Editing Drow (section)

== Publication history ==

===''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition===
The drow were first mentioned in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game in the [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons|1st Edition]] 1977 ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' ''[[Monster Manual]]'' under the "Elf" entry, where it is stated that "The 'Black Elves,' or drow, are only legend." No statistics are given for the drow in this book, apart from the statistics for normal elves. The drow are described as purportedly dwelling deep beneath the surface world, in strange subterranean realms. They are said to be evil, "as dark as faeries are bright", and pictured in tales as poor [[Fighter (Dungeons & Dragons)|fighters]] but strong [[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)|magic-users]].<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' (TSR, 1977).</ref> From 1978 to 1980, the ''[[Greyhawk]]'' adventure module series explored the drow in depth, including statblocks for drow and an introduction to their Underdark society.<ref name="G3" /><ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-24|title=Old D&D Campaigns That Deserve 5e Reprints|url=https://screenrant.com/old-dnd-campaigns-5e-update-reprint-rerelease-original/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Screen Rant|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208012926/https://screenrant.com/old-dnd-campaigns-5e-update-reprint-rerelease-original/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first hardcover ''D&D'' rulebook featuring statistical information on the drow was the original ''[[Fiend Folio#Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition|Fiend Folio]]'' (1981). Gygax wrote this entry, listed under "Elf, Drow", according to the book's credits section. The text is a slightly abridged version of the text originally found in modules G3 and D3. Likewise, Lolth's description from module D3 is reprinted in the ''Fiend Folio'' under the "Demon" heading.<ref>[[Don Turnbull (game designer)|Turnbull, Don]], ed. ''[[Fiend Folio#Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition|Fiend Folio]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1981)</ref>

The drow were first presented as a [[player character]] race in ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' (1985), also written by Gygax. Several elven sub-races are described in the book, including gray elves, wood elves, wild elves, and valley elves; the dark elves are described as the most divergent sub-race, and dark elf player characters are considered outcasts from their homeland, either by choice, differing from the standard chaotic evil alignment of the race, or having lost in some family-wide power struggle.<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' (TSR, 1985)</ref>

==== ''Greyhawk'' module storyline ====
{{See also|Against the Giants|Descent into the Depths of the Earth|Queen of the Demonweb Pits}}
It is hinted in G1 ''Steading of the Hill Giant Chief'' (1978) that there is a "secret force, some motivational power behind this unusual banding of different races of giants." G2 ''The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl'' (1978) mentions this guiding force again in its introduction. The third module in the series, G3 ''Hall of the Fire Giant King'' (1978) again mentions the party's need to find out whatever is behind the giants' alliance, and this time mentions the drow specifically by name. In the adventure, the [[player character]]s can discover the first hint of drow involvement in the fire giant king's council room, on a scroll which promises "powerful help from the Drow", signed by [[Eclavdra]]. Actual drow can be encountered starting on level #2 of the king's hall, beginning with a group of drow priests, and then other drow later.<ref name="G3">[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Hall of the Fire Giant King]]'' (TSR, 1978)</ref><ref name=DME>{{cite book |first=David M. |last=Ewalt|author-link=David M. Ewalt |year=2013 |title=Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It |publisher=Scribner |pages=143–144 |isbn=978-1-4516-4052-6}}</ref>

Having discovered that the drow instigated the alliance between the races of giants and its warfare against mankind, in ''D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth'' (1978) the party follows the fleeing drow into the tunnels leading northwest and deep into the earth, to eliminate the threat they pose. Examining a golden spider pin found on one of the drow priestesses, the party can discover runes in the drow language reading "[[Lolth]], Death Queen Mother".<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Descent into the Depths of the Earth]]'' (TSR, 1978)</ref> The party continues to pursue the drow in D2 ''Shrine of the Kuo-Toa'' (1978).<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Shrine of the Kuo-Toa]]'' (TSR, 1978)</ref> In ''D3 Vault of the Drow'' (1978), the adventurers eventually make it to Erelhei-Cinlu, the vast subterranean city of the drow, which is thoroughly described in the module. An extensive overview of the drow power structure is given for the purpose of creating any number of mini-campaigns or adventures taking place inside the drow capital.<ref name=":2" /> The characters travel on to the Egg of Lolth, where they must enter the dungeon level and fight the demoness herself. The statistics and information for drow are reprinted from ''Hall of the Fire Giant King'' in the back of this module, along with statistics for Lolth herself.<ref name=":2">[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Vault of the Drow]]'' (TSR, 1978)</ref>

