions add 25% extra health
for eight hours
Sleep in the same house as an adopted child.
Mother's Love HF
Healing spells and potions add 25% extra health for eight hours
Sleep in the same house as an adopted child.
Tainted Blood of the Ancients DG
Your Vampiric Drain spell absorbs Magicka and Stamina
from your victims for 1 day, but at the cost of 30 less health.
Drinking from the spring in Redwater Den.
The Gift of Charity
Speechcraft is increased by 10 points for one
hour.
Donate 1 Septim to a beggar.
Vampiric Blood Rested DG
10% Resist Magic effect.
Sleeping in a coffin as a vampire.
Voice of the Sky
Animals will neither attack nor flee from you for
24 hours of actual gameplay.
Reading the 10 Etched Tablets on the Seven Thousand Steps.
Weakened Soul DG
Health, Magicka and Stamina recover slowly while in the Soul
Cairn and are reduced by 45 points.
Become partially soul trapped during "Chasing Echoes".
Guardian Stone abilities
Only one of the following passive abilities can be active at a time. They can
be acquired by visiting the desired Guardian Stone and activating it.
Name
Description
Location
The Apprentice Stone
100% Magicka regeneration
100% weakness to Magicka
Northwest of Morthal
The Atronach Stone
50% Spell Absorption
+50 Magicka
Magicka
regenerates 50% slower
Between Windhelm and Riften
The Lady Stone
Regenerate health and stamina 25% faster
On a small island in a lake to the west of Riverwood
The Lord Stone
50 Armor
25% Magic Resistance
East of Morthal, on top of a mountain
The Lover Stone
Learn all skills 15% faster
East of Markarth
The Mage Stone
Learn Mage skills 20% faster
Southwest of Riverwood
The Steed Stone
100 extra carrying capacity
No movement penalty is
applied due to armor
Equipped armor is weightless
Located north of Solitude
The Thief Stone
Learn Thief skills 20% faster
Southwest of Riverwood
The Warrior Stone
Learn Warrior skills 20% faster
Southwest of Riverwood
Meditation
on the Words of Power
These are made available by talking to Paarthurnax. Only one can be active at a
time.
Name
Description
Eternal Spirit
While Ethereal, you recover health 25%
faster.
Force Without Effort
You stagger 25% less and foes stagger 25% more.
The Fire Within
Your Fire Breath shout deals 25% more
damage.