Orc reporting in.. I have had a few previous characters but the orcs are definitely my favorite race to date for melee. Here's why:
1. Look at em, they're bad as*.
2. Look at their woman, some they shave their heads and that is bad as*.
3. Orcs are so good at crafting weapons and armor, the orc that just killed you back there prolly made that armor AND weapon himself.
4. They're bigger than the average man = intimidation.
5. Growing up in an orc stronghold is a lifelong bad as* training camp.
6. A dragon that wanders into an orc stronghold would be called a p*ssy and eaten for lunch.
7. They kill their own chief to replace him instead of voting for a new one.
8. Their homeland is in the mountains where they worship Malacath (one BA dude) and kill shi* for fun.
9. All four strongholds in Skyrim are in strategic corners of the map ready to eliminate the inferior Nords... and everyone else.
10. You're probably mad right now you didn't make an orc.
11. Orcs don't run from a battle.
12. Orcs are the finest troops in all of NIRN.

Yup, Orcs are pretty BA... how's your race going for ya?

Redguards. Specifically the Ansei warriors.

Doesn't matter how well you fight if your opponent creates a nuclear explosion with his sword.(This is why Yokuda was blown apart and Redguards moved east)

Well, maybe you should take a moment and read about how the Redguards settled Hammerfell. They drove the Orsimer away from the coastland in a matter of months and then drove them from the rest of the country. Also the Orc city Orsinium have been sacked and destroyed twice. I'm not saying they aren't badass, just that they are not supperior to other races as warriors.

Orcs and Nords are about equal. I think if you build one right, an Altmer has more advantages than both. Not only are the best mages, but they get a speed boost and melee damage boost from being tall (they're not much taller than Orcs though).

Although using console commands to make characters taller does increase damage output, Altmer receiving a melee damage boost due to height is a misconception. All races have a default scale of 1.00 regardless of the height of the character model.

I hated mellee in Oblivion, and in all honesty I hardly remember half of my time in Morrowind, except that I was a cat person what stole stuffs So in Skyrim I jumped right into a mellee character, opting for Dual WIeld swords, boy was that fun... and totally OP.

I was a Wood-Elf and picked percs in Light Armour, One Handed and Sneak. I stacked up my stamina and health and barely spent any "XP" on magicka. I was, in short, a killng machine. I waded through reams and reams of guards during the CW quest. I could kill a Frost Troll in 3 hits, I once even killed a Dragon, with a cutscene kill on the VERY first attack. (I posted the screens somewhere on this forum.)

My diagnosis, Stealth breaks everything in this game. As for race, unfortunately due to the nature of Skyrim compared to Oblivion and Morrowind, it makes absolutely no difference which race you are.

Will soon provide pictural evidence of 3 dead dragons killed only by a few orcs

The ancient nords had the power to blow down city gates with the power of their voice. http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Children_of_the_Sky

Orcs have had their capital destroyed several times. But I still think that both races, and the redguards are excellent warriors without a doubt.

My kitty - mage is just fine..... but Orcs are BA no matter what IMO. So what, the redguards kicked them out of their home? I smell revenge in the future.

forum ofcourse won't let me upload image?? see photobucket for proof (theorsimer)
Orc Master Race -1 You - 0

Why, Argonians are the finest warriors of course.

Finally, a resonable repsonse.

You are talking about it Lore wise?
Gameplay wise,anyone can be the "best" melee race. it just takes a while.
and i dont know what i think about this. well redguards,Nords or Orc.

Redguards and nords at the end of the day are human. Orcs are huge dudes that have been hardened through teachings and lessons in a stronghold, and to say that their malevolent god Malacath gives all orcs a hardened outlook on life and combat is n understaement. What did the nords do when the empire outlawed the worship of Talos? The didn't do anything for decades!! The empire itself claims that orcs are the finest troops in the legion

In this game it doesn't matter. My Altmer can be as physically buffed out as any "melee" race (and is) and any minor boost they get at the start of the game can me made up in a few levels. I've made both a Nord and a High Elf Warrior and there was no noticeable difference in game play (and I'd rather have the +50 to magicka for the couple of restoration (heal, heal other) and illusion (muffle, courage) spells he uses.

Welp, according to lore Redguards are the finest warriors in Tamriel. Not sure why gameplay doesn't reflect that but whatever.

Gameplay wise, orcs definitely. That Berserker ability... that is such a beautiful thing. *chokes up*

One of my first characters that I scraqed was a dual - wielding axe BAMF and I really didn't have to try to kill anything WITHOUT beserk on.

Although I never play as either an Orc or a Redguard, I appreciate that these are probably the most prolific in melee combat.

An Orc probably has the edge in-game. But throughout the Lore it's the Redguards that make the ultimate warriors, and have defeated the Orcs on many occassions.

Aesthetically speaking, I find Orcs wielding large two-handed hammers quite unsettling! I am also perturbed as to how attractive the females are, despite being males with boobs!

The Ansei's knowledge seems to be mostly forgotten nowadays. Some techniques(such as Pankratosword) were stricken from record(for good reason). Many techniques were lost with the destruction of Yokuda. Very few have even the beginner knowledge of their abilities.

Ever since playing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elder_Scrolls_Adventures:_Redguard I've been playing as a Redguard in all Elder Scrolls game that followed. Dunno why thruth be told - However in Skyrim I do enjoy the racial ability of the Redguard as it can be a life saver vs tough enemies (a.k.a. stagger them with your shield). In the end though, it matters little. Earlier games your race actually ment something.

depends on whether it be light armour or heavy armour & whether you want to block.

Nords use to best in heavy armour but for some strange reason they are now given a bonus in light armour. I think it suits them better as a heavy armoured race considering most their classic armour in the game is heavy.

The races bonuses in Skyrim are...

Orcs get heavy armour, one handed, two handed, block & smithing

Imperials get bonus in heavy armour & one handed, block & enchanting.

Redguards get one handed, block & smithing

Nords get two handed, one handed, light armour, block & smithing.


Orcs are obviously best in heavy armour considering that their own armour is heavy.

Redguard don't get bonus in any armour but I guess they are suited in either. I expect native Hammerfell armour to be mostly light desert armour and their heavy armour to be made mostly from Dwemer parts scavenged from the many Dwemer ruins scattered across Hammerfell.


My favourite is a Nord in heavy armour with dual one handed axes.

Orcs are really cool, mighty heavy-armored warriors. I've never played one but I think I'm going to try soon.

As for MY current favorite melee race, I'd go with Nord, since they're the only race I've played so far that has some melee skill bonus.

Orc, really doesn't matter.

I'm done with this game