The story concludes in module ''Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits'' (1980). The astral gate from ''D3'' leads to the [[Abyss (Dungeons & Dragons)|Abyssal]] realm of Lolth, goddess of the drow elves and Demon Queen of Spiders; Lolth is the architect of the sinister plot described in the two previous series of modules. At the very end of the module, the players face a final confrontation with Lolth, an exceptionally difficult challenge.<ref name=":14">[[David C. Sutherland|Sutherland III, David C]], and [[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Queen of the Demonweb Pits]]'' (TSR, 1980)</ref> The G1-G3 modules were later published together in 1981 as a single combined module as ''G1-2-3 Against the Giants'',<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Against the Giants]]'' (TSR, 1981)</ref> and the entire series of modules in which the drow originally appeared were later published together in ''[[Queen of the Spiders]]'' (1986).<ref name="Dark Warrior Rising">{{cite book|last=Greenwood|first=Ed|author-link=Ed Greenwood|title=Dark Warrior Rising: A Novel of Niflheim|publisher=Macmillan|year=2007|pages=[https://archive.org/details/darkwarriorrisin00gree/page/297 297]–298|chapter=Afterword|isbn=978-0-7653-1765-0|url=https://archive.org/details/darkwarriorrisin00gree|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Queen of the Spiders]]'' (TSR, 1986)</ref><ref name=DME/>

===Novels===
[[Gary Gygax]]'s 1986 novel for [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]]'s "Greyhawk Adventures" series, ''[[Artifact of Evil]]'', was the first novel to feature the drow prominently. Gygax's subsequent ''[[Gord the Rogue]]'' novels, published by New Infinities, Inc., continued the story and the drow's involvement, in the novels ''Sea of Death'' (1987), ''Come Endless Darkness'' (1988), and ''Dance of Demons'' (1988).{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

[[R. A. Salvatore]]'s 1988–1990 ''[[The Icewind Dale Trilogy]]'' featured the unlikely hero [[Drizzt Do'Urden]] as one of the protagonists, and the 1990–1991 followup ''[[The Dark Elf Trilogy]]'' focused on Drizzt and the drow of the [[Forgotten Realms]] setting. Salvatore continued the story of Drizzt and the drow in his subsequent series ''[[Legacy of the Drow]]'' (1992–1996), ''[[Paths of Darkness]]'' (1998–2001), and ''[[The Hunter's Blades Trilogy]]'' (2002–2004). Other works continuing the story of the drow in the Forgotten Realms include [[Elaine Cunningham]]'s ''[[Starlight and Shadows]]'' series (1995–1996, 2003), the ''[[War of the Spider Queen]]'' series (2002–2005, various authors), and [[Lisa Smedman]]'s ''[[The Lady Penitent]]'' series (2007–2008).{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

[[Keith Baker (game designer)|Keith Baker]]'s ''The Dreaming Dark'' trilogy (2005–2006) featured the story of the drow in Baker's world of [[Eberron]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

===''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition''===
The drow appear first for this edition in the ''[[Monstrous Compendium|Monstrous Compendium Volume Two]]'' (1989), which expands the information on drow society. Also included in the entry for drow is a description and statistics for the [[drider]].<ref name="MC2">[[David "Zeb" Cook|Cook, David]], et al. ''[[Monstrous Compendium|Monstrous Compendium Volume Two]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1989)</ref> This entry is reprinted with some minor modifications in the ''[[Monstrous Manual]]'' (1993).<ref>[[Doug Stewart (game designer)|Stewart, Doug]], ed. ''[[Monstrous Manual]]'' (TSR, 1993)</ref>

Drow society, religion, history, magic, craftwork, and language for the [[Forgotten Realms]] [[campaign setting]] is detailed significantly in ''[[Drow of the Underdark#Second edition|The Drow of the Underdark]]'' (1991), by [[Ed Greenwood]]. Greenwood appears in the book's introduction as a narrator, explaining how he came across the information in the book: a discussion with [[Elminster]], and chance encounter with a former apprentice of Elminster—the drow lady, Susprina Arkhenneld—as the two explain the drow of the world to the narrator.<ref name="DotU2E">[[Ed Greenwood|Greenwood, Ed]]. ''[[Drow of the Underdark#Second edition|The Drow of the Underdark]]'' (TSR, 1991)</ref>

