Cannibal
Cannibals- Limb HP
- 100
- Hunger
- ×1
- Max mph
- 27
Learns faster: Cooking
Named NPCs: Cannibal Grand Wizard, Meat Lord, Mighty Canhead
Source: Kenshi WikiKenshi Races
Compare all 9 playable Kenshi races — Human, Shek, Hive and Skeleton — across hunger, healing, limb HP, combat and every skill. Pick your playstyle and the tool ranks the best race for it, straight from the in-game stats.
The nine playable races
What actually sets each race apart — food, healing, armour and what they're best at. Tap ⇄ to drop a race into the radar below.
Human
- Food:Normal appetite
- Healing:Bed rest
- Limb HP:100
- Equipment:Wears all gear
Best atFarmer / base worker
- Food:Eats little
- Healing:Bed rest
- Limb HP:100
- Equipment:Wears all gear
Best atStealth assassin
Shek
- Food:Eats a lot
- Healing:Heals slowly
- Limb HP:125
- Equipment:Most gear (some hats blocked)
Best atMelee bruiser / tank
Hive
- Food:Eats little
- Healing:Bed rest
- Limb HP:80
- Equipment:No shoes, limited shirts
Best atStealth assassin
- Food:Eats little
- Healing:Bed rest
- Limb HP:75
- Equipment:No shoes, limited shirts
Best atRanged / turret gunner
- Food:Eats little
- Healing:Bed rest
- Limb HP:100
- Equipment:No shoes, limited shirts
Best atMelee bruiser / tank
Skeleton
- Food:None — never eats
- Healing:Self-repair at Repair Beds
- Limb HP:200
- Equipment:No hats, shirts or shoes
Best atRanged / turret gunner
- Food:None — never eats
- Healing:Self-repair at Repair Beds
- Limb HP:200
- Equipment:No hats, shirts or shoes
Best atCrafter / smithSolo survivor
- Food:None — never eats
- Healing:Self-repair at Repair Beds
- Limb HP:200
- Equipment:No hats, shirts or shoes
Best atSolo survivorLow upkeep (no food)
Compare playstyles
Each spoke is a playstyle; the further out, the better this race fits it (scored from its real stats). Pick up to 3 races above.
Peaks at Melee bruiser / tank
Peaks at Low upkeep (no food)
Peaks at Farmer / base worker
Scores are the same honest, stat-derived weighting the recommender uses.
Best race for your playstyle
Pick how you play — every race is ranked by a score computed from its actual in-game stats.
Frontline fighter who soaks hits and hits back hard.
Full stat comparison— all 43 attributes
Green = best in row, red = worst. Toggle races to compare a subset.
| Attribute | GreenlanderHuman | ScorchlanderHuman | ShekShek | Hive PrinceHive | Hive Worker DroneHive | Hive Soldier DroneHive | SkeletonSkeleton | P4 UnitSkeleton | SoldierbotSkeleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Stats | |||||||||
| Combat Move Speed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Bleed Rate | 1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Heal Rate | 1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Hunger Rate | 1 | 0.9 | 1.25 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | Do not require food | Do not require food | Do not require food |
| Max Speed | 120 | 120 | 110 | 140 | 140 | 130 | 110 | ||
| Blood | 75 - 150 | 75 - 150 | 75 - 150 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Limb HP | 100 | 100 | 125 | 80 | 75 | 100 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Armour Slots | |||||||||
| Hats | YES | YES | MOST | MOST | MOST | NO | NO | NO | NO |
| Shirt | YES | YES | YES | LIMITED | LIMITED | LIMITED | NO | NO | NO |
| Shoes | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO |
| Attributes | |||||||||
| Strength | 1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dexterity | 1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 |
| Perception | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 |
| Skills | |||||||||
| Weapons | |||||||||
| Katanas | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 |
| Heavy Weapons | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 |
| Combat | |||||||||
| Melee Attack | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dodge | 1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Martial Arts | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| Ranged | |||||||||
| Turrets | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 |
| Thievery | |||||||||
| Stealth | 1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Lockpicking | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Thievery | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Athletics | |||||||||
| Athletics | 1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sciences | |||||||||
| Field Medic | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Engineer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Robotics | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Science | 1.2 | 1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Trades | |||||||||
| Weapon Smith | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Armour Smith | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Labouring | 1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Farming | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cooking | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The 9 races
Greenlander
HumanPrimarily from farmer cultures, they still tend to be an aggressive race and are easily led astray. The worst of them live in ignorance, knowing only greed and fear, reacting to anything different with hatred and violence, but the best of them are some of the greatest civilised scientists, engineers and warriors in the land.
