Dark Elves in Games:
Dungeons and Dragons

The Drow race in Dungeons and Dragons, which is said to be the origins of more modern depictions of Dark Elves, were created by Gary Gygax and were first mentioned in the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual (1st Edition) in 1977.

Drow in D&D typically have white hair, dark skin, and red eyes. They tend to be of a smaller build than the normal Elves, and have innate spell powers and resistance (which is balanced by the fact that they are prone to being blinded by abrupt exposure to bright light). Drow characters are automatically proficient with the hand crossbow, rapier, and shortsword. Because of their innate magical ability, their preferred job classes are wizard (male) and cleric (female).

Drow have appeared in numerous games that are based on Dungeons and Dragons, such as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Kingdoms Under Fire, and Dungeons and Dragons: Stormreach. In DotA Allstars (a variant of the custom map "Defense of the Ancients" for Warcraft III), there is a Drow Ranger named Traxex included in the line-up of playable Heroes.