D&D 5E [GUIDE] The Sorlock – Guide to the tormented divine soul with Xanathar's Divine Soul(17)+Hexblade(3) [Updated 12/20/21]

[Dyaeblca]

Amazing guide! Thanks a lot

I'm about to create a (probably half-elf) hexblade 3/sorcerer X character and could use some assistance. I'm starting at level 7, there are no plans to end the campaign anytime soon but the leveling goes really slowly.
In terms of raw power (sustained dmg, against say 1 to 3 enemies), which would come on top a hexblade/divine soul or a hexblade/shadow sorcerer (assuming ranged combat)?

 

[Obliza]

Amazing guide! Thanks a lot

I'm about to create a (probably half-elf) hexblade 3/sorcerer X character and could use some assistance. I'm starting at level 7, there are no plans to end the campaign anytime soon but the leveling goes really slowly.
In terms of raw power (sustained dmg, against say 1 to 3 enemies), which would come on top a hexblade/divine soul or a hexblade/shadow sorcerer (assuming ranged combat)?

In terms of raw power its shadow.

Eyes of the Dark

Advantage on all eldritch blasts, disadvantage on all attacks against you. This is simply bonkers.

The problem with this ability is it can seriously hurt your allies in a plethora of situations if they are within the fifteen feet range of darkness.

Strength of the Grave
Meh

Hound of Ill Omen
Costs 3sp, Dies when target dies, costs a bonus action
While the hound is within 5 feet of the target, the target has disadvantage on saving throws against any spell you cast

This is pretty huge. Basically a better heightened spell.
Has only 14ac and 37-57 health which is not huge but if a boss spends a turn attacking the wolf its not bad for you.
Really only useful for boss mobs.

Shadow Walk
Can be great but I'll take flying over this any day of the week.


Its essentially Eyes of the Dark & Hound vs the utility of Divine Soul. Divine Soul does not exactly improve your raw power. Several of the cleric spells do however as detailed in the guide.

 

[Dyaeblca]

Thanks for the reply!
Eyes of the Dark is no value for me at all, I wouldn't ever do it to my party of 6...
I've played (pure) shadow before and the Hound is really cool but its cost is quite steep, especially on lower levels. And if you unleash it on an enemy that looked challenging at first but wasn't really... You see my point
The above is the exact reason I'm hesitating. I like Spiritual Weapon (non-concentration!) and Spirit Guardians a lot, and all the utility that Divine Soul brings to the table but I am not fully convinced that it would keep up (in this multiclassing combo) with Shadow.

 

[jimtillman]

i like using repelling blast to knock targets into a cloud of daggers spell , its always fun

 

[Darkcloud]

Warlock 1, Sorcerer x ?

I have been putting a lot of thought into a Sorcerer / Warlock. I was leaning toward a Hexblade 1 / Sorcerer X build.
(Well, technically, if I somehow got to level 19, my last to levels would be warlock, but for the sake of simplicity, Hex1, Sor X is a better description)
I don't have any experience playing a Warlock, so I am interested in advice.

Compared to your build, a character would lose:
2nd level Warlock spells, 2 spells known, 1 spell slot.
Invocations (agonizing blast, devil's sight)
Pact of the Tome ritual casting (more of a loss for Shadow, less of a loss for Divine Soul)

Gain:
2 levels of Sorcerer progression
1 Ability Score Increase on about 1/2 the levels.

Of course, the loss of Agonizing Blast is significant, but for levels 1-4 the Hexwarrior bonus CHA to weapon damage should only be about 1 less damage than Eldritch Blast. On the downside, it would require getting into melee or giving up a shield in order to use two hands for a bow. After level 5 you could just rely on measily old Eldritch Blast+Hex+Hexblade Curse.

I was wondering which class would be best to take at level 1. Sorcerer gives Con saves, opposed to Warlock's Wis, which is better for frequent concentration checks. On the other hand, Warlock gives an extra HP and more valuable gear. I think Sorcerer is the better choice.

L7 | +Devil Sight +Agonizing Blast | +Mirror Image | Warlock 2

I was wondering how you are getting Mirror Image at level 2.

Overall, I quite like your guide!

 

[Obliza]

Hey Darkcloud

Losing Agonizing Blast is colossal.

+5 Damage per hit with 20 Cha. It is equal to the hex-warrior bonus however once you get to 5th level it becomes a dramatic loss.

Assuming all eldritch blast hits.
+10 Damage from 5th level | +20 Damage with Quicken Spell
+15 Damage from 11th leve l +30 Damage with Quicken Spell

Per round.

An additional ASI and the faster sorcerer progression does not offer anything that even comes close to making up the difference.

Starting with Con Saves is also utterly amazing. Con Saves and Dex saves are extremely common before we even consider concentration checks.

You should also consider that 3rd level Warlock offers 2nd level spellslot recovery when can be turned into sorcerer points.

As for mirror image at level 2 I made that progression chart in about 30minutes. I'll fix it thanks!

 

[Revaros]

What about sacrificing a 9th level slot and going Hexblade 5 / Divine Soul 15 - that way you can pick up the extra invocation, keeping both Devil's Sight and Book of Ancient Secrets?

This seems to be the best compromise for characters not expecting to reach level 20. Thoughts?

 

[Obliza]

What about sacrificing a 9th level slot and going Hexblade 5 / Divine Soul 15 - that way you can pick up the extra invocation, keeping both Devil's Sight and Book of Ancient Secrets?

This seems to be the best compromise for characters not expecting to reach level 20. Thoughts?

The power of sorcerer peaks at level 8 with the remaining levels still good but hex-blade is competitive. I'm working on adding additional levels to hexblade and looking at (12Hexblade-8Sorcerer). If I was to go Hexblade 5/ Divine Soul 15 I would probably go hexblade 4 & 5 at levels 10 and 11.

 

[Yunru]

I have a problem with your numbers. Namely that the big numbers you throw around have no bearing on the build since they require outside sources of Bless and advantage.

It's also not sustainable even if you have those. You have three competing uses for your bonus action: Hex, Hexblade's Curse (when available), and Quicken Spell.
Round one you're only going to have one of those. Round two you'll have the other, but it's not until round 3 you do the peak damage, at which point the target may or may not have already been killed by other party members, so you're back to using your bonus action for Hex, and you've lost the Curse.

 

[Yunru]

Amazing guide! Thanks a lot

I'm about to create a (probably half-elf) hexblade 3/sorcerer X character and could use some assistance. I'm starting at level 7, there are no plans to end the campaign anytime soon but the leveling goes really slowly.
In terms of raw power (sustained dmg, against say 1 to 3 enemies), which would come on top a hexblade/divine soul or a hexblade/shadow sorcerer (assuming ranged combat)?

In terms of sustained damage, not Hexblade at all.
Swap out the Hexblade for Archfey, go to 7, and spam Eldritch Blast from behind a Greater Invisibility (unless someone else can cast it on you, in which case... might as well go Hexblade).