Best for: Farmer / base worker
Scorchlander
HumanScorchlanders tend to value personal freedoms above all else. They don't tend to get along well with rules, regulations and religions, and as a result have a reputation as social misfits and are often found in more adventurous professions. Despite this however, they are highly creative, making them natural-born traders and skilled weaponsmiths. Honest to a fault, laughing in the face of manners, moderation and anything sensible, they make loyal friends, passionate enemies, and are great fun to drink with.
Shek
ShekA warrior society that values strength and hardiness above more intellectual pursuits. They are sometimes a little humourless and have a reputation as dumb brutes, but this is not always the case. Their external skeletal plates provide a natural armour but hinders more dexterous pursuits like sneaking around.
Best for: Melee bruiser / tank
Hive Prince
HiveThe highest ranking in a Hive and right-hands to the Queen. Nobody has ever seen an actual Queen, it is the Princes that run everything. Free Princes are usually the result of losing command to a rival Prince, or exiles sent away as punishment for some kind of failure. They are much more intelligent and free-willed than normal Hive types.
Best for: Stealth assassin
Hive Worker Drone
HiveExpendible workers born to labour for the good of their Hive, they know only obedience and value service to the Hive above any personal benefits, saftey or comfort. If separated from the controlling influence of the Hive they usually die, but in rare cases become free individuals. Bewildered by their newfound freedom and loss of a predetermined purpose they wander lost and seek meaning, but usually just find death or exploitation.
Best for: Ranged / turret gunner
Hive Soldier Drone
HiveSoldier drones created to protect their Hive and enforce control over the workers. Stronger and less intelligent than a worker, freedom-seekers are rarer and usually end up finding mercenary work.
Skeleton
Skeleton · no foodThe Skeletons are a complete mystery, nobody knows where they came from and how they were made but they are suspected to be thousands of years old. Fully sentient and capable of feeling sadness, anger, excitement, compassion, thrill and enjoyment, although they don't posess the ability to express anything visually. This combined with their dry sense of humour often confuses the other races, whom the Skeletons see as somewhat volatile and unpredictable. They have no prejudice or fear of death, and make for brutally effective warriors.
Best for: Ranged / turret gunner
P4 Unit
Skeleton · no foodBest for: Crafter / smith, Solo survivor
Soldierbot
Skeleton · no foodBest for: Solo survivor, Low upkeep (no food)
Unplayable races
13 more races exist only on NPCs — Cannibals, Fishmen, Hivers and Skeletons. The wiki confirms for each one that no game start uses it and no unique recruit has it, so you meet them as NPCs rather than starting as or hiring one.
