Warlocks in Melee (Forked Thread: I'm an archer...)

[rowport]

Forked from: I'm an archer: why shouldn't I be a beast master ranger?

Not too sure about archer rangers, but as a warlock, I have no problem with prime shot. I never forget it (lord knows I need that +1 where I can get it...hell, I sometimes take OAs for flank, damn the torpedos), and maybe I'm good with spatial recognition or something, but I don't need to count squares, a glance or two is good enough to figure out if I get the bonus or not. And with the Shadow Walk ability, I make sure the PC is moving around all the time anyway, so it's usually not hard to get a prime shot every round, and in fact, the class would be less interesting without it, I think.

Keteras also said: "I like Prime Shot on my warlock - but then, I also routinely go into melee range to provide/use flanks, trigger hellish rebuke and defender's marks, and off-tank with temporary hit points. To each their own."

As a Warlock who loves to jump into melee all the time, I am stoked by these ideas. I definitely get the most out of Prime Shot, but really did not think about flanking with a defender who already marked the enemy. Other ideas??? Give me some more strategery!

 

[Rechan]

Well, the Pact Dagger does punish someone who hits you. Pact Hammers/Swords also are melee weapons.

It's a shame there aren't melee warlock powers.

 

[rowport]

Well, the Pact Dagger does punish someone who hits you. Pact Hammers/Swords also are melee weapons.

It's a shame there aren't melee warlock powers.

I have been trying to find/buy/cajole my DM into getting a Pact Dagger for 4 levels now. LOL

I agree with you about wishing there were melee Warlock powers. I guess it might be intentional to not "steal stuff" from the Swordmage. In fact, just to get more of that "fighter-mage" vibe I considered multiclassing with Swordmage but mechanically it looks kind of craptastic. It would allow me to take the FRPG feat that lets Swordmage's use INT for melee attacks, but that only works with Opportunity Attacks, so... meh.

I took Armor Proficiency (Hide) and am toying with also investing a feat in Light Shield Proficicency.

Any other melee warlock strategies out there?

 

[Oni]

Well there is always the route of going with the famous Hexhammer.

Hexhammer Gish - Wizards Community

You have to build for it from the start, but I like the idea of being able to get right in melee, take advantage of pact boons, give other people flanking and having an attack that hits just as hard or harder than an eldritch blast without provoking an OA, and being able to deal out OA's that are actually worth rolling.

 

[braven]

You could make your AC so high against opportunity attacks that they are no longer a real threat and just use point-blank range attacks. You can also gain concealment every turn and position yourself to constantly get prime shot and combat advantage... that's +3 attack. Here are some ways to achieve that ultra high AC which is key to making that strategy work (with a level 4 halfling warlock)

+9 (+1 magic plate, worn non-proficiently)
+2 half-level
+2 halfing racial bonus against OA
+2 Shield of Eyes item bonus (lvl 4 adventurer's vault magic item)
+2 defensive mobility feat bonus
+2 concealment
+2 heavy shield

feats:
light shield
heavy shield
defensive mobility

This provides 31 AC against OAs. Most enemies can't hit that AC short of a natural 20. Luckly, there is a solution to that as well. The halfling racial power allows you to make the DM re-roll that "20" once an encounter.

Evenually you can work your way to actually being prof. in plate. Until then, the -2 attack penalty for wearing it is canceled by the constant combat advantage and prime shot.

 

[Tony Vargas]

While melee warlock powers might be nice - maybe a few weapon-keyword 'special: the weapon used must be useable by you as an implement for your warlock powers' - but Prime Shot works with ranged powers, and I guess part of the point of getting in close as a scourge warlock /is/ provoking those OAs, since you hurt them more when they hurt you.

 

[Giryan]

You don't have to be scourge to do well getting in melee
Between Dire Radiance to discourage mobs from getting nearer, and Eyebite so I can walk right past them, gain concealment and add flanking for the rogue, my Starlock does quite well
I do still keep forgetting to use prime shot though

 

[rowport]

Tried It Out

So, this weekend I tried playing my Warlock up close and personal, using some of the above tactics. On the pro side, it did help to get combat advantage from flanking, but the con side of Opportunity Attacks out the wazoo made it not worth it. I think I took as much damage as our Paladin and Fighter! Even with my temp hit points I could not stay ahead of the damage.

To really make the concept work, I think you must have to twink the heck out of your Armor Class. Or, as Giryan suggests, clever use of concealment/invisibility and Stealth might work.

It was cool to get lots of use out of my Armor of Agathas power, though-- letting the baddies surround you and then zapping them all for cold damage is entertaining.

 

[DracoSuave]

It would allow me to take the FRPG feat that lets Swordmage's use INT for melee attacks, but that only works with Opportunity Attacks, so... meh.

Basic attacks with melee weapons, actually. Which, if you were a melee warlock, you'd be doing almost exclusively, given that's your only melee attack without multiclassing.

That's actually not so bad.

 

[Cadfan]

rowport- Remember to take Combat Mobility. Then, when you go into melee reach with a marked enemy, you will ideally have your basic armor class, plus shadow walk, plus combat mobility, plus the effects of the mark.

Different types of warlocks get more or less mileage out of this. Sometimes an infernal pact warlock wants to be hit, so he can do extra damage with his at will power. A fey pact warlock has a whole different list of concerns- if he hits with eyebite, chances are that the enemy won't be able to target him for a full round, even if the enemy wants to. And if a cursed foe dies while he's in a risky position from using this tactic, he can teleport to safety.