Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the game from 2011 that just keeps coming back around, has now hit Xbox Games Pass. Microsoft recently purchased Bethesda, the studio behind Skyrim (as well as many other games) and has put many of those titles onto its premiere subscription service. The game is also the beneficiary of some boosts, and Skyrim now runs at 4k 60FPS on the Series X. There's never been a better time to jump into - or revisit - Skyrim. When building that new character, pick the best possible race - play an Argonian.
Skyrim does offer the player a huge amount of freedom when it comes to viable character builds. Want to wield a warhammer and wear heavy armor? Yep, that's fine. Prefer to sneak around an attack from a distance? That's in there as well. It's a game that lets players build just about any type of character they wish, and then rewards them for sticking with that archetype. The leveling system is designed to give bigger and better bonuses as players continue to level through a single skill tree; it pays to pick a few skills and focus, rather than spread points around in several categories. In that way, Skyrim is at its best when players enter with a clear vision for what they wish their characters to be. Those picturing a stealthy, roguish type should absolutely choose to play as an Argonian - and everyone else should at least consider it.
First off, the Argonians have a massive boost to 'sneaky' skills. Their Lockpicking, Light Armor, Sneak, and Pickpocket skills are all naturally higher. Those bonuses are huge. Their lack of weapon skills are a tiny drawback, but do offer the player the chance to choose their preferred weapon, since they aren't locked-in to anything. Leveling up one weapon skill, like Daggers, is much easier when The Elder Scrolls' dragonborn doesn't need to spend gold and talents on leveling those already-boosted skills. Anyone interested in doing a Thieves Guild-focused run of Skyrim should have Argonians at the top of their list.
Why Argonians Are So Useful In Skyrim
Even those not interested in being a sneaky, stabby-type of Skyrim character should be aware of just how strong the Argonians are. In addition to their roguish abilities, Argonians also have a bevy of survivability boosts. Their Histskin ability allows them to heal 10 times faster for a full minute once a day. Combined with their affinity for Restoration magic and starting Healing spell, the Argonians can make for tough tank-types. Even when taking advantage of their Light Armor boost, the Argonians' ability to quickly heal can overcome the difference between light and heavy armor. They also have a natural resistance to disease. Argonians are the picture of health, and should absolutely be chosen when replaying Skyrim.
Their biggest boost, though, has to be their ability to breathe underwater. Water is a constant throughout Skyrim. There are oceans, lakes, waterfalls, and rivers aplenty. Each of these bodies of water could not only have treasures hidden within them, but can also be used to get around the world. Traveling via river is a quick and scenic mode of transit, and not having to worry about drowning makes it downright pleasant. Exploring Skyrim as an Argonian - especially a roguish one - can be a breeze.