D&D 5E (2014) [GUIDE] Pacts, Patrons, and Power, a Warlock guide

[Yunru]

Yes, but you still need imporved pact weapon to get multi-attack with it.

Depends on if you manage to acquire a magical (cross)bow before level 5 or not I guess.

 

[Nikioko]

Elven Accuracy (half-elf): With an odd Cha score (example: 9 str, 13+1 Con, 13+1 Dex, 8 Int, 14 Wis, 15+2 Cha). Warlocks have good ways to get advantage (darkness + devils sight / shadows of moil / foresight). On top of advantage, this will add about +2.5 (including the Cha boost ) to-hit with eldritch blast, and +3.5 with great weapon master/sharpshooter. This doesn't mean all warlocks should be half-elfs, but if you are one then take this feat. If you have even Cha, it's still a pretty good feat and you should try to work it in (example: elven accuracy, +1Cha/+1Con, resilient Con). Also, take scouting spells/invocations, so you don't waste your first turn casting darkness.

Sorry, can't see an advantage in this over raising CHA by 2, thus increasing spell casting ability (and therefore spell save DC and spel attack bonus) by 1.
My starting ability score for the half-elf warlock is STR 8 (0 points), DEX 13+1 (5 points), CON 15+1 (9 points), INT 10 (2 points), WIS 12 (4 points), CHA 14+2 (7 points)
So, with an even DEX score, it is better to raise DEX by 2 on your Level 12 ability score improvement (provided that you raised CHA to 20 at Level 4 and 8), unless you have an item (like Boots of Dex) which improves your DEX to an odd number .

 

[Yunru]

Sorry, can't see an advantage in this over raising CHA by 2, thus increasing spell casting ability (and therefore spell save DC and spell attack bonus) by 1.

You don't see the advantage of +1 Cha and triple advantage, over +2 Cha? *headscratch*

Well lucky you, someone made something to do it for you!
http://anydice.com/program/1e0a

As you can see, Elven Accuracy adds on average +2 to spell attacks, much better than a measly +1 (which you may still already get, given EA comes with +1 Cha).

 

[Nikioko]

You don't see the advantage of +1 Cha and triple advantage, over +2 Cha? *headscratch*

Well lucky you, someone made something to do it for you!
http://anydice.com/program/1e0a

As you can see, Elven Accuracy adds on average +2 to spell attacks, much better than a measly +1 (which you may still already get, given EA comes with +1 Cha).

First, Elven Accuracy gives you +1 DEX, not +1 CHA.
Second, yes, you get triple advantage. Provided that you have advantage at all. To get advantage, you have to cast the cantrip True Strike, for example, which has three cons: 1. you have to use an action so that you can only attack every second round. 2. The True Strike only affects the first attack roll, so if you cast multiple Eldritch Blasts, you have advantage on the first one only. 3. This quite useless cantrip permanently blocks one of your valuable cantrip solts, even if you have the Book of Secrets invocation. See the problem?

 

[mellored]

First, Elven Accuracy gives you +1 DEX, not +1 CHA.
Second, yes, you get triple advantage. Provided that you have advantage at all. To get advantage, you have to cast the cantrip True Strike, for example, which has three cons: 1. you have to use an action so that you can only attack every second round. 2. The True Strike only affects the first attack roll, so if you cast multiple Eldritch Blasts, you have advantage on the first one only. 3. This quite useless cantrip permanently blocks one of your valuable cantrip solts, even if you have the Book of Secrets invocation. See the problem?

It's +1 to dex, int, or cha. You can choose. This was changed from the UA.

Also, darkness + devil's sight, shadows of moil, and foresight all give advantage. Not to mention other stuff like hold person, or a friendly monk stunning people.

Granted the first 2 options take an action to cast, which can lower your damage if you do it on the first turn of combat, but if you can cast it before battle then it's great. And it's fairly common to know there is an enemy on the other side of a door before you kick it down. Particularly if you grab some scouting invocation.

 

[Nikioko]

It's +1 to dex, int, or cha. You can choose. This was changed from the UA.

Also, darkness + devil's sight, shadows of moil, and foresight all give advantage. Not to mention other stuff like hold person, or a friendly monk stunning people.

Granted the first 2 options take an action to cast, which can lower your damage if you do it on the first turn of combat, but if you can cast it before battle then it's great. And it's fairly common to know there is an enemy on the other side of a door before you kick it down. Particularly if you grab some scouting invocation.

Greater Invisibility also gives you an advantage, but like Darkness and Shadow of Moil, this is a concentration spell so that you can't cast Hex which means you do without that 1d6 necrotic extra damage on every blast which is not worth it. additionally, Darkness also affects your fellow party members in melee and the zone of darkness can often be easily left. And finally, these consume one of your scarce spell slots and don't last very long, effectively for one fight, or even shorter if you are hit and miss the CON check. This rules out the first two options.

