D&D 5E Undying warlock and bonus damage

[Scott Steven Bell]

Ok, as an undying warlock I cast flamestrike. It does 4d6 radiant damage plus 4d6 fire damage. Would I add his charisma modifier to both as in 4d6+mod fire+ 4d6+mod radiant OR 4d6+mod for eaach damafe die ie. x4 plus 4d6+modx4? radiant?
Im wondering cause as you look at his cantrip searing light it starts out as 1d8+cha mod. well to keep up with eldrich blast youd have to add the mod to each die increase otherwise nobody would ever use it even with a mod bonus as eld blast is a higher damage die PLUS mod on each die.

Thanks

 

[Illithidbix]

I am a little confused by what abilities you are referring to that let you add your Charisma modifier to the damage done by spells.

Looking at the Undying patron in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, I don't see anything that allows you to add your CHA modifier to damage as part of an Otherworldly Patron class feature.

How are you casting Flamestrike as an Undying Patron Warlock? I don't see it in either the Warlock or Undying Expanded spell list.
Only The Fiend patron grants flame strike.

Anyhow the description for Flamestrike reads:

A creature takes 4d6 fire damage and 4d6 radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

You don't add your CHA bonus to it at all.

Likewise I can't find a spell (cantrip or otherwise) called "Searing Light", do you mean Sacred Flame?

The target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 1d8 radiant damage. The target gains no benefit from cover for this saving throw.
The spell’s damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8)

So even at 17th level you would do 4d8 radiant damage, but you wouldn't add your CHA bonus to it.
(Sacred Flame likewise isn't in the Warlock's spell list but you could get it via Pact of the Tome)

Unlike melee or ranged weapon attacks, you don't add your spell casting modifier to damage from spells, unless the spell or a Class Feature specifically says you do.

The Agonising Blast Invocation allows a Warlock to add their Charisma modifier to the Eldritch Blast Cantrip.

Likewise Light and Knowledge domain clerics get Potent Spellcasting at 8th level.

Starting at 8th level, you add your Wisdom modifier to the damage you deal with any cleric cantrip.

Draconic Bloodline Sorcerers gain Elemental Affinity at 6th level.

Starting at 6th level, when you cast a spell that deals damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry, add your Charisma modifier to that damage.

And School of Evocation Wizards gain Empowered Evocation at 10th level.

Beginning at 10th level, you can add your Intelligence modifier to the damage roll of any wizard evocation spell you cast.

So... there are a few class abilities out there that let you add your spellcasting modifier to the damage of your cantrips/spells but they are an exception and only kick in at high levels.

 

[Scott Steven Bell]

The ability that Im speaking of is

Radiant Soul
Starting at 1st level, your link to the Positive Plane
allows you to serve as a conduit for radiant energy.
You have resistance to radiant damage, and when
you cast a spell that deals radiant damage or fire
damage, you add your Charisma modifier to that
damage. Additionally, you know the sacred flame
and light cantrips and can cast them at will. They
don’t count against your number of cantrips
known

Also

Undying Light Expanded SpellsSpell Level Spells1st burning hands2nd flaming sphere3rd daylight4th fire shield5th flame strike

 

[Illithidbix]

Aha.

You're using the Undying Light Patron from the Unearthed Arcana Underdark characters (https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/02_UA_Underdark_Characters.pdf)
Rather than the Undying Patron from the Sword Coast Adventurer's guide...

That is an... impressive coincidence in naming.

Anyway... the answer might be a tad disappointing, but you only add your Charisma modifier once, regardless of how many dice you roll for damage with your spell or cantrip.

Eldritch Blast with Agonising Blast is an odd exception to this, because as you get to 5th, 11th and 17th level the number of beams you create with Eldritch Blast, and every beam is it's own attack, rather than a single attack that does more damage.
(Although some dispute this interpretation of the rules and think the Charisma modifier should only apply once.)

 

[Scott Steven Bell]

Bah, I understand it now.

its too bad that eldrich blast is still so much better than the undying light patron

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Bah, I understand it now.

its too bad that eldrich blast is still so much better than the undying light patron

Well it's not like you can't do both, and use EB when it makes sense, and flame strike when that makes sense.

 

[Scott Steven Bell]

Hmmm, maybe Ill just let it stack for te cantrip but not for other spells. At least that way she can use the cantrip that comes with the flavour of the patron and not have it do WAY less than a standard class ability.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Warlocks are not underpowered when not using EB. However, I see no reason not to let Agonizing Blast add to another cantrip instead of EB.

 

[Scott Steven Bell]

Well my thing was that she would use the searing flame cantrip that does 1d8 fire damage/spell level plus her patron lets her add her cha bonus on fire or radiant damage spells while EB does 1d10 plus cha mod per blast with the invocation.
Escentially she would still be doing a bit less damage with her sacred flame cantrip even adding her cha to each die's damage in comparison to EB and fire is also more commonly resisted than force.

 

[Satyrn]

Well my thing was that she would use the searing flame cantrip that does 1d8 fire damage/spell level plus her patron lets her add her cha bonus on fire or radiant damage spells while EB does 1d10 plus cha mod per blast with the invocation.
Escentially she would still be doing a bit less damage with her sacred flame cantrip even adding her cha to each die's damage in comparison to EB and fire is also more commonly resisted than force.

Don't forget, though, that the EB gets all that bonus Charisma damage only if the warlock spends an invocation on it. So your player is free to take any invocation, making her more versatile than that EB using warlock. I know that I like having options more than squeezing out max damage.

She'll still be doing nice damage, so I think you're fine just going with the rules as they are and not comparing her to EB damagep.