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.
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 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 of the Nine Divines (plus Nocturnal) that can be obtained from altars and temples around Skyrim.
| Name | Description | Shrine |
|---|---|---|
| Blessing of Akatosh | Magicka regenerates 10% faster. | Shrine of Akatosh |
| Blessing of Arkay | Increases your health by 25 points. | Shrine of Arkay |
| Blessing of Auriel† | You are 10% more effective with missile weapons. | Shrine of Auriel |
| 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 |
† Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dragonslayer's Blessing | 10% increased Critical Hit Chance vs. Dragons for 5 days | Asking Esbern about the blessing after Alduin's Wall. |
| Blood of the Ancients † | Your Vampiric Drain spell absorbs Magicka and Stamina from your victims for x days | Drinking from the Bloodstone Chalice in Castle Volkihar. |
| 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. |
| The Gift of Charity | Speechcraft is increased by 10 points for one hour. | Donate 1 Septim to a beggar |
| Tainted Blood of the Ancients † | 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 |
| Voice of the Sky | Animals will neither attack nor flee from you for 24 hours of actual gameplay. | Obtained after reading the 10 Etched Tablets on the Seven Thousand Steps |
† Only available with The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard
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 |
| 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. |
References
Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Official Game Guide