Elf

Note

In order to make the existing 5e ancestries balanced with the ones presented in these rules, we’ve made adjustments to the existing 5e ancestries. You can play with the original ancestries as originally presented, but if you want to utilize the Major/Minor Feature system, we’ve redesigned them here.

These ancestries replace the official 5e races. Some have been rolled up into larger categories, like the reptilian category capturing kobolds, lizardfolk, and snakefolk.

Elf Traits

• Ability Score Increase. You gain a +2 and +1 bonus to two different ability scores of your choice, or +1 to three different ones.
• Age. Elves reach adulthood at the same rate as humans, but live much longer. Elves can live up to 750 years.
• Size. Elves have the same sizes as humans. Your size is Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish.

Major Features

Choose two of the following major features. You can exchange one major feature for two additional minor features. You can only choose one option with the (Magic) tag.

• Deep Elf Magic (Magic). You know the dancing lights cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You don’t require material components for these spells. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
• Elven Accuracy. You can gain advantage on a single attack roll. After you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
• Fey Step. As a bonus action, you can teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. After you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
• High Elf Magic (Magic). You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the detect magic spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the levitate spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You don’t require material components for these spells. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
• Wood Elf Magic (Magic). You know the druidcraft cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the longstrider spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the pass without trace spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. You don’t require material components for these spells. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Minor Features

Choose two of the following minor features, or four if you only chose one major feature.

• Blend with Nature. You can Hide when only lightly obscured by natural foliage and terrain, instead of needing to be heavily obscured.
• Combat Training. You have proficiency with two weapons of your choice.
• Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
• Fast Movement. Your base walking speed increases by 5 feet.
• Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
• Fluent. You can speak, read, and write two additional languages of your choice.
• Introductory Magic. You know one cantrip of your choice. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for it, your choice.
• Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
• Superior Darkvision (Requires darkvision). Your darkvision increases to 120 feet.
• Swim Speed. You have a swim speed of 30 feet.
• Trained Tools. You have proficiency in two tools of your choice.
• Trance. You don’t need to sleep. Instead, you meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. While meditating, you can still dream. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.