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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sword of Spirit" data-source="post: 6543883" data-attributes="member: 6677017">What is Warlock’s At-will damage As Intended?I’ve done some analysis of the relative at-will damage output of the various classes for comparison purposes. According to the best of my calculations, the classes break down (from most damage per round to least) like so: Damage Output by Class1. Fighter2. Rogue3. Paladin & Ranger4. Monk5. Bard6. Sorcerer & Wizard7. Cleric8. Druid There are a few premises involved here.A) I assumed no multiclassing, feats, or magic items.B) I assumed each character was “optimized,” by which I simply mean that they maxed out their attack stat and selected the class options (subclass, fighting style, etc) that worked best with that attack. I also assumed that Bard pilfered eldritch blast and valor Bard grabbed shocking grasp from charisma-based spellcasting class lists.C) I specifically left out Barbarian, since his damage output relies heavily on his advantage on attacks, and I’m not sure how to accurately assess that. In like manner I ignored poison spray, because it doesn’t use an attack roll. Bards, Sorcerers and Wizards (especially evokers) can get good mileage out of poison spray.D) Classes are compared at 20th level to see the final results of the class damage scaling. While there is variability when leveling up, I believe this indicates design intent of relative damage output.E) I assumed only at-will damage. The inclusion of “virtually at-will” damage makes a difference, as will be accounted for below. The general breakdown of classes relative to each other looks about right on that list. So far so good. Now we have to see where Warlock fits into that list based on two different interpretations of the functioning of Agonizing Blast: Warlock’s Agonizing Blast Interpretation1. Warlock RAW. Agonizing Blast applies to each hit with eldritch blast, so that’s 4 times at level 20.2. Warlock nerfed. Agonizing Blast applies to one hit per turn. I’m on the fence as to which one of these is most balanced. I strongly favor 2, but I don’t want to nerf it if the class is intentionally balanced around 1. Designers have confirmed RAW as 1, but have not commented on RAI yet. In order to properly analyze the different effects of the interpretations, we have to break down the damage output of the classes a little bit more. I’m going to include two additional factors:A) Variance between defining options. Sometimes certain subclasses are simply superior in damage output to others. This can be due to a special feature of some subclasses (ie, draconic Sorcerer, or evocation Wizard), or can be due to differences between subclasses that provide bonuses to ranged vs. melee attacks (ie, Cleric domains). In such cases, I’ll provide a separate listing for each type of option so you can clearly see the difference they make.B) “Virtually at-will” damage. This refers specifically and exclusively to a Monk’s Flurry of Blows feature, and the hex and hunter’s mark spells—all of which can become so ubiquitously available to the respective classes at higher levels that they are virtually at will and need to be considered in comparing class at-will damage output. I will list these separately from the “actually” at-will damage. Sneak Attack is considered actually at-will for purposes of analysis. Bold italics are used for “virtually at-will” damage.Purple text is used for Warlock RAW.Green text is used for Warlock nerfed.Red text is used for a Warlock with Pact of the Blade using his weapon. Damage Output by Class--Expanded1. Warlock (Hex)2. Fighter3. Rogue4. Ranger (Hunter’s Mark)5. Monk (Flurry of Blows) & Warlock6. Warlock (Hex) & Warlock (Hex)7. Paladin & Ranger & Bard (Ranged, Hex)8. Warlock9. Bard (Valor, Hex)10. Monk11. Bard (Valor)12. Sorcerer (Draconic) & Wizard (Evoker) & Warlock13. Cleric (Ranged) & Druid (Moon)14. Bard (Lore) & Sorcerer & Wizard15. Cleric (Melee)16. Druid (Land) As you can see, the “virtually at-will” options provide a major boost in power. But even setting those aside, compare the different Warlock interpretations to the other classes and see how vastly different they are from each other. (Pact of the Blade weapon attack is included for purposes of comparison). My question is simple: Which was intended for the Warlock damage output: purple or green?</blockquote>

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