Level Up (A5E) Warlock scythe extra attack

[spartanah]

I read here that blade warlock uses the scythe to replace one attack but the book specifically forbids that. Is it a new errata? Or am I missing something?

 

[Sword of Spirit]

It's a change from the preview version. You can still replace one weapon attack with a single eldritch scythe attack, but not with the whole eldritch scythe scaled attacks routine.

 

[spartanah]

It's a change from the preview version. You can still replace one weapon attack with a single eldritch scythe attack, but not with the whole eldritch scythe scaled attacks routine.

So there isn’t any good reason to do so for bladelock, its on par with the normal attcks

 

[VenerableBede]

So there isn’t any good reason to do so for bladelock, its on par with the normal attcks

There’s kind of a reason to do it… Eldritch Scythe deals additional damage guaranteed to an extra target. So if you are a bladelock already using a melee weapon that deals d8 damage, there’s no reason to prioritize one or the other until you have two enemies next to each other (and within 5 feet of you). Since warlocks make squishy melee fighters, hopefully you can largely avoid this, but if you can’t you do have an opportunity to deal a little extra damage…

 

[Steampunkette]

Pact of the Blade Locks kinda sorta suck in this edition, but also not really?

The Eldritch Scythe does deal 1d8, like a longsword, but the damage is Force, and therefor pretty much infinitely preferred over slashing. It's also magic damage from level 1 onward.

If you do choose to make a Bladelock, Eldritch Scythe is, honestly, not a good choice for your Eldritch Blast. What is, is Eldritch Disturbance.

As a light fighter with, say, a Longsword and a Shield (For defensive and parrying) or whatever, Eldritch Disturbance gives you an at-will saving throw targeting function. Yeah, your target is more likely to make a save than dodge a ray, but if you're swinging at something with an AC high enough that melee attacks just aren't cutting it (Get it?) then a save for half effect means assured damage. Particularly since high armored creatures tend to have lower wisdom saves in comparison to, say, dex for fireballs.

Skip over Agonizing Blast to instead go for Eldritch Riposte so you can use Disturbance as a reaction for spell points, and either Armor of Shadows or Eldritch Warrior for tougher armor. Grab Lifedrinker, obviously. Go for Eldritch Grasp if you wanna roleplay Darth Vader and force-choke folks...

And absolutely go for Eldritch Prism. 20ft cube Eldritch Disturbance compared to a 60ft line scythe or a 30ft cone ray or a single target hold for whip...

As a melee character with medium, light, or no armor, you've gotta hedge your bets. If you wanna do AoE melee damage with the scythe, don't bother with Pact of the Blade and aim for Armor of Shadows, instead.

 

[VanguardHero]

Multiple paths to achieving the same vague goal of "Melee Warlock" is in fact a very good thing! Always better to have 'your' Melee Warlock build rather than 'the' Melee Warlock build

 

[spartanah]

Pact of the Blade Locks kinda sorta suck in this edition, but also not really?

The Eldritch Scythe does deal 1d8, like a longsword, but the damage is Force, and therefor pretty much infinitely preferred over slashing. It's also magic damage from level 1 onward.

If you do choose to make a Bladelock, Eldritch Scythe is, honestly, not a good choice for your Eldritch Blast. What is, is Eldritch Disturbance.

As a light fighter with, say, a Longsword and a Shield (For defensive and parrying) or whatever, Eldritch Disturbance gives you an at-will saving throw targeting function. Yeah, your target is more likely to make a save than dodge a ray, but if you're swinging at something with an AC high enough that melee attacks just aren't cutting it (Get it?) then a save for half effect means assured damage. Particularly since high armored creatures tend to have lower wisdom saves in comparison to, say, dex for fireballs.

Skip over Agonizing Blast to instead go for Eldritch Riposte so you can use Disturbance as a reaction for spell points, and either Armor of Shadows or Eldritch Warrior for tougher armor. Grab Lifedrinker, obviously. Go for Eldritch Grasp if you wanna roleplay Darth Vader and force-choke folks...

And absolutely go for Eldritch Prism. 20ft cube Eldritch Disturbance compared to a 60ft line scythe or a 30ft cone ray or a single target hold for whip...

As a melee character with medium, light, or no armor, you've gotta hedge your bets. If you wanna do AoE melee damage with the scythe, don't bother with Pact of the Blade and aim for Armor of Shadows, instead.

thank you for this, still trying to wrap my head around the system and the classes

 

[spartanah]

Multiple paths to achieving the same vague goal of "Melee Warlock" is in fact a very good thing! Always better to have 'your' Melee Warlock build rather than 'the' Melee Warlock build

still trying to find 1 way to do so, seems like there isn't much of a melee lock, it still is mostly a glass cannon, at least at low levels

 

[Langy]

The Dread Knight archetype in GPG seems to provide a lot of benefit for a melee lock with the introduction of martial maneuvers. The enhanced Find Steed they get at 6th level can help a bit with the glass part of the glass cannon.