Night elf (playable)

“

The ancient and reclusive night elves have played a pivotal role in shaping Azeroth’s fate throughout its history. More than ten thousand years ago, their heroics during the War of the Ancients helped stave off the demonic Burning Legion’s first invasion. When the scattered remnants of the Legion on Azeroth rallied together with the vile satyrs centuries later, the night elves again rose to meet the threat. The ensuing War of the Satyr exacted a heavy toll from the night elves, but ultimately they vanquished the forces that had set out to wreak havoc on their world. - Blizzard intro

”

   
Night elves

	
		
		
	
	
Icon of Wisdom
Character classes
Druid, Hunter, Priest, Rogue, Warrior,  Death Knight,  Mage,  Monk,  Demon Hunter
Main language
Darnassian
Secondary language
Common
Starting zone
Shadowglen, Teldrassil
Racial leader
 Tyrande Whisperwind
 Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage
Capital
Darnassus, Teldrassil
Racial mount
 Saber cat

A Night Elf Huntress

The Night Elves are one of the playable races in World of Warcraft. They start in Shadowglen, an area located inside the great tree Teldrassil.

For the Alliance, the druid class was exclusive to the Night Elves until the addition of the Worgen in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.

Background

For ten thousand years, the immortal night elves cultivated a druidic society within the shadowed recesses of Ashenvale Forest. Then the catastrophic invasion of the Burning Legion shattered the tranquility of their ancient civilization. Led by the Arch-Druid Malfurion Stormrage and the High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind, the mighty night elves rose to challenge the demonic onslaught. Aided by the newly arrived orcs and humans, the night elves succeeded in halting the Legion’s advance and defeating its master, the demonlord Archimonde. Though victorious, the night elves were forced to sacrifice their cherished immortality and watch their beloved forests burn.

In the aftermath of the horrific conflict, Malfurion and Tyrande helped their people rebuild their shattered villages. Slowly the night elves began to adjust to their mortal existence. Such an adjustment was far from easy, and there were many night elves who could not adjust to the prospects of aging, disease, and frailty. Seeking to regain their immortality, a number of wayward druids conspired to plant a special tree that would reestablish a link between their spirits and the eternal world. When Malfurion heard about this plan, he warned that nature would never bless such a selfish act. Shortly thereafter, Malfurion’s spirit was somehow lost within the depths of the Emerald Dream. Though his fellow druids attempted to find his wandering spirit, only his body remained sleeping within his Barrow Den.

With Malfurion missing, Fandral Staghelm – the leader of those who wished to plant the new World Tree – became the new Arch- Druid. In no time at all, he and his fellow druids had forged ahead and planted the great tree, Teldrassil, off the stormy coasts of northern Kalimdor. Under their care, the tree sprouted up above the clouds. Among the twilight boughs of the colossal tree, the wondrous city of Darnassus took root. However, the tree was not consecrated with nature's blessing and soon fell prey to the corruption of the Burning Legion. Now the wildlife and even the limbs of Teldrassil itself are tainted by a growing darkness.

As one of the few night elves still left in the world, it is your sworn duty to defend Darnassus and the wild children of nature against the Legion’s encroaching corruption. ^{(WOWMan 177)}

Cataclysm

This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.

Recent Horde attacks have seized night elven lands in Ashenvale, while areas along Kalimdor’s western coast have been decimated by the catastrophic upheavals unleashed in the wake of the Cataclysm. Still struggling to cope with the loss of their immortality, the night elves must prepare to stand against any threat as Azeroth itself breaks apart at the seams.

Starting info

Starting area intro voice-over

To edit this section, click here.

From in-game video of Cataclysm beta:

“

After years of imprisonment within the Emerald Nightmare, Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage has finally returned to the mortal world. Re-united with his love, Tyrande Whisperwind, Malfurion endeavors now to heal the corrupted World Tree, Teldrassil, and rejuvenate the spirit of the night elf people. Yet as the Cataclysm shakes the bowels of their colossal tree, the night elves brace themselves against the coming storm. As war and destruction close in from all sides, it falls to night elves like you to stand strong and protect the enduring legacy of your people. - in-game voice-over

”

This is the pre- Cataclysm intro.

