In the world of Elder Scrolls: Online, few tasks are as daunting as Character Creation. If you have a penchant for the dark arts and commanding the undead, the Necromancer Class (Introduced in the Elswyer expansion) may be just the choice for you. 

Now that you have decided to use the darkest form of magic, what race of Nirn would best suit your new powers? Here are the top five best races for the Necromancer in Elder Scrolls: Online.

5. Khajiit

Khamira, Queen of Anequina.

Hailing from the sands of Elswyer, the Khajiit are a proud and noble race of Nirn. Khajiit are, perhaps, one of the most universal races in Elder Scrolls: Online, and can find a home in nearly any class of play.

The Khajiit is well suited for play as a Necromancer, regardless of your preferred Stamina or Magicka build. The resource recovery, scaling status caps, and increased critical percentages offered by the Khajiit land it as an honorable choice for your Master of the Undead.

The most important decision you have to make when choosing the Khajiit is whether you prefer to be a stamina-based weapon DPS Necromancer, or focus on casting and magicka for dishing out damage. This will help you in allocating your skill points as you level up.

Why the Khajiit is Great for Necromancer:

• Resource Recovery
• The Khajiit has some of the best Health, Magicka, and Stamina recovery of any class in the game.
• Higher Maximum Stats
• The Khajiit’s Lunar Blessing offers players increased maximum Health, Stamina, and Magicka at scaling levels as they progress.
• Increased Critical Abilities
• Beginning at level 25, the Khajiit’s Feline Ambush grants players increased Critical Hit and Healing percentages, from 4%-12% at level 50.

Pick Khajiit if…

• You are a beginning player looking for survivability and a well-rounded experience.
• You enjoy combat with weapons and are interested in the Necromancer Class just for some of the unique abilities.
• You want a character who is capable of holding their own as a DPS or switching as an alternate Tank for dungeons and boss-fights.

Khajiit Racial Passives

• Cutpurse
  • Increases the experience gained in the Medium Armor skill tree by 15%
  • Increases the chance to successfully pickpocket by 5%
• Robustness
  • Rank I (Level 5)
    • Increases Health Recovery by 33
    • Increases Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 25
  • Rank II (Level 15)
    • Increases Health Recovery by 66
    • Increases Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 50
  • Rank III (Level 30)
    • Increases Health Recovery by 100
    • Increases Stamina and Magicka Recovery by 85
• Lunar Blessings
  • Rank I (Level 10)
    • Increases Max Health, Magicka, and Stamina by 305
  • Rank II (Level 20)
    • Increases Max Health, Magicka, and Stamina by 610
  • Rank III (Level 40)
    • Increases Max Health, Magicka, and Stamina by 915
• Feline Ambush
  • Rank I (Level 25)
    • Increases Critical Hit Damage and Healing by 4%
    • Reduces Detection Radius by 1m
  • Rank II (Level 35)
    • Increases Critical Hit Damage and Healing by 8%
    • Reduces Detection Radius by 2m
  • Rank III (Level 50)
    • Increases Critical Hit Damage and Healing by 12%
    • Reduces Detection Radius by 3m

4. Orsimer (Orc)

Zumog Phoom, Dark Lord of the Dead.

Forging an existence in Tamriel’s harshest regions, the Orcs are a hardened race of fierce warriors. Scratching an existence from the mountains of Orsinium, Orcs have great power within them, making them excellent options for the strong Warrior-Necromancer.

If the Stamina branch of the Necromancer skills is appealing and you, you cannot go wrong with the Orcs. The impressive maximum stamina, health recovery, and increased weapon damage of the Orsimer provide a great opportunity to build a heavy tank warrior with access to some of the strongest powers in the game.

When it comes to the Stamina-Orc, it is important to correctly allocate your skill points as you level. While a balance is important, players looking to compete in PVP events will want to ensure their Orcs are pumped in the Stamina column, as the Health Recovery of the Orcs will help balance any losses along the way.

Why the Orc is Great for Necromancer:

• Maximum Stamina
• Compared to other races, the Orc has one of the most impressive Stamina stats in Elder Scrolls: Online.
• Health Recovery
• Along with insane scaling of Maximum Health, the Orc has the ability to recover health based on the damage dealt to opponents.
• Increased Weapon Damage
• While many Necromancers favor magical weapons, the Orc is a battle-mage whose weapon damage is increased by their powers.

Pick Orsimer if…

• You favor the use of melee weapons for combat over the use of spellcasting or archery.
• You want to be the Warrior of your party and like the idea of still dealing heavy damage while holding off the enemies of Nirn.
• You want to maximize the use of Stamina based abilities without becoming a “glass-cannon”in a fight.

