Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous has a staggering number of playable races, each with its own unique abilities. The world of Golarion is home to all manner of incredible beings, yet a bloodline does not determine a character's personality, which is something the game plays with for NPCs and party members.
Unlike the races in the current edition of Dungeons & Dragons, there are some races in Pathfinder that are better suited to certain classes than others. This is because some races incur stat penalties, which can make it more difficult to play specific classes. Players shouldn't let this deter them, as Wrath of the Righteous has a number of difficulty options that can make things easier, so they should play the character they want to play without worrying about min-maxing.
Wrath of the Righteous lets players choose from the fantasy world staples, like elves and dwarves, but there are more outlandish choices on offer, such as the dhampir, who share the powers of the undead, or kitsune, which are the shapeshifting creatures straight out of Japanese mythology. There are tons of choices on offer, so players can note all their benefits and penalties.
Humans in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
The humans of Golarion are the all-rounders of Pathfinders: Wrath of the Righteous and are perfect for new players who just want to jump into the game. A human character can add +2 to any single stat at creation, and they have Skilled, which allows them to gain a bonus skill rank at every level, including first. This makes humans a great choice for any class.
Elves in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
The elves of Golarion are similar to the long-lived folk of other fantasy worlds. They get +2 to Dexterity and Intelligence, and -2 to Constitution. Elves have the Keen Senses trait (+2 to Perception), Elven Magic (+2 to checks to overcome Spell Resistance and +2 on checks to identify magic items), Elven Immunities (+2 to saving throws against enchantment effects), and Elven Weapon Familiarity (they are proficient with longbows, longswords, rapiers, and shortbows).
The Blightborn heritage for Elves loses Elven Magic and Elven Immunities, but they gain +2 to saving throws against necromancy spells & effects, and +1 to attack rolls against demons. The Loremaster heritage loses Elven Magic and Keen Senses, but they gain +2 to Knowledge (Arcana) and Use Magic Item checks.
Dwarves in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
The dwarves of Golarion are the hardy folk of similar fantasy settings. They get +2 to Constitution and Wisdom, but -2 to Charisma. Their abilities are Slow and Steady (base speed is 20 ft, but it's not lowered by heavy gear), Stability (+4 to CMD checks against bull rush/trips), Hardy (+2 to saving throws against poison effects), Defensive Training - Giants (+4 AC against giants), Hatred - Orcs and Goblinoids (+1 to attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids), Keen Senses (+2 to Perception), and Dwarven Weapon Familiarity (proficient with battleaxes, heavy picks, and warhammers).
The Barrow Dwarf heritage loses Keen Sense, Defensive Training, and Hatred, but gains +1 AC when fighting the undead, and +2 to Lore (Religion). The Unstoppable Dwarf heritage loses Keen Senses, Defensive Training, and Stability, but gains the Endurance Feat and a +1 to Fortitude saves.
Gnomes in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Gnomes in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous are tricksters and masters of the arcane arts and the sciences. They get +2 to Constitution and Charisma, but -2 to Strength. Their abilities are Keen Senses (+2 to Perception), Defensive Training - Giants (+4 AC against giants), Hatred - Reptilian Humanoids (+1 to attack rolls against reptilians and goblinoids), Illusion Resistance (+2 saving throws against illusions), Gnome Magic (+1 to DC of illusion spells), Obsessive (+2 to Knowledge - World), and Slow Movement (base speed is 20 ft). The Pyromaniac heritage loses Gnome Magic and Illusion Resistance, but they gain Fire Resistance 5 and +1 to DC of fire spells.
Halflings in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Halflings are the wanderers and explorers of the land of Golarion. They get +2 to Dexterity and Charisma, but -2 to Strength. Their abilities include Fearless (+2 to saving throws against fear effects), Slow Movement (base speed is 20 ft), Sure-Footed (+2 to Athletics and Mobility), Halfling Luck (+1 to all saving throws), and Keen Senses (+2 to Perception).
The Craven heritage loses Fearless (which is replaced with a -2 penalty to fear saves) and Halfling Luck, but they gain +2 to Reflex saving throws and are only ever shaken instead of frightened. The Hasty heritage loses Sure-Footed and Fearless, but gains +2 to initiative rolls and increases base speed to 30 ft.
Half-Elves in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Half-elves are the children of human and elven parents. They gain +2 to any one stat from their Human side, and the Keen Senses and Elven Immunities of their Elven side. The Basic heritage gives them Adaptability (the Skill Focus feat), the Dual Heritage gives them Elven Magic, and Kindred-Raised loses Keen Senses and Elven Immunities, but gives them +2 to Charisma.
Half-Orcs in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Half-orcs are the children of humans and orcs. They get +2 to any stat and the Skilled ability from the Human side, Intimidating (+2 to Persuasion), Orc Weapon Familiarity (proficient with greataxes and falchions), Orc Ferocity (can fight for one more round if brought below 0 hit points), and Keen Senses (+2 to Perception).
The Human-Raised heritage loses Orc Ferocity and Weapon Familiarity but gains an additional Skilled. The Tribal heritage loses Orc Ferocity and Keen Senses but gains +1 to all saving throws and +2 to Lore (Nature)
Aasimars in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Like the Aasimar in D&D 5e, Aasimar in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous are humans with the blood of angels running through their veins. They have the Light Halo (+2 to saving throws against blind & dazzled) and Celestial Resistance (5 resistance to acid, cold, and electricity). The Aasimar heritage gains +2 to Wisdom and Charisma, +2 to Persuasion and Perception, and can cast searing light once per day.
