D&D (2024) The New Warlock spell progression + Eldritch Smite Invocation

[Kobold Avenger]

The Eldritch Smite Invocation from Xanathar's Guide to Everything I feel is a must have for a Pact of the Blade Warlock. It was designed to reduce the need for Blade Warlocks to multiclass as Paladins to get smiting.

But now that the spell progression is the same as a Paladin, it means a Blade Pact Warlock can smite just as often as a Paladin once they reach 5th level, which is in many cases better since Eldritch Smite can knock a target prone too and there's even less things that resist force damage. On the other hand the new progression does slow down the speed of the max spell slot levels they gain, so there's that tradeoff.

 

[Krachek]

For a half caster, spells are crappy to do damage.
Smite is almost mandatory for the new Warlock.

 

[Charlaquin]

Eldritch Smite isn’t in the packet.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

For a half caster, spells are crappy to do damage.
Smite is almost mandatory for the new Warlock.

At pretty much every level the smite spells are better than divine smite.

 

[Pauln6]

The new rules for paladin smites would apply equally to warlock ones. There might be an issue with the knockdown on top but overall damage would be less than a Paladin, I suppose.