Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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A better question might be what they were, as you no longer have access to an eldritch invocation that made it work (Improved Pact Weapon). Also, the feat sharpshooter was nerfed, so you can no longer gain +10 damage for a -5 to your hit roll. So back then you could at least get close to the same damage as eldritch blast to combine it with things like eldritch smite to make it viable, but the fact is this specific build no longer works well. You’re basically giving up damage to use a bow.
If you were to use it, you would still want the sharpshooter feat as well as the crossbow expert one. Afterwards you would want to maximize your charisma (these two feats only improve your dexterity). In addition, I would personally start a level in fighter to among many other things get the archery fighting style.
It comes on late, and the burst damage with eldritch smite is super limited, but if you really wanted to make a 2024 bowlock that is how I would personally do it.
Oh! I just realized another problem. Eldritch Smite makes the target prone, which makes it harder for you to hit with a ranged weapon. I guess if you have mostly melee fighters this could still be a good thing, but again I think you’re better off either going melee pact of the blade or eldritch blaster.
Does this help answer your question on what the hypothetical niche build would be?
P.S.: Here’s a link to an old video that revolves around a warlock using a ranged weapon. Again, it’s outdated, as it’s from 5.0 and this is 5.5, but it might give you further ideas on how to to make such a build possible now.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N_iU4wCfjHs&ra=m
Blade pact warlock, investing invocations just like a blade lock would but shooting a bow instead of swinging a sword, You're shooting multiple times because you took the invocations to do so, you're eldritch smiting. you CAN (not have to) prone when you eldritch smite, so if you have someone flying? Prone em and add fall damage. Stop them from fleeing? Prone em. Instead of buffing eldritch blast, you're taking stuff like thirsting blade, devouring blade, eldritch smite, etc.
As I said, it's niche. It'll probably do slightly less damage than an EB spammer at high levels, but it's got other tricks up it's sleeve with eldritch smite.
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
That's incorrect. Eldritch smite CAN make the target prone, but it's players choice. Use it tactically as necessary.
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