Elf

Night Elves, High Elves, Blood Elves, an undead elf, and a Wretched

There are 3 major races of elf in Warcraft. Elves were once believed to be the first race to awaken on Azeroth. However, some ancient histories suggest that elves were originally trolls who discovered the Well of Eternity, and were transformed by its powers. Night elves were the progenitors of all elves, and high elves, half-elves and blood elves are offshoots of the night elf race. There are also other creatures who have branched off the original night elves, such as the naga, satyr and harpies.

Trivial Information

• The elves of Warcraft, like almost all elves in modern fantasy, are inspired in some regard by the elves of Tolkien's books, who were known as the Eldar or the Quendi. In Warcraft, like in JRRT's works, the elves are one of the oldest races, and became divided into subraces over time. As a quieter connection, "Eldar" means Starpeople, and Kaldorei means "children of the Stars."

• The night elves have no proper counterparts in Tolkien. Though the vast majority of night elf lore is original on the part of Blizzard, they draw parallels to the Sidhe ("SHEE") of Irish mythology and other beings of celtic myth (except for the chimaera and the hippogryph, who are Greek). Night elven architecture has also been said to draw upon Nordic and Japanese designs.

• Originally, the race now know as high elves were originally simply called 'elves', and conformed to the stereotypical fantasy elves. Though there were several hints of the night elves in various Warcraft media, the original elves were not referred to as "high elves" until Reign of Chaos.

Notable elves

A number of elves have played a significant role in the lore of Warcraft.

Night elves

• Queen Azshara - Infamous Queen of the night elves ten thousand years ago, currently the Empress of the naga; one of the most powerful sorceresses ever to exist.
• Illidan Stormrage - Powerful night elf sorcerer; often called "the Betrayer" due to his role in the War of the Ancients; currently the ruler of Outland.
• Malfurion Stormrage - The first and most powerful druid ever to walk Azeroth
• Tyrande Whisperwind - High priestess of Elune and current leader of the night elven people
• Shandris Feathermoon - Tyrande's protege, current general of the Sentinel army
• Maiev Shadowsong - Warden of Illidan's prison for ten millennia, now imprisoned in Outland
• Jarod Shadowsong - Leader of the night elves after the Sundering
• Kur'talos Ravencrest - Heroic noble and general during the War of the Ancients
• Fandral Staghelm - Current Archdruid of the night elves
• Lady Vashj - Once a highborne servitor of Azshara, now a powerful naga in service to Illidan

High elves and Blood elves

• Sylvanas Windrunner - Banshee Queen of the Forsaken
• Alleria Windrunner - Heroine of the Second War
• Vereesa Windrunner - Liberator of Grim Batol
• Dath'remar Sunstrider - The first leader of the high elves
• Anasterian Sunstrider - King of Quel'Thalas during its height
• Kael'thas Sunstrider - The dark prince of the blood elves
• Lor'themar Theron - Regent lord of Silvermoon
• Halduron Brightwing - Ranger General of the blood elves
• Lady Liadrin - The first blood knight
• Grand Magister Rommath - The leader of the magisters of Silvermoon

See also

• Night elf
• High elf
• Blood elf
• Half-elf
• Half-night elf
• Half-blood elf
• Half-kaldorei
• Highborne - arcanely gifted night elves of ancient times
• Wretched - blood elves who have succumbed to their addiction to magic
• Banshee - a particular type of undead, often formed from elven spirits
• Dark Ranger - another undead elf, this one corporeal
• Shen'dralar - a faction of highborne living in Dire Maul
• Troll/Elf Lineage - a theory about the origins of elves
• Naga - highborne warped into serpentine creatures by the powers of an Old God
• Satyr - highborne corrupted into fel creatures by the Burning Legion
• Harpy - former elves cursed by the power of Azshara