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Blades of Cursed Midnight: A Hexblade's Guide (by Lord_Ventor)
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<blockquote data-quote="LightWarden" data-source="post: 6744728" data-attributes="member: 6803540"><p><strong>Originally posted by Lord_Ventnor:</strong></p><p></p><p>Destined for Darkness: Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies</p><p></p><p> Because many class features between the Hexblade and the traditional Warlock differ, they have different criteria when evaluating Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies. Many Warlock Paragon Paths make use of the Warlock's Curse feature, which Hexblades lack. I won't be evaluating Paths that do that unless they have something else that makes up for it, so if a Warlock Path is not there, assume it's not for your Hexblade. You may also notice that I'm rating Legendary Hexblade several times; its features vary wildly depending on the pact, so it's kind of necessary.</p><p></p><p> <strong>Warlock/Hexblade Paragon Paths</strong></p><p>[sblock]<span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Disciple of Razaundra (HoS):</strong></span> The path that most Gloomblades should default too, and it's not that bad. Some of the features and powers encourage you to be bloodied, but you won't suck at them if you aren't bloody. The level 16 feature allows you a minor action attack on the turn after you drop a foe, which helps cleanup considerably. It's daily is (save ends) stunning, which is always awesome. Sure, it dazes you, but even with a save, the foe still remains dazed, and you get a considerable power boost against that foe. Overall, take this.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Evermeet Warlock (FRPG):</strong></span> An odd path, and one that doesn't really add to your striker potential. Instead, it gives you some controller abilities, leader abilites, and survivabilty. It concentrates a lot on teleportation, which makes it fit Fey Hexblades really well, although only Star Hexblades can really use the level 20 daily power to really help allies. The biggest part of this path is that with Ethereal Sidestep, you can effectively become permanently invisible to enemies you fight in melee, which is obviously pretty awesome and should mean you won't be hit all that often.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Hellbringer (AP):</strong></span> One of the rare Warlock Paths that doesn't require a curse, and fortunately, it's pretty good for Infernal Hexblades. Extra damage on an Action Point, causing fire weakness on criticals, and ignorning fire resistance is pretty awesome, and the powers aren't anything to sneeze at either. It's level 20 daily is ironically better used by you than by a traditional Warlock, because your bonus damage is applied to all opponents you hit.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong>Herald of Vezzuvu (HotEC):</strong></span> I'll be frank - don't take this path. It's only good feature is its action point feature; everything else about it is either situational or highly inaccurate. I mean, your attack powers don't benefit from any of your class goodies like the pact reward or implement enhancements.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Legendary Hexblade (Elemental) (HotEC):</strong></span> This is probably the best variation of the Legendary Hexblade. Temporary hit points on an action point and resistance that you can change at the end of an extended rest are helpful, its encounter attack makes one enemy dangerous to other enemies around it for a little bit, it makes your Pact Boon much better by making it boost your damage, and it's Transformation ability is decent as well. I can definitely recommend this as a solid pick for Eleblades.</p><p></p><p><strong>Legendary Hexblade (Fey) (HotFK):</strong> The standard Hexblade Paragon Path. Fey Hexblades have a decent path here, which buffs their teleporting powers and gives them some extra speed. You also become invisible a lot with the Path too. It's not the best path ever, but it's servicable.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #800080"><strong>Legendary Hexblade (Gloom) (HoS):</strong></span> The Gloom version of the Legendary Hexblade is about necrotic damage; you resist it and you deal it. There's some insubstantial and weakening stuff here too, but honestly, it's not that good overall.</p><p></p><p><strong>Legendary Hexblade (Infernal) (HotFK):</strong> The Infernal Variation of the Legendary Hexblade focuses on damage and forced movement. You also get some fire resistance too. Overall, it's one of the better Legendary Hexblade variants, which isn't really saying much.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong>Legendary Hexblade (Star) (D393):</strong></span> The Star Hexblade's version of the Legendary Hexblade boosts their secondary controller role, although it has a really nice encounter attack that makes one enemy a danger zone for other enemies for a turn. Not too bad, but it's not Student of Caiphon, which takes it out of the running.