Warlocks who serve the same patron might view each other as allies, siblings, or rivals. The warlock learns and grows in power, at the cost of occasional services performed on the patron’s behalf.”. Your email address will not be published. More than the artificer, less than the cleric, and roughly the same as the druid, fighter, or barbarian among others. It should be no surprise then that it is at the top of our Warlock Patrons 5E list? If you have a player that is struggling to come up with a patron idea, this table can really be useful. Do you like using your imagination? If there isn’t a story-based reason to take this option, I would steer clear. Learn more with our Fathomless Warlock 5E Guide. Why use False Life when you have Fiendish Vigor? In my view, A Fiend Warlock with the Pact of the Time boon is the best avenue for a spellcaster in this class. For starters, every feature of this subclass save one is centered around charming other or avoiding being charmed. The spells aren’t bad either, with the excellent Dominate Person available at Level 5. This is a fantastic subclass, and a case could be made that it is the best. Each warlock makes a pact with a godlike entity, known as a patron. Many warlocks are evil, and even those who are not are widely mistrusted and misunderstood. The Archfey is not my favorite. Likewise, many warlocks made pacts with several creatures, rather than just one, in order to access even more power,though all warlocks eve… The Fiend spell list add a level one AOE spell with Burning Hands, and at level three you get the greatness that is fireball. The warlock is one of … […], Dice play a roll in every aspect of dungeons and dragons, including character creation. You couldn’t ask for a better setup than a Fiend Warlock. Other patrons bestow their power only grudgingly, and might make a pact with only one warlock. Warlocks are at their best hurling spells and slaying enemies with Eldritch Blast. While it is not a bad healing option, it is lackluster for only becoming available at level 14. Thus one of my personal favorite concepts was…. The rest of the subclass sums up why this is at the bottom of our list. Defy Death is also great, but you can only use it once per long rest. The warlock has three options for its patron in the Player's Handbook: The Archfey, the Fiend, and the Great That does not mean that all six options cannot be fun. These spells also have some nice utility and defensive options like Command and Blindness/Deafness. How to choose a warlock patron. D&D Beyond That wraps up our Warlock Patrons Rankings. We all know Warlocks gain their eldritch power from a mystical, sometimes sinister patron. Dec 20, 2020 - Explore Patrick Keyes's board "Warlock Patrons", followed by 192 people on Pinterest. Your patron gives you a grimoire called a Book of Shadows. The D&D 5E Multiclassing Handbook | Multiclassing 5E Tips, Sapping Sting 5E Guide | Attributes, Pros, Cons, and Uses, Looking for a nuatical-themed warlock? Remember, your Warlock is what you make of it. Creating a Warlock in Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition is almost like creating two characters: after all, a Warlock is often in contact with their Patron, and while their Patron will be played by the DM as a powerful and influential NPC, the Warlock’s PC chooses their Patron, just as a Fighter chooses their Fighting Style, and a Wizard chooses their spells. Some patrons collect warlocks, doling out mystic knowledge relatively freely or boasting of their ability to bind mortals to their will. Join the Scoundrel Game Labs Mailing List! For me, Warlocks are a great way to mess with the party. A warlock is defined by a pact with an otherworldly being. But if your party doesn’t have a dedicated healer and you still want to sling some damage spells, The Celestial might work for you. Welcome to /r/DnDHomebrew! #DnD”. The main reasons The Undying Warlock falls at the bottom of our Warlock Patrons 5E list are the two top-level features. Keep in mind we only discuss those officially-released subclasses. Just like with every class in the 5th Edition of D&D, there are multiple Warlock subclasses to choose from. There are quite a few fire damage spells available here, but they are not any better than what is already on offer for a warlock. […], Need a hobgoblin name for your next character? The other features are strong as well. All warlocks get their magic from a Patron, but what does that entail exactly? A player and their Dungeon Master should decide together how much of an impact the Warlock’s patron will have on the character’s motivations and goals as well as the campaign as a whole. Stardew Valley Bone Fragment | What is It, Where Do You Get It? If you want to be a healer or a utility spellcaster, probably go to a different class entirely. Warlocks are at their best hurling spells and slaying enemies with Eldritch Blast. Lift your spirits with funny jokes, trending memes, entertaining gifs, inspiring stories, viral videos, and so much more. It should be no surprise then that it is at the top of our Warlock Patrons 5E list? This is a great subclass, but a fairly specific one. The Owl lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. What do you think? A life long gamer, Travis spends his time writing about and playing games when he's not suing people or hanging out with his family. Unlike other Patrons that warlocks deal with the Raven demands