They’re not your typical spellcasters. When it comes to their magical skills, they are dependent on an agreement made with a supernatural being, making them subject to the wishes of their patron. They’re great at the battle and roleplaying, therefore they shouldn’t be ignored.
The downside is that they’re one of the most difficult classes to play. Things can quickly get out of hand when you have more customizability and variety than some of D&D’s more standard’ options. If you’re a newcomer to the world of Eldritch Invocations, choosing a patron, pact boons, spell lists, and ability scores can be a challenge.
When it comes to playing a Warlock, we’ll walk you over their key attractions, their weaknesses, and what makes them so special. As your adventures advance, you’ll be able to create a skilled Warlock, identify the greatest builds available, and know how to move forward. Our basic D&D class guide will provide you a bird’s eye view of the Warlock, as well as all the other classes available.
Then buckle up and prepare yourself for infernal power if you’re willing to sign the dotted line and submit to a deific creature.
WARLOCK BUILDS
Warlocks are known for their flexibility. Rarely are other classes so versatile, and no other spellcasters have such a distinct array of magical possibilities as Warlocks do with their Eldritch Invocations. Even though your ultimate playstyle will be heavily influenced by your selected patron and pact, your stats and spell combinations will also have a significant impact.
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SPELLSLINGER (RANGED DAMAGE)
Take advantage of Warlocks’ damage-dealing spellcasting abilities to take on a more magically offensive role in combat. When it comes to magic, there is a limit to how many spells you can cast at once (more on that later), but your cantrips will make everyone else at the table envious.
Cantrips of the first tier. If you’re a mage, Eldritch Blast is a must-have, and as you level up, you’ll unlock greater kinetic burst skills that deal even more damage. If you want to get the most out of your spells, combine condition effects with weaker direct-damage spells.
However, the Fiend and Genie Warlock pacts stand out for their offensive-oriented playstyles (more on those later).
MARTIAL (MELEE DAMAGE)
Spellcasting isn’t the only way to fight. As a warlock, you’ll be able to channel the power of your Patron while slashing through the air with a dagger pulled.
In addition to their D8 hit die, they have light armor that will provide some essential protection. Be sure to keep an eye on your dexterity level if you’re planning on using a sword and spellcasting build. Your starting crossbow and optional starting dagger will be able to be used more effectively with ranged weapons thanks to this. It’s also never a bad idea to turn up your air conditioning.
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If you’re looking for a frightening close-combat Warlock, the Hexblade patron is an obvious choice. It grants a variety of combat boosts that can transform your Warlock into a terrifying close-combat machine.
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SUPPORT / HEALER
In addition, warlocks are excellent as party support. To obtain healing spells that mimic cleric powers, you must strike an agreement with one of the Celestial entities. If you choose the Pact of The Tome, you’ll be able to steal three cantrips from the spell lists of other classes. However, if your party is short on healers or you’re stuck in a very challenging area of the map and have no other option, you’ll be grateful for the spells you do have.
SUPPORT / PARTY LEADER
Warlocks may be excellent party leaders in other domains of adventure. On top of that, they have a captivating demeanor that makes it easy to rally NPCs to your cause or intimidate others into submitting to your will with their spellcasting powers. Sit back and watch your comrades squabble while you bask in the blessings of your Patron, or take the initiative and lead your company.
ABILITY SCORES
As a Warlock, you have a lot of options when it comes to ability scores. When it comes to your spellcasting ability, Charisma is the most important factor to consider. As a result of your armor limitations, Constitution is a close second in popularity. Strength, Intelligence, and Wisdom should fall to the wayside, while Dexterity should be given third place. Pay attention to the roleplaying implications of these last three, rather than their combat benefits.
This is a fantastic way to flesh out your character’s contract and relationship with their patron, even though it won’t have a huge impact on their skills. There was a time when you were one of the Sages, and your thirst for knowledge led you into an uncomfortable and terrible relationship that involved a demon lord. Or maybe you began off as a small criminal, making a deal with a customer as a way to get food. The possibilities are endless.
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WARLOCK SPELLS 5E
Whilst Wizards learn their magical powers by studying ancient manuscripts and sorcerers are born with magical aptitude, Warlocks’ spell-casting abilities are exclusively the result of “pact magic” — an agreement they’ve made with their Patron.
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Warlocks, on the other hand, have a restricted number of spell slots, which makes them stand apart from other spellcasters. After reaching the level of one, you will have one spell slot available, which will be increased to two if you reach the level often. As a result of this, unlike your more academic friends, Warlocks can replenish their spell slots mid-adventure. In the end, the idea is that you’ll resort to one of your (incredible) cantrips.
These instances can be used to replace a learned Warlock spell with one from the Warlock list. This is handy for testing different spells before choosing your core list or switching your spells to suit the next adventure.
Hexes are the most popular spells.
Warlocks, on the other hand, have a wide variety of spells to choose from. Hex is the best pick at the first level. Each successful attack deals an additional 1d6 necrotic damage to the target creature, and it suffers a disadvantage on ability tests made at a score of your choosing. In Hexlyl, you can set up an enemy for a stronger player to take out, which is a nice compliment to party assaults. If you’re looking for a beneficial battle approach, Charm Person is the way to go. Armor of Agathys is an excellent defense that provides five temporary hit points and inflicts damage on your enemies.
As time goes on, you’ll want to combine your magical powers so that you can maximize their potential. If you know the Devil’s Sight incantation, you can cast Darkness to snuff out light and gain a tactical edge. Those Warlocks who have developed a captivating personality will benefit from Tongues, while Mental Prison is an excellent charm spell that shuts a creature out of combat.
Area-of-effect assaults such as Maddening Darkness are available as well as game-breaking spells such as Foresight which gives you an advantage on every attack roll, ability check, and saving throw over the course of eight hours when you reach a high enough level to use them effectively. That’s a lot of power. Wow.
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But even at higher levels, you’ll be relying heavily on your cantrips, with Eldritch Blast being the star of the show. Because Agonizing Blast lets you add your Charisma modifier to damage delivered on every use, this cantrip can be paired with other invocations and spells, like Hex, to greatly increase its utility and damage output when combined with Agonizing Blast.
Additionally, you have a few “back pocket” options that come in handy from time to time. It’s useful to have Mage Hand, which allows you to influence objects from a distance, to guide your group through a dungeon, while Prestidigitation can help you negotiate social situations. In the midst of a conflict, Chill Touch and Blade Ward can come in handy.
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