D&D 5E What is Warlock’s At-will damage As Intended?

[keterys]

Warlocks don't get enhancement bonuses to hit and damage and can't functionally increase their damage with feats.

So if you allow any of magic bows, magic ammunition, or feats, they'll fall behind on that comparison.

Things get really weird when you start factoring in bonus action and reaction attacks, girdles of giant strength, haste, and/or other optimization methods too, but again they generally favor every other martial class more than the warlock.

 

[jgsugden]

Warlocks don't get enhancement bonuses to hit and damage and can't functionally increase their damage with feats.
...

Both of these statements are somewhat partially flawed. There are magic items that give them the +1/+2/+3 to hit with their cantrips and there is an invocation to augment the damage of their strongest cantrip (Eldritch Blast). I watched a high level Warlock do just fine when it was blasting away with Eldritch Blasts.... Especially when it was augmenting them with Hex.

 

[Staffan]

Warlocks don't get enhancement bonuses to hit and damage and can't functionally increase their damage with feats.

Half right. They can get bonuses to hit, but not to damage, with a Rod of the Pact Keeper (which also affects warlock spell save DCs) or a Wand of the War Mage.

 

[PnPgamer]

Half right. They can get bonuses to hit, but not to damage, with a Rod of the Pact Keeper (which also affects warlock spell save DCs) or a Wand of the War Mage.

Dont forget the robe of the archmage ^_^

 

[keterys]

So... 3/4 right (still no feats, no bonus to damage on the rod, but that bonus to hit is notable). Sorry, hadn't run into those at all yet, or even seen them mentioned.

Eldritch blasting warlocks are certainly decently effective. As are fighters and barbarians and paladins.

I'm a bit more dubious of Hex; too easy to break concentration and dropping a fireball in the right spot can eclipse it instantly.