Fealty to her Offering them a place among her ranks in the after life. - Chapter 1: Relationship Between Warlocks and Patrons, which explores Backstory, Purpose, Methods, Connections, Communication Channel, and Repaying Debts with the help of 21 tables. If you want to sling damage spells, go Fiend. If the party is all good aligned, but the Warlock has a Fiendish Patron, then I'll get everyone going on the quest by giving the Warlock a vision of some ancient artifact contained within a hidden temple. Some first sought out their pact as a shortcut to attaining forbidden knowledge, and may resent the fealty demanded by their patro… Taking the Fiend as a patron addresses one of the bigger weaknesses in the Warlock spell list: AOE damage. You can learn more about optimizing your character with our Warlock 5E Guide as well. There are just a lot of options you likely won’t use much or that are overshadowed by inherent warlock features. When you gain this feature, choose three cantrips from any class's spell list. Is it a pact you wanted, or were forced into? At 1st level, the Genie lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. One of the highlights is Among the Dead, which gets you Spare the Dying at level one but also gives near-invulnerability to attacks from undead. Channeling the power of a patron that has learned to cheat death might make you think this subclass provides for a durable warlock built for survival. You are an inferior damage dealer to a Fiend Warlock, and centering an entire subclass around charming or frightening hostiles isn’t ideal. And while there’s no mechanical basis for a warlock to be stripped of their abilities or denied new powers when they level, as long as both player and DM agree, you can alwa… We can help. Sometimes the relationship between warlock and patron is like that of a cleric and a deity, though the beings that serve as patrons for warlocks … Off we go on our Warlock Patrons 5E Rankings! Using it once per short rest gives you a strong escape option in nearly every fight. It is entirely different from the Fiend, however. Some patrons […]. If you want to be a healer, something other than a warlock is probably your best bet. A warlock doesn’t have to have any understanding of arcane science, and they don’t have to be tied to a mystical bloodline; they can be someone who has stumbled into power or earned it through a clever bargain. In return for your patron’s gifts, you wander the world to create connections between cultures. Some patrons collect warlocks, doling out mystic knowledge relatively freely or boasting of their ability to bind mortals to their will. A patron is obsessed with punishing wrongdoers, driving their warlock to extreme actions. The rules come from the type of patron that you choose. Discussion with the DM is important if you want to have a memorable experience with your warlock’s patron. The same is true with most of the defensive spells, although Revivify and Wall of Fire are both great. While Create Thrall is a fun twist on Dominate Person, Thought Shield and Entropic Ward are awfully situational for bonuses available at level 6 and 10. - Chapter 2: New Patrons. This determines what other options you’ll have available later in the game. There is some cool stuff in this subclass, and you with careful spell selection this could be a pretty good option if your party has another dedicated spellcaster to deal damage. This random table of D&D warlock patrons was created by a friend in my RPG gaming group. In fact, you will see below that two of the six stand head and shoulders above the rest. With a name like Dungeons and Dragons, it’s no surprise that one of the most commonly desired warlock patrons is a spellcasting ancient dragon, such as a wise gold dragon or a cunning black dragon, lending its arcane power to a warlock just as a fiend, archfey, or genie might.Dragons are ubiquitous across nearly every D&D universe, and many have long-term goals that require agents such … How far the warlock went to fulfilling their pact was entirely up to them, though corruption was an ever-present danger for warlocks of all stripes. Hello fellow reader. This extra d10 to your ability checks or saving throws can be used at any time before the DM announces the outcome of the roll, and returns after a short or long rest. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It boils down to the same issue discussed above. The higher-level features of the subclass are a mixed bag. “Your patron is a lord or lady of the fey, a creature of legend who holds secrets that were forgotten before the mortal… almost godlike in their power. This is most obvious in the selection in the expanded spell list. