Which warlock build is the most powerful in D&D 2024?

Working out which warlock build has the highest damage per round (DPR).

Approach

D&D is a complex game and boiling down average damage with something like DPR is challenging and has it flaws. But it can give a sense of power. So you understand how I’ve calculated things, here’s the approach I’ve made:

• I’ve assumed that rolls to hit and spells that require saving throws are successful 65% of the time. That will change depending on various circumstances, but it is accepted as a rough average.
• Where a cantrip or weapon is used, I’ve assumed the most optimal option for damage.
• I’ve assumed a focus on charisma for increasing ability scores based on a standard array or points buy system. This means achieving a 17 at level 1, 19 at level 4 and 20 at level 8.
• I’ve assumed 4 rounds per encounter and a short rest between each encounter (this won’t always be the case, but should be fairly typical).
• For eldritch smite, it works on a hit. I’ve assumed 65% of attacks will hit meaning each turn, you should have an opportunity to use eldritch smite. I’ve also assumed you’ll use all available spell slots on eldritch smite.
• The only spells I’m taking into account are cantrips. Your invocations won’t affect access to damage-dealing spells so all warlocks will benefit equally from these. I have a guide specifically dedicated to determining what spells are best for a warlock if you’re interested in that.
• Utility invocations are by their nature, not going to increase damage output. That doesn’t make them useful, but I’ll be ignoring them for the purposes of this analysis. We’re talking about raw power in this article.
• Familiars also provide a supportive option rather than a core, damage dealing option. For this reason, I’ve considered them only as an add-on to other builds.

This leaves us with a blade build (or bladelock) and one focused on dealing damage through cantrips which I’ve compared below.

Blade build

Blade invocations include 5 different eldritch invocations. They are:

• Pact of the blade (lv1)
• Eldritch smite (lv5+)
• Thirsting blade (lv5+)
• Lifedrinker (lv9+)
• Devouring blade (lv12+)

Let’s look at DPR on a warlock that takes each of these invocations as early as possible:

Warlock Level	Invocations Learnt	DPR With Eldritch Smite	DPR Without Eldritch Smite
1	Pact of the blade (greatsword)	6.5	6.5
2	2 free hits	6.5	6.5
3		6.5	6.5
4		7.15	7.15
5	Eldritch smite, thirsting blade	23.3	14.3
6		23.3	14.3
7	Free hit	25.55	14.3
8		26.85	15.6
9	Lifedrinker	32.6	19.1
10		32.6	19.1
11		39.35	19.1
12	Devouring blade	47.15	26.9
13		47.15	26.9
14		47.15	26.9
15	Free hit	47.15	26.9
16		47.15	26.9
17		53.9	26.9
18	Free hit	53.9	26.9
19		53.9	26.9
20		53.9	26.9

While most blade invocations can always work, your DPR is also highly dependent on eldritch smite. As it uses spell slots, DPR will drop if you use spells slots on other things, or if you’re unable to take short rests between combat encounters.

I’ve included versions of DPR both with and without eldritch smite in place as in many instances, using a 3rd level spell or higher will be more optimal than using eldritch smite. For this reason, I think the version of DPR without eldritch smite is a truer reflection of bladelock DPR.

Cantrip invocations

Invocations that improve cantrips encompass 3 eldritch invocations. These are:

• Agonising blast (lv2+)
• Eldritch spear (lv2+)
• Repelling blast (lv2+)

Only one of these affects damage output (the others increase range and push enemies). I’ll still assume we’ll want all 3, and especially repelling blast can be a useful option for maintaining distance and battlefield control.

Agonising blast will add your charisma modifier in damage to each damage roll made with a chosen cantrip.

You can go a couple of routes here to maximise damage. Eldritch blast will let you add your charisma modifier to each blast making it better than almost any other cantrips which will only add the bonus damage once.

The other option is to go with thunderclap. That’s because the AoE nature of the cantrip let’s you apply the extra damage to each enemy hit. So the more enemies in the area, the more the extra damage is magnified.