The Angelkin heritage gains +2 to Strength and Charisma, +2 to Lore (Religion) and Use Magic Device, and can cast lesser restoration once per day. The Emberkin heritage gains +2 to Intelligence and Charisma, +2 to Lore (Religion) and Knowledge (Arcana), and can cast burning arc once per day. The Idylkin heritage gains +2 to Dexterity and Wisdom, +2 to Mobility and Athletics, and can cast invisibility once per day. The Lawbringer heritage gains +2 to Constitution and Wisdom, +2 to Persuasion and Perception, and can cast hold person once per day. The Musetouched heritage gain +2 to Dexterity and Charisma, +2 to Persuasion and Mobility, and can cast glitterdust once per day. Finally, the Plumekitch heritage gain +2 to Dexterity and Wisdom, +2 to Mobility and Athletics, and can cast invisibility once per day.
Tieflings in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Tieflings are humans with the blood of fiends running through their veins. They have Fiendish Resistance (5 resistance to cold, fire, and electricity). The base Tiefling has +2 to Dexterity and Intelligence, -2 to Charisma, +2 to Persuasion and Stealth, and can cast resist energy once per day.
The Beastbrood Tiefling heritage has +2 to Dexterity and Charisma, -2 to Wisdom, +2 to Perception and Persuasion, can cast blindness once per day, and have 2 damage reduction to piercing. The Faultspawn heritage has +2 to Dexterity and Wisdom, -2 to Intelligence, +2 to Knowledge (Arcana) and (World), can cast hideous laughter once per day, and have +2 to saving throws against enchantment effects. The Foulspawn heritage has +2 to Constitution and Wisdom, -2 to Intelligence, +2 to Lore (Religion) and Persuasion, can cast cacophonous call once per day, and gain +1 to attack rolls against Clerics, Inquisitors, and Paladins. The Grimspawn heritage has +2 to Dexterity and Intelligence, -2 to Wisdom, +2 to Trickery and Persuasion, can cast frigid touch once per day, and gain acid resistance 5. The Hellspawn heritage has +2 to Constitution and Wisdom, -2 to Charisma, +2 to Perception and Persuasion, and can cast scorching ray once per day.
The Hungerseed heritage has +2 to Strength and Wisdom, -2 to Charisma, +2 to Persuasion, can cast invisibility once per day, and has +2 to CMC and CMD checks. The Motherless heritage has +2 to Strength and Wisdom, -2 to Intelligence, +2 to Lore (Nature) and Mobility, can cast blur once per day, and gain a 1d6 bite attack. The Pitborn heritage has +2 to Strength and Wisdom, -2 to Intelligence, +2 to Trickery and Persuasion, can cast stone call once per day, and gains +2 to critical confirmation rolls. The Shackleborn heritage has +2 to Constitution and Wisdom, -2 to Charisma, +2 to Mobility and Persuasion, can cast web once per day, and gain +1 natural armor bonus to their AC. Finally, the Spitespawn heritage has +2 to Dexterity and Charisma, -2 to Intelligence, +2 to Knowledge (World) and Persuasion, can cast sound burst once per day, and adds +1 to the save DC of their enchantment spells.
Oread in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Oread were part of the Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous stretch goals on Kickstarter. They have the blood of elemental beings who are connected to the earth. They have Slow Movement - Dwarf Blooded (base speed is 20 ft, but it's not lowered by encumbrance), Keen Senses (+2 to Perception), Energy Resistance (acid resistance 5), and Acid Affinity (+1 to save DC when using acid spells).
The base Oread has +2 to Strength and Wisdom, -2 to Charisma, and can cast stone fist once per day. The Gemsoul heritage has +2 to Strength and Charisma, -2 to Wisdom, and can cast color spray once per day. The Ironsoul heritage has +2 to Constitution and Wisdom, -2 to Dexterity, and can cast lead blades once per day.
Dhampir in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Dhampir are the children of human females and vampires. They are healed by negative energy and harmed by positive energy. They are unaffected by energy drain. Dhampir have Undead Resistance (+2 to saving throws against disease and mind-affecting effects).
The Dhampir heritage has +2 to Dexterity and Charisma, -2 to Constitution, and +2 to Persuasion and Perception. The Jiang Shi-born have +2 to Strength and Intelligence, -2 to Dexterity, and +2 to Mobility and Knowledge (World). The Moroi-Born heritage has +2 to Strength and Charisma, -2 to Constitution, and +2 to Persuasion and Knowledge (World). The Nosferatu-Born heritage has +2 to Strength and Wisdom, -2 to Constitution, and +2 to Athletics and Lore (Nature). The Vampire King-Born heritage has +2 Strength and Intelligence, -2 to Dexterity, and +2 to Persuasion and Knowledge (World). Finally, the Vetala-Born have +2 to Dexterity and Intelligence, -2 to Wisdom, and +2 to Stealth and Use Magic Device.
Kitsune in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Also part of the stretch goals on Kickstarter, Kitsune are magical shapeshifting fox people from Japanese mythology. The base Kitsune have +2 to Dexterity and Charisma, and -2 to Strength. They have Keen Senses (+2 to Perception), Agile (+2 to Mobility), Change Shape (transform into a human), and Kitsune Magic (+1 to DC of enchantment spells and a Charisma/Intelligence score of 11 lets them cast light three times per day). The Keen Kitsune heritage gains +2 to Dexterity and Intelligence, and -2 to Strength.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous launches PC on September 2, 2021, and is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on March 1, 2022.