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Fathomless Warlock 5E Guide | Warlock Subclass from Tasha’s Cauldron, Getting Started With Your Character | How to Roll Stats for 5e, Hobgoblin Names Guide | Examples and Naming Conventions for 5E. While charming or frightening a hostile can be useful, it is rarely a focal point in larger battles. You can launch a creature through a one-turn trip through hell, giving them 10d10 damage along the way. A patron offers powers in exchange for magic items, and the warlock is required to fetch them. Unlike clerics, paladins, or druids who worship and gain power from great spiritual forces and deities, the warlock’s powers are granted instead by a … The other features of this subclass are also strong, although the expanded spell list is forgettable at early levels. Sometimes the relationship between warlock and patron is like that of a cleric and a deity, though the beings that serve as patrons for warlocks … The six patrons released to date are not created equally. Patrons are the beings that grant a Warlock their power. It is possible to optimize any of these options to a degree, and the basic traits of a warlock are strong across the board. From a mechanical standpoint, patrons offer two things: rules and flavor. They don't count against your number of cantrips known. Much like The Celestial, the Archfey has a theme but it isn’t particularly optimal. The beings that serve as patrons for warlocks are mighty inhabitants of other planes of existence—not gods, but . In addition to the proficiencies mentioned above, you can use your charisma modifier for weapon attack and damage rolls instead of strength or dexterity. At six official subclasses, the Warlock has an average number of options. A chaotic evil warlock is forced to serve a good and altruistic patron who expects the warlock to bring good into the world and redeem themselves. If you’re a DM, the sky’s the l… The Great Old One isn’t a bad patron, but it may leave you wanting for more. The Genie Expanded Spells table shows the genie spells that are added to the warlock spell list for you, along with the spells associated in the table with your patron's kind: dao, djinni, efreeti, or marid. In avian form, your patron flies through the Astral Plane, reminding creatures to continue their lessons. Below, we rank these six patrons based on how optimized and powerful they are. The warlock was included as a character class in the 5th edition Player's Handbook. What’s not to love about a melee-centered character that uses strength as an attribute sink? Use... Otherworldly Patron PDF This subclass spawned from concepts I thought up while working on the Unbroken Reflection, but did not fit a Sorcerer subclass. The Queen is very active with her patrons, but not all warlocks … Warlocks are powerful spell casters that derive their power from a greater power, known as their Patron. She communicates with her servants either through Visions, Dreams, Whispers, or a Raven. Tasha’s Cauldron has you covered! One of the benefits of this subclass is that it offers more utility than any other Warlock option. In other words, we do not touch on homebrew or Unearthed Arcana content. If you’re a player, you’ll likely run patron options by your DM who will work on your patron with you. But, usually with…extra steps. Both Celestial Resilience and Searing Vengeance are very strong options for high-level Celestial Warlocks, though. Stardew Valley Prismatic Jelly | What is It, Where Do You Get It? The Hexblade is the other patron that really stands out in the class. Warlocks starting at level one have solid damage against single foes at range. Various patrons give their warlocks access to different powers and invocations, and expect significant favors in return. Are you fond of your patron, or do you serve under them while plotting their demise? Warlocks who serve the same patron might view each other as allies, siblings, or rivals. Do you like D&D? Expanded Spell List. Warlocks are a little like getting two characters: the warlock and the patron. The theme of the Great Old One Warlock is knowledge, which helps to explain why many of the options involve controlling another character’s mind or learning hidden information. While that seems to be the theme, it doesn’t exactly deliver. They are considered warlock spells for you, and they needn't be from the same spell list. A subreddit for D&D 5e homebrew. You also gain the ability to communicate telepathically with almost anyone within 30 feet of you at level one, which is exceptionally valuable. Warlock… The Best 3D Printer for SolidWorks | Best Picks + Buyers Guide, The Best 3D Printer for ZBrush | Top Picks + Buyers Guide. Dark Delirium is good for flavor but also pretty disappointing for a level 14 benefit. The bottom line: if you want to sling damage, several other options work better for a warlock. A warlock is defined by a pact with an otherworldly being. Kind of like how a Cleric draws power from their deity (though not always) or a Druid pulls power from nature. Illustration of Alfred Smedberg’s The Seven Wishes in Julbocken, 1907 . Patrons – Warlock Subclasses. While the book is on your person, you can cast those cantrips at will. Warlock gets powers, patron gets the warlock's soul (or whatever). In general, the theme of this subclass seems to be a mix of fire/radiant damage and healing spells. Otherworldly Patrons. The highlight of this subclass starts with Hex Warrior. The addition of two cantrips is also nice, but not a gamechanger. All of this coupled with the added survivability from Dark One’s Blessing and Fiendish Resilience is a great combination for a spellcaster. Let’s start with the spell list. It’s not all bad, especially Contagion, but many of these spells could be replaced with much better options. See more ideas about dnd classes, dnd 5e homebrew, dungeons and dragons homebrew. See Our Warlock Patron Rankings! But the entity that gives power to a Warlock is not a deity, but something else. It is a magic-using class with a combination of spells and invocations granted by the warlock's patron. At level six you get Dark One’s Own Luck, which is essentially