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #ffcc00"><strong>Student of Caiphon (D366):</strong></span> Widely considered on of the best Striker Paths at the moment. There really are no compelling reasons for a Star Hexblade not to take this path. It's level 11 features are amazing (onging damage and expanded crits are very awsome), It's encounter attack allows you to smack invisible and concealed enemies, it has encounter flight, and its daily utility can help you can your allies recover vital powers in the middle of a tough fight. Only its level 16 feature is a dud, due to you lacking the Warlock's Curse feature, but everything else this path offers you more than makes up for it.</p><p></p><p><strong>Valiant Hexblade (D393):</strong> A paragon path for Fey Hexblades themed around the White Well. It's okay, although overall not really any better than the Fey variation of the Legendary Hexblade.[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Racial Paragon Paths</strong></p><p>[sblock]<span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Adroit Explorer (PHB2):</strong></span> A human path that is great used with any class, and the Hexblade is no exception. Picking up a classic Warlock power can be pretty handy, especially if you can nab a blast or burst that can help you damage multiple foes at the start of a battle.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Mithral Arm (D385):</strong></span> A Dragonborn Path that is great with any class, and Hexblades can use it to good effect. Grabbing Arcana or Religion can help you get plot hooks from your DM too, if that interests you. Even without those skills, traditional Warlock powers, at-will teleportation, and a downright impressive defensive utility make this a strong choice.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Ninefold Master (PHR<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" />):</strong></span> Taking this path requires you to take Draconic Spellcaster, but it's worth it. The main benefit you get from this path is making your Dragon Breath an arcane Warlock power. That means that it benefits from Draconic Spellcaster, which patches its accuracy problem, and boosts its damage with your Striker Bonus damage. You now have a powerful minor action attack that can be recharged in battle several times through various feats.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Turathi Highborn (PHB2):</strong></span> A good choice for Tiefling Hexblades that gives them some nifty domination options, pushing with Infernal Wrath, and perhaps most awesomely of all, a hefty damage boost against bloodied enemies.[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Other Paragon Paths</strong></p><p>[sblock]<span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Academy Master (D374):</strong></span> A Path that rather than expands your capabilities, makes your already existing attacks more potent. And believe me, the boosts this path provides are good. Features include an accuracy boost when you hit with an At-Will Attack, an attack reroll on Action Points, and a fairly sizable boost to your At-Will Attacks. The powers are good too, with the encounter boosting the damage of one of your At-Will Attacks, the utility allowing you to recharge encounter attacks you miss with, and a daily that makes encounter attacks you hit a foe with have their extra effects become (save ends). This path is a little better for Hellblades, Feyblades, and Gloomblades because of the daily, but all Hexblades can take this path and use it pretty well.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Lyrandar Wind-Rider (EPG):</strong></span> This path is really only viable for Hellblades or Eleblades, but boy is it good. It's all about lightning and thunder damage, and attacks that deal such get a +1 bonus to accuracy and a +Constitution mod bonus to damage at level 11. It's other features aren't as awesome, but aren't terrible either. Its powers are decent, although they lack your Pact Reward damage, so you might want reserve maneuver in case you miss that overmuch.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Traveler's Harlequin (D382):</strong></span> The prerequisites for this path include having a multiclass feat, being trained in Bluff, and worshiping the Traveler, all which Hexblades can do pretty easily (well, that last one might be tough to justify outside of an Eberron Campaign). Taking the path allows you to grab multiclass feats from multiple classes, something only Bards can normally do. Its other features and powers are also great (well, you might want to end up using reserve maneuver to swap out the 11th level attack power). Overall, definitely something worthy of consideration if you worship the enigmatic god of change.[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Epic Destinies</strong></p><p>[sblock]<span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Chosen (FRPG/DP):</strong></span> If you associate your Hexblade closely with a God, well, they might just grant you their ultimate favor. Ability score boosts, returning an encounter power, and a power that changes depending on which God you favor.