Warlock 5e: Class Guide for the 2024 Rules

What does a warlock do in D&D 5e?

A warlock made a deal. A fiend, a fey lord, a celestial or something from beyond the stars handed over power, and the warlock uses it as a reliable ranged damage dealer with a handful of strong spells. Where a wizard has lots of small spell slots, a warlock has very few big ones that come back every short rest. Combine that with Eldritch Invocations, permanent magical perks you pick as you level, and no two warlocks play alike.

• Hit die: d8. Level 1 hit points are 8 + Constitution modifier; a level 5 warlock with +2 Con has 38 HP on fixed averages. Run your own numbers in the HP calculator.
• Primary ability: Charisma, for spell attacks and your save DC (8 + proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier).
• Saving throws: Wisdom and Charisma.
• Armor and weapons: light armor and simple weapons.
• Skills: choose 2 from Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Investigation, Nature and Religion.

What are the warlock's features by level?

This is the 2024 Player's Handbook progression. "Pact slots" is how many spell slots you have, and "Slot level" is the level every one of them is cast at.

Every spell you can prepare is on the warlock spell list. Note how the slot count stays tiny: a level 10 warlock has 2 slots, both 5th level. A level 10 wizard has 15 slots, but only 2 of them are 5th level.

How does Pact Magic work?

Pact Magic is the warlock's own spellcasting system, and it is the thing new warlock players most often misunderstand.

• All slots are the same level. At level 5 both your slots are 3rd level, so every Hex, Hellish Rebuke or Armor of Agathys is automatically upcast. You cannot cast a spell with a lower slot.
• Slots return on a short rest. Two slots per short rest across a day with two short rests is six spells, all at your highest level.
• Magical Cunning (level 2): once per long rest, a 1-minute rite restores half your slots, rounded up. At level 5 that is 1 slot. At level 20, Eldritch Master makes it restore all of them.
• Mystic Arcanum (level 11+): pact slots stop at 5th level. Instead you pick one 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th-level spell (at levels 11, 13, 15 and 17) and cast each once per long rest without a slot.

Pact Magic slots and normal Spellcasting slots can be combined if you multiclass, which is why warlock dips are so common for paladins and sorcerers.

How much damage does Eldritch Blast do?

Eldritch Blast is a cantrip, so it costs nothing: 1d10 force damage per beam, 120 feet range. It fires 1 beam at level 1, 2 at level 5, 3 at level 11 and 4 at level 17, and each beam is a separate attack roll. The Agonizing Blast invocation adds your Charisma modifier to each beam, and Hex adds 1d6 necrotic per hit.

Example: a level 5 warlock with 18 Charisma (+7 to hit) against AC 15 hits 65% of the time.

Expected damage counts misses and includes critical hits on a natural 20. Without Agonizing Blast the cantrip falls behind; with it, a warlock keeps pace with a fighter at range. Add Repelling Blast to push a Large or smaller target 10 feet per hit, and you can shove an enemy back out of melee or off a ledge.

Which Eldritch Invocations should you take?

You get 1 invocation at level 1, 3 at level 2, and 10 by level 18. You can swap one each time you level up. In 2024 the old Pact Boons are invocations too.

• Agonizing Blast (level 2+): mandatory for any warlock that uses Eldritch Blast.
• Pact of the Blade: conjure a weapon and use Charisma for its attack and damage rolls. Pair with Thirsting Blade (level 5+) for a second attack.
• Pact of the Chain: Find Familiar with special forms such as an imp or pseudodragon that can attack for you.
• Pact of the Tome: three extra cantrips and two rituals from any class.
• Devil's Sight: see through magical Darkness out to 120 feet; a classic combo with the Darkness spell.
• Eldritch Mind: advantage on Constitution saves to keep concentration, which protects Hex.
• Armor of Shadows: cast Mage Armor on yourself at will.

Which warlock patron is best?

You pick a patron (your subclass) at level 3 in the 2024 rules. Each adds always-prepared spells.

• Fiend Patron: Dark One's Blessing gives temporary hit points equal to Charisma modifier + warlock level when you, or someone within 10 feet of you, drop an enemy to 0. Fireball joins your list at level 5. The free SRD option, and the best for new players.
• Great Old One Patron: telepathy and psychic-themed control spells.
• Archfey Patron: free Misty Step casts that add a rider, such as temporary hit points for you or a taunt that draws enemy attacks.
• Celestial Patron: a pool of healing dice; a strong backup healer.

How do you build a warlock? (quick build)

1. Scores: 15 Charisma, 14 Constitution, 13 Dexterity, 12 Wisdom, 10 Intelligence, 8 Strength. Background bonuses to Charisma and Constitution.
2. Level 1: Eldritch Blast and Prestidigitation, Hex and Armor of Agathys or Protection from Evil and Good, plus Pact of the Tome or Pact of the Blade.
3. Level 2: Agonizing Blast and Devil's Sight or Eldritch Mind.
4. Play pattern: cast Hex on the toughest enemy, then Eldritch Blast every turn and save your other slots for spells like Hold Person.

The character generator builds a level 1 warlock in one click; copy it onto the character sheet and note your slot level next to the slots.

What changed for the warlock in 2024 vs 2014?

• Patron: chosen at level 1 in 2014, level 3 in 2024.
• Pact Boons: a separate level 3 feature in 2014; level 1 invocations in 2024, so you could even take two.
• Invocations: 2014 starts with 2 at level 2 and ends at 8; 2024 starts with 1 at level 1 and ends at 10.
• Spells: 2014 warlocks have spells known; 2024 warlocks prepare spells and swap one on level up.
• Eldritch Blast scaling: 2014 Agonizing Blast works only on Eldritch Blast; the 2024 version boosts one damaging warlock cantrip of your choice, and you can take it again for another cantrip.
• New in 2024: Magical Cunning and Contact Patron. Eldritch Master in 2014 is a separate 1-minute plea to regain all slots once per long rest.

FAQ

Is the warlock good for beginners?

Mostly yes. Warlocks have few spell slots to track, and most turns are an Eldritch Blast, which is simple to run. The hard part is choosing invocations and remembering that slots come back on a short rest, so ask the party for one after big fights.

How many spell slots does a warlock have?

One at level 1, two from level 2, three from level 11 and four from level 17. All of them are the same level: 1st at level 1, rising to 5th at level 9. Spells of 6th to 9th level come from Mystic Arcanum instead, once each per long rest.

What is the best warlock patron?

The Fiend (in the free SRD) is the easiest pick, with temporary hit points whenever an enemy near you drops and Fireball on its spell list. The Great Old One is strong at control and scouting, the Archfey at escaping danger, and the Celestial adds healing.

What is the best invocation for a warlock?

Agonizing Blast, available from warlock level 2, which adds your Charisma modifier to every Eldritch Blast beam. At level 5 with 18 Charisma that is +4 per beam. Pact of the Blade, Devil's Sight and Eldritch Mind are other popular picks.

Do warlocks get spell slots back on a short rest?

Yes. Pact Magic slots return on a short or long rest. In the 2024 rules Magical Cunning also lets you recover half your slots (rounded up) with a 1-minute rite once per long rest, and at level 20 it restores all of them.

Related

• DnD Character Generator
• Warlock Spell List 5e
• Eldritch Blast 5e
• Hex 5e