Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous: The best races to choose from

Let’s face it, you’ll spend hours just trying to make your main character in this Pathfinder game. Here’s our Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous guide to help you with the best races to choose from when you create your character.

The best races to choose from in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

Here are my recommendations for the best races for your main character in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. I’ve also added details regarding the new races added in this sequel. However, some options won’t be included here as they’re underwhelming or I wasn’t too keen on trying them out.

Humans

I believe humans are one of the best races in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. No, it’s not just because of favoritism. Rather, it’s due to several important factors:

• +2 to an ability score at character creation
• +1 skill point each level up
• Bonus feat on character creation

If you pick a class/archetype that adds a bonus feat at level one, you practically have three extra perks just when you’re starting. There’s also a general ease of use since you won’t need to worry about heritage bonuses and penalties, making this a great pick for newcomers.

Elves

If we’re solely looking at INT-based spellcasters (i.e., Alchemist, Arcanist, Magus, Wizard, and Witch), then choosing an elf for your race is a great option. The default pick grants:

• Racial ability scores: +2 DEX, +2 INT, -2 CON.
• Keen Senses: +2 Perception.
• Elven Magic: +2 bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance, +2 Knowledge (Arcana).
• Elven Immunities: Immune to magic sleep effects, +2 saving throw bonus against enchantment spells.
• Elven Weapon Familiarity: Longbows, longswords, rapiers, and shortbows; weapons with “Elven” in their names are treated as martial weapons.

Elves have quite a few bonuses, although the only downside is having a lower Constitution than normal. Otherwise, you get a Perception and Knowledge (Arcana) boost, a bonus to overcome spell resistance and saving throws against enchantments, alongside an immunity to magical sleep.

Of the three heritage choices, go with Basic so you can retain the racial traits. Alternatively, you can pick Blightborn if you’re building a caster who uses necromancy spells more often.

Half-Elves

As the offspring of a human and an elf, half-elves try to have the best of both worlds. You’ll receive:

• +2 to an ability score at character creation.
• Adaptability: Receive Skill Focus as a bonus feat at 1st level.
• Keen Senses: +2 Perception.
• Elven Immunities: Immune to magic sleep effects, +2 saving throw bonus against enchantment spells.

Although Half-Elves don’t have as many bonuses as Elves, they are balanced with the Human bonus of gaining a +2 to any ability score during character creation. Half-Elves also are more flexible with their choice of class since they don’t have a boost in INT, which is good for certain spellcasters.

As for the heritage picks, Basic has Adaptability options that give huge bonuses to a selected skill (i.e., Athletics, Trickery, and the like). Alternatively, Kindred-Raised adds +2 CHA, which is good for classes that use the stat (i.e., Bards, Paladins, Bloodragers, Oracles, Skalds, and Sorcerers).

Aasimar

The Aasimar are a race in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous that has been touched by the divine. They have the following:

• Celestial Resistance: +5 acid, cold, and electricity resistance.
• Light Halo: +2 saving throw bonus against blinded or dazzled effects.
• Aasimar Wings: Later as you continue to level up, your Aasimar may also gain wings.

Because of their divine nature, the Aasimar race is ideal for role-playing and synergy when selecting classes that use divine spells (i.e., Oracles, Paladins, and Clerics).

Angelkin is a great Heritage pick for Paladins who eventually want to get the Angel Mythic Path. Musetouched is another good one, and for lore purposes, you could go with the Azata Mythic Path.

Tieflings

Tieflings were added in The Wildcards DLC for Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Thankfully, the race is part of the base game in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. Tieflings come with one race trait since they’re mostly based on their Heritage:

• Fiendish Resistance: +5 cold, electricity, and fire resistance.

Compared to Aasimar, Tiefling heritage options denote the type of demonic entity that sired them (which is why there’s also a certain penalty). Here are some examples of ones I’d recommend:

• Grimspawn: +2 DEX and INT, -2 WIS; +2 Trickery and Persuasion, Frigid Touch spell, and +5 acid resistance.
• Hungerseed: +2 STR and WIS, -2 CHA, +2 Persuasion, Invisibility spell, and +2 bonus to combat maneuver checks and combat maneuver defense.
• Motherless: +2 STR and WIS, -2 INT, +2 Mobility and Lore (Nature), Blur spell, gains a secondary Bite attack.
• Pitborn: +2 STR and CHA, -2 INT, +2 Trickery and Perception, Stone Call spell, +2 bonus to all rolls to confirm critical hits.

Dhampir

The Dhampir is a new playable race added in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. They are the progeny of vampires and humans. They have the following racial traits:

• Resist Level Drain: No penalties from energy drain effects.
• Undead Resistance: +2 bonus saving throws against disease and mind-affecting spells.
• Negative Energy Affinity: Because Dhamphirs are considered undead, positive energy harms them and negative energy heals them.

Because of Negative Energy Affinity, they are a lot more complicated to use. Also, similar to Tieflings, Dhampir heritage options provide benefits and penalties. Here are a couple of good examples:

• Jiang-Shi-born: +2 DEX and INT, -2 WIS, +2 Stealth and Use Magic Device.
• Moroi-born: +2 STR and CHA, -2 WIS, +2 Stealth and Use Magic Device.
• Vampire King-born: +2 STR and INT, -2 DEX, +2 Persuasion and Knowledge (World).

Oread

Oreads are humans, but their ancestry includes a mixture of the blood of elemental beings. They are another new playable race that was added in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. Oreads have the following traits:

• Slow Movement (Dwarf-Blooded): Lower base speed (i.e., movement range in battles).
• Keen Senses: +2 Perception.
• Energy Resistance: +5 acid resistance.
• Acid Affinity: Increased difficulty check for enemies hit by acid-type spells.

For the heritage pick, I would suggest getting Ironsoul. You’ll get +2 CON and WIS, but -2 DEX. You can cast Lead Blades once per day, enchanting your equipped weapon as though it increased in size (i.e., higher damage).

Kitsune

The last new playable race added in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is the Kitsune. Ever wanted to play as a humanoid fox? Well, now you can. They have the following traits:

• Keen Senses: +2 Perception.
• Agile: +2 Mobility.
• Kitsune Magic: Increased difficulty check for enemies targetted by your spells; Light spell-like ability if you have 11 CHA (or 11 INT for Keen Kitsune).

Speaking of which, you do have the regular Kitsune and the Keen Kitsune. Both have +2 DEX and -2 STR. The difference is that the former has +2 CHA and the latter has +2 INT.

Other than races, there are a plethora of classes in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous to choose from in character creation that determines your play style.