Drow (/draʊ/ drow or: /droʊ/ dro)

Basic Information

Anatomy

In many ways the Drow resemble the Elves. Their bodies are wiry and athletic, while their faces are chiseled and attractive.
The skin of the Drow is dark grey, jet-black, or obsidian (with shades of blue). An exception were the albino Drow, the Szarkai.
Generally, the Drow keep their hair long, and decorate it with pins and webbing made of precious metals. Drow hair can be stark white, pale yellow, and more rarely, silver or copper in color. Due to the hatred of the albino Drow, silver hair is often thought of as a sign of mental handicaps. Drow hair thins and changes color with age, turning pale yellow in women, and silver or grey in men.
Drow are incapable of having beards it seems. But some males, have managed to grow long sideburns or even tufts of wispy hair on the cheek or chin.
Drow eyes can be of any color, with bright red being the most common. Pale shades that appeared nearly white of blue, lilac, pink, or silver were also frequent. Drow with green, brown, black, amber, or rose-hued eyes exist, but they are rare. Purple or blue eyes indicates surface elves and/or human ancestry.
It was possible to read some information in the eye color of a Drow. For example, Drow eyes reddened when they are angry, and turn yellow when they are sick, poisoned, or under some negative magical influence.
Drow have white, black, or purple teeth, while their gums, tongues, and throats are pink, red, or purple.

Genetics and Reproduction

The drow are believed to more fecund than the rest of the elves. In truth, their fecundity is the same as that of other elves, but they have a higher readiness to birth as a many children as possible during their lifespan. For example, in the evil Lolthite society, on average, a female Drow with an active career under her belt gave birth to about ten children before she lost the ability to birth more. However, their constant strife keeps their numbers low, dropping their actual rate of population growth to dwarf-like levels.

Growth Rate & Stages

The Drow have lifespans far beyond those of humans, and comparable with the rest of the Elven race. Provided they do not meet a premature and violent end, they can live for centuries. Generally, a Drow's natural lifespan ran up to 750 years, and about 94% of natural deaths occur before 800 years of age. However, the Drow who could afford a lifestyle that spared them hardships, like the matron mothers, could live for more than 1000 years (though, by that point they became withered by age). Loth's magic can maintain a matron's life for thousands of years. This is considered a clear sign of favor from the goddess.

Contents

Statistics

Conservation Status
Least Concerned
Size(s)
Medium
Origin(s)
Fey, supernatural
Type(s)
Humanoid
Sub Type(s)
Elf

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Challenge Rating(s)

Drow
Elite Warrior
Mage

¼
5
7

General Information

Patron Deity
Lolth
Vision
Darkvision
Activity Cycle(s)
Diurnal when above ground
Nocturnal when underground
Diet(s)
Omnivorous
Average Lifespan
Up to 750 years
Average Intelligence
Average
Homeland(s)
Feywild
Kathr'an Desert Themmit Tablelands
Underdark
Language(s)
Common, elven (the drow dialect), Undercommon, Drow Sign Language
Favored Climate(s)
Any
Favored Terrain(s)
Underground

Appearance

Skin Color(s)
Black, dark blue, gray
Hair Color(s)
White
Hairstyle(s)
Straight, curly, kinky
Eye Color(s)
Red, lavender, blue, purple, amber
Distinction(s)
Pointed ears, slim but athletic build, beautiful, affinity to darkness, able to enter fully aware sleep state.

Gender Dimorphism

Male
Average height 4′7″‒5′5″ (140‒170 cm)
Average weight 87‒157 lb (39‒71.2 kg)
Female
Average height 4′7″‒5′5″ (140‒170 cm)
Average weight 82‒152 lb (37‒68.9 kg)

History

Genetic Ancestor(s)
Teu-tel-quessir(Moon Elf)
Subrace(s)
Drider
Genetic Descendant(s)
Half-Elf
Notable Civilizations
Cormanthyr Empire
Triumvirate of Magos
Notable Organizations
House Bar
Notable Drow

