Elves average 5 feet tall and typically weigh just over 100 pounds. They live on fruits and grains, though they occasionally hunt for fresh meat. Elves prefer colorful clothes, usually with a green-and-gray cloak that blends well with the colors of the forest.
Elves speak Elven, and most also know Common and Sylvan.
In the Forgotten Realms setting, there are a handful of different elven subraces. Below are detailed the Aquatic, Moon, Sun, Wild, and Wood elves. Avariel and Star elves are so rare that they won't be detailed for this bestiary.
Most elves encountered outside their homes are warriors; the most common elves in the Forgotten Realms are the Moon elves. The information presented here is for one such moon elf of 1st level in the warrior npc class.
ELF
Medium Humanoid (Elf )
Elf, 1st-Level Warrior
Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 Dex, +3 studded leather, +1 light shield), touch 11, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
Attack: Longsword +2 melee (1d8+1/19–20) or longbow +3 ranged (1d8/x3)
Full Attack: Longsword +2 melee(1d8+1/19–20) or longbow +3 ranged (1d8/x3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: None
Special Qualities: Elven traits
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +1, Will –1*
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +1, Listen +2, Search +3, Spot +2
Feats: Weapon Focus (longbow)
Environment: Temperate forest
(Aquatic: Temperate aquatic)
(Gray: Temperate mountains)
(Wild: Warm forests)
(Wood: Temperate forests)
Organization: Squad (2–4), company (11–20 plus 2 3rd-level sergeants and 1 leader of 3rd–6th level), or band (30–100 plus 20% noncombatants plus 1 3rd-level sergeant per 10 adults, 5 5th-level lieutenants, and 3 7th-level captains)
Challenge Rating: 1/2
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic good
(Wood: Usually neutral)
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +0
COMBAT
Elves are cautious warriors and take time to analyze their opponents and the location of the fight if at all possible, maximizing their advantage by using ambushes, snipers, and camouflage. They prefer to fire from cover and retreat before they are found, repeating this maneuver until all of their enemies are dead.
They prefer longbows, shortbows, rapiers, and longswords. In melee, elves are graceful and deadly, using complex maneuvers that are beautiful to observe. Their wizards often use sleep spells during combat because these won’t affect other elves.
Moon Elf Traits (Ex):
— +2 Dexterity, –2 Constitution.
—Medium size.
—An elf ’s base land speed is 30 feet.
—Immunity to sleep spells and effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects.(Not reflected in the saving throw modifiers given here.)
—Low-light vision.
—Weapon Proficiency: Elves are automatically proficient with the longsword, rapier, longbow, composite longbow, shortbow, and composite shortbow.
— +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. An elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.
—Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, home region. Bonus Languages: Auran, Chondathan, Gnoll, Ghome, Halfling, Illuskan, Sylvan.
—Favored Class: Wizard.
SUBRACES
The above information describes the moon elf, the most common variety. Below are the other major subraces of elf, who share enough elven characteristics to be included here.
Aquatic Elf
Also called sea elves, these creatures are waterbreathing cousins to land-dwelling elves.
Aquatic elves fight underwater with tridents, spears, and nets.
Aquatic Elf Traits (Ex):
These traits are in addition to the moon elf traits, except where noted.
— +2 Dexterity, –2 Intelligence. These adjustments replace the high elf ’s ability score adjustments.
—An aquatic elf has the aquatic subtype.
—An aquatic elf has a swim speed of 40 feet.
—Gills: Aquatic elves can survive out of the water for 1 hour per point of Constitution (after that, refer to the suffocation rules).
—Superior Low-Light Vision: Aquatic elves can see four times as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of low illumination. This trait replaces the moon elf ’s low-light vision.
- Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, home region. Bonus Languages: Aquan, Draconic, Giant.
—Favored Class: Fighter. This trait replaces the moon elf ’s favored class.
Sun Elf
Taller and grander in physical appearance than others of their race, sun elves have a reputation for being aloof and arrogant (even by elven standards). They have either silver hair and amber eyes or pale golden hair and violet eyes. They prefer clothing of white, silver, yellow, or gold, with cloaks of deep blue or purple.
Sun Elf Traits (Ex):
- +2 Intelligence, -2 Constitution. These adjustments replace the high elf ’s ability score adjustments.
- Automatic Languages: Elven, Common, home region. Bonus Languages: Auran, Celestial, Chondathan, Gnome, Halfling, Illuskan, Sylvan.
Wild Elf
Wild elves are barbaric and tribal. Wild elves’ hair color ranges from black to light brown, lightening to silvery white with age. They dress in simple clothing of animal skins and basic plant weaves.
Wild Elf Traits (Ex):
— +2 Dexterity, –2 Intelligence. These adjustments replace the moon elf ’s ability score adjustments.
- Automatic Languages: Elven, Common, home region. Bonus Languages: Auran, Celestial, Chondathan, Gnome, Halfling, Illuskan, Sylvan.
—Favored Class: Sorcerer. This trait replaces the moon elf ’s favored class.
Wood Elf
Their hair color ranges from yellow to a coppery red, and they are more muscular than other elves. Their clothing is in dark shades of green and earth tones to better blend in with their natural surroundings.
Wood Elf Traits (Ex):
— +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, –2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma. These adjustments replace the high elf ’s ability score adjustments.
-Automatic Languages: Elven, Common, home region. Bonus Languages: Chondathan, Draconic, Gnome, Goblin, Gnoll, Sylvan.
—Favored Class: Ranger. This trait replaces the moon elf ’s favored class.
