D&D 5E Is the Warlock the Best Class?

[Zardnaar]

Anyways the point is @Zardnaar - you always talk about the things your playing or seeing played like they are the best thing ever. That’s just not the case with the warlock.

Last thing I played was celestial Warlock.

It was good but it didn't do that much for me.

Newer players do lean more towards 5MW I've noticed so might contribute towards different pov on the forums.

 

[FrogReaver]

Last thing I played was celestial Warlock.

It was good but it didn't do that much for me.

Newer players do lean more towards 5MW I've noticed so might contribute towards different pov on the forums.

So what you are touting as the best class didn’t do much for you?

 

[Zardnaar]

So what you are touting as the best class didn’t do much for you?

Mechanically it was good, very versatile just wasn't what I wanted to play. Party was short of healing and Archer type along with a diplomat type.

Think I want to run a scout or bladesinger next.

 

[ccs]

And realistically, if you want to do Eldritch Blast spam, just take 2 levels of warlock and then build out the rest with bard or sorcerer. You'll have EB spam plus a stronger chassis.

Don't go full warlock unless you're going to take advantage of the auto-scaling spells or have several invocations you want to use heavily.

Or, you know, have a character concept in mind vs the pile-o-stats/powers mentality....

 

[ccs]

Everyone knew about those things very early. The only ones that denied them were the optimization is bad crowd

Optimization isn't bad.
It just shouldn't be touted as the best/only/default way to play a class. Especially to new players as it squashes creativity.
It's also not worth getting all fussed about as the DM. You don't have to try & "fix" it ("OMG! Bless + GWM +..... = OP! How can I nerf it???). As the DM you just need to build more challenging encounters.

 

[Todd Roybark]

Any class with CHA main attribute has an advantage over INT, just based off skill synergies.

Pact of Chain is pathetic.

The Book of Shadows is initially worse than a dip into Sorc, and Eldritch Blast is arguably the best cantrip, and a no brainer option (which you already have). Cost of 1 Invocation to be the Ritual Magic master....nice but just a bit better than taking Ritual Magic feat (for Wiz). I would argue if one wanted to play the ‘Master of Ritual Magick ‘ archetype a Wizard Diviner with Ritual Magic Feat for Cleric is easier to conceptualize....though the warlock has more HP.

Pact of the Blade/ Hexblade is strong. The EB no save Invocations ( CHA modifier to DMG, Pushing /Pulling etc) are super strong.

The Warlock is a super strong class to multi-class in, and based off the text of the PHB as written helps the spell casting of Divine Casters through quick access to 5th level spells
(Sage Advice Nerf notwithstanding ).

This is a weakness IMHO, post 17th level there is little reason to stay in the class.
Pal/locks are Legion.

I wish the class was a bit more Binder-esque ala Tome of Magic 3.5 E

 

[Ath'kethin]

Warlocks are easily my favorite class in 5e, so I vote YES, they are the best.

We also don't use the optional multiclass rules at my table, so class choice has a bit more impact and things stay a little more balanced I think.

I could never justify taking Eldritch blast as a cantrip; it just seems too one-dimensional for me. I had a player in a Pimeval Thule campaign I ran play a warlock of Shub-Niggurath, though, and conceptualized their EB as thorny branches erupting from the target's body (no mechanical changes to the spell).

That minor change made one hell of an impact on character development and NPC attitudes and was absolutely amazing.

 

[ccs]

Pact of Chain is pathetic.

And yet it's the core concept of my own Warlock.
See, there's more to making a good warlock character than just DPS.

 

[Todd Roybark]

ccs...I agree with you whole heartedly, however One Can Take Find Familar with the Pact of the Tome and research an Imp or other expanded Familiar option, and still learn all other Ritual Magic spells ( level dependent of course)....which is just a more useful build, variety wise, and not at all DPS related.

Thematically Pact of the Chain is great, implementation- wise, it is sub-par to the other options.

If I had to choose between driving a car w/o A/C thru Death Valley versus driving a car with A/C...I am choosing the A/C.....even if I did not plan to turn it on.

Of course if you and your group is happy with your character, that is all that matters.

 

[TwoSix]

Or, you know, have a character concept in mind vs the pile-o-stats/powers mentality....

Ugg, why? Concept is what you develop after you know how you want the character to play mechanically.