Question about Hexblade infernal pact bonus

[NicolasBeuzeboc]

My warlock attack powers already have a +4 Charisma bonus, does the infernal pact mean that I add my +4 Constitution bonus on top of that for a total bonus of +8 to damage ?

I have a hard time understanding the rule about bonus , typed , untyped, do they stack up or I pick the highest of the two ?

As a warlock, am I automatically proficient with my Blade of Annihilation ?

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Level 1: Infernal Pact Reward

With the power of the infernal pact, your vitality and endurance help fuel your spells.

Benefit: You gain a bonus to the damage rolls of your warlock and warlock paragon path attack powers. The bonus equals your Constitution modifier. The bonus increases to 2 + your Constitution modifier at 5th level, 4 + your Constitution modifier at 15th level, and 6 + your Constitution modifier at 25th level.

At 9th level, you also gain this bonus to the damage rolls of the creature you summon with summon warlock’s ally.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

My warlock attack powers already have a +4 Charisma bonus, does the infernal pact mean that I add my +4 Constitution bonus on top of that for a total bonus of +8 to damage ?

Yes, when you hit with your Hexblade attacks, you add both your charisma modifier, because that is the stat you are attacking with, and your con modifier, because that is a class feature you have (Infernal Pact Reward).

It will say something like Charisma vs. AC on the Attack line, and 1[w] + charisma modifier damage on the 'hit' line. Then you add your bonus damage from Infernal Pact Reward, which is your constitution modifier. In your case, a total of +8 to damage.

I have a hard time understanding the rule about bonus , typed , untyped, do they stack up or I pick the highest of the two ?

If the bonuses are the same type, for example, a feat bonus and another feat bonus, they do not stack. If they are different types, for example, a feat bonus and a power bonus, they do stack.

As a warlock, am I automatically proficient with my Blade of Annihilation ?

Yes, because you are an infernal pact hexblade, you have a Blade of Annihilation that you can manifest at will. It is only a physical weapon while you will it to be.

You are proficient in it by default.

 

[ppaladin123]

Yes, you add your constitution modifier as well as your charisma modifier. So 4+4=8. This is the built in "striker" feature of the class. It is similar to what sorcerers get.

You are also automatically proficient with the blade you create but only as a weapon, not as an implement. To get your enhancement bonus to attack rolls you will also have to hold a rod or wand (or another implement you gain proficiency with) in your other hand. Nobody is sure right now whether you can use arcane implement proficiency (heavy/light blades) to make your summoned blade an implement too. If you can, you would be able to benefit from the "dual implement spellcaster" feat.

Hope that helps.

 

[kaomera]

My warlock attack powers already have a +4 Charisma bonus, does the infernal pact mean that I add my +4 Constitution bonus on top of that for a total bonus of +8 to damage ?

Yes. Note that the +Cha damage bonus is built in to your powers, it's not a "bonus" per se.

I have a hard time understanding the rule about bonus , typed , untyped, do they stack up or I pick the highest of the two ?

Bonuses stack except when they have the same type or they are untyped and come from the same-named source. So you can add one "power" bonus, etc. and if two of the same type of thing are granting you bonuses (or one thing is granting two different instances of the same bonus) those don't stack. But you can stack as many different types of bonuses, or untyped bonuses from different things, as you want.

As a warlock, am I automatically proficient with my Blade of Annihilation ?

As a Hexblade, yes, since it's a one-handed military melee weapon and Hexblades get proficiency with both simple and military melee weapons (see the equipment section).

 

[kaomera]

You are also automatically proficient with the blade you create but only as a weapon, not as an implement. To get your enhancement bonus to attack rolls you will also have to hold a rod or wand (or another implement you gain proficiency with) in your other hand. Nobody is sure right now whether you can use arcane implement proficiency (heavy/light blades) to make your summoned blade an implement too. If you can, you would be able to benefit from the "dual implement spellcaster" feat.

Actually, the Hexblade's weapon never gets an enhancement bonus, that's why the powers using it are both implement and weapon - so that you can get the enhancement bonus from your implement with them. And I see no reason why Arcane Implement Proficiency (Heavy Blade) would not apply to the weapon, it just wouldn't be useful - and neither would Dual Implement Spellcaster.

 

[Nullzone]

Personally, I flavor-write my Hexblade as manifesting his pact weapon from the rod. I ignore that fact when it comes to free hands because I do technically still wield one in each, but it sounds cooler that way and I rarely need the free hand

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

Personally, I flavor-write my Hexblade as manifesting his pact weapon from the rod. That might cause some consternation with free hand rules but it's cooler

"It's not a lightsabre. That would be copyright infringement. This, is my psionic spiritblade."

 

[Ahrimon]

Actually, the Hexblade's weapon never gets an enhancement bonus, that's why the powers using it are both implement and weapon - so that you can get the enhancement bonus from your implement with them. And I see no reason why Arcane Implement Proficiency (Heavy Blade) would not apply to the weapon, it just wouldn't be useful - and neither would Dual Implement Spellcaster.

Actually, the pact blade inherits the enhancement bonus from the impliment.

As for DIS, it's up in the air right now. There are people in both camps and no official clarification from WotC that I know of. Me, I lean towards it working as long as you have the correct AIP or multiclass feat.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

Actually, the pact blade inherits the enhancement bonus from the impliment.

As for DIS, it's up in the air right now. There are people in both camps and no official clarification from WotC that I know of. Me, I lean towards it working as long as you have the correct AIP or multiclass feat.

Yeah, I think we really need an answer via clarification or errata on this.

If WotC does determine that by RAW it works, then it's pretty much guaranteed it will get the nerf bat.

Yeah, it's two feats, but it's two feats for basically doubling your enhancement bonus to damage at no additional item cost. It starts becoming pretty worthwhile near the end of Heroic tier (once you have +2 or +3 implements), and only keeps getting better.

I could be wrong, and I kind of hope I am, since I had been considering this path for a Hexblade

 

[kaomera]

Actually, the pact blade inherits the enhancement bonus from the impliment.

Ah, thanx! I had mis-read that as simply clarifying that you got your enhancement bonus with the related powers.

Yeah, it's two feats, but it's two feats for basically doubling your enhancement bonus to damage at no additional item cost. It starts becoming pretty worthwhile near the end of Heroic tier (once you have +2 or +3 implements), and only keeps getting better.

Actually, a 1/5 share of the treasure gained from level 5 to level 5 is more than enough to buy a +1 weapon (or implement), and I believe that would hold true at higher levels as well. So it's relatively trivial (given what I'm assuming as standard assumptions) to have an item that would be at most 2 points behind the enhancement bonus of your main weapon or implement. Now, admittedly the Hexblade doesn't have to pay for even that, but while it would be a significant bonus, I don't think it would be unbalancing.