“

For ten thousand years the immortal Night Elves cultivated a druidic society within the shadowed recesses of Ashenvale Forest. Yet recently the catastrophic invasion of the Burning Legion shattered the tranquility of their ancient civilization. Led by the Arch-Druid Malfurion Stormrage and the Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind, the mighty Night Elves rose to challenge the demonic onslaught. Though victorious, the Night Elves were forced to sacrifice their cherished immortality and watch their beloved forests burn. Seeking to regain their immortality, a number of wayward Druids conspired to plant a special tree that would link their spirits to the eternal world. Despite Malfurion's warnings that Nature would never bless such a selfish act, the Druids planted the great tree Teldrassil off the stormy coasts of northern Kalimdor. Within the twilight boughs of the colossal tree, the wondrous city of Darnassus took root. However, the great tree was not consecrated with Nature's blessing and soon fell prey to the corruption of the Burning Legion. Now, the wildlife and even the limbs of the great tree itself are tainted by a growing darkness. As one of the few Night Elves left in the world, it is your sworn duty to defend Darnassus and the wild children of nature against the Legion's encroaching corruption. - in-game voice-over

”

Starting attributes

This section concerns content that is potentially inaccurate. Reason: Possibly outdated since Warlords of Draenor.

	Base	Druid	Hunter	Priest	Rogue	Warrior	Death Knight	Mage	Monk
Strength	17	18	17	17	18	20	104	17	17
Agility	25	25	28	25	28	25	77	25	25
Stamina	19	19	20	19	20	21	99	19	21
Intellect	20	22	20	22	20	20	29	23	22
Spirit	20	22	21	23	20	20	42	22	20

Classes that don't start at level 1.

	Death Knight	Demon Hunter
Strength	104	??
Agility	77	??
Stamina	99	??
Intellect	29	??
Spirit	42	??

Racial traits

Shadowmeld - instant - 2 min cooldown
Activate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled or upon moving. Any threat is restored versus enemies still in combat upon cancellation of this effect. (Stealth)
Elusiveness - passive (rogue/druid only)
Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while shadowmelded or stealthed.
Quickness - passive
Reduces the chance that melee and ranged attackers will hit you by 2%.
Wisp Spirit - passive
Transform into a wisp upon death, increasing speed by 75% (instead of 50%).
Nature Resistance - passive
Reduces the chance you will be hit by Nature spells by 2%.

Reasons for racial traits

Surprise is at the heart of kaldorei battle tactics. A typical attack consists of a group of Sentinels staying hidden, melding with the shadows around them, making a rapid strike, and then disappearing before the enemy can respond. This Elusiveness makes rogues and Druids of the Claw even more stealthy than their counterparts of other races. When an enemy does strike at a night elf they will find that her natural reflexes and Quickness make her difficult to hit.

Night elves live alongside nature rather than pushing it away. This way of life gives them a slight resistance to the elements and to chemical attacks like poisons.

Wisp Spirits wander the forests of Kalimdor and sometimes aid the night elves in construction and gathering. According to legend, these forest lights are the ghosts of dead kal'dorei.

Classes

Night elves have a long tradition of druids, hunters, priestesses, and warriors. Although not openly acknowledged, night elf rogues have long served in the shadows for both good and ill purposes. Later as with many races who encountered the Scourge, night elves were raised and served the Lich King for long years until some of the elite warriors in his service became free Death Knights. Finally the events of the Shattering have led some night elves to return to the ways of the arcane and reclaim the forbidden powers pursued by the Highborne.

Reasons for Classes

Warrior - For thousands of years, night elves have trained the most courageous Elven women to serve their people as elite guards and soldiers, most often called Sentinels. However, not all Sentinels stick to melee. The favored Sentinel weapon of war is a Moonglaive.

Rogue - Night elves are extremely adapted to shadowy environments with their dexterity and nimbleness. Thus, many night elves favor the path of the Rogue, in which they serve as excellent scouts, delving deeper into enemy lines then any other race could ever hope to achieve.

Hunter - In addition to their agility, night elves have almost unmatched skill in trekking through their forested lands and the art of marksmanship. Many of these gifted Elves also join the Sentinels, serving as the scouting elite and archers during times of war.