Orsimer Racial Passives

• Craftsman
  • Increases the experience gained in the Heavy Armor skill tree by 15%
  • Increases your crafting Inspiration by 10%
• Brawny
  • Rank I (Level 5)
    • Increases your Max Stamina by 333
  • Rank II (Level 15)
    • Increases your Max Stamina by 666
  • Rank III (Level 30)
    • Increases your Max Stamina by 1000
• Unflinching Rage
  • Rank I (Level 10)
    • Grants 300 Max Health
    • When you deal damage, you heal for 700 Health. This can occur once every 4 seconds
  • Rank II (Level 20)
    • Grants 600 Max Health
    • When you deal damage, you heal for 1400 Health. This can occur once every 4 seconds
  • Rank III (Level 40)
    • Grants 1000 Max Health
    • When you deal damage, you heal for 2125 Health. This can occur once every 4 seconds
• Swift Warrior
  • Rank I (Level 25)
    • Increases Weapon Damage by 86
    • Reduces the cost of Sprint by 4% and increases the Movement Speed Bonus of Sprint by 3%
  • Rank II (Level 35)
    • Increases Weapon Damage by 127
    • Reduces the cost of Sprint by 8% and increases the Movement Speed Bonus of Sprint by 6%
  • Rank III (Level 50)
    • Increases Weapon Damage by 258
    • Reduces the cost of Sprint by 12% and increases the Movement Speed Bonus of Sprint by 10%

3. Imperial

An Imperial, in all their gleaming glory!

In the center of Tamriel lies the cosmopolitan heartland, and site of a raging war, Cyrodiil. The Imperials are the race of men who call this politically chaotic and dangerous paradise their home. Imperials thrive on order and control, and while summoning the undead may seem outside their comfort-zone, what is more controlling than commanding someone's afterlife.

If becoming the dedicated Tank of your party is the goal, the regimented Imperial is likely the best choice, regardless of your preferred class. With the highest maximum stamina and health in the game, the Imperial is already set up for success, but when combined with their additional gold and superior ability-cost reduction, they are truly a force to be reckoned with.

As with building any Tank character, Health and Stamina should be the main concern. Balancing these as your party needs is the best course of action, but I would recommend a 1 Stamina : 2 Health rate. The Imperial player would also do well to take advantage of the one-handed weapon and shield (sword-and-board) playstyle for the most stunning combat experience.

Why the Imperial is Great for Necromancer:

• Maximum Stamina
• With powerful scaling, the Imperial has the potential to have the highest Maximum Stamina of all races in Elder Scrolls: Online.
• Maximum Health
• Like Stamina, the scaling of Health for Imperials grants them staying power in even the most heated encounters.
• Ability-Cost Reduction
• Who doesn’t love a good deal? With the Imperial, all abilities will cost less resources to use, granting your Necromancer additional casting power in battle.

Pick Imperial if…

• You are the dedicated Tank of your party looking for a new character to create.
• You prefer the Sword-and-Shield weapon combo to all others.
• You love the lore, as Cyrodiil is one of the only places where Necromancy is a legal practice for their mages.

Imperial Racial Passives

• Diplomat
  • Increases the experience gained in the One-Handed and Shield skill tree by 15%
  • Increases your gold gained by 1%
• Tough
  • Rank I (Level 5)
    • Increases your Max Health by 600
  • Rank II (Level 15)
    • Increases your Max Health by 1200
  • Rank III (Level 30)
    • Increases your Max Health by 2000
• Imperial Mettle
  • Rank I (Level 10)
    • Increases your Max Stamina by 600
  • Rank II (Level 20)
    • Increases your Max Stamina by 1200
  • Rank III (Level 40)
    • Increases your Max Stamina by 2000
• Red Diamond
  • Rank I (Level 25)
    • Reduces the cost of all abilities by 2%
  • Rank II (Level 35)
    • Reduces the cost of all abilities by 4%
  • Rank III (Level 50)
    • Reduces the cost of all abilities by 6%

2. Altmer (High Elf)

Mannimarco, The King of Worms.

The fair elves of the Summerset Isle are a people of mystic wisdom and magical prowess. The High-Born of Tamriel, the Altmer, or High-Elves, possess innate control of Magicka, and wield its power with elegance and precision.

Magicka is a source of great power in Nirn, and for the most powerful mages, its corruption is a path directly to Necromancy. In the lore of The Elder Scrolls, one mage stands out for this path, becoming the most powerful Necromancer in history…Lord Mannimarco, The King of Worms. With the greatest maximum magicka and powerful resource management, Altmer are easily the greatest spellcasters in the land, and a strong contender for the top of this list.

Excelling as a magic user in Elder Scrolls: Online requires patience and dedication. The road is a difficult one, as pure mages can struggle as solo-players, so this is not for the faint-of-heart. A focus on destruction and restoration magic and pouring skills into the Magicka stat will eventually pay off, granting you access to a powerful healer or a cataclysmic lich.

Why the Altmer is Great for Necromancer:

• Maximum Magicka
• High-Elves have the greatest reserves of Magicka, giving them access to the cast multiple powerful spells each encounter.
• Magicka Recovery
• The ability to sustain Magicka in a fight makes the High-Elf a dangerous caster, and with added protection during spellcasting, they can shrug off deadly attacks.
• Skill-Tree Boost
• Mages are famed for their staves, and the Altmer gain rapid levels in powerful offensive staff-based magic.
• Spell Damage
• As an added bonus, both weapon and spell based damage is increased through their elven heritage.