The drow are presented as a player character race for 2nd edition in ''The Complete Book of Elves'' (1992).<ref name="CBoE">[[Colin McComb|McComb, Colin]]. ''[[The Complete Book of Elves]]'' (TSR, 1992)</ref> Drow deities Lolth, [[Kiaransalee]], Vhaeraun, and [[Zinzerena]] are described in ''[[Monster Mythology]]'' (1992).<ref name="Sargent 1992">[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[Monster Mythology]]'' (TSR, 1992)</ref> The drow are later presented as a playable character race again in ''[[Player's Option: Skills & Powers]]'' (1995).<ref>[[Douglas Niles|Niles, Douglas]] and [[Dale Donovan]]. ''[[Player's Option: Skills & Powers]]'' (TSR, 1995)</ref>

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd edition===
The drow appears in the ''[[Monster Manual]]'' for this edition (2000).<ref>[[Monte Cook|Cook, Monte]], [[Jonathan Tweet]], and [[Skip Williams]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000)</ref> The drow of the [[Forgotten Realms]] setting appear in the hardcover ''[[Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting]]'' (2001),<ref name="FRCS">[[Ed Greenwood]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], [[Skip Williams]], and [[Rob Heinsoo]]. ''[[Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2001).</ref> and in ''[[Races of Faerûn]]'' (2003).<ref name="Races" /> The drow also appears in the revised ''[[Monster Manual]]'' for the 3.5 edition (2003).<ref name="MM2003">[[Monte Cook|Cook, Monte]], [[Jonathan Tweet]], and [[Skip Williams]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2003)</ref>

The ''Underdark'' hardcover for the [[Forgotten Realms]] setting (2003) features the drow yet again as a player character race,<ref name="Underdark">[[Bruce Cordell|Cordell, Bruce R]], [[Gwendolyn FM Kestrel]], and [[Jeff Quick]]. ''[[Underdark (supplement)|Underdark]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2003)</ref> as does the ''[[Player's Guide to Faerûn]]'' (2004).<ref>[[Richard Baker (game designer)|Baker, Richard]], [[Travis Stout]], [[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]]. ''[[Player's Guide to Faerûn]]''; [[Wizards of the Coast]].</ref> ''[[Lost Empires of Faerûn (accessory)|Lost Empires of Faerûn]]'' describes the drow werebat (2005).<ref name="Lost" /> The drow paragon 3-level prestige class appears in ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' (2004).<ref>[[Andy Collins (game designer)|Collins, Andy]], [[Jesse Decker]], [[David Noonan (game designer)|David Noonan]], and [[Rich Redman]]. ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2004).</ref>

In 2004, the new [[Eberron]] campaign setting introduced drow in a world where Lolth doesn't exist;<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|date=2021-12-19|title=How Dungeons & Dragons' New Update Changes Drow (& Why)|url=https://screenrant.com/dungeons-dragons-dark-elves-change-different-lore-offensive/|access-date=2022-02-07|website=Screen Rant|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207210817/https://screenrant.com/dungeons-dragons-dark-elves-change-different-lore-offensive/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Baker|first=Keith|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55943911|title=Eberron Campaign Setting|date=2004|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|others=Bill Slavicsek, James Wyatt|isbn=978-0-7869-3274-0|location=Renton, WA|oclc=55943911|access-date=2022-02-07|archive-date=2022-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525061219/http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55943911|url-status=live}}</ref> various drow societies were then explored in more detail in ''[[Secrets of Xen'drik]]'' (2006).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Baker|first=Keith|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/70851946|title=Eberron: Secrets of Xen'drik|date=2006|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|others=James Wyatt|isbn=0-7869-3916-8|location=Renton, WA|oclc=70851946}}</ref> Additionally, the umbragen for the setting appeared as a player character race in ''Dragon'' #330 (April 2005).