Mage - Thousands of years ago, when the night elves toyed with the unpredictable and dangerous heights of Arcane magic, the night elves had an elite sect of sorcerers known as The Highborne, who were easily some of the most powerful mages in history. After the War of the Ancients many Highborne were exiled to Quel'thalas, but some remained in Dire Maul as servants of The Shen'dralar. Many of these elves forsook the night and turned to the sun, becoming the quel'dorei or high elves. Recently, after witnessing the Cataclysm, some of these powerful beings contacted their kin, the kal'dorei (night elves), and now seek to repair the relationship with their kin by lending their magical prowess and Reforging to both the kal'dorei and the Alliance.

Priest - For countless years, the night elves have practiced the arts of the Priest as the Priestesses of Elune (It was strictly known that only women could become priests) in worship to their deity, the Goddess Elune. Recently, due to the previously male-only Druids welcoming Women, the Sisterhood decided to open their organization to men as to keep balance.

Druid - During the aftermath of the destruction of the Well of Eternity The kal'dorei rejected the dangerous secrets of the Arcane and began practicing nature magic, mostly Druidism, to protect the world they had almost obliterated, due to Cenarius, the demigod of nature, taking on Malfurion Stormrage as his first mortal apprentice on Azeroth. Then, Malfurion turned to teach his own people the Druidic ways and soon the kal'dorei became the icon of druidism. Originally, only men could become Druids due to the rules of the Elves, but recently, due to the waning numbers of druids after the costly Third war, women were gradually accepted into the Brotherhood of Druids.

Death Knight - Like many other heroes of the Alliance and Horde, Night Elven champions were killed by the Scourge during the War in Northrend and raised into undeath as servants of the Lich King. However, some elves (player-created Death Knights) were among those who were freed from his grasp in Light's Hope Chapel and became Knights of the Ebon Blade.

Emotes

/silly

Female

• "You know, wisps are actually pretty useful for personal hygiene."
• "Actually I'm more of a 'morning elf'."
• "I think guys just use the Emerald Dream as an excuse to avoid calling me back."
• "Oh I'm dancing again, I hope all your friends are enjoying the show." (reference to the 'stripper' dance that is base female dance)
• "You know I have to keep moving at night or I'll disappear." (reference to [Shadowmeld])

Male

• "Last night I went to an awesome stag party" (play on the night elf affinity for nature)
• "Who wants to live forever?"
• "What? I didn't hear that..."
• "Is that thing sharp? Can that thing cut me? You know, I'm not immortal."
• "I don't know about you but I can't understand a thing those wisps say; usually I just nod."
• "I don't mind the gnomes, but I'm always worried about tripping on one."
• "You know those 'Ancient Protectors' in Darnassus? They're not that old..."
• "Man I was half-way through the Emerald Dream when I had to pee."

/flirt

Female

• "There's nothing like sleeping in the forest at night, under the moon light."
• "I'm the type of girl my mother warned me about."
• "Sure I've got exotic piercings."
• "If I wasn't purple, you could see that I was blushing."

Male

• "Baby, I'm mortal now, times a-wastin'."
• "I hope you're not afraid of snakes."
• "You're an Emerald Dream come true."
• "Wanna bring out the animal in me?"
• "I'm a force of nature"

/dance

Female

• Alizee's dance to the song J'en ai marre!.

Male

• Michael Jackson's dance for the Billie Jean video.

Media

Images

Warlords of Draenor Female model revamp comparison

Videos

World of Warcraft Night Elf Introduction Battle for Azeroth 4K UHD

Night Elf Intro Movie HD - World of Warcraft Cataclysm

Night Elf In-Game Intro (World of Warcraft)

Patch changes

• Patch 6.0.2 (14-October-2014): Character models for races from the original game Dwarf, Gnome, Human, Night Elf, Orc, Tauren, Troll, Undead, and Draenei have been overhauled with an increase to fidelity and texture resolution; while retaining the core look and feel of the originals.
  

See also

• Kal'dorei
• Night elf

External links

WoW Official Game Site (US) Night Elf

WoW Official Game Site (EU) Night Elf