D&D 5E Magic Resistance at Level 3? Warlock Familiars

[Sezarious]

Hi all

I noticed when reading the monster manual for DM reasons, that variant familiars such as the quasit and Pseudodragon, available to warlocks, grant magic resistance to their partner.

Take a look at page 254 of the Monster Manual (Variant Pseudodragon). As if a lv3 Warlock lv3 Bear totem Barbarian wasn't hearty enough! Next I guess you'll take 6 levels in vengeance paladin and have +Charisma mod to all the saves that you'll have advantage on too. If you're a dwarf, you'll also have Charisma mod and advantage vs poisons too and a stack of extra hitpoints if you're a hill dwarf.

My question is, am I reading this right and secondly, isn't having magic resistance at 3rd level overpowered?

 

[keterys]

Magic resistance's usefulness is a bit campaign dependent, as well as a bit dependent on what is covered. For example, spells are clearly covered, but is dragon breath? Medusa's gaze?

It's not clear to me why a warlock would have access to these variants, though. I guess a DM could open up the option, but then that DM should hopefully know what they're doing or nip it in the bud once they find out.

 

[Sezarious]

It's not clear to me why a warlock would have access to these variants doing or nip it in the bud once they find out.

Ah! My point is in fact that it IS clear and that it is written in the Core rules and that for a DM to rule otherwise would be technically gimping the character as per RAW.

Page 107 - Players Handbook - Pact of the chain - "-you can choose one of the normal forms for your familiar or one of the following special forms: imp, Pseudodragon, quasit or sprite."

Page 254 of the Monster Manual mentions 'variant Pseudodragon familiar'. The context for this is different to 'variant human', which is available only at DM's ruling, rather the context is referring to the variance between a Pseudodragon AND a Pseudodragon familiar.

Now I'm not saying this isn't overpowered, but I am suggesting, based on RAW that it is clear and it is there and it appears that no-one on the internet has noticed this benefit if the 'Pact of the chain' Warlock feature.

Sorry if I come off as aggressive about this, I just think I'm onto something.

 

[Psikerlord#]

Hi all

I noticed when reading the monster manual for DM reasons, that variant familiars such as the quasit and Pseudodragon, available to warlocks, grant magic resistance to their partner.

Take a look at page 254 of the Monster Manual (Variant Pseudodragon). As if a lv3 Warlock lv3 Bear totem Barbarian wasn't hearty enough! Next I guess you'll take 6 levels in vengeance paladin and have +Charisma mod to all the saves that you'll have advantage on too. If you're a dwarf, you'll also have Charisma mod and advantage vs poisons too and a stack of extra hitpoints if you're a hill dwarf.

My question is, am I reading this right and secondly, isn't having magic resistance at 3rd level overpowered?

Magic resistance at 3rd is less powerful than the MCing combo's you've suggested. Worry about those first.

 

[Chryssis]

I don't have anything infront of me right now but ìf i'm not mistaken this was discussed elsewhere on the forum. The pseudodragon etc familiars can Choose to impart their MR, so in the case of a find familiar where they are enslaved so to speak they are unlikely to choose to do that. If the PC found a pseudodragon roaming around an airship and befriended it then yes they would receive the MR but it would be totally up to Dm discretion.

 

[keterys]

Yep, the warlock pact of chain can gain a cool familiar, but the warlock doesn't decide whether it's a special variant pseudodragon or quasit. In fact, if it happens to be one, such a pseudodragon or quasit can leave familiar service whenever it feels like.

Note that these variant pseudodragons and quasits work differently (have different rules and effects) from normal familiars from the Find Familiar spell. It's unfortunate that dnd likes to reuse words*, but the familiar in this case is a different thing.

* Unless you want to argue that level and enchantment and (to keep it topical) resistance are always clearly and distinctly used

 

[Perun]

I don't have anything infront of me right now but ìf i'm not mistaken this was discussed elsewhere on the forum. The pseudodragon etc familiars can Choose to impart their MR, so in the case of a find familiar where they are enslaved so to speak they are unlikely to choose to do that. If the PC found a pseudodragon roaming around an airship and befriended it then yes they would receive the MR but it would be totally up to Dm discretion.

This. Although it's not clearly spelled out, the pact of the chain's improved familiar is something completely separate from familiar options presented in sidebars in the MM. IMO, of course. It has been discussed in other threads in the past, but just note that of four special familiars available to chain pact warlock, one (sprite) doesn't get the MM familiar sidebar. Also note that imp, quasit and pseudodragon as presented in the MM don't require find familiar spell to become someone's familiars, and are not limited to becoming familiars for wizards and warlocks only -- they can become familiars to any spellcaster (bard, cleric, druid, eldritch knight, sorcerer, arcane trickster, etc.).

Regards.

 

[Sezarious]

Ah I see. Well that WAS less clear to me than I had originally thought. I didn't pick up on the point on Sprites. I guess it also makes for an interesting Character goal and the magic resistance would then only last until the player was hit by a fireball spell, which would also bake the familiar.

 

[Hereticus]

My question is, am I reading this right and secondly, isn't having magic resistance at 3rd level overpowered?

Not in low magic fifth edition, the character may not use it every level. Especially in HotDQ. Too much of my gnome/wizard class/race abilities against magic were wasted in that module.

 

[Falling Icicle]

Chain pact familiars aren't serving voluntarily. They're being compelled through magic (and perhaps also the authority of the warlock's patron). I'd allow a warlock to get the magic resistance from his chain pact familiar, but only after he earned its devotion.