[RPG] Can elves maintain concentration in a trance

concentrationdnd-5eelfspells

Following the question Must 5e elves take a long rest? and LegendaryDude's suggestion, I wanted to further elaborate on the benefits elvish trance has while adventuring.

In the PHB 5e, there's a note that says:

Elves don't need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining
semiconscious, for 4 hours a day (The Common word for such meditation
is "trance."). While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such
dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive
through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the
same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

To further clarify, meditation is defined as:

think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or
with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a
method of relaxation.

Combining those two definitions, I'm understanding that elves take 4 hours out of their day to block out the world around them, focusing intensely on either something or nothing… Either maintaining an unwavering concentration on one topic or allowing stray thoughts to pass through them, giving them dreams.

If this understanding is accurate, would that suggest that while in a trance, an elf can maintain a spell that requires their concentration to keep up?

Example:

Your party takes heed to their position. After a long and perilous journey, the cult leader is just beyond the doors, yet your party is down to half strength, at best, and exhausted. Having overheard a guard mention that the leader was not to be disturbed for the next eight hours, you decide it's best to take the cautionary path and rest for at least 4 of those hours, allowing everyone to recharge and prepare for what you expect is going to be a tough fight.

As a measure of precaution, your party takes up base in a small corridor, sealing one side with the spell mold earth while your elven wizard casts an illusionary spell on the other to hide your presence.

Note: In this situation, the idea is that the spell can be maintained while the elf uses trance to gain full benefits as if rested for 8 hours.

Best Answer

Yes

Elves are able to maintain concentration during a long rest if they use their Trance trait.

Concentration is only broken by:

Casting another spell that requires concentration. You lose concentration on a spell if you cast another spell that requires concentration. You can't concentrate on two spells at once.

Taking damage. Whenever you take damage while you are concentrating on a spell, you must make a Constitution saving throw to maintain your concentration. The DC equals 10 or half the damage you take, whichever number is higher. If you take damage from multiple sources, such as an arrow and a dragon's breath, you make a separate saving throw for each source of damage.

Being incapacitated or killed. You lose concentration on a spell if you are incapacitated or if you die.

As of you've quoted above, an elf under their trance doesn't tick any of those boxes. They are not casting another spell that requires concentration, they are not taking damage, and they are not incapacitated because they aren't unconscious (they are just semi-conscious.)

The key is in not getting incapacitated.

Trance states (my emphasis):

Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day.

A sleeping creature is unconscious and breaks concentration because of that. Trance specifically states you are only semiconscious, so you do not be unconscious or incapacitated - letting you maintain your concentration through your 4 hour trance.

Designer support

Everything lines up, but for those looking for some designer thoughts, Jeremy Crawford has stated:

No rule prevents an elf from concentrating while using the Trance trait.

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