Are Aronians nerfed in TES games? I can't rememeber how I played them in Daggerfall now so maybe they were not nerfed back then but in Morrowind, Oblivion and now Skyrim, their special power is water breathing. First of all, why it took over 10 years for me to realize this, is Lizards DO NOT BREATHE UNDERWATER. So why would Argonians do? In Morrowind thier special power was Water Breathing, but it was cast as a normal spell that anyone could get. While you got it for free, it wasn't such a big boost over all. At least in Oblivion it didn't cast magika so it was something a bit more. Now I never played an Argonian yet in Skyrim, so not sure how it actually works, if it costs magika or not, but from playing Skyrim, I don't see anyplace where you need to be underwater now. I mean, I haven't been anywhere that needs you to be underwater without worrying about drowning. (I think I read there might be a place or 2, but not really Wowing or impressive, so agian not worth taking an Argonian. I got a water breathing spell now, and since we can't cast magic spells underwater this might be the only time we really need to be an Argonian.

Thing is, without any great or underwater places we need to visit, being an Argonian is kinda of nerfed because their "special racial power" is kinda of moot. Yes their other one is usefull but the water breathing I find week.

So I got 2 questions, why does Bethesda think Lizards breathe underwater, like they were fish? Argonians are not fish.

Also what am I missing out from not playing an Argonian in Skyrim? I love them, was going to play an Argonian, but chose Altmer because it suited me more since I feel Argonians are kinda nerfed. What am I not seeing in them?

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Histskin?

what? they have resistance, water breath and regen. thats a good set plus they haveva good all round skill set.

kahjiit have plus [censored] all to hand2hand yeah cheers...
now thats under powered.

argonians are argonians, not lizards

if you want to talk comparisons to real stuff though, there has always been something distinctly "fishy" about the argonian concept art http://www.gamebanshee.com/oblivion/races/argonian.php I guess the old horns looked webbed like a fish or something, but they look a lot more raptor-like these days

also the above poster is spot on, Khajit are way underpowered, argonians are fine, but the water breathing amounts to not have to hear a gasp for air when you come up (I guess, havent tried), Im not even sure you can drown in this game

Ye, Histskin is one of he best racial powers. Plus, they look badass. Badassery is a skill.

That Argonian racial ability had a drastically reduced cost - the spell anyone could get was far more expensive to cast.


It's true, most underwater areas are small enough or shallow enough that there's little risk of drowning. Waterbreathing is something of a convenience, but not much of a boost.

Histskin, the Argonian's new health regeneration ability, is one of the best racial abilities of the bunch. I'd say this picks up any slack.


1. Lizards can't breath under water, argonians can.

2. I certainly wouldn't say that racial abilities are meaningless, but they have a small enough impact that you can really go with whatever race fits your roleplaying interests. My first character was an argonian fire mage and had I gone with altmer, dunmer, or breton, I would have gotten more benefit from their racial abilities. However I wouldn't switch races for the moon, Freezes-His-Tail-Off is great fun and has great character. I'm playing a breton at the moment but I'll likely be playing an argonian next (or maybe my forth character) and racial bonuses had nothing to do with that choice, I just like argonians.

Argonians are not Lizards, they are a Beast Race from Black Marsh who have evolved to be resistant to diseases, which are very common in Black Marsh, have amphibious lungs so they can breathe air and water, because a marsh is full of water, and have an ability passed on from the Hist, which is some type of holy figure to them. Calling them Lizards is just slang, not an accurate description.

There are plenty of old shipwrecks around and water in some caves that hide some secrets. I use my waterbreathing spell regularly. Although I wish i could cast it while i was underwater

Argonians still take a breath when coming up from the water

lizards also dont walk on 2 feet and cats are not human like either whats your point lol also last i checked dragons vampires and warewolves were not real its always been there racial power and it is useful there are plenty of underwater wrecks to explore i would go with the khajit anyways there unarmed attacks fatalitys are awesome more vampire then the vampires are lol also night eyes probably the best racial power thanks to toggle

There are species of fish capable of breathing both air and water, it's feasible for the argonians to develop such a trait. Also, they're not lizards.

Basically, the problem with the Argonians' power in Skyrim is that there is very little water exploration necessary, or even tempting, in the game. So, you'll never really benefit from having Waterbreathing. Other than that, I agree with Hungry Donner's stance on the rest of the ways you've called out their Waterbreathing ability.

the heal racial is totally op, if you play heavy armor, 1hand and shield. i mean... as soon as i get in danger, shield up and use racial... i don't need health pots that much

Because Argonians are not lizards.

There was a series of ingame books that described how deadly Black Marsh is, I think lore-wise, Argonians should be the one having disease and poison resistance. And if I have a say in developing TES, I would give Bosmer healing when they are under (hugging) the trees.

Because nobody likes Lizards

They look pretty lizard-like to me.

Argonians are lizards. Lizard slaves, specificly.

Valenwood is also considered to be a jungle and jungle always means diseases and poisons. ^^

Sadly this also means that TES: Valenwood and TES: Black Marsh will probably only be dreamt about by me :'(





Talk about a serious Dunmer here.

This annoys me so much.

This is NOT Earth. What makes you think that that every single thing in Nirn has to follow our ecological rules? Heck, have mammals breath underwater if it goes well. Doesn't bother me.

Thanks guys and galls, for answering, I see the Argonians differently now. Well I still see them as Lizards though.

In my next game, I think I will be an Argonian.

there is plenty of interesting place underwater in Skyrim, I found 3 sunken ships, 1 I cant explore becuase I would drown, plus there is all the fish

For anyone seriously interested in Argonian's they should probably know much the Khajiits, the Argonian's come in several sub-species within black marsh, every TES game is only one species respresented as well as the Khajiits. There are large brutish Argonians who stand 7 feet tall, ones that look like snakes and even a winged variaty. Look it up in the imperial library. Winged Argonians... Curious if a winged argonian would still retain its ability to breathe underwater..

Khajjits also range from wood-elf looking with cat ears and tail (imagne typical anime cat-person), to large 4 legged cats with absolutly no human features at all.

This is of course lore that derived from the ever changing looks of the khajiit and argonians from Arena to Skyrim.

The only use I've found with the Khajiit racial is with quests that involve h2h'ing people. The night eye is pretty useless simply because no area is too dark (that I have come across yet) and the effect seems to make it harder to see than easier.