The Pure Mage is the basic build for a magic oriented character. In my personal experience, they also make great Battle Mages, though this can be a hard task. You can choose to make a Breton a more durable class like a Paladin, Death Knight, Wizard or Magi-Assassin.
The Bretons are good as pure Mages, but they are the most dangerous and powerful when played as one of the hybrid classes. They can also absorb magic attack thanks to the racial spell 'Dragonskin,' making Bretons more durable against magic users. This is a jack of all trades magic race, which makes them especially good for the hybrid Mage classes. Bretonīretons get a +10 in Conjuration, +5 in Alteration, Restoration, Illusion, Alchemy, and Speech. They lack a good defense in comparison to other races but you can sacrifice some damage for some armor, or apply a magic defensive spell. The Altmer are the best option for a player willing to take the risk of being a Pure Mage, but they can be also good as Battle Mages, Conjurers, Wizards, Necromancers, Dark Knights and Paladins.
This kind of advantage is amazing for any magic wielder. The High Elves begin with a +10 in Illusion and +5 in Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Enchanting, and Restoration schools of magic.