Alpha Fishman
Fishmen- Limb HP
- 300–400
- Hunger
- ×1
- Max mph
- 17
No headgear, shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Athletics, Swimming
Named NPCs: King Gurgler
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Fishman
Fishmen- Limb HP
- 150–200
- Hunger
- ×1
- Max mph
- 17
Immune: Acid, Gas
No headgear, shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Athletics, Swimming
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Deadhive Prince
Hivers- Limb HP
- 75
- Hunger
- ×1
- Max mph
- 31
No shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Athletics, Dexterity, Engineer, Farming, Melee Attack
Named NPCs: Fog Prince
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Deadhive Soldier
Hivers- Limb HP
- 100
- Hunger
- ×1
- Max mph
- 29
No headgear, shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Melee Attack, Strength
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Deadhive Worker
Hivers- Limb HP
- 50
- Hunger
- ×1
- Max mph
- 31
No shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Athletics, Dexterity, Engineer, Farming, Labouring
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Hive Queen
Hivers- Limb HP
- 75
- Hunger
- ×3
- Max mph
- 7
No shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Field Medic, Science, Stealth
Named NPCs: Queen of the South, The Queen
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Screamer MkI
Skeletons- Limb HP
- 200
- Hunger
- ×0
- Max mph
- 25
No food
No headgear, shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Assassination, Engineer, Melee Attack, Robotics, Turrets
Named NPCs: Screamer the False
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Skeleton Log-Head MKII
Skeletons- Limb HP
- 150–200
- Hunger
- ×0
- Max mph
- 25
No food
No headgear, shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Crossbows, Perception, Precision Shooting, Robotics
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Skeleton MKII Screamer
Skeletons- Limb HP
- 150
- Hunger
- ×0
- Max mph
- 25
No food
No headgear, shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Blunt Weapons, Heavy Weapons, Robotics
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Skeleton No-Head MkII
Skeletons- Limb HP
- 120
- Hunger
- ×0
- Max mph
- 25
No food
No headgear, shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Blunt Weapons, Heavy Weapons, Melee Attack, Robotics
Source: Kenshi Wiki
Skeleton P4MkII
Skeletons- Limb HP
- 150
- Hunger
- ×0
- Max mph
- 25
No food
No headgear, shirts, footwear
Learns faster: Blunt Weapons, Heavy Weapons, Robotics
Named NPCs: General Hat-12, General Jang, Head of Agriculture, Mad Cat-Lon, Ponk
Source: Kenshi WikiGame imagery © Lo-Fi Games; files from the Kenshi Wiki (Fandom), CC BY-SA.
About this data
Every race stat is pulled from Kenshi Wiki (Fandom) (official game data (Kenshi v1.0.68)). The multipliers are factual game data; the "best race for a playstyle" ranking is computed from those stats, not from opinion. Descriptions are licensed CC BY-SA.
Kenshi races FAQ
What is the best race in Kenshi?
There is no single best race — it depends on your playstyle. Shek are the strongest melee bruisers (bonus Toughness, Strength and Melee Attack); Skeletons never need food, heal by self-repair and have huge limb HP, making them the lowest-upkeep survivors; Scorchlanders and Hive Princes excel at stealth, dexterity and science. Use the recommender above to rank all 9 races for your role.
Do Skeletons eat in Kenshi?
No. Skeleton-family races (Skeleton, P4 Unit, Soldierbot) do not require food at all, so they never starve. Instead of eating and bed-healing they repair at Skeleton Repair Beds, and they have 200 limb HP versus 75-125 for organic races — the main reason they're the top low-upkeep pick.
What race is best for a solo start in Kenshi?
For a lone wanderer, toughness and survivability matter most. Shek and Skeletons top the solo-survivor ranking — Shek for raw combat and Toughness, Skeletons for no hunger, fast self-repair and high limb HP. Greenlanders are the balanced all-rounder if you want no glaring weaknesses.
How many playable races are there in Kenshi?
Kenshi has 9 playable race variants across four families: Human (Greenlander, Scorchlander), Shek, Hive (Prince, Worker Drone, Soldier Drone) and Skeleton (Skeleton, P4 Unit, Soldierbot). Each has its own stat multipliers across 43 attributes — this tool compares all of them side by side.
Can Shek and Hive wear all armour in Kenshi?
Not all of it. Shek can wear most headgear but not certain caps and hats due to their horns. Hive races can only wear limited shirts and most hats but no shoes. Skeletons cannot wear hats, shirts or shoes at all. Humans (Greenlander, Scorchlander) can equip everything — see the Armour Slots rows in the comparison table.