Ancalagon
Dusty Dragon
Hello
I'm a bit obsessed about this class. I know that a hexblade multiclass can be a very strong build, but I really would like to play it single class. But... I have issues.
The Hexblade seems to be, on the surface, the classical "Gish" - the fighter/mage that blends swordplay and sorcery to win the day.
A Gish will classically use her sword for most of her damage. She will use magic to enhance her fighting ability (because it's hard to use a sword to enhance your spellcasting ability), or sometime cast a key spell at the beginning of combat (like a wall spell to divide a battlefield). also, magic will give the character some utility and diversity in non-combat situation - a well used invisibility or suggestion spell is very useful. That is the theory of how a well functioning gish should work...
aaaaaand with the hexblade it doesn't seem to quite work, you run out of gas fast. This is in part because from level 2-10, you only have 2 spell slots.
First, the hexblade has to use magic to enhance her fighting ability, clearly - her hp is lower than most of the other warrior classes, she only has access to medium armor and shield, and while she can use her CHA to attack, and her curse on one foe, she doesn't have fighting styles, bonus feats etc to boost her damage output. So in a fight you will probably want to use some kind of defensive spell, then you'll have access to another slot to boost damage (hex, smite , or maybe mobility across the battlefield, or a key spell (hypnotic pattern? Counterspell) that can turn the tide of battle ... but only one of these. (incidentally, Armor of Agathy, being both offensive and defensive, helps).
If you have used either of those slots for utility outside of combat, you are now rather low on magic. Or if you have two fights between short rests.
Warlocks can also use their eldritch invocations to enhance their utility outside of combat. The hexblade can do this, but she will have a much harder time - she needs those invocation to enhance her fighting ability. For example thirsting blade at level 5 to get that second attack. This leaves the hexblade with far fewer out of combat tricks. So what's left is a few utility cantrips, and perhaps one spare eldritch invocation for utility.
Other warlocks face the same challenge, but they can rely on eldritch blast to deal pretty decent damage, while the hexblade must rely on their sword (I mean, I guess you could build an EB based hexblade... but that's more of a hexcheese really). Furthermore, it is easier to build them with a few more utility invocations.
So... what to do without multiclassing?
I'm a bit obsessed about this class. I know that a hexblade multiclass can be a very strong build, but I really would like to play it single class. But... I have issues.
The Hexblade seems to be, on the surface, the classical "Gish" - the fighter/mage that blends swordplay and sorcery to win the day.
A Gish will classically use her sword for most of her damage. She will use magic to enhance her fighting ability (because it's hard to use a sword to enhance your spellcasting ability), or sometime cast a key spell at the beginning of combat (like a wall spell to divide a battlefield). also, magic will give the character some utility and diversity in non-combat situation - a well used invisibility or suggestion spell is very useful. That is the theory of how a well functioning gish should work...
aaaaaand with the hexblade it doesn't seem to quite work, you run out of gas fast. This is in part because from level 2-10, you only have 2 spell slots.
First, the hexblade has to use magic to enhance her fighting ability, clearly - her hp is lower than most of the other warrior classes, she only has access to medium armor and shield, and while she can use her CHA to attack, and her curse on one foe, she doesn't have fighting styles, bonus feats etc to boost her damage output. So in a fight you will probably want to use some kind of defensive spell, then you'll have access to another slot to boost damage (hex, smite , or maybe mobility across the battlefield, or a key spell (hypnotic pattern? Counterspell) that can turn the tide of battle ... but only one of these. (incidentally, Armor of Agathy, being both offensive and defensive, helps).
If you have used either of those slots for utility outside of combat, you are now rather low on magic. Or if you have two fights between short rests.
Warlocks can also use their eldritch invocations to enhance their utility outside of combat. The hexblade can do this, but she will have a much harder time - she needs those invocation to enhance her fighting ability. For example thirsting blade at level 5 to get that second attack. This leaves the hexblade with far fewer out of combat tricks. So what's left is a few utility cantrips, and perhaps one spare eldritch invocation for utility.
Other warlocks face the same challenge, but they can rely on eldritch blast to deal pretty decent damage, while the hexblade must rely on their sword (I mean, I guess you could build an EB based hexblade... but that's more of a hexcheese really). Furthermore, it is easier to build them with a few more utility invocations.
So... what to do without multiclassing?