Elves start out with more base mana from character creation then other races.
Elves get more potential mana from skills in total then giants.
According to 2011 wiki history:
Current Human/Elf Total: 704 Mana (Potential 808 Mana)
Current Giant Total: 664 Mana (Potential 768 Mana)
Not by much, regardless pots mitigate the need to worry about mana.
Elves get more potential int from skills in total then other races.
According to 2011 wiki history:
Current Human: 734 Int (Potential 801 Int)
Current Elf Total: 748 Int (Potential 815 Int)
Current Giant Total: 726 Int (Potential 793 Int)
There's barely any difference.
Elves have Mirage Missile, wich is a ranged/magic hybrid attack since the poison damage scales of your int.
Elves have Elven Magic Missile while in transformation wich is also a ranged/magic hybrid attack exclusive to them.
These are range skills, which shouldn't be talked about tbh bc magnum makes them look like trash regardless.
As for why certain magic spells cost more for elves then for the other races the only thing that springs to my mind is for "balance" purposes. Mainly because the advantage from their movement speed allows elves to kite enemies with magic without the use of pets. Something that is way more difficult to do with the other races.
This isn't true, I've kitted easily with my human, that depends on your connection