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Who needs expensive spell books and grumpy magic mentors when an Eldritch sugar daddy grants the heart’s wildest desires? This is how Warlocks best enjoy life in Dungeons and Dragons. Because if wizards are the hard-working scholars in the classroom, then the warlock is that ambitious but lazy student who ends up seducing the teacher for grades.
That’s not to say Warlocks aren’t brilliant as magic users in J&D. It’s just that they like to cut corners, which makes them rather resourceful and creative by nature. Therefore, playing as Warlock can be a blast – both literally and figuratively. Besides the fact that no two Warlocks are the same, there are also lesser-known ways to “cut corners” and surprise both the DM and party members with actions they never knew existed. not that you could do.
8 make a patron
Tired of the usual selection of deities and otherworldly beings in the rulebooks? So forget the rules! The mind is the rule book when it comes to imagining an origin story and one of the most flexible backstory elements for warlocks is their boss or deity. The one who grants them their magical powers.
Instead of choosing the typical god of war or fertility, or god forbid another devil or demon, maybe create something that doesn’t fit that mold. It could be anything from an overly possessive Fey who lashes out when the player character talks to beautiful people or the ghost of a mother who wants players to regularly offer her children as sacrifices. With that kind of jitters, players probably won’t need any sort of melee weapon.
seven Sacrifice that annoying member or NPC to a client
It’s only thematic for a warlock’s patron to demand something in return for the powers they’ve been granted. It matters, after all, whether the contract was carefully written or merely verbal. So players looking to be more faithful to the roleplaying game can find creative or even clever ways to use this debt.
Does a DM have a favorite NPC who is too fond of hiding information? Since warlocks are bound by contract, they have more valid reasons to assassinate this NPC and offer it as a sacrifice to their boss. While fighters and barbarians are called models if they resort to this kind of behavior. Is a party member struggling with their rescue throws? Help them meet your sponsor! That’s a big payout if the client is The Fiend.
6 Bring another member to the party you control
Speaking of patrons, this one mostly applies to Hexblade Warlocks or those who assume the Hexblade Pact. Because clients of this Warlock subclass must actually be a sentient weapon. However, there is no rule stating that this weapon can or will only speak to the wielder, which means the Hexblade weapon could very well be campfire chatter.
For players looking to substitute another role outside of their character (to break the monotony, for example), they can voice the Hexblade weapon and even give him valuable information during social or combat situations (assuming the DM allows it – and they should!). It’s also a great way to introduce meta commentary and if players want, they can make the gun sound like Eddie Murphy or talk like Deadpool!
5 Drive enemies mad with telepathy
Great Old One Warlocks or those who have taken the Covenant of the Great Old One might find their subclass a little disappointing. Still, it has its nifty uses thanks to the Awakened Mind pact feature. It’s basically one way telepathy where the Arcanist can talk to other creatures within 30 feet. It works regardless of the language barrier.
This very well means that the Warlocks can sneak up on enemies or enemy locations for a bit, then make them all fight by filling their heads with infuriating thoughts of betrayal. If they start wondering who it is, players can just say they are their conscience or something. Anything Jiminy Cricket-ing around might prompt the DM to have the Warlock roll a Persuasion Test. This can also work for NPCs, especially religious ones.
4 Enemy tank attacks
While Warlocks and Sorcerers are sitting ducks once enemies get too close, Warlocks have a plethora of options that can turn them into Vanguards. It’s not the HP pool though, they’re not as tough as Fighters or Paladins but they have all sorts of spells, class stats and jujus to help them survive and even absorb damage in the process. case the group’s dedicated tank is underperforming.
First, the spell Darkness can act as a sort of pseudo-defense field. Sorcerers can later drop it for Shadow of Moil, which is better than darkness and invisibility combined. Any hit against them will have a disadvantage with Shadow of Moil activated. If all else fails, then the Tomb of Levistus Eldritch Summon is pretty much a panic button that increases a warlock’s stamina. With these, a warlock is even less likely to enter the rescue throw phase compared to melee classes.
3 Blind Enemies with Magical Darkness and Other Methods
Wizards may not have the blind deafness spell universally available, but they have something even better. They have several spells that blind enemies to their surroundings or the warlock. The above Shadow of Moil and Darkness.
Hadar’s Hunger is another and it acts as an area-of-effect forced blindness for enemies without special vision methods. This will open them to Warlock attacks that have an advantage, which makes the Warlock good at both tanking and dealing surprising and borderline unfair damage.
2 Shoot unlucky enemies with Eldritch Blast
By “snipe” we’re not talking about that measly Eldritch Blast default 120ft range (which is already impressive on its own). Because the range of Eldritch Blast can be up to 600 feet on a non-multiclass warlock. It is thanks to the Summon the occult spear which makes the base range of Eldritch Blast 300 feet.
Associate this with Spell Sniper feat (available at level 4) and double range. This is enough to jump on any creature, provided there is a party scout (druids are useful here); the more the attack will have an advantage. If that range isn’t enough, then multiclass three levels to Sorcerer and get the Distant Spell Metamagic. This doubles the Eldritch Blast range for 1,200 feet. It’s already overdone.
1 Stack multiple perks on attacks
If one advantage isn’t enough, then Warlocks should be glad to know they can roll up to three D20 dice on their attack rolls. This can be done through the aforementioned spells such as Shadow of Moil Where Darkness (or just attack prone enemies) but the warlock must be either an elf or a half-elf for the Elven Precision Advantage.
Elvish Precision allows characters to re-roll their lowest attack die, turning two dice into three. If that’s not enough, the Warlocks can then grab the luck trick allowing them to roll another D20, making four D20 attack rolls. After that, it’s all about watching the DM scratch his head as he calculates how his Adult Dragon boss was bullied by a sub-level 10 Warlock.
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