From the conjure elemental spell description (PHB, pg. 225):
The elemental disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or when the spell ends.
Can I rip parts off of an elemental before it disappears?
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No, you can't harvest parts
As the part you quoted from the PHB says:
The elemental disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or when the spell ends.
All parts of the creature will go with it when it disappears.
There are no specific rules that state this. However this is how all DM's I know would rule this. Were the spell a summoning spell and stated that the creature "returns to its plane" at the end I would rule differently.
answered Nov 23 '18 at 3:01
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3\$\begingroup\$ I think the whole issue here is that OP is unsure whether or not a dismembered arm or similar still counts as part of the elemental. You merely state that it is, without providing any sources that back your theory up. \$\endgroup\$ Nov 23 '18 at 7:48
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\$\begingroup\$ @PixelMaster That's because there are no rules that cover it clearly. I've tried to justify my ruling if that helps. \$\endgroup\$– linksassin ♦Nov 23 '18 at 11:23
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Can you even harvest parts from a non-conjured elemental?
The books don't go into detail about harvesting bodyparts from monsters. Occasionally a monster will note that its venom can be extracted, but 99% of the time, the Monster Manual does not go into detail about this kind of ordeal.
This is a game about epic dungeon crawling, not about being a Monster Hunter who gathers bodyparts, so the game is pretty much silent on the matter. It even extends to humanoid enemies, who should realistically drop the things they are wielding, which the Monster Manual suggests not doing to avoid giving too much loot to the players.
So in other words.... regardless of if bodyparts taken from the elemental disappear or not once it dies, which would be something to ask your DM (I'd personally say that the elemental, its bodyparts and everything it was wielding disappears), the entire ordeal of harvesting bodyparts from a monster is something entirely in the DM homebrew realm.
Ask your DM and see what they say.
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\$\begingroup\$ You can deliberately harvest flail snails. There is also a large section in xanathars about crafting magic items, which requires cr appropriate materials. Conceivably, elemental parts. I don't think the game says you can't/shouldn't be harvesting creatures because of this. \$\endgroup\$– JiheluNov 23 '18 at 20:52