What is the Strongest Elven Race in Elder Scrolls?
As a passionate Elder Scrolls enthusiast and gamer since Arena, I‘ve studied the histories and abilities of Tamriel‘s various mer (elf) races in great depth. In this article, I‘ll analyze and compare the key strengths of each race to determine which stands as the strongest.
Methodology for Comparison
To judge the strongest elf race, I‘ll examine these key attributes and accomplishments:
- Innate magical ability and proficiency
- Combat prowess and war conquests
- Extent of empires and advanced civilizations built
- Exceptional power amassed by individual heroes
- Creation of magical artifacts and devices
- Level of intelligence, tactics and strategy
Altmer – The Overall Strongest Elves
When weighing all factors, the Altmer (High Elves) consistently come out on top as the most well-rounded, formidable and gifted of the mer races. Let‘s examine why:
Unmatched Magical Aptitude
The Altmer are renowned as Tamriel‘s most naturally talented magic users. Their racial bonuses give them the highest magicka reserves and regeneration. Nearly all prominent Altmer dedicate themselves to perfecting spellcraft.
They surpass all other races in mastery of sorcery, conjuration, illusion, etc. Every sign suggests Altmers‘ innate potential for magic outmatches other elves.
Conquests of the Thalmor
The Altmer-led Thalmor faction conquered Summerset Isle and Valenwood, then invaded Tamriel and crippled the Empire. This demonstrates the Altmer talent for strategy and magical warfare on a devastating scale.
Enduring Advanced Civilizations
The glittering island city of Alinor stood as Tamriel‘s pinnacle of high culture and magical study for eras. Altmers‘ empires thrive for millennia despite calamity, proving the resilience of their societies.
Individuals Command Incredible Power
Some Altmer like Archmage Shalidor have single-handedly performed almost god-like magical feats through sheer brilliance. Mannimarco‘s raw talent made him the first lich. Vanus Galerion pioneered all contemporary magic by founding the Mages Guild. Truly exceptional Altmers‘ capabilities eclipse all rivals.
Creation of Unmatched Arcane Artifacts
The Staff of Magnus stands out as an almost mythic relic among mages. It channels magicka reserves surpassing any other object. Such artifacts could only be forged by supreme Altmers.
By all evidence above, Altmer stand mightiest among elfkind. Still, they are not without rivalry…
Dunmer and Dwemer – Potent Adversaries
The extinct Dwemer (Deep Elves) and their Morrowind neighbors, the Dunmer (Dark Elves), both pose as fiercely competitive elven races in specific regards:
Dunmer‘s Warrior-Sorcerers
Dunmer combine powerful sorcery with combat prowess unmatched among mer. Warriors like Indoril Nerevar helped repel invasions from Akaviri and Nords. Dunmer battle-mages specialize in applying volatile magics like fire and lightning with lethal precision.
Dwemer Mechanical Engineering
Through their unparalled expertise in tonal architecture and engineering, the Dwemer created technology rivalling the gods themselves. Relics like the Numidum and Elder Scrolls hint at their terrifying brilliance.
Chimer/Dwemer Civilization Rivaled Altmer
The combined city-states of Chimer (predecessors of Dunmer) and Dwemer in Morrowind stood on nearly equal societal and arcane ground as the Altmer for ages. Each side developed disciplines the other lacked.
So while Altmer stand mightiest alone, the melted strengths of Dunmer and extinct Dwemer could potentially rival or exceed them in the First Era‘s ‘Battle of Red Mountain‘. Sadly, we can only speculate how the course of history may have changed if conflict had erupted between eastern and western elf empires at their pre-Tribunal prime.
Conclusion – High Elves Claim Dominance
To conclude, Altmer (High Elves) edge out above all other Tamrielic elf-kind as the strongest in my judgment. I‘ve explored and weighed their advantages across spellcraft, strategy, civilization stability and creation of a stunning array of powerful magical relics that awed history. Standout heroes like Vanus Galerion also showcase the Altmer‘s limitless talent ceiling.
The collapsed empires of the Dunmer and extinct Dwemer arguably rivaled Summerset Isle for control of Tamriel during Morrowind‘s prime. But the Altmer endured crises and flourished again where other elves fell. This demonstrated resilience secures the High Elves‘ claim to greatness. No other elven power has matched their combination of magic prowess, societal achievements and famous heroes.
Those are my conclusions on this enduring debate among Elder Scrolls scholars. I welcome any enthusiasts versed in mer history to contest my analysis respectfully in the comments below! Perhaps we will unearth even more glories of elvenkind.