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Demigod (PHB):</strong></span> Ascending to godhood; what could be more epic than that? This boosts your ability scores, allows you to reuse an encounter power, and grants regeneration; overall, it's excellent.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #00ccff"><strong>Destined Scion (HotFK):</strong></span> An excellent ED to fall back on if nothing captures your imagination. Ability score boosts, attack bonuses, and returning from death; nothing here is wasted on you.[/sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="LightWarden, post: 6744728, member: 6803540"] [b]Originally posted by Lord_Ventnor:[/b] Destined for Darkness: Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies Because many class features between the Hexblade and the traditional Warlock differ, they have different criteria when evaluating Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies. Many Warlock Paragon Paths make use of the Warlock's Curse feature, which Hexblades lack. I won't be evaluating Paths that do that unless they have something else that makes up for it, so if a Warlock Path is not there, assume it's not for your Hexblade. You may also notice that I'm rating Legendary Hexblade several times; its features vary wildly depending on the pact, so it's kind of necessary. [b]Warlock/Hexblade Paragon Paths[/b] [sblock][COLOR=#0000ff][b]Disciple of Razaundra (HoS):[/b][/COLOR] The path that most Gloomblades should default too, and it's not that bad. Some of the features and powers encourage you to be bloodied, but you won't suck at them if you aren't bloody. The level 16 feature allows you a minor action attack on the turn after you drop a foe, which helps cleanup considerably. It's daily is (save ends) stunning, which is always awesome. Sure, it dazes you, but even with a save, the foe still remains dazed, and you get a considerable power boost against that foe. Overall, take this. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Evermeet Warlock (FRPG):[/b][/COLOR] An odd path, and one that doesn't really add to your striker potential. Instead, it gives you some controller abilities, leader abilites, and survivabilty. It concentrates a lot on teleportation, which makes it fit Fey Hexblades really well, although only Star Hexblades can really use the level 20 daily power to really help allies. The biggest part of this path is that with Ethereal Sidestep, you can effectively become permanently invisible to enemies you fight in melee, which is obviously pretty awesome and should mean you won't be hit all that often. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Hellbringer (AP):[/b][/COLOR] One of the rare Warlock Paths that doesn't require a curse, and fortunately, it's pretty good for Infernal Hexblades. Extra damage on an Action Point, causing fire weakness on criticals, and ignorning fire resistance is pretty awesome, and the powers aren't anything to sneeze at either. It's level 20 daily is ironically better used by you than by a traditional Warlock, because your bonus damage is applied to all opponents you hit. [COLOR=#ff0000][b]Herald of Vezzuvu (HotEC):[/b][/COLOR] I'll be frank - don't take this path. It's only good feature is its action point feature; everything else about it is either situational or highly inaccurate. I mean, your attack powers don't benefit from any of your class goodies like the pact reward or implement enhancements. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Legendary Hexblade (Elemental) (HotEC):[/b][/COLOR] This is probably the best variation of the Legendary Hexblade. Temporary hit points on an action point and resistance that you can change at the end of an extended rest are helpful, its encounter attack makes one enemy dangerous to other enemies around it for a little bit, it makes your Pact Boon much better by making it boost your damage, and it's Transformation ability is decent as well. I can definitely recommend this as a solid pick for Eleblades. [b]Legendary Hexblade (Fey) (HotFK):[/b] The standard Hexblade Paragon Path. Fey Hexblades have a decent path here, which buffs their teleporting powers and gives them some extra speed. You also become invisible a lot with the Path too. It's not the best path ever, but it's servicable. [COLOR=#800080][b]Legendary Hexblade (Gloom) (HoS):[/b][/COLOR] The Gloom version of the Legendary Hexblade is about necrotic damage; you resist it and you deal it. There's some insubstantial and weakening stuff here too, but honestly, it's not that good overall. [b]Legendary Hexblade (Infernal) (HotFK):[/b] The Infernal Variation of the Legendary Hexblade focuses on damage and forced movement. You also get some fire resistance too. Overall, it's one of the better Legendary Hexblade variants, which isn't really saying much. [COLOR=#ff0000][b]Legendary Hexblade (Star) (D393):[/b][/COLOR] The Star Hexblade's version of the Legendary Hexblade boosts their secondary controller role, although it has a really nice encounter attack that makes one enemy a danger zone for other enemies for a turn. Not too bad, but it's not Student of Caiphon, which takes it out of the running. [COLOR=#ffcc00][b]Student of Caiphon (D366):[/b][/COLOR] Widely considered on of the best Striker Paths at the moment. There really are no compelling reasons for a Star Hexblade not to take this path. It's level 11 features are amazing (onging damage and expanded crits are very awsome), It's encounter attack allows you to smack invisible and concealed enemies, it has encounter flight, and its daily utility can help you can your allies recover vital powers in the middle of a tough fight. Only its level 16 feature is a dud, due to you lacking the Warlock's Curse feature, but everything else this path offers you more than makes up for it. [b]Valiant Hexblade (D393):[/b] A paragon path for Fey Hexblades themed around the White Well. It's okay, although overall not really any better than the Fey variation of the Legendary Hexblade.