Elf FAQ
What is the Elf species in D&D?
The Elf entry uses the 2014 Elf baseline: a Medium, 30-foot species with +2 Dexterity, Darkvision, Perception proficiency through Keen Senses, Fey Ancestry, Trance, Common and Elvish. The 2014 rules then add subrace traits such as High Elf or Wood Elf. Astral Elf comes from the later Spelljammer rules and uses its own self-contained trait package rather than inheriting the 2014 Elf's fixed ability-score structure.
2014 core identity
The Basic Rules describe Elves as long-lived, magically connected people with heightened senses and a four-hour Trance.
Core 2014 traits
The parent Elf package includes Dexterity +2, Medium size, 30-foot speed, Darkvision, Keen Senses, Fey Ancestry, Trance, Common and Elvish.
2014 subraces
The Basic Rules present High Elf and Wood Elf as subrace options. Those add their own ability increase and features on top of the core Elf package.
Astral Elf uses a separate later rules package
Astral Elf is an elven option from the 2022 Spelljammer rules rather than a 2014 High Elf or Wood Elf-style subrace add-on.
Astral Elf is not merely a 2014 subrace add-on
Its 2022 Spelljammer design presents a self-contained Astral Elf trait package. Do not add the 2014 +2 Dexterity baseline or High/Wood subrace mechanics to it unless its own source says so.