DnD Elf 5E species guide

The DnD Elf race draws on a rich history that can be traced back into European folklore. The Elves’ mythical ancestors were both mysterious and capricious. The Alfr and Svartalfr of Norse folklore and the Seelie and Unseelie fairy courts of Celtic myth were capable of deadly whimsy or spite, as likely to ruin a human’s life as shower them in magical gifts.

The Elf 5E race is one of the iconic, core DnD races to be found in 5E’s fantasy worlds. This graceful, magical, and martial race has been part of the game since Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson’s very first edition in 1974. Comfortable in all DnD classes – and equally adept at wielding a sword, bow, or slinging fireballs – the Elf is a byword for fantasy, adventure, and mystery.

When Tolkien adapted them into the Elves of Middle-earth, he retained their sinister side as well as their regal nature. Elves were ancient, mysterious, aloof and not always heroic. This archetype is used in the whole fantasy genre, including for DnD Elves. Elves are better than you and they know it.

In DnD 5E, Elves have the ability and adaptability to fulfil any role. Your Elf already knows that they’re the most talented adventurer in the party. This guide will help you to prove it to the other players at your game.

The Elf race in One D&D

Before we take a look at the Elf 5E, let’s pause to consider the Elf of the future. By this, we mean the Elf race that’ll be included in the One D&D Player Handbook, due to release in 2024.

As ability scores will now be more tied to background than race, One D&D elves won’t have any innate Dexterity boosts. Many of their core features from 5E remain the same, though (as seen in the table above).

The three core subraces are now Elven Lineages. According to the playtest material, these grant specific abilities at first level, and the Elf now has access to certain DnD cantrips and 5e spells at levels one, three, and five.

The Elf race in DnD 5E

Although there are several elven subraces that reflect the myriad ways this ancient race has split and spread across the DnD multiverse, they all share common features that connect to their shared history. Elves are nimble, perceptive and strong-minded. While the links between race and DnD stats are being broken down by Wizards of the Coast, currently these are the Elf stats you need to know:

Elf subraces in DnD 5e

DnD Elf subraces in 5E cover multiple different histories and cultures. Many of these, such as the sylvan Wood Elves, regal High Elves and subterranean Dark Elves can be found across the many planes of the multiverse, while the Pallid Elves are native to the Critical Role setting ‘Exandria’ and found only in the small valley of the Pallid Grove.

Wood Elf

At one with nature, the Wood Elf is swift and secretive, able to disappear into the lightest foliage and close the distance with a foe far quicker than seems possible. The Wood Elf is a natural Ranger or Druid and a deadly Rogue who can hide in situations where others would find it impossible.

High Elf

The High Elves of DnD are urbane and civilised. Even the least High Elf has mastered the basics of magic. This power can make them haughty and imperious, looking down their noses at the short-lived other races. Want to be an Elf Wizard, or need a single specific cantrip to make a particularly janky novelty build work? Play a High Elf.

Drow

The Drow – a.k.a. Dark Elves – reside in the subterranean Underdark. Most of their kind serve the sinister spider Goddess Lolth, enslaving surface dwellers or scheming in the lightless depths of their cities. Some Drow adventurers follow a more noble path, including the famous Drizzt Do’Urden.

Pallid Elf

Many centuries past, the demon god Torog burrowed deep beneath a wooded valley in the Cyrios Mountains, drawing the vale into the earth to prey upon its Elvish inhabitants. While most believed these Elves extinct, in recent centuries their descendents – called Pallid Elves – have emerged into the world, their race protected by the goddess known as the Moon Weaver. You can find out more about these elusive elves in the Wildemount Gazetteer.

Elves of Eberron

The plane of Eberron is famous for its magical technology and the sentient Warforged constructs, but its Elven cultures have also been shaped by the history and technology of the world.

The region of Valenar was seized by an Elvish mercenary company during Eberron’s last great war, and is now their own Kingdom. Valenar Elves are warlike, and both High and Wood Elves of Valenar have weapon proficiency in scimitar and double-scimitar instead of with the longsword and shortsword.

Elves from the distant island of Arenal, called the Aereni Elves, are part of a civilization over 20,000 years old. They use their long lifespans to pursue utter mastery in even the most simple acts, and instead of Elven Weapon proficiencies, double their proficiency bonus with a single tool or skill.

Mark of Shadow Elf

Descendents of the noble House Phiarlan and House Thuranni may bear the ancestral Mark of Shadow. They are consummate performers and gifted in the art of stealth, making them ideal court performers and court spies. Spellcasters who bear the mark gain access to additional Illusion spells in addition to their class spell list.

Elves in Mordenkainen’s Monsters of the Multiverse

Three elven subraces were listed in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, but this has been discontinued by Wizards of the Coast.

The newer Mordenkainen’s Monsters of the Multiverse provides rules for them, but they work a little differently to how they did before. They are statted as independent races instead of subraces, though if a rule says it affects Elves, it still affects these descendants.

Eladrin

Eladrin are native to the Feywild, a parallel plane of vibrant natural energy and whimsy that many believe is the true origin of the elves. They are the closest in temperament to the Fair Folk of European folklore, elusive and aloof spirits whose glamour and magic disguises darker depths.

Eladrin are attuned to the emotional energy of the different seasons, and can harness the bountiful magic of their native plane to blink from one place to another, bursting forth with the latent magic of their season.

Shadar-kai

The Shadar-Kai dwell in the Shadowfell, a grim parallel plane of deathly energy and sinister aspect. Their racial connection to the Feywild has been almost completely overwritten by the tenebrous power of the Shadowfell.

Like their Eladrin cousins they can teleport, but this renders them ghostly and incorporeal. Attuned to a plane of negative energy, necromantic magic has little chance of harming these elves.

Sea Elves

Across the multiverse, Elves have recognised the beauty of the open ocean. Between their magic, long-lives and whimsical nature it’s unsurprising that many elven cultures have adapted to a life underwater. Sea Elves can swim and breathe underwater and are understood by natural marine creatures. Sea Elves are part Tolkien, part Aquaman.