The arcane guard drow, the dark sniper drow, the drow priestess, the Lolth's sting, and the Lolth-touched drow ranger appear in ''[[Monster Manual IV]]'' (2006).<ref name="MM4">[[Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel|Kestrel, Gwendolyn F.M.]] ''[[Monster Manual IV]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2006)</ref> The deepwyrm drow is presented as a player character race in ''[[Dragon Magic]]'' (2006).<ref>[[Owen K.C. Stephens|Stephens, Own K.C.]] and [[Rodney Thompson]]; ''[[Dragon Magic]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2006).</ref>

The drow are presented as a player character race for the 3.5 edition in ''Expedition to the Demonweb Pits'' (2007)<ref>[[Wolfgang Baur]] and [[Gwendolyn Kestrel]]. ''[[Expedition to the Demonweb Pits]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2007).</ref> and ''Drow of the Underdark'' (2007).<ref name="DROW">[[Ari Marmell]], [[Anthony Pryor]], [[Robert J. Schwalb]], and [[Greg A. Vaughan]]. ''[[Drow of the Underdark]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2007).</ref> ''Drow of the Underdark'' also features the arcane guard, the drow assassin, the house captain, the house wizard, the drow inquisitor, the favored consort, the drow priestess, the drow slaver, the spider sentinel, the albino drow (szarkai), the szarkai fighters, the szarkai druids, and the drow warrior, along with numerous prestige classes and other monsters related to drow.<ref name="DROW" />

====Open gaming====
The release of the [[Open Game License]] and the [[System Reference Document]]'s inclusion of the drow race also led to a number of books related to drow being published by companies not affiliated with [[Wizards of the Coast]], such as ''The Quintessential Drow'',<ref>{{cite book|last=Witt|first=Sam|title=The Quintessential Drow|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2003|series=Collector series|volume=18|isbn=978-1-904577-19-5}}</ref> ''The Complete Guide to Drow'',<ref>{{cite book|last=Quinn|first=Jeffrey|title=The Complete Guide to Drow|publisher=[[Goodman Games]]|date=2006|isbn=978-1-904577-19-5}}</ref> and ''Encyclopaedia Arcane: Drow Magic''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Younts|first=Patrick|title=Encyclopaedia Arcane: Drow Magic|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|date=2004|isbn=978-1-904854-01-2}}</ref>

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition===
The drow appear in the ''Monster Manual'' for this edition (2008), including the drow warrior, the drow arachnomancer, the drow blademaster, and the drow priest.<ref name="MM2008">[[Mike Mearls|Mearls, Mike]], [[Stephen Schubert]], and [[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2008)</ref> The drow appear as a playable race in the ''[[Forgotten Realms Player's Guide]]'' (2008) and the ''Essentials'' rulebook ''[[Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms]]'' (2010).<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 July 2008|title=Living Forgotten Realms Character Creation|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lfrx/characters|access-date=2023-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913191244/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lfrx/characters |archive-date=2008-09-13 | author1=Chris Tulach | work = Wizards of the Coast }}</ref><ref>[[Rob Heinsoo|Heinsoo, Rob]], [[Greg Bilsland]], [[Logan Bonner]], [[Eric L. Boyd]], and [[Robert J. Schwalb]]. ''[[Forgotten Realms Player's Guide]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2008).</ref><ref name=":3">''[[Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2010).</ref>

The drow feature in a pre-written playable module called ''[[Demon Queen's Enclave]]'' (2008) which takes adventurers from levels 14 through 17 into the Underdark to battle the forces of Orcus and possibly ally with members of the treacherous dark elves and/or their minions.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2008 |work=Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page | title= Product (P2 Demon Queen's Enclave)|url=http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/217827400|access-date=2023-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004065640/http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/217827400 |archive-date=2009-10-04 }}</ref> The drow of Xen'drik are also outlined in the 4E ''Eberron Campaign Guide'' (2009).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/430318402|title=Eberron Campaign Guide|date=2009|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|first1=James |last1=Wyatt |authorlink1=James Wyatt (game designer)|first2= Keith |last2=Baker|authorlink2=Keith Baker (game designer)|isbn=978-0-7869-5099-7|location=Renton, WA|oclc=430318402|edition=4th }}</ref>

