TES5 Skyrim AE: powers

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition (TESVSAE), the Dragonborn can acquire a vast array of powers through diverse means, ranging from innate racial abilities to late-game Daedric bargains. Below is a detailed breakdown sorted by ease of acquisition, expanded with exhaustive specifics from canonical sources:


1. Racial Powers

Acquisition: Instant upon character creation.

Each race grants a unique daily power with no prerequisites:

  • Altmer (High Elf): Highborn (10x magicka regeneration for 60 seconds)[1].
  • Argonian: Histskin (10x health regeneration for 60 seconds)[1].
  • Bosmer (Wood Elf): Command Animal (pacify/ally an animal for 60 seconds)[1].
  • Breton: Dragonskin (absorb 50% magicka from spells for 60 seconds)[1].
  • Dunmer (Dark Elf): Ancestor’s Wrath (8 fire damage/sec in a 10ft radius for 60 seconds)[1].
  • Imperial: Voice of the Emperor (calm nearby NPCs up to level 20 for 60 seconds)[1].
  • Khajiit: Night Eye (improved night vision for 60 seconds).
  • Nord: Battle Cry (foes up to level 20 flee for 30 seconds)[1].
  • Orsimer (Orc): Berserker Rage (deal double damage, take half damage for 60 seconds).
  • Redguard: Adrenaline Rush (10x stamina regeneration for 60 seconds)[1].

2. Standing Stone Powers

Acquisition: Activate any of Skyrim’s 13 Standing Stones.

Notable examples:

  • The Ritual Stone (east of Whiterun): Reanimate all corpses within 75ft for 200 seconds (once daily)[1].
  • The Serpent Stone (northeast of Winterhold): Paralyze a target for 5 seconds + 25 poison damage (usable once daily)[1].
  • The Shadow Stone (south of Riften): Invisibility for 60 seconds (once daily).
  • The Tower Stone (west of Winterhold): Instantly unlock any expert-level or lower lock (once daily)[1].

3. Lycanthropy & Vampirism

Acquisition: Complete Companions (lycanthropy) or Dawnguard (vampirism) questlines.

  • Lycanthropy:
    • Beast Form: Transform into a werewolf once daily (unlimited with Ring of Hircine)[1].
    • Cured permanently via Glory of the Dead quest unless reacquired via Aela (once only) or console commands[1].
  • Vampire Lord (Dawnguard DLC):
    • Vampire’s Grip: Telekinetically paralyze and damage foes.
    • Blood Healing: Restore health by feeding on targets[1].

4. Cleansed Stones (Dragonborn DLC)

Acquisition: Complete Cleansing the Stones quest and interact daily[4]:

  • Sun Stone: Sun Flare (100pt fire explosion centered on caster, scaling with proximity)[4].
  • Water Stone: Waters of Life (300pt AoE heal for self and allies)[4].
  • Earth Stone: Bones of the Earth (ignore 80% physical damage for 30 seconds)[4].
  • Beast Stone: Conjure Werebear (summon a werebear for 60 seconds)[4].
  • Tree Stone (post-main quest): Root of Power (75% magicka cost reduction for 60 seconds)[4].

5. Black Book Powers (Dragonborn DLC)

Acquisition: Complete Apocrypha realms via Black Books[3]:

  • Epistolary Acumen:
    • Dragonborn Force (+20% Unrelenting Force damage, disintegrate low-health foes).
    • Dragonborn Flame (summon fire wyrm on kill).
    • Dragonborn Frost (freeze enemies solid).
  • Filament and Filigree:
    • Secret of Strength (no stamina cost for power attacks for 30s).
    • Secret of Sorcery (no magicka cost for spells for 30s).
  • The Hidden Twilight:
    • Mora’s Agony (summon poison tentacles for 30s).
    • Mora’s Grasp (freeze target in stasis for 30s).
  • Waking Dreams: Respec perk trees using dragon souls[3].

6. Faction & Quest Powers

Acquisition: Complete major questlines:

  • Dark Brotherhood: Summon Spectral Assassin (permanent Lucien Lachance summon).
  • Thieves Guild:
    • Nightingale Strife (absorb 100 health per hit).
    • Nightingale Subterfuge (AoE frenzy for 30s).
  • Dawnguard: Dragonbone/Ebony Arrows (exclusive ammunition).

7. Creation Club Content

Acquisition: Integrated into Anniversary Edition[6]:

  • Divine Crusader: Relics like Helm of the Crusader (10% magic resistance).
  • Myrwatch: Conjure Dark Skeleton (summonable undead).
  • Survival Mode: Frostfall mechanics (environmental survival).
  • Fishing: Arbordawn spells (sunlight-based destruction magic)[6].

Ease Summary: Racial/Standing Stone powers require no quests, while Cleansed Stones and Black Books demand mid- to late-game progression. Creation Club content is seamlessly accessible but varies in unlock complexity. Vampirism/Lycanthropy balance ease with faction commitment, and faction powers necessitate full questline completion.

Sources
[1] Skyrim:Lycanthropy - The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP) https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Lycanthropy
[2] Which Faction Quest Should You Take In Outward? (All ... - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUU6AvDbMpw
[3] Black Book Quests - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Guide - IGN https://www.ign.com/wikis/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/Black_Book_Quests
[4] Cleansing the Stones - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Guide - IGN https://www.ign.com/wikis/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/Cleansing_the_Stones
[5] [PDF] Tesla 2021 Impact Report https://www.tesla.com/ns_videos/2021-tesla-impact-report.pdf
[6] Skyrim:Creation Club - The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP) https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Creation_Club
[7] the elder scrolls v skyrim - How do I use my Racial Power? - Arqade https://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/34970/how-do-i-use-my-racial-power
[8] Skyrim - All Standing Stones Guide - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zd5EfoAVwg
[9] ESO Beginner Guide - Vampire vs Werewolf (Updated) - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGP8FlH-gOU
[10] Rewards for faction quests? : r/WaterdeepDragonHeist - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/WaterdeepDragonHeist/comments/s3ttl1/rewards_for_faction_quests/
[11] Skyrim – The Ultimate Guide to the BEST Black Book Powers & Effects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQZAFltvcxg
[12] Skyrim:Cleansing the Stones - UESP https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Cleansing_the_Stones
[13] The impact of Tesla's California virtual power plant | Wood Mackenzie https://www.woodmac.com/news/editorial/the-impact-of-teslas-california-virtual-power-plant/
[14] Power of Creation - Creation Club Overhaul - Nexus Mods https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/58689
[15] Are the in-game racial abilities actually real? : r/teslore - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/comments/dstvfz/are_the_ingame_racial_abilities_actually_real/
[16] Standing Stones - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Guide - IGN https://www.ign.com/wikis/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/Standing_Stones
[17] Does contracting vampirism actually cure lycanthropy and vice versa? https://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/comments/vr5xag/does_contracting_vampirism_actually_cure/
[18] Royal DLC Quest Reward Choices. Rank for Pawn, Tempting Gear ... https://steamcommunity.com/app/294100/discussions/0/2971771480487526570/?l=greek
[19] Is it worth redoing the passives of the races? — Elder Scrolls Online https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/662322/is-it-worth-redoing-the-passives-of-the-races
[20] Skyrim:Standing Stone - The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP) https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Standing_Stone



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