I love playing Warlocks, and just started a new campaign with a Half-Elf Archfey Warlock who will be taking Pact Of The Tome at 3rd level. I've been pondering what other sources of at-will damage I'm going to want besides Eldritch Blast, because you never know when your DM is going to be a jerk and toss a Helmed Horror in your face :) I plan to take Shocking Grasp as one of my three Tome cantrips, as much for the reaction-disabling as the damage. I wouldn't mind having a secondary source of at-will ranged damage, though. I want to avoid cantrips that require melee range, this Warlock is squishier than the ones I've played in the past(so no Shillelagh + Booming Blade, for example). What are folks' favorites?
Bonfire, because it makes choke points and has other utility uses not damage-related. Although my favorite is Shocking Grasp per your comment.
That one's on my candidate list, though it's a Concentration spell so it would interfere with Hex and a lot of other spells. Ray Of Frost is another possibility, I like the movement reduction. I also think Thorn Whip feels like it would have some Archfey flavor, and magical piercing damage always gets through, though I'm not thrilled with the idea of pulling creatures closer to me.
Well if you are specifically countering Helmed Horror with cantrips and you thematically don't want like Fire Bolt or Ray of Frost, I would say perhaps Acid Splash. Decent range and can hit 2 melee targets together if they are close. Not perfect but decent.
Thorn Whip - Although this doesn't seem desirable.
Friends and have someone else attack it for you. :)
You are never going to have a solution to everything, but tend to have a melee spell, a spell with a mental save, and a ranged target spell Consider than Eldritch Blast generally works so well for everything else, the odds are low you won't have an effective spell.
...Unless your DM reads this forum. Then you're doomed.
which is that? I'm going tomelock and was looking at TtD for a second damage option specifically coz EB targets AC and i want damage against high AC guys w/ weaker WIS, and as a melee just-in-case? do you mean a specific baddie?
which is that? I'm going tomelock and was looking at TtD for a second damage option specifically coz EB targets AC and i want damage against high AC guys w/ weaker WIS, and as a melee just-in-case? do you mean a specific baddie?
You should do this. It works for almost every case but the very rare instance of a Helmed Horror. For that case...just bring friends and don't optimize for it. :)
I’m a huge fan of combining mind sliver with bane. Whatever your party throws at them they are sure to fail their save with -2d4 (average 5, so statistically better than disadvantage). And by Target Int it’s hitting one of the least common saving throw proficiencies.
Nthal, i recently saw another idea and curious about your thoughts.
I'm the only caster and the only possible magic healer, and someone mentioned that VICIOUS MOCKERY is basically a ranged heal. VM would tick my box for a melee spell option, and the box for a mental save spell, BUT do you think it's as useful to use TtD to do get rid of guys? Or is VM more effective as a pseudo-healer kinda thing?
i posted another thread with this. cheers and thank you.
I recommend the following damage cantrips: 1. Sacred flame - When the enemy has cover or crazy high AC 2. Word of Radiance - a little baby AOE that you can choose to not hit your friends. 3. Shocking grasp - The ability to leave without incurring attacks of opportunity
I would always take chill touch over fire bolt, and I like toll the dead.
Nthal, i recently saw another idea and curious about your thoughts.
I'm the only caster and the only possible magic healer, and someone mentioned that VICIOUS MOCKERY is basically a ranged heal. VM would tick my box for a melee spell option, and the box for a mental save spell, BUT do you think it's as useful to use TtD to do get rid of guys? Or is VM more effective as a pseudo-healer kinda thing?
i posted another thread with this. cheers and thank you.
Vicious Mockery has a number of useful features, but it isn't a heal. It is potential damage avoidance for one attack from the target, assuming they fail the save.
I personally would stick with Toll the Dead for a biased reason; dead opponents are better than live debuffed ones. Its the same save and better damage. However, mind sliver as ImaSposta mentions is a good alternative because it is an uncommon save.
I love playing Warlocks, and just started a new campaign with a Half-Elf Archfey Warlock who will be taking Pact Of The Tome at 3rd level. I've been pondering what other sources of at-will damage I'm going to want besides Eldritch Blast, because you never know when your DM is going to be a jerk and toss a Helmed Horror in your face :) I plan to take Shocking Grasp as one of my three Tome cantrips, as much for the reaction-disabling as the damage. I wouldn't mind having a secondary source of at-will ranged damage, though. I want to avoid cantrips that require melee range, this Warlock is squishier than the ones I've played in the past(so no Shillelagh + Booming Blade, for example). What are folks' favorites?
Bonfire, because it makes choke points and has other utility uses not damage-related. Although my favorite is Shocking Grasp per your comment.
That one's on my candidate list, though it's a Concentration spell so it would interfere with Hex and a lot of other spells. Ray Of Frost is another possibility, I like the movement reduction. I also think Thorn Whip feels like it would have some Archfey flavor, and magical piercing damage always gets through, though I'm not thrilled with the idea of pulling creatures closer to me.
Toll the Dead is pretty nice for a spell that requires saves.
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Chill Touch is always good and the secondary ability to stop regeneration for a full turn is a nice rider effect.
Both Chill Touch & Toll The Dead are good, though they're of no use against the one monster Eldritch Blast can't touch :/
Well if you are specifically countering Helmed Horror with cantrips and you thematically don't want like Fire Bolt or Ray of Frost, I would say perhaps Acid Splash. Decent range and can hit 2 melee targets together if they are close. Not perfect but decent.
If this is the "Kill the Helmed Horror with ranged cantrips:
You are never going to have a solution to everything, but tend to have a melee spell, a spell with a mental save, and a ranged target spell Consider than Eldritch Blast generally works so well for everything else, the odds are low you won't have an effective spell.
...Unless your DM reads this forum. Then you're doomed.
which is that? I'm going tomelock and was looking at TtD for a second damage option specifically coz EB targets AC and i want damage against high AC guys w/ weaker WIS, and as a melee just-in-case? do you mean a specific baddie?
You should do this. It works for almost every case but the very rare instance of a Helmed Horror. For that case...just bring friends and don't optimize for it. :)
I’m a huge fan of combining mind sliver with bane. Whatever your party throws at them they are sure to fail their save with -2d4 (average 5, so statistically better than disadvantage). And by Target Int it’s hitting one of the least common saving throw proficiencies.
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Nthal, i recently saw another idea and curious about your thoughts.
I'm the only caster and the only possible magic healer, and someone mentioned that VICIOUS MOCKERY is basically a ranged heal. VM would tick my box for a melee spell option, and the box for a mental save spell, BUT do you think it's as useful to use TtD to do get rid of guys? Or is VM more effective as a pseudo-healer kinda thing?
i posted another thread with this. cheers and thank you.
I recommend the following damage cantrips:
1. Sacred flame - When the enemy has cover or crazy high AC
2. Word of Radiance - a little baby AOE that you can choose to not hit your friends.
3. Shocking grasp - The ability to leave without incurring attacks of opportunity
I would always take chill touch over fire bolt, and I like toll the dead.
Vicious Mockery has a number of useful features, but it isn't a heal. It is potential damage avoidance for one attack from the target, assuming they fail the save.
I personally would stick with Toll the Dead for a biased reason; dead opponents are better than live debuffed ones. Its the same save and better damage. However, mind sliver as ImaSposta mentions is a good alternative because it is an uncommon save.