D&D (2024) What's the best way to build a bladelock now?

[Nightfly]

I'm thinking about a melee warlock for an upcoming campaign, but I'm struggling with all the different ways to build it, none of which seem ideal. The 2024 version might be just as good or even better than the 2014 version, but it's certainly not as simple. There are a lot of choices to make.

* Is it feasible to do it without a dip into a martial class? Without that dip (or multiple feats) you're limited to light armor, no shield, no weapon mastery, and no proficiency in Con saves. That's pretty brutal. If you start off fighter for just one level, you get all that and more. For roleplaying reasons, I'd rather not multiclass and especially rather not start a different class, but it feels really weak defensively without that one-level detour.

* Can you afford to dump Strength? Without a 13 in Str, you can't wield heavy weapons and are limited in multiclassing. But getting that 13 Str spreads your stats awfully thin.

* Is it crazy to think about dumping Charisma? You could use Str or Dex as your main stat and leave Cha fairly low, while focusing on spells that don't depend on Cha, like Armor of Agathys and Misty Step, and otherwise burn your spell slots otherwise on Eldritch Smite. That could work, but then why not just play an Eldritch Knight or whatever? It arguably defeats the point of playing a Warlock.

I'm kind of overwhelmed by all the different directions I could go. Anyone have any insight?

 

[Kurotowa]

Okay, so disclaimer. TTRPGs move at a slow pace. Most groups only meet once a week at most, and very often less than that. So we don't have a lot of actual play reports of people trying out the various permutations yet. This is still the early days of Revised 5e. That means most of what follows is abstract theorycraft, and could very well be different than what community consensus emerges in two or three years. And with that out of the way...

Bladelocks are not a martial class. They're a caster class that can build around weapon use. But if you want to play one as if they were a martial class, a lot of people are focusing on the idea of a Fiend Bladelock with a starting single level in Fighter. This gets you Heavy armor, Weapon Mastery, and a Fighting Style. Then you stand on the front line hitting people and getting Temp HP from Dark One's Blessing, maybe layered with Armor of Agathys, and pretend you're an especially edgy Paladin.

If you don't want to do that you have to get creative, and that's what's still untested and being explored. Maybe you can do an Archfey Bladelock who does a lot of Rogue style hit-and-run using teleports. Getting the Boots of the Winding Path from the recent Artificer UA would help with that. There have been various ideas about a Celestial Warlock who stacks Agonizing Blast and Radiant Soul on a compatible weapon cantrip. But the math isn't great on True Strike, and people are waiting to see if Green-Flame Blade appears along side Bladesinger in the Forgotten Realms book this Fall.

Honestly though, right now no one's quite sure what role Bladelocks are supposed to fill. Eldritch Knight Fighters and Arcane Trickster Rogues are the mostly martials with a little spellcasting, Valor Bards and Bladesinger Wizards are the mostly casters with a little weapon use, and Paladins and Rangers and Artificers are the half-casters who sit in between. So what's the Bladelock good at and what's their gameplan? It's hard to say. They don't have the AC or HP to act as martials, but they commit way more resources to weapon use than a full caster does. Maybe it's a flawed design, and maybe it just takes a shift in perspective. We don't know yet.

 

[FrogReaver]

Random thoughts.

My ideal 2024 Warlock is just straight EB + Control/Summon spells. At level 4 take Spell Sniper so I can fire it into melee.

An early game Melee Warlock with Armor of Agathys and the False life at will invocation will be a beast. 12 Temp hp that you can replenish at any time that deals 5 damage anytime you are hit and that can potentially last an hour (so multiple encounters per 1 spell slot possibility) and with that much temp hp generation it isn't like you'll die early.

I don't think I'd go for Strength. Either Dex or Charisma. Concentration Spells in melee will be a little rough, though you can take the advantage on concentration invocation as well. So if I really was leaning melee i'd go for 17 dex + 16 cha start. Maybe get Defensive Duelist feat at level 4. Use False Life + Armor of Agathys as much as possible. You still have the Cha to be effective with control spells when you have strong opportunities, just not quite as maximized for them.

At level 5 that's something like 19 effective AC when Defensive Duelist is up. 15 Temp hp from Armor of Agathys and the ability to replenish that to 12 anytime it's nearly depleted.

As long as the DM doesn't actively avoid targeting you then I think you'll contribute very well.

 

[FrogReaver]

I guess I should add, the single level fighter dip i think is ideal for a melee warlock, but you can definitely delay it till after level 5. Fiendish Vigor and Armor of Agathys should be plenty to carry you through early levels.

 

[mellored]

Yes, you can make a feasible no armored bladelock. Not going to be as tough as a fighter, but being a secondary melee works.

Mainly, don't take combat concentration spells. Armor of Agathys, Hellish Rebuke, and Miror Image for instance. Suggestion is still quite good out of combat.

You can easily dump Str, yes. You could use Dex (more AC) or Str (more damage) as well. Any will work. Though IMO, Cha is best for out of combat stuff and lets you cast other spells, and some subclasses features.

As for why not an Eldritch Knight, it depends on how much of a caster you want to be. Eldritch Knight are still a fighter just with a side of spells. Bladelock is probably closest to 50/50. I'll also toss out the Valor Bard if you want even more spells.

Fiend or Archfey are probably the best 2 for melee. Fiend for general toughness and Archfey for mobility.

 

[Zardnaar]

Our ones a blend 9f okd and new. Uses 2014 Gith for medium armor. We are ignoring the 13 strength requirement as character was built using 2014 rules initially.

Without a magic weapon I font think I woukd bother tbf. Or just multiclass.

Use shillagh is another option.