Hey, so I'm trying to make a sorlock build that will make my DM mad at me lol
But seriously, I want to make a Shadow (ideally but I'm open) Sorcerer/Great Old Ones (or Undying) warlock (yes, not Fiend though everyone says it's best for a blaster) build that is high magic no melee so Pact of the Tome is practically a must but thats all I'm confident about.
Ideally I would prefer to be human or varient human with a Haunted One background for my character but the main problem is I cant seem to find a good balance of when to take levels in what.
I also have seen people talk about just taking levels until a certain place in each class to optimize a level 20 character so i'm trying to determine with those patrons what the ideal ratio of levels per each would be that could stand up to a regular campaign level progression.
My advice woud be to focus on what is fun to play early and not think too much about level 20. It will ake you a really long time to get to those high levels. As for warlock anywhere between 2 and 5 levels in warlock is usually good. For each of those levels you gain nice goodies from the warlock side, but you are delaying the powerful sorceror spells. Warlock 2 for boosted eldritch blast, 3 for tome, 4 for feat/ability score increase and 5 for maxing out the spells you regain on a short rest.
My recommendation would be to stay sorcerer for the first 5 levels. Get your third level spells. Then 2 or 3 (depending on how much you really need to have tome) levels of warlock, and no more. Then sorcerer to 20. 4 levels of warlock means you'll never get 9th level spells, and every level of warlock sets back your higher level sorcerer spells and slots. the big decision in my mind is whether you go 2 or 3 in warlock. 2 enables the EB spam that you're looking for. You don't /need/ any more than that.
So, what I'd probably recommend is sorcerer 5, then warlock 2. Back to sorcerer and decide if you NEED another level of warlock or not. The pros are tome pact with rituals (the cantrips are really not that big of a deal imo, you already have EB and that's the only cantrip you NEED) and an upgrade to 2nd level warlock spell slots to recycle into sorc points. if you decide you DO need the cantrips you want guidance and minor illusion if you don't already have it. The third one is really mostly irrelevant. After no more than 3 levels of warlock, you're back to sorcerer for the ride. You'll get 9th level spells (read wish) at 20th level should you play that far.
Don't do what I did and that's go Sorc 1, lock 2, then back to sorc. Yeah I had EB spam online earlier...when it really didn't offer much over my crossbow. the price of that was waiting for my ASI and 3rd level spells. Heck, I had to wait on my second level spells too. That's too high of a price for an average of 1 damage more than I could make with my xbow.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I'm playing a shadow sourcerer hexblade with pact of the tome. It works fine so long as you have another caster or two with undelayed spell progression in your party.
I love the utility of the rituals and have picked up loads already. For the cantrips I would choose guidance, thorn whip (reflavoured) and thaumaturgy. ( For the synergy with Shadow blade and general shenanigans).
I'm going to go for level 5 lock eventually, as the campaign most likely won't get near level 20, and I can't resist the level 3 short rest recharging spell slots, the extra invocation (repelling blast) and the level 3 rituals. (Phantom steed, Leomunds tiny hut) Also having 4 level 2 spells
and 4 level 3 spells to choose means that I'll have a lot more flexibility to get spamable combat and utility spells.
I went sourcerer 1> warlock 3 and now intend sourcerer 3 > warlock 5 > sourcerer x with maybe a couple of levels of Paladin thrown in if the DM approves it.
You'll have to be patient while you wait to come fully online as your ASIs and spellcasting will be beingb the curve. But you will have plenty of options from two front loaded classes that synergise particularly well together.
Let me know if you want any spell recommendations.
Most Sorlock builds take Warlock 3 and Sorcerer 17 as the grand total. There are "optimized" builds that suggest Warlock 2 Sorcerer 18 but they exclude the need to Pact Boons.
As for distribution of levels: Sorcerer 4 -> Warlock 3 -> Sorcerer 14
Personally I have done Sorcerer 4 -> Warlock 4 (haven't progressed beyond level 8 with this toon yet)
Sorcerer to 4 gets you your Metamagic and a crucial ASI. Shadow is very powerful, although I believe for my sake taking Draconic was more optimal for the setting I was in, having a need for more survivability without also being a tank.
Warlock 3/4 will round out the necessities of your Patron, Invocation, Pact Boon, and another crucial ASI if you take it to level 4. I've found that Hexblade is actually a very strong choice not just for the melee aspects but the general self-utility it offers, with Hexblades Curse and the additional proficiencies you gain at level 1. I've never played a GoO Warlock so I have no opinion of it, but Undying is an interesting choice because conceptually it can mesh well with Shadow Sorcerer's power.
Ultimately I will have to agree with Ukkk's initial statement, however, in that you should just follow what to play based on what is fun and also needed. In the long run this type of multiclass build is powerful, but you do have to make initial sacrifices that could be costly, or perhaps the setting itself won't allow you to perform to the build's full potential.
I took five levels of Hexblade Tome Pact first, to get my ASI, level three spells, and that third Invocation. I've dipped one level of Shadow Sorcerer, and am working Warlock up to 9 (for a fifth invocation) or 12 (for a sixth invocation, level three spells, and another ASI). The rest will probably be in Sorcerer.