the ability to inspire yourself like a bard would. A new Dungeons & Dragons supplement has added new patrons, invocations, and other abilities to help give your warlock more flavor. In my view, A Fiend Warlock with the Pact of the Time boon is the best avenue for a spellcaster in this class. In this supplement I have created three new otherworldly patrons, as well as adding a new pact boon, the pact of the body. Indestructible Life is also underpowered. The Celestial offers a sort of hybrid cleric/warlock option thanks to the addition of a number of cleric spells. If you want to be a melee-first warlock, go Hexblade. When you curse a character you also get bonus damage and can siphon off their hitpoints when they die. The theme of this subclass is deception and enchantment, but it misses the mark in my eyes. A proficiency in better armor and shields also adds some survivability to a class that is known to be squishy. Warlocks had an overall poor reputation, a result of their dealings with otherworldly and often malevolent outsiders. In total, there are six types of patrons. Taking the Fiend as a patron addresses one of the bigger weaknesses in the Warlock spell list: AOE damage. The flavor comes from the patron type, but also from the specific patron you set up for the warlock. After picking your patron, it’s good to think about why you made your pact. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. But what does that relationship look like? One of the most important aspects of creating a warlock is the relationship you have with your patron. Still, even the most righteous of warlocks have an overwhelming desire for power, and warlocks are ardent seekers of forgotten knowledge. Fandom Apps Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Check out our Hobgoblin Names Guide for some examples. More Warlock Patrons. The Archfey Warlock is not all bad. Centering a Level 10 feature around defending against being charmed is especially lackluster. To me, the highlight is Hurl Through Hell at Level 14. While I think the two at the top stick out like a sore thumb, your mileage may vary on the rest of the list. Warlocks are defined largely by 2 things, their patrons and their pacts. The Elemental Lord, a powerful being from the Elemental Planes (there are 4 differents patrons for each element: Air, Water, Earth and Fire), and The Spirit, an ancient and powerful spirit of the dead. A Hexblade Warlock is primarily a melee character. A Warlock doesn’t have their own power source, and instead are given it by some high power, almost in the same way a Cleric does. Each of these groupings make up the subclasses for the warlock class. Also fantastic is Hexblade’s Curse, which makes attacks against a cursed creature critical at both 19 and 20. Stardew Valley Gourmand Frog | What is It, What Does It Do? However, not all warlocks were evil by nature and may have used such deadly gifts for more benign purposes. At level 6, Misty Escape is a very powerful defensive tool that can help you avoid a ton of damage. This is excellent, as it allow you to build both your spellcasting and melee offense around a single attribute. “#DungeonsAndDragons Otherworldly patron - Unbound Lexicon. After last weeks venture into storytelling and game suggestion (check out our article-Hags: Love, Nature and Destiny), we discussed the Mother of all Hags (literally), Cegilune, and mentioned that she would be a great patron for a warlock.As a part of developing The Magic Tavern’s next book, CONSTRUCTIVE CONSTRUCTS: SCARECROWS, I’ve done some extensive digging on Hags. In a nutshell, patrons are the sources of and conduits for magic for Warlocks. Evil warlocks in the service of archdevils and demon princes lead cultsto worship those dark beings, who do not normally attract clerics as gods do. The end result may fit thematically, but much of the spells and features of this subclass are very situational. You couldn’t ask for a better setup than a Fiend Warlock. Other than a few spells, I don’t see a lot of reason to take this as a spellcaster of The Fiend though. In my opinion, the falloff from second to third on this list is pretty steep. We can help you join them in sweet marriage fit for a king. If you embrace the basic story, the warlock is someone who gains their powers through their relationship with an outside source. Discover the magic of the internet at Imgur, a community powered entertainment destination. Dissonant Whispers and Telekinesis are useful options outside of slinging damage spells. Learn more with our How to Roll Stats for 5E Guide. A Warlock a little more focused on spells and pays homage to a book. Other patrons bestow their power only grudgingly, and might make a pact with only one warlock. While this option is not notably worse than The Great Old One or The Fey, there is very little a celestial warlock does better than other options. While very different from the traditional spellcaster, a Hexblade Warlock is a great option particularly with Pact of the Blade as their boon. Undying Nature is interesting to flavor, but few campaigns will make use of not needing to eat or drink, and virtually no campaign will use the ability to age slowly. Eldritch Adept Feat 5E Guide | Pros, Cons, and Builds, College of Swords 5E Guide | Rules, Tips, Builds, and More, Death Cleric 5E Guide | Rules, Tips, Builds, and More, The Best Laptop for World of Warcraft 2020 | Top Picks + Buyers Guide.