
Kobolds are a race of small, rat-like creatures that dwell underground in tunnels and mines. They are known for their affinity for candles, often wearing them on their heads as a source of light in the dark underground caverns they call home. In German mythology, Kobolds were spirits that could materialize as candles, and this is reflected in the World of Warcraft, where Kobolds are depicted with candles and are known for their catchphrase You no take candle!. The importance of candles to Kobolds is twofold: they are a source of light, and they are believed to ward off The Darkness, an entity that Kobolds fear will kill them if they are left in the dark.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Race | Diminutive, rat-like subterranean humanoids |
| Habitat | Caverns and mines throughout the Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor and the Broken Isles |
| Height | 4 feet tall at best |
| Vision | Excellent in low-light conditions |
| Light Source | Candles |
| Intelligence | Not particularly intelligent |
| Nature | Cowardly, tenacious and fierce when cornered |
| Morale | Candles are a humorous source of morale |
| Fear | An entity called The Darkness or Uul'gyneth |
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What You'll Learn
- Kobolds are a race of small, rat-like creatures that live underground
- They are not very intelligent and are known for being cowardly
- Kobolds fear an entity called The Darkness and believe candles protect them from it
- They are said to have excellent vision in low-light conditions but still need candles to see in the darkest areas
- Kobolds are most at home in the dark underground, as bright light causes them discomfort

Kobolds are a race of small, rat-like creatures that live underground
Kobolds are a race of small, rat-like creatures that dwell underground in tunnels, mines, and caverns. They are not very intelligent and are known for their cowardice, typically fleeing from combat unless cornered. Kobolds are most comfortable in the dark underground, as bright light causes them discomfort. While they have excellent vision in low-light conditions, they still need a source of light in the darkest areas to see, which is why they rely on candles.
The importance of candles to kobolds is a well-known aspect of their culture. In the game World of Warcraft, for example, kobolds are associated with the phrase "You no take candle!", which is a reference to their fear of having their candle stolen. This fear is rooted in the belief that an entity called The Darkness will kill them if they do not have a candle to protect them. The Darkness is also referred to as the Devouring Darkness or Uul'gyneth, and it is said to be an old god or a minion of the old gods.
The use of candles by kobolds may, therefore, serve a dual purpose. Firstly, it provides them with light to navigate their underground homes. Secondly, it acts as a protective barrier against the Devouring Darkness, keeping its power at bay. While this may be seen as a humorous quirk by some, it is a legitimate concern for kobolds, who are terrified of being consumed by the darkness.
The Bluewax kobolds, for instance, use their candles to protect themselves from the Devouring Darkness, which lies dormant near their homes. Similarly, the kobolds of Candle Rock in Highmountain regained their caverns from the drogbar, who were swallowed by the Devouring Darkness, thanks to the protection of their candles. Thus, the candle holds significant cultural and practical value for kobolds, explaining their fierce protection of this seemingly simple item.
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They are not very intelligent and are known for being cowardly
Kobolds are a race of small, rat-like creatures that dwell underground in tunnels and mines. They are not very intelligent, and their lack of strategic cunning is evident in their poor combat tactics. They are known to be cowardly, often fleeing from fights and using their natural stealth to escape rather than ambush. Their preference for avoiding confrontation may be due to their small stature, as they only grow to a maximum height of four feet.
While kobolds are not considered a significant threat, they breed rapidly and are usually found in large numbers. Their tenacious and fierce nature when cornered should not be underestimated. Kobolds are most comfortable in the dark underground, as bright light causes them discomfort. However, they cannot see perfectly in the dark and require a source of light, which is why they are often associated with candles.
The importance of candles to kobolds is a notable aspect of their culture. Kobolds are afraid of the dark, believing in an entity called "The Darkness" or "The Devouring Darkness" that will harm them if they do not have a candle to ward it off. This belief may have originated from the historical presence of Old Gods in Azeroth's crust, where candles were used to keep the power of the Void at bay. The Bluewax kobolds, for example, use candles as a barrier against the Devouring Darkness to protect themselves from the dormant C'Thrax Uul'gyneth.
The phrase "You no take candle!" is a well-known expression associated with kobolds, often used as a defiant statement to protect their candles from being taken. In the game World of Warcraft, kobold diggers, miners, and tunnelers have a candle stuck to their heads as a mining light, which has become a humorous source of morale for the creatures. Despite their fear of losing their candles, kobolds are not above using them as weapons, as seen in the quest "I TAKE Candle!" where players are tasked with killing kobolds and can obtain rewards such as the Kobold Torch.
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Kobolds fear an entity called The Darkness and believe candles protect them from it
Kobolds are a race of diminutive, rat-like humanoids that dwell in and around caverns and mines. They are not particularly intelligent or bright and are notoriously cowardly. They live in tunnels going deep into mountains and are most at home in the dark underground, as bright light causes them discomfort.