Pick Altmer if…

• The idea of becoming a powerful spellcaster is appealing.
• You appreciate the lore, and desire to harness the powers of the undead, as Mannimarco did.
• You enjoy a variable playstyle, with the ability to provide support to your team, as well as deal out impressive damage.

Altmer Racial Passives

• Highborn
  • Increases the experience gained in the Destruction Staff skill tree by 15%
  • Increases your experience gained by 1%
• Spell Recharge
  • Rank I (Level 5)
    • Reduce damage taken when using a casting or channeling ability by 1%
    • Restore 200 Magicka or Stamina after activating a class ability. This can occur once every 6 seconds
  • Rank II (Level 15)
    • Reduce damage taken when using a casting or channeling ability by 2%
    • Restore 400 Magicka or Stamina after activating a class ability. This can occur once every 6 seconds
  • Rank III (Level 30)
    • Reduce damage taken when using a casting or channeling ability by 5%
    • Restore 625 Magicka or Stamina after activating a class ability. This can occur once every 6 seconds
• Syrabane’s Boon
  • Rank I (Level 10)
    • Increases your Max Magicka by 600
  • Rank II (Level 20)
    • Increases your Max Magicka by 1200
  • Rank III (Level 40)
    • Increases your Max Magicka by 2000
• Elemental Talent
  • Rank I (Level 25)
    • Increases Weapon and Spell damage by 86
  • Rank II (Level 35)
    • Increases Weapon and Spell damage by 172
  • Rank III (Level 50)
    • Increases Weapon and Spell damage by 258

1. Dunmer (Dark Elf)

A simple Dunmer Necromancer, just making his way in the world.

At the top of the list are the Ashlanders of Morrowind…the legendary Dunmer, or Dark-Elves. As a people, the Dunmer often stand outside other races of Tamriel, preferring the solitude of their volcanic isle and the interactions of their own clans. Well balanced in martial and magical abilities, this mysterious race of Nirn is both feared and respected by many.

Choosing the Dark-Elf opens many doors to the player for a variety of playstyles. While the use of Magicka is still a very viable option for a Dunmer, they truly excel as dual-wielding stamina casters. The stamina abilities balance well with the bleeding and damage effects of the dual-wield skills, and the Dunmer excel at rapid progression of these abilities.

It is important to take care as a Dark Elf Necromancer, as you will likely not be the tankiest character in your group. The stamina abilities of the class will help to regenerate health when necessary, but for the most powerful results, you will be loading your stamina bar with every available point. Like the Nerevarine of Morrowind legend, your Dark-Elf will have powerful martial combat abilities and stay in the fight longer than any other race. Coupled with the abilities of the Necromancer, the Dunmer makes the most dangerous Dark Battle-Mage available.

Why the Dunmer is Best Race for Necromancer:

• Maximum Stamina
• The Dark-Elf has an enormous boost to their maximum stamina, coming in second only to the Imperial.
• Maximum Magicka
• With some players enjoying the ability to dabble in both Magicka and Stamina, the Dunmer’s ability to scale both is a must.
• Melee Combat
• Dual-wielding is a beloved trait of Elder Scrolls: Online and with the added skill and damage bonuses, the Dark-Elf is easily the most skilled of these agile warriors.
• Flame Resistance
• Hailing from Morrowind, the Dunmer have adapted to the landscape by taking reduced environmental damage from lava, as well as reduced damage from fire and fire magic.
• Spell Damage
• As a battle-mage, the added damage from both spells and weapons creates a dangerous combination.

Pick Dunmer if…

• You appreciate a balance of melee combat and spellcasting.
• You want to become your party’s top DPS, and have the staying-power for large battles.
• Dealing out single-target damage is appealing, in both PVE and PVP settings.

Dunmer Racial Passives

• Ashlander
  • Increases the experience gained in the Dual Wield skill tree by 15%
  • Reduce damage from environmental lava by 50%
• Dynamic
  • Rank I (Level 5)
    • Increases Max Magicka and Stamina by 600
  • Rank II (Level 15)
    • Increases Max Magicka and Stamina by 1200
  • Rank III (Level 30)
    • Increases Max Magicka and Stamina by 1910
• Resist Flame
  • Rank I (Level 10)
    • Increases your Flame Resistance by 1540
  • Rank II (Level 20)
    • Increases your Flame Resistance by 3080
  • Rank III (Level 40)
    • Increases your Flame Resistance by 4620
• Elemental Talent
  • Rank I (Level 25)
    • Increases Weapon and Spell damage by 86
  • Rank II (Level 35)
    • Increases Weapon and Spell damage by 172
  • Rank III (Level 50)
    • Increases Weapon and Spell damage by 258

Racial attributes are an important consideration when designing your character. While these status boosts will not make-or-break any class option, there are easily some races who slot better into certain classes than others. The Necromancer is a powerful caster, whether you choose the might of magicka or a battle-mage hardened in stamina-based combat. Happy creation, and remember that Tamriel’s fate lies in your hands.

You may also be interested in:

• [Top 11] ESO Best Necromancer Builds That Are Powerful

• [Top 15] ESO Best Necromancer Armor Sets Every Player Should Have