Level Up (A5E) Additional Eldritch Invocations for Pact of the Chain Warlocks

[Tessarael]

It looks like if you want to max your familiar's HP through spells the best route would be to multiclass as cleric ...

Yes. There's decent synergy for a Wisdom-based Warlock with Cleric, though I'd personally prefer to be a single-classed Warlock.

Healer archetype can use Better Than Cure at 2nd level to halve damage to an ally within 30' if the damage is non-magical bludgeoning/piercing/slashing, or negate it entirely at 8th level cleric. You could take Armor of Conviction at 1st level cleric to have AC of 10 + Dexterity modifier + Wisdom modifier.

Warpriest archetype Boon of the Protector allows you to make a melee weapon attack as a reaction to a melee hit on you or an ally. And warpriests gain proficiency in all armor.

 

[lichmaster]

Having Armor of Shadows grant the Mage Armor spell would make it viable for a Warlock to boost their familiar or team mate:

Armor of Shadows: You are under the constant effect of the mage armor spell, as cast with a 1st level spell slot. This effect does not emit a magical aura. You also learn the mage armor spell, and the spell doesn’t count against your number of spells known.

Nice, since the lock always casts spells at max level they can (they don't have slots), as soon as they can cast level 2+ spells this spell automatically buffs them or the familiar.
Even better if there's a mechanism like share spells where spells cast on you also work on them

 

[lichmaster]

Yes. There's decent synergy for a Wisdom-based Warlock with Cleric, though I'd personally prefer to be a single-classed Warlock.

Well, since what makes this work are basically spells maybe a viable and structured option could be to create a few invocations granting the spells, with the prereq of Path of the chains maybe. So there's no multiclassing involved.
Or, one could create a specific archetype granting these spells and similar features as those of the classes you mentioned

 

[Tessarael]

Nice, since the lock always casts spells at max level they can (they don't have slots) ...

The A5E Warlock has spell points. They don't have to cast spells at their maximum level. It works quite nicely in practice, in my experience. You will still typically save your spell points to cast a couple of high level spells in battle, but the versatility is nice.

 

[Tessarael]

Well, since what makes this work are basically spells maybe a viable and structured option could be to create a few invocations granting the spells, with the prereq of Path of the chains maybe. So there's no multiclassing involved.
Or, one could create a specific archetype granting these spells and similar features as those of the classes you mentioned

Mage Armor boosts both AC and temporary HP when cast at higher level, so it's the obvious choice. You can get it with the Mystical Talent feat + two cantrips, but it's a bit weird that it's not just an eldritch invocation for pact of the chain.

Yes, I agree. Having an appropriate expanded spell list for a Warlock looking to buff would not be unreasonable. Something like this perhaps:

1st: Mage Armor, Shield of Faith
2nd: Enlarge/Reduce, Protection from Energy
3rd: Haste, Sufferer's Pact
4th: Death Ward, Freedom of Movement
5th: Awaken, Telepathic Bond

I threw this together quickly, a little at random. I'm sure someone else could do better with more care to make it thematically appropriate and balanced.

 

[lichmaster]

The A5E Warlock has spell points. They don't have to cast spells at their maximum level. It works quite nicely in practice, in my experience. You will still typically save your spell points to cast a couple of high level spells in battle, but the versatility is nice.

Right, I totally forgot this difference WRT o5e

 

[Tessarael]

On a related note, the Warlock archetype Gyre Gazer allows them to resummon a familiar once per long rest, spending 3+ of your hit dice, which it gains as temporary HP to the familiar.

 

[Tessarael]

I just added Elven Chain onto my earlier post for items boosting a familiar. Elven Chain doesn't require armor proficiency or attunement, so it's a great option for a familiar to boost AC to 14 + Dexterity modifier (max. 2), for the cost of 5000gp.

So Elven Chain will get the standard Warlock familiars up to AC 16, as Imp, Pseudodragon, Quasit, and Sprite all have Dexterity of at least 14.

 

[Tessarael]

Another suggested Eldritch invocation to boost your Pact of the Chain familiar:

Devil’s bargain: You can lower your maximum HP to correspondingly increase those of your familiar, to a maximum of 2 HP per spellcaster level. For every 9 HP, your familiar gains +1 to proficient skill rolls and +1 to saving throws. For every 12 HP, your familiar gains +1 AC.

Your maximum HP returns to normal, if your familiar is reduced to 0 HP and disappears, you dismiss it forever (not just temporarily), you otherwise lose your familiar, or if you recast Find Familiar.

• The math here is aimed at the familiar getting +4 to proficient skill rolls and saving throws, i.e., +6 in total to skill rolls with the initial +2 as a creature of CR < 5, by spellcaster level 18.
• For example, a level 9 Warlock can reduce her max HP by 18 from 75 to 57. Correspondingly, her imp familiar's max HP increases from 14 to 32, with +1 AC, +2 to saves, and +2 to proficient skill rolls.