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition===
The drow appear as a playable elf subrace in the ''[[Player's Handbook]]'' (2014) for this edition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=All DnD races and species explained |url=https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/races |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Wargamer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":19" /> They also appear in the ''[[Monster Manual]]'' (2014) for this edition. In the adventure module ''[[Out of the Abyss (Dungeons & Dragons)|Out of the Abyss]]'' (2015), the players are captured by the drow at the beginning of the adventure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2015-09-02 |title=Out of the Abyss: D&D’s next campaign goes deep into the Underdark |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2015/9/2/9242155/out-of-the-abyss-into-the-underdark |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> The floodgate to the Abyss is opened by [[Gromph Baenre]], the Archmage of Menzoberranzan, when he tries to harnesses a specific form of power in the Underdark; designer [[Chris Perkins (game designer)|Chris Perkins]] commented that Gromph is "arguably the most powerful male drow spellcaster in the Forgotten Realms, yet he feels subjugated and betrayed by Lolth and her priestesses".<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=Grabianowski |first=Ed |date=2015-09-03 |title=Hell Comes to the Underdark in D&D's New Rage of Demons Campaign |url=https://gizmodo.com/hell-comes-to-the-underdark-in-d-ds-new-rage-of-demons-1728418174 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}</ref> Perkins also said the drow are "iconic D&D villains" with a matriarchal society that "is part of their core identity", adding they are "not looking to fundamentally change that" so there should not be expectations for "drow males to supplant their female superiors any time soon".<ref name=":17" /> The drow are also discussed in the ''[[Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide]]'' (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-11-05 |title=Review – Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide (Dungeons & Dragons) |url=https://www.strangeassembly.com/2015/review-sword-coast-adventurers-guide-dungeons-dragons |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Strange Assembly |language=en-US}}</ref> and in the ''[[Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes]]'' (2018) supplements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-11 |title=Get an exclusive preview of elves and drow from D&D’s upcoming book Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes |url=https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/news/get-an-exclusive-preview-of-elves-and-drow-from-dds-upcoming-book/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Tabletop Gaming}}</ref>

The drow of Xen'drik are again outlined in ''[[Eberron: Rising from the Last War|Eberron: Rising From The Last War]]'' (2019).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1127909424|title=Eberron: Rising From The Last War|date=2019|others=Inc Wizards of the Coast|isbn=978-0-7869-6689-9|location=[Renton, WA]|oclc=1127909424}}</ref> The new [[Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings#Exandria|Exandria]] campaign setting added a non-Lolth based society of drow which was introduced in the ''[[Explorer's Guide to Wildemount]]'' (2020).<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|last=Haeck|first=James|date=March 17, 2020|title=Welcome to Wildemount: The Regions of Wildemount|url=https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/746-welcome-to-wildemount-how-to-start-your-critical|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208204349/https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/746-welcome-to-wildemount-how-to-start-your-critical|archive-date=February 8, 2021|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=[[D&D Beyond]]}}</ref> Per Wizards of the Coast, the drow of these settings are presented as more "morally and culturally complex".<ref name=":0" /> On June 26, 2020, [[Netflix]] and [[Hulu]] removed the "[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (Community)|Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]" episode of the TV series ''[[Community (TV series)|Community]]'' from their platforms due to scenes with Chang playing a dark elf by wearing [[Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)|elf]] ears and makeup resembling [[blackface]]. A statement from [[Sony Pictures Television]] said that the studio supported the decision to remove the episode.<ref name="wrap">{{cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=June 26, 2020 |title=Netflix Pulls 'Community' Episode 'Advanced Dungeons & Dragons' Due to Blackface Scenes (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/community-advanced-dungeons-and-dragons-episode-removed-netflix-blackface/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628060004/https://www.thewrap.com/community-advanced-dungeons-and-dragons-episode-removed-netflix-blackface/ |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Thorne |first=Will |date=June 26, 2020 |title='The Office' Blackface Scene Edited Out, Netflix Pulls 'Community' Blackface Episode |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/the-office-blackface-scene-edited-out-community-episode-pulled-netflix-1234691427/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630231520/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/the-office-blackface-scene-edited-out-community-episode-pulled-netflix-1234691427/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