I’ve worked out DPR for both these spells in the table below:

Warlock Level	Invocations Learnt	Eldritch Blast DPR	Thunderclap DPR (1)	Thunderclap DPR (2)	Thunderclap DPR (3)	Thunderclap DPR (4)
1	Free hit	3.58	2.28	4.55	6.83	9.1
2	Agonising blast, repelling blast	6.53	4.23	8.45	12.68	16.9
3		6.53	4.23	8.45	12.68	16.9
4		6.8	4.88	9.75	14.63	19.5
5	Eldritch spear, free hit	12.35	7.15	14.3	21.45	28.6
6		12.35	7.15	14.3	21.45	28.6
7	Free hit	12.35	7.15	14.3	21.45	28.6
8		13.65	7.8	15.6	23.4	31.2
9	Free hit	13.65	7.8	15.6	23.4	31.2
10		13.65	7.8	15.6	23.4	31.2
11		20.8	10.08	20.15	30.23	40.3
12	Free hit	20.8	10.08	20.15	30.23	40.3
13		20.8	10.08	20.15	30.23	40.3
14		20.8	10.08	20.15	30.23	40.3
15	Free hit	20.8	10.08	20.15	30.23	40.3
16		20.8	10.08	20.15	30.23	40.3
17		27.3	12.35	24.7	37.05	49.4
18	Free hit	27.3	12.35	24.7	37.05	49.4
19		27.3	12.35	24.7	37.05	49.4
20		27.3	12.35	24.7	37.05	49.4

At low and mid levels, thunderclap will outperform eldritch blast once it starts hitting 2+ enemies, but once you reach level 11, hitting 2 enemies with thunderclap has similar damage to eldritch blast. Then at level 17, eldritch blast overtakes thunderclap unless you’re hitting 3+ enemies.

The problem with thunderclap is finding enough enemies that are packed close to each other and making yourself vulnerable by getting in melee range of them all.

Familiar invocations

Familiars aren’t a primary way for dealing damage. However, they can aid you when it comes to dealing damage. First off, there are 3 invocations that affect your familiar. They are:

• Pact of the chain
• Gaze of two minds
• Investment of the chain master

Pact of the chain will give you access to the find familiar spell and some enhanced familiars. The imp is the highest damage option, but others will grant effects on their attacks too.

Gaze of two minds is more for scouting than anything else, but it will let you cast spells through your familiar. This could be used to fire off thunderclap in the midst of loads of enemies without placing yourself at risk. Because some of these familiars (including imps) can cast invisibility, and because they don’t cast the spell, they could maintain invisibility while you blast thunderclaps and sow confusion among enemies.

Investment of the chain master will let you command your familiar to take the attack action with your bonus action. This means you potentially get an extra 3d6+3 in damage each turn (though your familiar is less likely to hit than you are).

Which warlock build has the highest DPR?

Based purely on the tables above, the bladelock has the highest DPR when you include eldritch smite. This includes when you account for hitting multiple targets with thunderclap, and even getting up to 4 targets will mean bladelocks will usually deal more damage.

However, there is a big caveat here. I think most warlocks will prefer using actual spells with their spell slots than on eldritch smite. Especially if you’ve got high damage AoE or battlefield control spells you can use. I’d argue the likes of hypnotic pattern, banishment and fireball (if you’ve a fiend patron) are often more effective than what you can accomplish with the attack action. This would likely cause much less uses of eldritch smite.

When we look at DPR excluding eldritch smite, the results are more similar. Blades still perform better than eldritch blast up until level 17. However, it’s worth noting the extra benefits of safety that come from a ranged build.

A thunderclap build has the most potential for pure damage here. But, that relies on crowds of enemies and throwing your relatively vulnerable warlock into the middle of them (or an invisible familiar). It won’t be a consistently available tactic and may not even be wise, but it is technically your most powerful option exclusive of eldritch smite.

It’s also worth noting that building a bladelock requires a lot more investment in eldritch invocations. A cantrip build will have a lot more space for utility options like armor of shadows, pact of the chain and master of myriad forms as well as other great options that won’t necessarily help your DPR.

If we consider a more well-rounded warlock build; one that can survive, deal damage (in melee and at range) and has utility, while having a high DPR, I’d go for a build like the following:

Optimised warlock build

I’d use a longsword for my pact weapon and carry a shield. I’d also take eldritch blast and have agonising blast applied to it. I wouldn’t actually take eldritch smite, I’d rather use my spell slots on heavy duty spells than to enhance one of my attacks.

If I’m going for a purely combat-focused warlock, I’d take the following eldritch invocations:

Warlock Level	Invocations Learnt
1	Pact of the blade (longsword)
2	Agonising blast (eldritch blast), armor of shadows
5	Pact of the chain, thirsting blade
7	Investment of the chain master
9	Lifedrinker
12	Devouring blade
15	Fiendish vigor
18	Gift of the protectors

I think this represents a strong, combat-focused warlock with a lot of flexibility. But, there are other great options for a more utility-focused warlock which you can read about in my article on eldritch invocations.

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Do you have a favourite warlock build? Let me know about it in the comments below.

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