Night elf (playable)

Core races
Human Dwarf Night elf Gnome Draenei Worgen	Pandaren Dracthyr		Orc Undead Tauren Troll Blood elf Goblin
Allied races
Void elf Lightforged draenei Dark Iron dwarf Kul Tiran Mechagnome		Nightborne Highmountain tauren Mag'har orc Zandalari troll Vulpera

This article is about the playable race of night elves. For more information on the night elf race in general, see night elf.

Night elves
File:Playable Night Elves.jpg
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 Malfurion Stormrage
Capital	Darnassus, Teldrassil
Racial mount	Saber cat

The night elves of Darnassus are a faction of playable night elves 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 expansion.

Background

The Icon of Wisdom

Cataclysm

After years of imprisonment within the Emerald Nightmare, Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage has finally returned to the mortal world. Reunited 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 Great Cataclysm shakes the boughs of their colossal tree, the night elves brace themselves against the coming storm. As war and destruction close in from all sides, is falls to night elves like you to stand strong and protect the enduring legacy of your people.

World of Warcraft (Classic)

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 reestablish a link between their spirits and the eternal world. Despite Malfurion's warning that nature would never bless such a selfish act. The druids planted the great tree, Teldrassil, off the stormy coasts of northern Kalimdor. Among 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. It is your sworn duty to defend Darnassus and the wild children of nature against the Legion’s encroaching corruption.

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 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.

It is your sworn duty to defend Darnassus and the wild children of nature against the Legion’s encroaching corruption.

Character

A Night Elf Huntress

Starting attributes

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

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.
Elusiveness (night elf racial) - passive (rogue/druid only)
Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while shadowmelded.
[Quickness] - passive
Increased your chance to dodge melee and ranged attacks by 2%, and increases your movement speed by 2%.
[Wisp Spirit] - passive
Transform into a wisp upon death, increasing speed by 75% (instead of 50%).
[Touch of Elune] - passive
Increases your haste by 1% duing the night. Increases your Critical Strike by 1% during the day.
[Nature Resistance] - passive
Reduces Nature damage taken by 1%.

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 kaldorei.

Videos

• Night Elf opening cinematic since ''Cataclysm'' [4K]
• The previous opening cinematic from the beginning