Elf 5e: Traits, Elven Lineages (Drow, High Elf, Wood Elf) and Best Builds (2024)
Elves in the 2024 rules are Medium humanoids with a 30-foot speed, 60-foot Darkvision, Advantage on saves against being Charmed, a 4-hour Trance instead of sleep and one skill from Insight, Perception or Survival. Their lineage (drow, high elf or wood elf) adds a cantrip at level 1 and free spells at levels 3 and 5.
What traits does an elf get in 5e?
The elf is a species of small, useful perks: free spells, a skill, darkvision and protection from charm. None of them wins a fight alone, but together they make an elf good at almost any job. If you need a name with the right ring, the D&D name generator rolls elven names.
| Trait | 2024 rules (PHB 2024 / SRD 5.2) | 2014 rules (PHB 2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Creature type and size | Humanoid, Medium (about 5 to 6 feet) | Humanoid, Medium |
| Speed | 30 ft. (35 ft. for wood elves) | 30 ft. (35 ft. for wood elves) |
| Ability scores | From your background | +2 Dexterity, plus subrace bonus |
| Darkvision | 60 ft. (120 ft. for drow) | 60 ft. (120 ft. for drow) |
| Fey Ancestry | Advantage on saves to avoid or end Charmed | Advantage on saves against being charmed; magic can't put you to sleep |
| Keen Senses | Proficiency in Insight, Perception or Survival | Proficiency in Perception |
| Trance | No sleep needed; magic can't put you to sleep; Long Rest in 4 hours | 4 hours of meditation gives the benefit of 8 hours of sleep |
| Lineage / subrace | Drow, High Elf or Wood Elf: cantrip at level 1, spells at 3 and 5 | High elf, wood elf or drow with different extras (below) |
Languages come from character creation in 2024 (Common plus two). The 2014 elf knows Common and Elvish.
What are the elven lineages in 2024?
Pick one lineage at level 1. You get its cantrip right away, then a 1st-level spell at character level 3 and a 2nd-level spell at character level 5. You always have those spells prepared, can cast each once per Long Rest without a spell slot, and can also cast them with any slots you have. Choose Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma as the spellcasting ability when you pick the lineage, normally the same one your class uses.
| Lineage | Level 1 | Level 3 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drow | Darkvision 120 ft.; Dancing Lights | Faerie Fire | Darkness |
| High Elf | Prestidigitation (swap for any wizard cantrip on a Long Rest) | Detect Magic | Misty Step |
| Wood Elf | Speed 35 ft.; Druidcraft | Longstrider | Pass without Trace |
Wood elf: the best all-rounder
An extra 5 feet of speed every turn adds up, especially for melee characters and monks. The real prize is Pass without Trace at level 5: a +10 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks for the whole party within 30 feet. It turns the clanking paladin into a competent sneak and makes surprise attacks routine. Longstrider at level 3 adds another 10 feet of speed for an hour.
High elf: the caster's choice
The cantrip is the flexible part. Prestidigitation is the default, but every Long Rest you can swap it for any wizard cantrip. A high elf fighter can carry Shocking Grasp or Chill Touch on a dungeon day, then swap to Minor Illusion or Mending for a day of travel. Misty Step at level 5 is the best spell any lineage offers: a Bonus Action 30-foot teleport out of a grapple or away from the barbarian.
Drow: the controller
120-foot darkvision sees farther than any torch-carrying human. Faerie Fire at level 3 is a strong free spell: creatures in a 20-foot cube that fail a Dexterity save glow, and attack rolls against them have Advantage. Darkness at level 5 is tricky. It blinds your allies too, so pair it with a warlock who has Devil's Sight or use it to block enemy archers' line of sight. The 2014 drow suffered Sunlight Sensitivity; the 2024 drow does not, so there is no longer a penalty for picking it.
How do elves rest in 5e?
Elves don't sleep. They meditate in a trance and stay conscious the whole time, and they can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours instead of 8. Magic that puts creatures to sleep, such as the Sleep spell, simply doesn't work on them.
