D&D (2024) Melee warlock build in 2024

[Sacrosanct]

Only content that's been superseeded by new versions is considered legacy on D&D beyond, so most of the 2014 stuff outside the PHB isn't legacy.

If you want to play with 2024 content only you'll have to restrict available sources to the 2024 PHB.

I'm sorry, I meant the classes had to be 2024, not that spells, feats, or others had to be. Sorry for that.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Just checking, True Strike and Shillelagh are redundant/either-or here, right? They are both replace (and thus do not stack), while the other 3 are add-to, correct?

We have been here before. There seem to be a number of people who don't understand the difference between "replace" and "stack".

 

[Willie the Duck]

We have been here before. There seem to be a number of people who don't understand the difference between "replace" and "stack".

I mean, correct, but I think here we're in the clear, I was just confirming because the wording is confusing. If they thought it stacked, they'd end up with x5.
see(notation added):

Another option is 1 attack, <1>Shillagh, <alternate 1>true strike, <+2>Agonizing Blast true strike and <+3>lvl 6 Celestial Warlock. Then add <+4>Oath of Devotion paladin levels iirc. Only 1 attack but <=4> ×4 charisma modifier.

 

[Zardnaar]

FYI: I see both Thunderstep and Spirit Shroud, which are both legacy. It's weird, because dndbeyond doesn't seem to exclude legacy spells if you have the no-legacy boxes clicked.

Certainly if I was designing one from the ground up. Given that it sounds like this character was pushed into the role due to intra-party play-patterns, I'm not sure I would do so when they had to make the decision.
Looking at this character, they only have a 14 Dex after taking moderately armored. If they had dipped fighter/paly at level 2+, they would have only gotten medium armor proficiency, but have a dex of 13. Fighter1 could have given them defensive fighting style and paladin two 1st level spell slots, but delayed acquiring invocations and spell-level (which if they cast 2 AoAs is 10 hp and a big chunk of their damage output, given the rest of the build).

Just checking, True Strike and Shillelagh are redundant/either-or here, right? They are both replace (and thus do not stack), while the other 3 are add-to, correct?

Noticed it too. I've played more than a few melee warlocks with low cha, but usually because they have high Str/Dex -- mostly using their spells for AoA, etc., and then regular weapon attacks for damage. This one seems to be mostly about the mobility, AoA (for durability and damage), and then overall staying power. An interesting idea.

OP -- what was the initial concept for the build before it became the impromptu tanks and rescuer?

Yeah shillelagh and true strike charisma doesn't stack. A d10 or d12 one handed weapon and d6 radiant damage does.

 

[ECMO3]

Just checking, True Strike and Shillelagh are redundant/either-or here, right? They are both replace (and thus do not stack), while the other 3 are add-to, correct?

To my reading they do stack, if by stack you mean that you can use them together. You use a bonus action to cast Shillelagh which changes the damage die for a minute.

If you cast Shilleleagh you now have a club that does 1d8/1d10/1d12/2d6 based on level.

When you use Truestrike you make an attack with the weapon, so if you hit you do that damage. So at level 20 using a Shillelagh you do 2d6 for the weapon damage, just like if you used True Strike with a Greatsword.

The only thing in question is damage type. Shilleleagh does force damage or damage of the "normal weapon type", True Strike does the "normal weapon type" but can change the weapon damage to Radiant, so you could interpret that to mean that you can't do Force damage with Truestrike when used with Shillelagh, but you certainly can do Radiant or Bludgeoning.

 

[Willie the Duck]

To my reading they do stack, if by stack you mean that you can use them together. You use a bonus action to cast Shillelagh which changes the damage die for a minute.

If you cast Shilleleagh you now have a club that does 1d8/1d10/1d12/2d6 based on level.

When you use Truestrike you make an attack with the weapon, so if you hit you do that damage. So at level 20 using a Shillelagh you do 2d6 for the weapon damage, just like if you used True Strike with a Greatsword.

The only thing in question is damage type. Shilleleagh does force damage or damage of the "normal weapon type", True Strike does the "normal weapon type" but can change the weapon damage to Radiant, so you could interpret that to mean that you can't do Force damage with Truestrike when used with Shillelagh, but you certainly can do Radiant or Bludgeoning.

I should have clarified -- I meant the attribute for to-hit and damage. All the others (agonizing blast, celestial warlock 6 ability, oath of devotion paladin ability) add another +cha to damage. Shillelagh and True Strike both replace a weapon's normal dex/str modifier with cha (or other casting stat), so as such using both does not give you +cha to damage twice.

 

[ECMO3]

I’ve never been an optimizer so I’m sure this isn’t the best build in that regard, but it came up when we realized the tank decided to play more Leeroy Jenkins than a protector lol

Restrictions: 2024 rules only (so no hex blade) and level 5


I think the combination of armor of Agythis and all of the temp hp boosting spells/traits works very well. And the free misty step and thunder step work well in getting in, grabbing surrounded ally, getting out, and damaging enemies on the way out. With temp hp, I have the most hp in the party…
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I think you would be better swapping Charisma and Constitution, especially on a Feylock because your most useful Fey Step at this level has a save. Also I think the higher Charisma for POB, Shilleleagh and Truestrike will be a lot better.

I don't see your invocations, but it looks like you have Eldritch Smite, I would go for Agonizing Blast on Truestrike instead (assuming your DM allows that). IMO you don't have enough pact slots to use ES effectively, if you want to topple, grab the weapon mastery feat to do it.

 

[mellored]

Just going to point out that you can simply go Str with minimal Cha.

Especially of your picking up Great Weapon Master and Heavy Armor Master (to boost Armor of Agathys).

 

[ECMO3]

Just going to point out that you can simply go Str with minimal Cha.

Especially of your picking up Great Weapon Master and Heavy Armor Master (to boost Armor of Agathys).

On a single class Warlock you can't get Heavy Armor Master until level 12 and you can't get both that and GWM until level 16 and you can't multiclass dip with Warlock unless your Charisma is at least 13. If he was not restricted to 2024 rules he could do it at level 8 and 12 respectively with a Hexblade, but even in that case it is a long time to wait.

I do like the idea of GWM, but since you need a 13 in Charisma anyway to multiclass you might as well put the 13 in Strength and max Charisma for Pact of the Blade and have GWM online at level 4.

 

[mellored]

On a single class Warlock you can't get Heavy Armor Master until level 12 and you can't get both that and GWM until level 16 and you can't multiclass dip with Warlock unless your proficiency is at least 13. If he was not restricted to 2024 rules he could do it at level 8 and 12 respectively with a Hexblade, but even in that case it is a long time to wait.

I do like the idea of GWM, but since you need a 13 in Charisma anyway to multiclass you might as well put the 13 in Strength and max Charisma for Pact of the Blade and have GWM online at level 4.

Well I was thinking a 1 level of fighter for Con saves and heavy armor.

But if not HAM then there is Sentinel, polearm master, mage slayer, or weapon master which are all Str.

There are no Cha based weapons feats.