[/sblock] [b]Racial Paragon Paths[/b] [sblock][COLOR=#0000ff][b]Adroit Explorer (PHB2):[/b][/COLOR] A human path that is great used with any class, and the Hexblade is no exception. Picking up a classic Warlock power can be pretty handy, especially if you can nab a blast or burst that can help you damage multiple foes at the start of a battle. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Mithral Arm (D385):[/b][/COLOR] A Dragonborn Path that is great with any class, and Hexblades can use it to good effect. Grabbing Arcana or Religion can help you get plot hooks from your DM too, if that interests you. Even without those skills, traditional Warlock powers, at-will teleportation, and a downright impressive defensive utility make this a strong choice. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Ninefold Master (PHR:D):[/b][/COLOR] Taking this path requires you to take Draconic Spellcaster, but it's worth it. The main benefit you get from this path is making your Dragon Breath an arcane Warlock power. That means that it benefits from Draconic Spellcaster, which patches its accuracy problem, and boosts its damage with your Striker Bonus damage. You now have a powerful minor action attack that can be recharged in battle several times through various feats. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Turathi Highborn (PHB2):[/b][/COLOR] A good choice for Tiefling Hexblades that gives them some nifty domination options, pushing with Infernal Wrath, and perhaps most awesomely of all, a hefty damage boost against bloodied enemies.[/sblock] [b]Other Paragon Paths[/b] [sblock][COLOR=#00ccff][b]Academy Master (D374):[/b][/COLOR] A Path that rather than expands your capabilities, makes your already existing attacks more potent. And believe me, the boosts this path provides are good. Features include an accuracy boost when you hit with an At-Will Attack, an attack reroll on Action Points, and a fairly sizable boost to your At-Will Attacks. The powers are good too, with the encounter boosting the damage of one of your At-Will Attacks, the utility allowing you to recharge encounter attacks you miss with, and a daily that makes encounter attacks you hit a foe with have their extra effects become (save ends). This path is a little better for Hellblades, Feyblades, and Gloomblades because of the daily, but all Hexblades can take this path and use it pretty well. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Lyrandar Wind-Rider (EPG):[/b][/COLOR] This path is really only viable for Hellblades or Eleblades, but boy is it good. It's all about lightning and thunder damage, and attacks that deal such get a +1 bonus to accuracy and a +Constitution mod bonus to damage at level 11. It's other features aren't as awesome, but aren't terrible either. Its powers are decent, although they lack your Pact Reward damage, so you might want reserve maneuver in case you miss that overmuch. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Traveler's Harlequin (D382):[/b][/COLOR] The prerequisites for this path include having a multiclass feat, being trained in Bluff, and worshiping the Traveler, all which Hexblades can do pretty easily (well, that last one might be tough to justify outside of an Eberron Campaign). Taking the path allows you to grab multiclass feats from multiple classes, something only Bards can normally do. Its other features and powers are also great (well, you might want to end up using reserve maneuver to swap out the 11th level attack power). Overall, definitely something worthy of consideration if you worship the enigmatic god of change.[/sblock] [b]Epic Destinies[/b] [sblock][COLOR=#0000ff][b]Chosen (FRPG/DP):[/b][/COLOR] If you associate your Hexblade closely with a God, well, they might just grant you their ultimate favor. Ability score boosts, returning an encounter power, and a power that changes depending on which God you favor. [COLOR=#0000ff][b]Demigod (PHB):[/b][/COLOR] Ascending to godhood; what could be more epic than that? This boosts your ability scores, allows you to reuse an encounter power, and grants regeneration; overall, it's excellent. [COLOR=#00ccff][b]Destined Scion (HotFK):[/b][/COLOR] An excellent ED to fall back on if nothing captures your imagination. Ability score boosts, attack bonuses, and returning from death; nothing here is wasted on you.[/sblock] [/QUOTE]
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