D&D (2024) Warlock -- initial analyses

[FrogReaver]

To really make Truestrike competitive with EB I think you need to take a dip in a class with mastery and then get a Musket and at high level switch to a Heavy Crossbow.

If you did that you could get Truestrike, Agonizing Blast and at high level GWM.

Pretty sure GWM only applies to melee.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Pretty sure GWM only applies to melee.

I believe that's no longer the case.

 

[Neonchameleon]

To really make Truestrike competitive with EB I think you need to take a dip in a class with mastery and then get a Musket and at high level switch to a Heavy Crossbow.

If you did that you could get Truestrike, Agonizing Blast and at high level GWM.

This depends what you are trying to do. At least for me the Celestial Warlock is my go-to "I have no idea what everyone else is doing so I'm building a jack of all trades that can cover any role adequately while not being a spotlight hog" class. You can heal, you can scout, you can talk, and you can do damage while taking a hit or two. I'm going for breadth not depth here so the invocation matters. It's a "good enough" build.

True Strike plus Agonizing Blast plus GWM plus multiclass still only gives you one attack. Even with a heavy crossbow that's only d10+2d6+2*Cha +Prof (or about d10+2d6+3*Cha) and you've sunk a feat, a level, and an invocation into your cantrip to be slightly behind 3*(d10+Cha), with Hex pushing the gap far further.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Pretty sure GWM only applies to melee.

The extra attack on a crit or kill is melee only. The extra damage per attack (replacing power attack) is heavy weapons only - which includes two handed weapons, polearms, longbows, and heavy crossbows.

 

[Kurotowa]

A Celestial Warlock using True Strike is only kinda okay, and only when it's competing with two attacks. The two points in its favor are that it's in the Revised PHB, so there's no question you can take it, and that you can potentially skip Blade Pact entirely. Edit: Three points. It works with ranged weapons, though at that point you have to seriously ask why you're not just taking Eldritch Blast.

If you want a non-standard Celestial Bladelock, what you really need is Green-Flame Blade. Not only does it add d8s instead of d6s, but it has automatic cleave damage on a hit. Cleave damage that Agonizing Blast will add to, because it applies to every damage roll.

A Celestial Warlock who takes Blade Pact and substitutes Agonizing Blast and GFB for Thirsting Blade is, at least on paper, a strong build that overcomes the downsides of only making one attack per turn. Especially if your DM runs the sort of encounters where you can activate the cleave regularly. Any build using True Strike is far more narrow and gimmicky.

 

[ECMO3]

• Going pactless means you get either mage armor or eldritch mind at level 1. No other choices.

But you can switch that out at level 2 and get something else right?

On a build I am currently working on level 2 is going to be Agonizing Blast(Truestrike), Agonizing Blast (Green Flame Blade) and Devil's Sight.

 

[Kobold Stew]

But you can switch that out at level 2 and get something else right?

Good point.

EDIT: I think I was thinking in terms of a 1-level dip in multiclassing. if you dip into Warlock, you'll be taking a pact, as these other 2 are undesirable.

 

[mellored]

The extra attack on a crit or kill is melee only. The extra damage per attack (replacing power attack) is heavy weapons only - which includes two handed weapons, polearms, longbows, and heavy crossbows.

I guess that also means you need 13 Str to use a longbow now.

 

[mellored]

If you want a non-standard Celestial Bladelock, what you really need is Green-Flame Blade. Not only does it add d8s instead of d6s, but it has automatic cleave damage on a hit. Cleave damage that Agonizing Blast will add to, because it applies to every damage roll.

Fairly sure Agonizing Blast only works on warlock cantrips.

So you will to use an invocation on Pact of the Tome.

 

[ECMO3]

Good point.

EDIT: I think I was thinking in terms of a 1-level dip in multiclassing. if you dip into Warlock, you'll be taking a pact, as these other 2 are undesirable.

Eldritch Mind is pretty good on someone who is going to be concentrating a lot, especially someone in melee. Makes it easier to play without Warcaster too.