Kobolds fear an entity called The Darkness and believe that candles protect them from it. This fear is not unfounded, as those without candles have fallen prey to the Devouring Darkness, a legitimate threat in the form of old god minions in the underground darkness. In one instance, the drogbar, who had taken the caverns of the kobolds of Candle Rock in Highmountain, were swallowed whole by the Darkness, allowing the kobolds to reclaim their home. The Bluewax clan of kobolds use their candles as a barrier against the Devouring Darkness in proximity to the dormant C'Thrax Uul'gyneth.
The kobolds' affinity for candles also stems from their need for light in the darkest recesses of mines and caves to see, as they do not have perfect vision in the dark. Their fear of losing their candles is so great that they will attack with abandon when their lairs or candles are threatened. This fear has led to humorous interactions with other characters, such as the famous "I TAKE Candle!" line, where a kobold would shout "You no take candle!" and the other character would respond with "I TAKE CANDLE!" before bashing their brains in.
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They are said to have excellent vision in low-light conditions but still need candles to see in the darkest areas
Kobolds are a race of small, rat-like creatures that dwell in caverns and mines. They are described as "not particularly intelligent" and "notoriously cowardly". They are most at home in the dark underground, as bright light causes them discomfort. While they have excellent vision in low-light conditions, they still need a source of light to see in the darkest areas of mines and caves. This is why they rely so heavily on candles.
Kobolds are known for their affinity for candles, which they use as a source of light. In the game World of Warcraft, kobolds are depicted with a candle stuck to the top of their heads, acting as a mining light. The importance of candles to kobolds is often portrayed humorously, with the creatures fiercely defending their candles from anyone who tries to take them.
However, there is also a more serious side to the kobolds' reliance on candles. In the lore of World of Warcraft, kobolds use candles as a barrier against the Devouring Darkness, which is said to be caused by the old god minions in the underground darkness. The Darkness is a legitimate threat to the kobolds, and their practice of using candles may be a way to keep this threat at bay.
The fear of the Darkness is so strong among kobolds that they believe that if they don't have a candle, The Darkness will kill them. This belief is reflected in the phrase "You no take candle!", which is associated with the kobolds in the game Hearthstone. The phrase is a statement of defiance, expressing the kobolds' determination to protect their candles at all costs.
In summary, while kobolds have excellent vision in low-light conditions, they still need candles to see in the darkest areas of their underground dwellings. Their reliance on candles is not just a matter of convenience, but also a way to protect themselves from the threats that lurk in the darkness.
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Kobolds are most at home in the dark underground, as bright light causes them discomfort
Kobolds are a race of small, rat-like humanoids that dwell in caverns and mines. They are not very intelligent and are known for their cowardice, preferring to avoid confrontation. However, when their homes or possessions are threatened, they can become fierce and will attack to defend what is theirs.
Kobolds are most comfortable in the dark underground, as bright light causes them discomfort. They have excellent vision in low-light conditions, but even their eyes have limits in the pitch blackness of deep mines and caves. This is why they have a great affinity for candles, which they use as a source of light to help them see. In German mythology, Kobolds were spirits that haunted homes and could materialise in the form of an animal, fire, a human, or a candle.
The candles hold great importance to the Kobolds, who fear a powerful entity known as The Darkness, or the Devouring Darkness. They believe that their candles protect them from this malevolent force, and so they are very protective of their candles, often shouting "You no take candle!" to intruders. This fear of the dark may have originated as a legitimate method of keeping the power of the Void at bay, as Azeroth's crust has historically been infested by Old Gods.
The Bluewax Kobolds, for example, use their candles as a barrier against the Devouring Darkness, which is associated with the dormant C'Thrax Uul'gyneth. The Kobolds of Candle Rock in Highmountain also attributed their protection from the Darkness to their candles. When the drogbar took over their caverns, they were swallowed by the Darkness, allowing the Kobolds to reclaim their home.
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Frequently asked questions
Kobolds are a race of diminutive, rat-like subterranean humanoids who live in tunnels in the Alterac and Redridge Mountains. They have excellent vision in low-light conditions but still need a light source to see in the dark. They are afraid that if their candle is taken, an entity called The Darkness will kill them.
The Darkness is a D&D concept. It is likely that the practice of using candles came from a legitimate method of keeping the power of the Void at bay. In German mythology, Kobolds were spirits that would haunt a home. They can sometimes materialise in the form of a candle.
Kobolds are not very intelligent and are considered more of an annoyance than a true danger. They breed very quickly and are always found in large numbers. They are also known for their humour and their catchphrase "You no take candle!".











