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Moon Elf

Genetic Descendants

• Half-Elf

Geographic Distribution

• Feywild
• Kathr'an Desert
• Themmit Tablelands
• Underdark

Related Organizations

• Cormanthyr Empire
• Triumvirate of Magos

Drow Statblock

Drow CR: 1/4

Medium humanoid (elf), neutral evil

Armor Class: 15 (chain shirt)

Hit Points: 13hp ( 3d8 )

Speed: 30 ft

STR

10 +0

DEX

14 +2

CON

10 +0

INT

11 +0

WIS

11 +0

CHA

12 +1

Skills: Perception +2, Stealth +4

Condition Immunities: Magical Sleep

Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 12

Languages: Elvish, Undercommon

Challenge Rating: 1/4

Innate Spellcasting. The drow’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 11). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: dancing lights

1/day: darkness, faerie fire

Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the drow has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Actions

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 1d20+4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 ( 1d6+2 ) piercing damage.
Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 1d20+4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 ( 1d6+2 ) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 hour. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target is also unconscious while poisoned in this way. The target wakes up if it takes damage or if another creature takes an action to shake it awake.

Suggested Environments

Coastal, Desert, Underdark

Drow Elite Warrior Statblock

5e Monster Manual

Drow Elite Warrior CR: 5 (1,800 XP)

Medium humanoid (elf), neutral evil

Armor Class: 18 (studded leather, shield)

Hit Points: 71 ( 11d8+22 )

Speed: 30 ft

STR

13 +1

DEX

18 +4

CON

14 +2

INT

11 +0

WIS

13 +1

CHA

12 +1

Saving Throws: DEX +7, CON +5, WIS +4

Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +10

Condition Immunities: Magical Sleep

Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 14

Languages: Elvish, Undercommon

Challenge Rating: 5 (1,800 XP)

Innate Spellcasting. The drow’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: dancing lights

1/day: darkness, faerie fire, levitate (self only)

Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the drow has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Actions

Multiattack. The drow makes two shortsword attacks.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 1d20+7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 ( 1d6+4 ) piercing damage plus 10 ( 3d6 ) poison damage.
Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 1d20+7 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 ( 1d6+4 ) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 hour. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target is also unconscious while poisoned in this way. The target wakes up if it takes damage or if another creature takes an action to shake it awake.

Reactions

Parry. The drow adds 3 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the drow must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.

Suggested Environments

Coastal, Desert, Underdark

Drow Mage Statblock

5e Monster Manual

Drow Mage CR: 7 (2,900 XP)

Medium humanoid (elf), neutral evil

Armor Class: 12 (15 with mage armor)

Hit Points: 45 ( 10d8 )

Speed: 30 ft

STR

9 -1

DEX

14 +2

CON

10 +0

INT

17 +3

WIS

13 +1

CHA

12 +1

Skills: Arcana +6, Deception +5, Perception +4, Stealth +5

Condition Immunities: Magical Sleep

Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 14

Languages: Elvish, Undercommon

Challenge Rating: 7 (2,900 XP)

Spellcasting. The drow is a 10th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The drow has the following wizard spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): mage hand, minor illusion, poison spray, ray of frost

2nd level (3 slots): alter self, misty step, web

3rd level (3 slots): fly, lightning bolt

4th level (3 slots): Evard’s black tentacles, greater invisibility

5th level (2 slots): cloudkill

Innate Spellcasting. The drow’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: dancing lights

1/day: darkness, faerie fire, levitate (self only)

Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the drow has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Actions

Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 1d20+2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 ( 1d6−1 ]) bludgeoning damage, or 3 ( 1d8−1 ) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands, plus 3 ( 1d6 ) poison damage.
Summon Demon (1/Day). The drow magically summons a quasit, or attempts to summon a shadow demon with a 50 percent chance of success. The summoned demon appears in an unoccupied space within 60 feet of its summoner, acts as an ally of its summoner, and can’t summon other demons. It remains for 10 minutes, until it or its summoner dies, or until its summoner dismisses it as an action.

Suggested Environments

Coastal, Desert, Underdark