Howdy.
I had a neat idea of hosting a contest, instead of whats going on in other threads. How about instead we come up with some cool ideas regarding ideas, theories of were these dark elves could have come from, what their story might be and what type of culture, religion, folklore, and quirks the race has.
The entry which gets the most upvotes (a serious none joking or trolling entry) Ill buy that person a copy of the next Shadowlands Expansion.
Thankyou for reading and good luck!
With the combine effort of dark iron dwarfs and elves - dark elves born.
Can’t think of any other reason.
Ha! that would be an interesting origin story 
But I was thinking of something a bit more lore-friendly. i.e
This is purely just an example of another Dark Elf race I’m sure a few of you know.
https://eldrus.fandom.com/wiki/Dark_Elves
Something along that lines points if folks want to go into greater detail with their ideas
The best lore for Dark Elves is right here…
That you, this is a really wholesome idea.
I myself don’t have a story for them, I just never really thought that belfs can’t be dark skinned since they are visually so similar to humans. 
Its more customization option which is always good.
If you don’t like the explanation, remember that these are magical elves. They can probably change their skin color at a whim if for nothing else, as a fashion choice. Heck you can literally do that in “barber” shops, so…
But of course it doesn’t stop anyone from coming up with a story for them. There are some Islands north of Quel’thalas, they could be from there or some other ideas. Its easy to fit.
With these recent island expeditions both factions have come across islands that actually had civilisations on them. Not a huge population. But big enough to work as a race option, as with void elves.
Maybe the humans came from Tel’abim. Like the bananas in game.
Whilst the dark elves came from another more southern island.
Or they both came from Tel’abim.
Either way. It’s my head canon unless blizzard gives somekind of explanation themselves.
I mentioned this in another thread for an idea that would, at the very least, help me personally accept the idea of Black Elves. Not sure about its lore-friendlyness but take it as you will.
They are the souls that were trapped in The Maw/That Nosferatu Realm. I am guessing that time moves faster there, so the Blood Elves that went in there as normal would spend a lot of time there, and eventually their skins would blacken as a result of mirroring the respective realms (As I can pretty much imagine the places are going to be black and gloomy).
So how are they out and about in the living world? I have not worked that part out yet. You could always chalk it up as some kind of advanced necromancy or something like that.
Mate I already have SL, but I would advice you to write lore for them on the basis as some part of high elves who were banished by night elves , but moved not north to old kingdoms but in stead chose the pirate life and have coursed the south seas for all that time
If your recall witcher’s 3 elf ship and crew aka wild hunt squad, you might do just a solid rewrite of their lore and apply it to new belfs.
When they saw sky is falling over Northrend they have decided to join their long lost brethren and moved throw the dome into Shadowlands on their epic pirate elf ship
and their leader is Thiccanus Waverunner a very muscular and busty Blood elf with a large hand cannon and a cozy pirate hat
They will siege Menethil harmor with their mighty fleet and take it as their new capitol, venice style
Some real N’wahs around here who don’t get real Dark Elf Morrowind Lore.
Are you trying to make a lore for the new blood elf skins. Then you’re mistaken. Blood elfs are bloodelfs the skins are cosmetic.
Nothing to do with lore. Just like how blood elfs have golden hair, some choose to colour their hair red or black.
Similarly, is the case of their “Dark” skins…it’s cosmetic. Not real.
If you want to know the “True Dark Elf’s” it’s in Morrowind or Warhammer or just any other game that gives proper definition to dark elf’s …
Edit 1: if you really want to compare dark elf’s to WoW races then the blood elfs do behave like the dark elf’s not the high elfs, mind you…
Just like in The elder scroll lore, Morrowind.
The summer or the dark elf’s worship the daedera aka the evil gods or the 3 living Gods( in TES3 timeline only). They are exotic in nature, perform rituals of magic and might, also have eyes and skin that differentiates the rest of the elves. ( Red eyes and Dark skins)
The blood elfs have these common similarities…
So, if you truly are in search for Dark Elf’s in WoW. It’s just really the blood elfs…
Yes, because why not. It’d be fun, and it would at least ground them with some kind of reason to their existence.
Incredible deduction, Columbo! Of course it’s “Cosmetic” to a Blood Elf. Doesn’t mean we should just accept it as it is.
Nobody’s batting an eye for Humans and Dwarves being black because there are obviously different cultures for them. And now suddenly we are getting black elves and we are to just… Accept that? I mean, why not ask where they were or how they are a thing? Were they hiding under tables this entire time?
You seem to have an aura of “Who cares, it’s cosmetic”, and honestly I hate these kind of people, as they seem to be the ones who really don’t care about the game or even like the game.
This “idc” attitude could very well lead to everyone being pink and green and all other colors, because who cares, amirite?
I don’t care about the other Elves, and we’re not talking about them, and it was a waste of time to go make a word-salad talking about Elder Scrolls Dark Elves, as no one’s talking about them.
Ok, then this thread is also pointless. I can’t make a lore for the new blood elfs skins when I they are clearly blood elfs to begin with…
It’s like I was dark skinned before the quarantine period and now I am a little fairer…
So, I decide to make a lore of my slightly fairer skin and call them white human.
When it’s clearly an insult to call them that…Dark elf’s are my favourite race in the elder scrolls. So, making a lore about them in WoW, by which they clearly don’t exist is a joke…
You misunderstand. You decided to go in-length about Elder Scrolls Dark Elves, while no one is talking about co-opting lore from other games (Not necessarily) to explain why Blood Elves, now, are getting black skin colors.
Still, I don’t see anyone but you talk about TES Dunmer.
Good job, Columbo. This thread, by the OP’s words, was more done for fun rather than to be anything serious.
People want logic in the new customizations. Much like no doubt there were Troll players wondering why are there Trolls of different, more hostile factions fighting with the Horde now (And they most likely landed on them being part of the Zandalari Empire, either as infantry or slaves)
I don’t see the issue with the darker skin tones.
They already have 1 skin tone that is relatively dark/tanned, so I see no issue.
By Dark Elves I’m going to assume the Blood Elfs that got much darker tones than we’ve seen before.
I say, there doesn’t have to be any lore behind it, and rather they’re just Blood Elves.
Can we like, get over it? It’s just skin tone.
Can we like, get over it? It’s just skin tone.
Agreed.
There is no dark elves lore, because dark elves don’t exist.
It’s just new age sjw crap.
The only Dark Blood elves that are backed up by lore are Demon hunters. Any other is just catering towards social justice warriors