As one of the most archetypical tabletop RPGs of all time, Dungeons & Dragons is a game synonymous with the fantasy genre itself, containing a vast array of iconic species and monsters. Of the species in Dungeons & Dragons, few are as deeply rooted in the game as elves.
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While elves have long been a mainstay of the fantasy genre, D&D is home to several diverse types of elves that are notably distinct from those of Tolkien. As elves are such an integral facet of D&D, we’re going to explore the various types of elves, their lore, and what makes them mechanically distinct.
Updated on January 16, 2025 by Jack Filsinger: With the release of the 2024 Player’s Handbook and Spelljammer: Adventures in Space, new types of elven species have been released as well as some old rules updated. We’ve updated this guide to ensure all the types of elves in DND are represented.
What Differences Are There For Elves In The 2024 PHB?
While players can still use both versions of elves between the 2014 Player’s Handbook and the 2024 Player’s Handbook (at your DM’s discretion), there are some key differences between the 2014 sourcebook and the 2024 version.
- Shared Rules – Instead of each elven lineage having its own different ruleset, most elves now have a few key things in common like their skill proficiencies and ability to long rest in just four hours.
- Choosing An Elven Lineage – Beyond these common traits, when you select an elven lineage from the 2024 Player’s Handbook like wood or drow, you gain different benefits at levels one, three, and five, depending on which one you choose.
High Elves
|
Source Book |
2024 Player’s Handbook |
|---|---|
|
Key Features |
Prestidigitation cantrip plus additional spells at higher levels |
|
Realm |
The Feywild |
When some D&D players think of elves as a whole, high elves may be what initially comes to mind. Sometimes, they are known as sun or moon elves in the Forgotten Realm setting.
Appearing within the 2024 Player’s Handbook, high elves are known for their cunning and magical capabilities, regardless of whether a given elf is of a spellcasting class. They have been infused with the magic of both the Feywild and the Material Plane, and the crossings between.
While some of these elves are known for their haughty attitudes, believing in the superiority of elves, there are just as many who are known for their friendliness and are commonly found living among species other than elves.
High elves, like all elves, have advantage on saving throws made to avoid or end the charmed condition and can finish a long rest in four hours. They also have access to specific species-based spells.
|
Player Level |
Spell Known |
|
Level One |
Prestidigitation, can be replaced every long rest with a different wizard cantrip |
|
Level Three |
Detect Magic |
|
Level Five |
Misty Step |
Wood Elves
|
Source Book |
2024 Player’s Handbook |
|---|---|
|
Key Features |
Speed increase, Druidcraft |
|
Realm |
The Feywild |
Also known as wild elves, green elves, or forest elves, this is another classic type of elf found within the Player’s Handbook. As their name would suggest, wood elves are native to forests and are known for their instincts and intuition.
Unlike some high elves, many wood elves tend to be rather reclusive, being wary of species other than elves.
As a species native to forests, these creatures are known for their deft speed and their ability to blend in with the wilderness, utilizing natural camouflage. These traits are seen within the mechanics of this species as wood elves tote an above-average 35-foot movement speed. They also gain the following spells at certain levels.
|
Player Level |
Spell Known |
|
Level One |
Druidcraft |
|
Level Three |
Longstrider |
|
Level Five |
Pass without Trace |
Wood elves take on other forms in different settings. For example, the Greyhawk setting features Grugach. If you’re playing in a specific campaign setting, talk to your DM about which version of wood elf is right for your table.
Dark Elves (Drow)
|
Source Book |
2024 Player’s Handbook |
|---|---|
|
Key Features |
Extended Darkvision |
|
Realm |
The Feywild, The Underdark |
Descendants of Lolth, the goddess of spiders, the dark elves (also known as drow) are a species of people that traditionally live underground, deep within the Underdark. According to the teachings of Lolth, the traditional drow society is matriarchal and made up of high houses that ruthlessly attempt to climb the hierarchy at any cost.
