Elf, Wood

Wood Elf Upbringing

A Wood Elf not raised by or among their people may have different traits than those described below. If you wish to have a different upbringing for your character—an Elf raised by Halflings, for example—consult with the DM.

  • Arcane Lineage – Wood Elves know the Druidcraft cantrip at level 1; this cantrip can be cast a number of times equal to their Proficiency Bonus without using a cantrip slot, and they regain all expended uses upon completing a Short Rest or a Long Rest. They then learn additional spells at levels 3 (Longstrider) and 5 (Pass Without Trace); Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is their spellcasting ability for these spells, chosen at character creation. Each is always prepared and can be cast once per Long Rest without using a spell slot.
  • Elven Weapon Training – Wood Elves have Proficiency with bolas, glaives, longbows, scimitars, and shortswords.
  • Mask of the Wild – A Wood Elf can attempt to hide even when only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena, and have Advantage on their Stealth checks when making them in a recognizably boreal environment.

A Wood Elf raised among their own kin will speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other cultures. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires. The written form of Elvish uses a flowing script called Espruar.

Elven Names

Wood Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults sometime after their hundredth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names. On declaring adulthood, an Elf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each Elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every Elf bears a family name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some Elves traveling among Humans translate their family names into Common.

Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall

Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis

Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Naïlo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)

With their unearthly grace and fine features, Elves appear hauntingly beautiful to most other humanoids. Wood Elves tend to be more heavily-muscled than High Elves, having frames which are more akin to Humans, albeit often leaner due to their woodland diets and lifestyles.

Elves typically have no facial and little body hair. Wood Elves favor plain clothing in natural colors, and share their High Elven kin’s enjoyment of simple yet lovely jewelry.

Wood Elves of the Sword Coast

Elves in Faerûn come in a few different subtypes—some more common on the Sword Coast than others—and they each have different traits and outlooks on the role their people play in the world. Elves are descended from creatures who left the realm of Feywild many thousands of years ago, but still bear with them some of that magical and otherworldly heritage.

Wood Elves seldom leave their woodland homes. They often view the more-common Moon Elves as too willing to embrace non-Elven cultures, while also viewing the aloof Sun Elves as too rigid in their traditions. They consider both Moon Elves and Sun Elves to be dangerously arrogant with magic.

Wood Elves, sometimes called Copper Elves or Green Elves, tend to be between 4½ and 6 feet tall. Their skin tones range from ruddy copper to a greenish tinge, their hair is often red, brown, or black, and their eyes favor shades of hazel, green, and brown. 

Wood Elf Traits

An Elf has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of Elven refinement.

Age

Although Elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. A Wood Elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and live an average of 750 years, though wizened examples have reached a millennia.

Size

Wood Elves range from 4½ to 6 feet tall and can have slender or stocky builds. Their size is Medium.

Speed

A Wood Elf’s base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

A Wood Elf has Darkvision to 60 feet.

Fey Ancestry

High Elves have Advantage on saving throws against being Charmed.

Keen Senses

Wood Elves have Proficiency in the Insight, Perception, or Survival skill.

Reverie

Elves typically enter a state of meditation called reverie instead of sleeping. Under normal circumstances, an Elf doesn’t need to sleep—though they can choose to do so—but they often do sleep when injured badly enough that they lack the mental capacity to reach reverie, such as beginning a Long Rest with the Unconscious condition or if stricken with a spell effect which has reduced their Wisdom modifier.

If an Elf spends 4 hours in reverie, they gain the benefits of a Long Rest. They can choose to spend that time in a dream-like state of meditation, or they can  enter a trance-like state and retain consciousness throughout.

Sleep Immunity

Under most circumstances, a Wood Elf is immune to magical sleep.