Warlock 5e - DnD Class Guide

Learn all about the pact-making warlock class of D&D

Warlocks are magic users that have made a pact with a powerful, magical being. The warlock draws their power from their patron bringing them great power, but at the cost of binding themselves to their patron. Often, these patrons have sinister desires for their warlock servants meaning warlocks can often end up conflicting with the more lawfully good members of a party.

How to play as a warlock

Warlocks have much less spell slots than other full casters, but with the caveat that these spells are usually more powerful than those of other spellcasters, being able to use them in their most powerful form every time. To compensate for this, warlocks have access to some great cantrips that can be used like ranged weapon attacks. Like most spellcasters, Warlocks are best used at range and as far as possible from danger, though some warlocks, like the hexblade, are built for melee combat. Warlocks use Charisma as their spellcasting ability so it’s best to pump lots of points into this ability.

Warlock Strengths

Warlocks can take advantage of a great bunch of cantrips for regular, decent damage output. They also get to use all spells in their highest possible form meaning when they use spells, they tend to do more damage than other spellcasters. They’re a little tougher than sorcerors and wizards with a higher HP.

Warlock Weaknesses

Action economy is a major challenge for warlocks as they have very few spell slots. This does mean that they can quickly run out of effective things to do in combat. This is particularly problematic as unless you’re a hexblade, you’ll have very few combat focused abilities. They do have decent cantrips to keep them going though so it’s not such a major issue.

Warlock class features

Party Role	Utility, Spell Damage Dealer, Control
Main Ability	Charisma
Saving Throws	Wisdom, Charisma
Hit Dice	1d8 + Consitution modifier per level
HP at 1st Level	8 + Constitution Modifier
Spell Casting Ability	Charisma
Armour Proficiency	Light armour
Weapon Proficiency	Simple weapons

Warlock Abilities

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	Spell Slots	Slot Level	Invocations Known
1st	+2	Otherworldly Patron, Pact Magic	3	2	1	1st	–
2nd	+2	Eldritch Invocations	3	3	2	1st	2
3rd	+2	Pact Boon	3	4	2	2nd	2
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	4	5	2	2nd	2
5th	+3		4	6	2	3rd	3
6th	+3	Otherworldly Patron Feature	4	7	2	3rd	3
7th	+3		4	8	2	4th	4
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	4	9	2	4th	4
9th	+4		4	10	2	5th	5
10th	+4	Otherworldly Patron Feature	5	10	2	5th	5
11th	+4	Mystic Arcanum (6th Level)	5	11	3	5th	5
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	5	11	3	5th	6
13th	+5	Mystic Arcanum (7th Level)	5	12	3	5th	6
14th	+5	Otherworldly Patron Feature	5	12	3	5th	6
15th	+5	Mystic Arcanum (8th Level)	5	13	3	5th	7
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	5	13	3	5th	7
17th	+6	Mystic Arcanum (9th level)	5	14	4	5th	7
18th	+6		5	14	4	5th	8
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	5	15	4	5th	8
20th	+6	Eldritch Master	5	15	4	5th	8

Warlock subclasses in D&D 5e

Warlock Otherworldly Patrons	Subclass Abilities	Source Book	Description
The Archfey	Expanded Spell List, Fey Presence, Misty Escape, Beguiling Defenses, Dark Delirium	Player’s Handbook	Warlocks whose magic comes from a pact with a powerful fey creature.
The Fiend	Expanded Spell List, Dark One’s Blessing, Dark One’s Own Luck, Fiendish Resilience, Hurl Through hell	Player’s Handbook	Warlocks whose magic comes from a pact with a powerful fiend.
The Great Old One	Expanded Spell List, Awakened Mind, Entropic Ward, Thought Shield, Create Thrall	Player’s Handbook	Warlocks whose magic comes from a pact with a powerful unknown creature from beyond the known universe.
The Undying	Expanded Spell List, Among the Dead, Deft Death, Undying Nature, Indestructible Life	Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide	Warlocks whose magic comes from a pact with a powerful undead creature.
The Celestial	Expanded Spell List, Bonus Cantrips, Healing Light, Radiant Soul, Celestial Resistance, Searing Vengeance	Xanathar’s Guide to Everything	Warlocks whose magic comes from a pact with a powerful celestial creature.
The Hexblade	Expanded Spell List, Hexblade’s Curse, Hex Warrior, Accursed Specter, Armor of Hexes, Master of Hexes	Xanathar’s Guide to Everything	Warlocks whose magic comes from a pact with a powerful weapon or who have been gifted a weapon.
The Fathomless	Expanded Spell List, Tentacle of the Deep, Gift of the Sea, Oceanic Soul, Guardian Coil, Grasping Tentacles, Fathomless Purge	Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything	Warlocks whose magic comes from a pact with a powerful creature from the depths of the ocean.
The Genie	Expanded Spell List, Genie’s Vessel, Elemental Gift, Sanctuary Vessel, Limited Wish	Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything	Warlocks whose magic comes from a pact with a powerful genie.
The Undead	Expanded Spell List, Form of Dread, Grave Touched, Necrotic Husk, Spirit Projection	Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft	Warlocks that have made a pact with an undead being.