For much of D&D’s history, the drow have been viewed as an antagonistic force featured within the Monster Manual and Monsters of the Multiverse alike. However, there are also many good-aligned drow such as the iconic ranger, Drizzt Do’Urden, and those that leave the Underdark, but still carry its magic with them.
In the Eberron setting, the drow don’t live in the Underdark, but instead in rainforests and cyclopean ruins found in the distant continent of Xen’drik.
Mechanically, the species notably has extended Darkvision (out to 120 feet) at the cost of sunlight sensitivity (in the 2014 Player’s Handbook).
|
Player Level |
Spell Known |
|
Level One |
Druidcraft |
|
Level Three |
Longstrider |
|
Level Five |
Pass without Trace |
Eladrin
|
Source Book |
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse |
|---|---|
|
Key Features |
Seasonal affinity, teleportation abilities vary based on which season |
|
Realm |
The Feywild, The Material Plane |
While all elves can trace their origins back to the Feywild, the eladrin are found within both the Material Plane as well as within the Feywild. While elves already are known for having some of the oldest civilizations of any species, eladrin are said to have some of the oldest cities of any type of elf.
One of the most noteworthy factors about the eladrin is the manner in which their emotional states are directly connected to the seasons. As seasons change, so does an eladrin’s appearance and demeanor, taking on characteristics reflective of a given season. For example, while an eladrin in their winter form may be cold and reserved, the very same eladrin may be notably jubilant and expressive in their spring form.
While some eladrin change as the seasons do, there are others who choose to stay within the same form all year round. Also, there are others who change their forms several times a week to match their current mental state.
All of these features have an impact on the game, of course. Mechanically, these elves have access to a stellar teleportation ability known as Fey Step, providing different benefits based on the eladrin’s current form. Additionally, whenever an eladrin concludes a long rest, they are capable of changing their seasonal form.
Shadar-Kai
|
Source Book |
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse |
|---|---|
|
Key Features |
Magical teleportation, resistance to necrotic damage |
|
Realm |
The Shadowfell |
While eladrin are emotion-driven elves with an inherent connection to the Feywild, shadar-kai are the exact opposite: elves of the gloomy plane of the Shadowfell. The Shadar-kai traditionally serve as followers of the enigmatic Raven Queen, a god that resides within the plane.
Toting incredibly pale complexions, they might look just as perpetually youthful as other elves when within the Material Plane. However, they look notably older and time-worn when within the Shadowfell. While the eladrin are inherently tied to their emotional states, the shadar kai often appear to be devoid of emotion altogether — though this isn’t necessarily the case.
Mechanically, not only are these elves capable of teleporting in a manner comparable to an eladrin, but when they do, they gain resistance to all damage types until their next turn.
Sea Elves
|
Source Book |
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse |
|---|---|
|
Key Features |
Underwater breathing as well as communication with aquatic animals and peoples |
|
Realm |
Elemental Plane of Water |
As their name would suggest, sea elves are amphibious elves that are at home within hidden communities within the ocean and within the Elemental Plane of Water. Blue-skinned elves, this species has a deep-rooted mutual animosity with the Sahuagin. Throughout the history of the multiverse, it is said that sea elves have explored the seas of many Planes of reality.
Moving to their mechanics, the sea elves have several benefits that make them well-suited for aquatic campaigns, including the ability to breathe underwater, a swimming speed, resistance to cold damage, and the ability to communicate ideas with any beast as long as it also has a swimming speed!
Astral Elves
|
Source Book |
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space |
|---|---|
|
Key Features |
Teleportation via Starlight Step, and access to divine cantrips |
|
Realm |
Astral Sea |
Travelers of the Astral Sea, astral elves do not dream and have no need for basic mortal necessities like sleep, food, or drink. They are also immortal, meaning their sense of time is heavily warped. In addition, astral elves can tap into the knowledge of the Astral Sea and pick up skills and weapon proficiencies each long rest.
Some great class options for astral elves include artificers and wizards, or any high-intelligence-based character. If you’re playing a campaign that doesn’t feature the Astral Sea as a location, talk to your DM about how to incorporate your astral elf’s backstory into the world of their campaign.
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