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Hey, so I'm trying to make a sorlock build that will make my DM mad at me lol
But seriously, I want to make a Shadow (ideally but I'm open) Sorcerer/Great Old Ones (or Undying) warlock (yes, not Fiend though everyone says it's best for a blaster) build that is high magic no melee so Pact of the Tome is practically a must but thats all I'm confident about.
Ideally I would prefer to be human or varient human with a Haunted One background for my character but the main problem is I cant seem to find a good balance of when to take levels in what.
I also have seen people talk about just taking levels until a certain place in each class to optimize a level 20 character so i'm trying to determine with those patrons what the ideal ratio of levels per each would be that could stand up to a regular campaign level progression.
Help? Please and thank you
My advice woud be to focus on what is fun to play early and not think too much about level 20. It will ake you a really long time to get to those high levels.
As for warlock anywhere between 2 and 5 levels in warlock is usually good. For each of those levels you gain nice goodies from the warlock side, but you are delaying the powerful sorceror spells. Warlock 2 for boosted eldritch blast, 3 for tome, 4 for feat/ability score increase and 5 for maxing out the spells you regain on a short rest.
My recommendation would be to stay sorcerer for the first 5 levels. Get your third level spells. Then 2 or 3 (depending on how much you really need to have tome) levels of warlock, and no more. Then sorcerer to 20. 4 levels of warlock means you'll never get 9th level spells, and every level of warlock sets back your higher level sorcerer spells and slots. the big decision in my mind is whether you go 2 or 3 in warlock. 2 enables the EB spam that you're looking for. You don't /need/ any more than that.
So, what I'd probably recommend is sorcerer 5, then warlock 2. Back to sorcerer and decide if you NEED another level of warlock or not. The pros are tome pact with rituals (the cantrips are really not that big of a deal imo, you already have EB and that's the only cantrip you NEED) and an upgrade to 2nd level warlock spell slots to recycle into sorc points. if you decide you DO need the cantrips you want guidance and minor illusion if you don't already have it. The third one is really mostly irrelevant. After no more than 3 levels of warlock, you're back to sorcerer for the ride. You'll get 9th level spells (read wish) at 20th level should you play that far.
Don't do what I did and that's go Sorc 1, lock 2, then back to sorc. Yeah I had EB spam online earlier...when it really didn't offer much over my crossbow. the price of that was waiting for my ASI and 3rd level spells. Heck, I had to wait on my second level spells too. That's too high of a price for an average of 1 damage more than I could make with my xbow.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I'm playing a shadow sourcerer hexblade with pact of the tome. It works fine so long as you have another caster or two with undelayed spell progression in your party.
I love the utility of the rituals and have picked up loads already. For the cantrips I would choose guidance, thorn whip (reflavoured) and thaumaturgy. ( For the synergy with Shadow blade and general shenanigans).
I'm going to go for level 5 lock eventually, as the campaign most likely won't get near level 20, and I can't resist the level 3 short rest recharging spell slots, the extra invocation (repelling blast) and the level 3 rituals. (Phantom steed, Leomunds tiny hut) Also having 4 level 2 spells
and 4 level 3 spells to choose means that I'll have a lot more flexibility to get spamable combat and utility spells.
I went sourcerer 1> warlock 3 and now intend sourcerer 3 > warlock 5 > sourcerer x with maybe a couple of levels of Paladin thrown in if the DM approves it.
You'll have to be patient while you wait to come fully online as your ASIs and spellcasting will be beingb the curve. But you will have plenty of options from two front loaded classes that synergise particularly well together.
Let me know if you want any spell recommendations.
All the best. 😁
Most Sorlock builds take Warlock 3 and Sorcerer 17 as the grand total. There are "optimized" builds that suggest Warlock 2 Sorcerer 18 but they exclude the need to Pact Boons.
As for distribution of levels: Sorcerer 4 -> Warlock 3 -> Sorcerer 14
Personally I have done Sorcerer 4 -> Warlock 4 (haven't progressed beyond level 8 with this toon yet)
Sorcerer to 4 gets you your Metamagic and a crucial ASI. Shadow is very powerful, although I believe for my sake taking Draconic was more optimal for the setting I was in, having a need for more survivability without also being a tank.
Warlock 3/4 will round out the necessities of your Patron, Invocation, Pact Boon, and another crucial ASI if you take it to level 4. I've found that Hexblade is actually a very strong choice not just for the melee aspects but the general self-utility it offers, with Hexblades Curse and the additional proficiencies you gain at level 1. I've never played a GoO Warlock so I have no opinion of it, but Undying is an interesting choice because conceptually it can mesh well with Shadow Sorcerer's power.
Ultimately I will have to agree with Ukkk's initial statement, however, in that you should just follow what to play based on what is fun and also needed. In the long run this type of multiclass build is powerful, but you do have to make initial sacrifices that could be costly, or perhaps the setting itself won't allow you to perform to the build's full potential.
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I took five levels of Hexblade Tome Pact first, to get my ASI, level three spells, and that third Invocation. I've dipped one level of Shadow Sorcerer, and am working Warlock up to 9 (for a fifth invocation) or 12 (for a sixth invocation, level three spells, and another ASI). The rest will probably be in Sorcerer.