Elves are a staple of Dungeons and Dragons, with more varieties than you can shake a wand at. One of the more recent additions to the elven family in 5E is the astral elf, a timeless teleporter. In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about these astral dwellers.
A servile start, but independent future
Astral elves, like all elves, originated in the Feywild but left their home many centuries ago to form a new home in the Astral Sea, closer to their gods. Living in such a timeless place has its effects, however, with the elves being imbued over time with a glimmer of divine light. This is now present in all astral elves, filling their eyes with an otherworldly gleam and bestowing them with radiant power.
The Astral Sea’s other effect on the elves was psychological, such a long-lived race migrating to a place where they cease to age at all has dramatically shaped their worldview. They no longer see time as a factor in their thinking and struggle to occupy themselves as the eons pass, leading some to melancholy and others, to adventure.
Whilst not specified in the official 5E lore, should this particular elf continue to have children, they would run into the same issue the Githyanki face; they would need to create creches on other planes in order for the children to mature, lest they remain infants eternally.
To the stars: Playing an Astral Elf
Playing an astral elf gives you the following traits:
Ability Scores – You can increase one ability score by 2 and a different score by 1; alternatively, you can increase three different ability scores by 1.
Size – Medium
Creature Type – Humanoid
Speed – 30 ft.
Age – Astral elves can live to be more than 750 years old.
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.
Fey Ancestry – You have advantage on saves against, or to end, being charmed.
Keen Senses – You have proficiency in Perception.
Astral Fire – You know either Dancing Lights, Light, or Sacred Flame – you choose which one as well as the spellcasting ability for the cantrip (Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma) when you choose this race.
Starlight Step – You can teleport up to 30 ft. as a bonus action to an unoccupied space you can see. You can use this feature a number of times per long rest equal to your proficiency bonus.
Astral Trance – You don’t need to sleep, instead you meditate to enter a trance and remain conscious the entire time. By meditating in this way, you can end a long rest in 4 hours, rather than the normal 8 hours. In addition, you can’t be put to sleep by magic.
Once you finish a long rest by entering this trance, you gain proficiency in one skill and one weapon or tool of your choice from the PHB. These proficiencies last until your next long rest ends, where you may choose to retain them or change them for new proficiencies.
Languages – You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for your character.
We hope you’ve enjoyed dancing amongst the stars with the astral elf as much as we have. Have you played an astral elf yet? Are you planning to? If you want to learn more about other race options, check out our races section, or if you want to understand the world’s greatest roleplaying game better, check out our how to play section. Good luck out there adventurers, and until next time, remember, time is only a construct!