Christian Hoffer, for ''[[ComicBook.com]]'', highlighted a May 2021 update on Drizzt Do'Urden by Wizards of the Coast and wrote, "it also notes one major change to D&D canon that relates to the drow culture that Drizzt ultimately abandoned. The website points out that while Drizzt grew up in a 'cult of Lolth' [...], there are two other entire cultures of drow who have no ties to Lolth whatsoever. [...] The reveal of the Lorendrow and Aevendrow seem to suggest that ''Dungeons & Dragons'' is officially moving past some long-held canon about the drow".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=May 20, 2021|title=Dungeons & Dragons Sets Up Big Changes to the Drow|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-drow-changes-lolth/|access-date=2021-05-21|website=ComicBook.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520191929/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-drow-changes-lolth/|url-status=live}}</ref> Tika Viteri, for ''Book Riot'', commented that Salvatore's ''Starlight Enclave'' (2021) "contains a singular shift in the narrative of the story of the drow; Salvatore reveals that drow are not, in fact, the only dark-skinned elves in the Forgotten Realms".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Viteri|first=Tika|date=2021-08-27|title=Dungeons & Dragons and Racism, Oh My|url=https://bookriot.com/dungeons-dragons-racism/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=bookriot.com |language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922010851/https://bookriot.com/dungeons-dragons-racism/|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2021, Wizards of the Coast released an [[Erratum|errata]] for the ''Player's Handbook'' (2014) which updated the lore description of drow to emphasize their environmental connection to the Underdark and decouple them for Lolth.<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":20">{{Cite web |last=Crawford |first=Jeremy |author-link=Jeremy Crawford |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Sage Advice: Book Updates |url=https://dnd.wizards.com/dndstudioblog/sage-advice-book-updates |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220013226/https://dnd.wizards.com/dndstudioblog/sage-advice-book-updates |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2025 |website=Dungeons & Dragons}}</ref> Designer [[Jeremy Crawford]] explained that the errata clarifies a description which "confused the culture of [[Menzoberranzan]] [...] with drow themselves" and that "drow are united by an ancestral connection to the Underdark, not by worship of Lolth–a god some of them have never heard of".<ref name=":20" />

==== ''2024 revision'' ====
The [[Backward compatibility|backward compatible]] ''Player's Handbook'' (2024), as part of the [[One D&D|2024 revision]] to the 5th Edition ruleset, updates preexisting player options while introducing new content to the game; player races are now described as player species.<ref name="PC Gamer on PAX Unplugged 2023">{{Cite news |last=Macgregor |first=Jody |date=December 9, 2023 |title=D&D's Revised Player's Handbook 'will be the biggest Player's Handbook that D&D has ever had', and like all the Revised core books will be compatible with the current edition |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/dandds-revised-players-handbook-will-be-the-biggest-players-handbook-that-dandd-has-ever-had-and-like-all-the-revised-core-books-will-be-compatible-with-the-current-edition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829030804/https://www.pcgamer.com/dandds-revised-players-handbook-will-be-the-biggest-players-handbook-that-dandd-has-ever-had-and-like-all-the-revised-core-books-will-be-compatible-with-the-current-edition/ |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Samantha |date=2024-09-18 |title=Race becomes species in D&D, but that’s not the only change in the new Player’s Handbook |url=https://www.polygon.com/dnd-dungeons-dragons/452438/new-players-handbook-uses-species-not-race |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> Drow appear as an Elven Lineage option in this sourcebook.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiore |first=Marissa |date=2024-09-07 |title=Dungeons & Dragons: All Species In The 2024 Player's Handbook |url=https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-2024-players-handbook-species/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Screen Rant]]'' highlighted that mechanically drow are "largely unchanged, save for better spell selection and the removal of sunlight sensitivity".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Connor |date=2024-09-19 |title=D&D’s Most Iconic Species Are Better Than Ever In The 2024 Player’s Handbook |url=https://screenrant.com/dnd-2024-players-handbook-elf-dwarf-species-improvements/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' commented that the changes to the drow reflect a shift in design philosophy by Wizards of the Coast, noting that they were often "portrayed in the past as evil".<ref name=":16" /> ''Polygon'' highlighted that the 2024 sourcebook describes elves as impacted by their "environment in ways that imbue them with magic and change their appearance" with the drow "being marked by the Underdark without necessarily being aligned with the evil deity Lolth"; this sourcebook "also draws attention to the rainforest-dwelling drow found in the Eberron campaign setting".<ref name=":16" />