At the table, that means an elf can take two watches, or keep watch while the party sleeps and still be fully rested at dawn. One common mistake: the trance doesn't let the elf finish a Long Rest twice in one day. The usual limit still applies: in 2014 you benefit from only one Long Rest per 24 hours, and in 2024 you must wait 16 hours after finishing one before starting another. See short rests and long rests for the rest rules in detail.
How does Fey Ancestry work?
You roll saving throws against the Charmed condition with Advantage, both the first save and any repeat save to end it. Charm effects are common from mid levels on: vampires, sirens, fey, enchanters and spells like Charm Person and Dominate Person. With Advantage, a save that needs an 11 rises from 50% to 75%. In 2014, Fey Ancestry also gave immunity to magical sleep; in 2024 that moved to Trance, so the result is the same.
What are the 2014 elf subraces?
If your table plays the 2014 Player's Handbook, the subraces work differently:
- High elf: +1 Intelligence, proficiency with longswords, shortswords, shortbows and longbows, one wizard cantrip (Intelligence-based) and one extra language.
- Wood elf: +1 Wisdom, the same weapon training, 35-foot speed, and Mask of the Wild (you can try to hide when only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow or mist).
- Drow: +1 Charisma, 120-foot darkvision, proficiency with rapiers, shortswords and hand crossbows, Dancing Lights, Faerie Fire at 3rd level and Darkness at 5th level (Charisma-based), and Sunlight Sensitivity.
The 2014 elf's +2 Dexterity made it a natural rogue, ranger or archer. In 2024, ability scores come from your background, so any class works.
What are the best classes for an elf?
- Ranger: wood elf ranger is the classic for a reason. Survival or Perception from Keen Senses, extra speed, and Pass without Trace for the whole party.
- Rogue: Perception proficiency plus darkvision makes a great scout. A drow rogue's Faerie Fire gives the party Advantage, and Advantage turns on Sneak Attack.
- Wizard: high elf adds Misty Step to your spell list without spending a known spell, and the cantrip swap gives you extra flexibility.
- Monk: wood elf speed stacks with Unarmored Movement, and Pass without Trace fits a stealthy monk.
- Warlock: drow Darkness plus the Devil's Sight invocation lets you see inside your own cloud while enemies can't.
Quick build: wood elf ranger (level 1)
- Lineage: Wood Elf, with Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (the ranger's own).
- Keen Senses: Perception (rangers can pick Survival from the class list).
- Background: a background that includes Dexterity and Wisdom, such as Guide in the 2024 Player's Handbook; put +2 Dexterity and +1 Wisdom.
- Scores (standard array plus background): Strength 10, Dexterity 17, Constitution 14, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 14, Charisma 12.
- Weapon: longbow, attack bonus +5, 1d8 + 3 damage (7.5 average).
Roll your scores with the stat roller if your table rolls, or generate a full sheet with the character generator.
Is the elf a good species in 5e?
Yes, and the 2024 version is a clear upgrade. Every elf now gets three free spells from its lineage, the drow lost its sunlight penalty, and Keen Senses lets you pick the skill that fits your character. The elf is strongest when you plan around its lineage spells; if you just want raw toughness, look at the dwarf, and for mental save protection, the gnome. All the options are side by side on the species page.
FAQ
What are the elf subraces in 5e 2024?
The 2024 Player's Handbook calls them lineages: Drow, High Elf and Wood Elf. Each gives a level 1 benefit (a cantrip, plus 120-foot darkvision for drow or 35-foot speed for wood elves) and a free spell at levels 3 and 5.
Do drow have sunlight sensitivity in 2024?
No. The 2024 drow lineage has no Sunlight Sensitivity. The 2014 drow had Disadvantage on attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks in direct sunlight.
How long does an elf need to rest in 5e?
An elf can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours of trance-like meditation instead of 8 hours. Elves do not need to sleep and magic cannot put them to sleep.
What is the best elf lineage?
Wood elf is the strongest for most martial characters thanks to 35-foot speed and Pass without Trace. High elf suits wizards and anyone who wants Misty Step, and drow is great for controllers who like Faerie Fire.
Do elves get proficiency in Perception?
In the 2014 rules, yes, always. In the 2024 rules, Keen Senses lets you pick proficiency in Insight, Perception or Survival.
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