Hiya! I'm having a nightmare trying to figure out what spells/cantrips I'm able to use!
This is my first time playing as a Warlock and I don't fully understand the Otherworldly Pact and how that would effect my spells; I'd like to have a Tiefling Warlock (level 1) who's patron is The Fiend, would these spells make sense/be allowed?
Cantrips;
Thaumatergy (Due to Infernal Legacy) & Eldritch Blast
Spells;
Burning hands & Armor of Agathys
I'd seriously appreciate any advise, corrections or suggestions because I'm really struggling to create this character.
The Pact Magic feature from your patron just adds additional spells for you to pick from at certain levels. All the spells you listed are allowed. Also, you get to pick 2 cantrips at Level 1 Warlock. Thaumaturgy doesn’t count against you since it is a racial feat. Magic Hand or minor Illusion are always useful.
Hex and Eldritch Blast are a Warlock's bread and butter. Hex lasts a long time and adds damage to all of your attacks (but not spells that do damage through saving throws.) You can even move it to a new enemy at any time after the current target hits 0 HP.
Giving the enemy disadvantage on certain ability checks is also useful: weakening wisdom helps Rogue friends hide in combat; weakening strength makes enemies worse at grappling; weakening dexterity makes enemies worse at hiding and possibly worse at escaping grapples; weakening a spellcaster's casting ability makes them worse at counterspelling high level spells. Just remember you don't get to pick a different ability if you move the spell to a new target.
Outside of those two spells it's mostly up to you which warlock spells to pick. Just stay away from Witch Bolt; it's a really weak spell and you'd do better with Hex/Eldritch Blast.
You'll want probably want to replace Burning Hands once you have 2nd or 3rd level spell slots but it'll serve you well starting out.
Why would you want to replace Burning Hands when you have higher level spell slots? It scales as you use higher level spell slots to cast it.
I found that when I’m playing a Warlock I don’t use my spells other than cantrips very often. Warlocks only have 2 spell slots and even though they regain them after a short rest there aren’t enough short rests so I saved them so I had them available when it was an emergency.
My advice is to pick your cantrips carefully. Eldritch Blast is a Warlock’s go-to combat spell, Mage Hand is my favorite non-combat cantrip and Prestidigitation is a close second. For your spells, pick ones that scale as you use higher level spell slots.
Why would you want to replace Burning Hands when you have higher level spell slots? It scales as you use higher level spell slots to cast it.
Most spells use d6s or d8s and only gain one more die per level, so the damage bump you get from upcasting them almost never keeps up with the initial damage of higher level spells. Since Warlocks don't have the option to cast the spell at its original level and they're limited to a small number of known spells, low level spells usually become obsolete once you have spells that are 1 or 2 levels higher.
2nd level doesn't have much going on in terms of instantaneous damage spells for Warlocks but Scorching Ray will do better than Burning Hands against single targets, can be used from long distances, stacks with Hex and scales great since each additional level adds another beam worth 2d6 (plus potential Hex damage). Shatter will also deal almost as much damage as 2nd level Burning Hands but also has better range and area size and thunder damage is less likely to be resisted than fire damage. Once 3rd level spells are an option Fireball will deal 8d6 damage while 3rd level Burning Hands does 5d6.
Hiya! I'm having a nightmare trying to figure out what spells/cantrips I'm able to use!
This is my first time playing as a Warlock and I don't fully understand the Otherworldly Pact and how that would effect my spells; I'd like to have a Tiefling Warlock (level 1) who's patron is The Fiend, would these spells make sense/be allowed?
Cantrips;
Thaumatergy (Due to Infernal Legacy) & Eldritch Blast
Spells;
Burning hands & Armor of Agathys
I'd seriously appreciate any advise, corrections or suggestions because I'm really struggling to create this character.
Thank you!
The Pact Magic feature from your patron just adds additional spells for you to pick from at certain levels. All the spells you listed are allowed. Also, you get to pick 2 cantrips at Level 1 Warlock. Thaumaturgy doesn’t count against you since it is a racial feat. Magic Hand or minor Illusion are always useful.
Thank you so much! This seriously helped :)
Hex and Eldritch Blast are a Warlock's bread and butter. Hex lasts a long time and adds damage to all of your attacks (but not spells that do damage through saving throws.) You can even move it to a new enemy at any time after the current target hits 0 HP.
Giving the enemy disadvantage on certain ability checks is also useful: weakening wisdom helps Rogue friends hide in combat; weakening strength makes enemies worse at grappling; weakening dexterity makes enemies worse at hiding and possibly worse at escaping grapples; weakening a spellcaster's casting ability makes them worse at counterspelling high level spells. Just remember you don't get to pick a different ability if you move the spell to a new target.
Outside of those two spells it's mostly up to you which warlock spells to pick. Just stay away from Witch Bolt; it's a really weak spell and you'd do better with Hex/Eldritch Blast.
You'll want probably want to replace Burning Hands once you have 2nd or 3rd level spell slots but it'll serve you well starting out.
Why would you want to replace Burning Hands when you have higher level spell slots? It scales as you use higher level spell slots to cast it.
I found that when I’m playing a Warlock I don’t use my spells other than cantrips very often. Warlocks only have 2 spell slots and even though they regain them after a short rest there aren’t enough short rests so I saved them so I had them available when it was an emergency.
My advice is to pick your cantrips carefully. Eldritch Blast is a Warlock’s go-to combat spell, Mage Hand is my favorite non-combat cantrip and Prestidigitation is a close second. For your spells, pick ones that scale as you use higher level spell slots.
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Most spells use d6s or d8s and only gain one more die per level, so the damage bump you get from upcasting them almost never keeps up with the initial damage of higher level spells. Since Warlocks don't have the option to cast the spell at its original level and they're limited to a small number of known spells, low level spells usually become obsolete once you have spells that are 1 or 2 levels higher.
2nd level doesn't have much going on in terms of instantaneous damage spells for Warlocks but Scorching Ray will do better than Burning Hands against single targets, can be used from long distances, stacks with Hex and scales great since each additional level adds another beam worth 2d6 (plus potential Hex damage). Shatter will also deal almost as much damage as 2nd level Burning Hands but also has better range and area size and thunder damage is less likely to be resisted than fire damage. Once 3rd level spells are an option Fireball will deal 8d6 damage while 3rd level Burning Hands does 5d6.