As for foresight: Yes, you can choose this as your Mystic Arcanum on level 17 if you have come that far. The problem is: you can cast it once per day for 8 hours. What are you doing the rest of the time? Plus, this spell has a casting time of 1 minute, so it must be cast in advance and cannot be cast when the battle starts.
So, if you raised CHA to 20 at level 12, you actually can take this on your ability score improvement on level 16, but that is a far way to go if you ever come that far. And in that case you will have fellow party members that inflict a lot more damage than you.

Hold Person doesn't work on monsters (and Hold Monster is a Level 5 spell which you therefore can pick at Level 9), and both again are concentration spells that drain your few spell slots and prevent you from casting Hex.
And as for the monk: For stunning strike, he has to spend a ki point everytime to do so, and those aren't unlimited.

 

[Yunru]

Greater Invisibility also gives you an advantage, but like Darkness and Shadow of Moil, this is a concentration spell so that you can't cast Hex which means you do without that 1d6 necrotic extra damage on every blast which is not worth it.

Incorrect. Even with regular advantage, Greater Invisibility increases damage more than hex against most targets.

 

[mellored]

Greater Invisibility also gives you an advantage, but like Darkness and Shadow of Moil, this is a concentration spell so that you can't cast Hex which means you do without that 1d6 necrotic extra damage on every blast which is not worth it.

It is worth it.

level 12.

Eldrich Blast, 20 Cha, Agonizing Blast (31.5 damage, .65 to hit)
= 20.475
+advantage (.8775)
= 27.64125
+Elven accuracy (.957125 to hit)
= 30.1494375
+ hex (42 damage).
= 27.3

You not only do more damage, you also get a big defense boost with darkness.

Greater invisibility is also good, but only available to fey, and at level 7 instead of 3.

additionally, Darkness also affects your fellow party members in melee and the zone of darkness can often be easily left.

Not being able to see usually goes both ways. So other party members get both advantage (enemey can't see them) and disadvantage (they can't see the enemy). This means all attacks are normal.

Also, most warlocks will stand in the back.

Though yes, in some parties i could be a problem. Such as if you are a hexblade, and your ally casts spells that they need to see the target.
But shadows of moil still works.

And finally, these consume one of your scarce spell slots and don't last very long, effectively for one fight, or even shorter if you are hit and miss the CON check. This rules out the first two options.

The only spell that lasts more than 1 fight is hex. And that is even easier to disrupt since enemies can hit you easier.
And warlock spells recharge on a short rest, which is usually enough 1 spell each fight.

But yes, sometimes you will want to cast another spell instead. Hex still has the advantage of being a bonus action to cast, in case you get suprised. Or possibly greater invisbility on the fighter instead.

As for foresight: Yes, you can choose this as your Mystic Arcanum on level 17 if you have come that far. The problem is: you can cast it once per day for 8 hours. What are you doing the rest of the time? Plus, this spell has a casting time of 1 minute, so it must be cast in advance and cannot be cast when the battle starts.

8 hours is long enough to last most days.
And you still have shadows of moil if neccicaray.

So, if you raised CHA to 20 at level 12, you actually can take this on your ability score improvement on level 16, but that is a far way to go if you ever come that far. And in that case you will have fellow party members that inflict a lot more damage than you.

You generally take elven accuracy at 4.

For instance, a half-elf with 15 Cha from point buy, +2 from racial = 17. Then add +1 from elven accuracy and your at 18.
Then level 8 you boost Cha to 20.

 

[Ogre Mage]

Any build advice for a single class Hexblade who relies on eldritch blast? I realize the sorlock is stronger for this, but I want to stay single class. I will probably be half-elf with a stat spread of something like

Str 10
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 12
Cha 17

And then I will take elven accuracy at 4th level. But other than that not sure about invocation choices, spell choices, pact of chain vs. pact of tome, etc.

 

[FullCaster]

Any build advice for a single class Hexblade who relies on eldritch blast? I realize the sorlock is stronger for this, but I want to stay single class. I will probably be half-elf with a stat spread of something like

Str 10
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 12
Cha 17

And then I will take elven accuracy at 4th level. But other than that not sure about invocation choices, spell choices, pact of chain vs. pact of tome, etc.

If you are picking elven accuracy at 4th level then you should go with the Half Elf Drow variant from the SCAG. Doing that will give you access to two additional spells that grant advantage. For invocations you should definitely pick Agonizing blast, Repelling blast and Devil's Sight(to see through your Darkness spell you get from being a Drow variant Half Elf). Also go pact of the tome and pick up Book of Ancient secrets. Tome offers more than Chain and Chain just seems a bit lackluster to be honest.

Also you should strongly consider going for this stat array:

Str 8
Dex 14
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 12
Cha 17

Putting points in Str and Int are useless to a Warlock.

For spell choices, just read this guide and pick the best rated choices. You can't go wrong with that.