Dark troll The dark trolls ( a . k . a . dark forest trolls ) are the tallest and rarest known species of troll kind . Some have decided to classify this species as the fifth category of trolls . Dark trolls are ancestors of Night elves , and during the Battle of Mount Hyjal a clan of dark trolls joined the night elves and fought against the Burning Legion , helping for the salvation of Azeroth . History . Background . There is no evidence that the dark trolls have ever formed a civilization or nation . As their estimated numbers are so few their existence as a distinct category of troll s is considered highly questionable . It seems likely that they are derived from a single troll tribe . Third War . When Grom Hellscream first arrived in Ashenvale Forest , he found and destroyed a dark troll settlement . Later , small settlements of dark trolls were destroyed by Tyrande , Malfurion , and their army during their search for the Druids of the Talon . However , a group of dark trolls named the ShadowTooth Clan joined the night elves in the Battle of Mount Hyjal . Appearance . Dark trolls are muscular , wiry humanoids that stand 10 feet and sometimes even 12 feet tall while slouched . They have a royal purple hue of skin and pointed features . Their choice of war paint tends to be black or a shade of purple . They have pale yellow eyes that glare as they slip out of shadows . Society . Dark trolls lead a mostly subterranean existence , and emerge at night to hunt . They have a tribal structure , in which physical power and cunning are held in great esteem . Tribal shamans offer spiritual guidance and divine magic when necessary . This is similar — but far more primitive — in social structure to jungle troll s , the most civilized of trollkind . They practice voodoo , ritual sacrifices and even occasional cannibalism . Dark trolls are possibly the most violent of all troll species and are feared even among their own kind . It is known that their society contains shaman s , berserker s , trapper s , shadow priest s , and high priest s , and their groups are led by warlord s . Dark troll culture is as primitive as their forest troll cousins but they are more violent than forest trolls , and it has been theorized that dark trolls are much less intelligent than the other trolls . Groups of dark trolls . It is said that there are various tribes within the dark trolls , however , only one organization is known so far : The ShadowTooth Clan . Combat . Alleged sightings of dark trolls usually involve hulking and brutish creatures who attack with little tactical planning or coordinated effort . They attack with battleaxes or spears in combat , but they are by no means limited to using weapons . Even when disarmed , they can be lethal with their claws . They fight without fear , relying on their natural healing ability to keep them going . A dark troll ' s favored class is barbarian . Cult of the Dark Strand . The Cult of the Dark Strand in northwestern Ashenvale has a number of troll members who could possibly be dark trolls , however , no dark troll settlements has been seen , and those in the strand are likely jungle troll s . In Wrath of the Lich King . at Conquest Hold , Grizzly Hills has a skin color that makes him look like a dark troll that is not available to players that some have speculated means he is a dark troll . In Cataclysm . Concept art for dark trolls has surfaced , but they did not appear in the Cataclysm expansion . Elune Worships . Dark Trolls might have worshipped Elune as a Loa who transformed them into Dark elves . Dark Troll Loa Priests was Enchanted by Elune in a similar way as Mar ' li , Slith , Tigon , Akil ' Zon have been transformed by other Loa s . Elune would have changed Dark Trolls into Dark elves . A tribe of nocturnal Humanoids was summoned to the Well of Eternity who made them strong wise and virtualy immortal and was futher transformed into the Night elves . Dark Trolls + Elune = Dark elves , Dark elves + Well of Eternity = Night Elves