hen you choose warlock, always pick drow as your race. It gives you +2 to charisma, plus the ability to wield good weapons, makes it a really good choice
But the drow have light sensitivity which is a serious disadvantage most of the time. Besides, what warlock needs a weapon other than their pact weapons?
Not that the drow is a bad choice if you're playing a warlock, but it's not the only good choice and there are serious disadvantages to go with the advantages.
I'm going to have to concur, sadly. Though I think Light Sensitivity is often overblown in terms of how damaging it actually is (after all, you should have a fair amount of control over when and where you are engaging in combat), the benefits listed here are very overblown as well. All of the added weapon proficiencies are suboptimal compared to using eldritch blast, or better yet, if you're going the bladelock route, being a hexblade, which gives proficiency with them anyway. On top of that, the main advantage they have (120 ft darkvision) is an inferior version of the Warlock invocation "Devil's Sight", which gives 120ft darkvision that even works in magical darkness (which turns darkness into a no save blindness which affects an unlimited number of targets, giving all of them disadvantage on attack rolls towards you and you advantage on attack rolls towards them).
Here are all the races which give a charisma bonus:
Lightfoot Halfling: You can move through the space of larger creatures, you have advantage vs frighten effects, +2 dex, +1 charisma, small, and most importantly lucky- reroll all natural ones, which not only improves your odds of success, it also makes it so you just don't roll critical / automatic failures, if your campaign uses those.
Human: +1 to all stats, or the massively more powerful variant human, with +1 to 2 stats, a skill proficiency, and a Feat! Everyone can use more feats.
Dragonborn: Resistance to an element, a breath weapon, +2 Strength, +1 Charisma
Half Elf: +2 Charisma, +1 to 2 other stats, 2 skill proficiencies, immunity to sleep effects, advantage vs charm effects
Tiefling: +2 Charisma, +1 Int, resistance to fire, thaumaturgy cantrip, and bonus spells- hellish rebuke and darkness, once per day
Drow: +2 Dex, +1 Charisma, Dancing Lights cantrip, and bonus spells - faerie fire and darkness, once per day, proficiency with some swords and a hand crossbow, and sunlight sensitivity
Mind you, this is without leaving the PHB. Tieflings and Half Elf warlocks are likely the strongest, and humans and halflings are not to be underestimated. Drow (which only give +1 charisma, not +2) are an acceptable choice, but FAR from the only choice, and are likely no better than the 5th best option (primarily due to that sunlight sensitivity).
But the drow have light sensitivity which is a serious disadvantage most of the time. Besides, what warlock needs a weapon other than their pact weapons?
Not that the drow is a bad choice if you're playing a warlock, but it's not the only good choice and there are serious disadvantages to go with the advantages.
Picking up darkness early and also getting a free cast of darkness per day without using a slot at level 5 really cuts down the disadvantages. Also playing smart mimimizes the downside of the drow's sunlight sensitivity.
But Darkness blocks Darkvision unless you have Devil’s Sight, you’re a Shadow Sorcerer and you cast it using Sorcery Points, or you have Blindsight which is pretty rare. And even when you have those, your allies won’t so you’ll either interfere with them or you’ll be on your own.
Meh. I mean it has a coolness factor, but even a straight Human as a Warlock gets many of the advantages without the disadvantages (Sunlight Sensitivity... and you blend in so much easier anywhere you go). Sure, you don't get an extra cast of Darkness. And Darkness is great, until you trigger the DM by using it all the time. Then what was your advantage becomes a serious liability to the party as only you and all the enemies can see through the darkness or have blindsight or whatever. You learn to work through that as you try on Blink and Blur. And when you finally make it to level 11 where you get your 3rd spell slot... the DM is going to end the campaign...
One of these days I'm going to give it a go again, but I'm going Wood Elf and adding Mobility down the line. And yeah, I'm not too worried about weapons. Even a hexblade warlock is usually messing up when they enter melee. I mean, it's a good backup... but use your feet and get some distance cause Eldritch Blast and control spells that allow you to manipulate enemy tactics to your parties benefit is where the lembas and butter is at.
There are so many to chose from, Half elf, Satyr, Yuan-ti, Aasimar, Tiefling, Human variant. I would take any of them before having to deal with the Drow light sensitivity - especially as far more games occur during the daytime than at night. Just being outdoors on any day that doesn't have thick dark storm clouds over head and you have disadvantage. It's majorly crippling.
But the drow have light sensitivity which is a serious disadvantage most of the time. Besides, what warlock needs a weapon other than their pact weapons?
Not that the drow is a bad choice if you're playing a warlock, but it's not the only good choice and there are serious disadvantages to go with the advantages.
Picking up darkness early and also getting a free cast of darkness per day without using a slot at level 5 really cuts down the disadvantages. Also playing smart mimimizes the downside of the drow's sunlight sensitivity.
Tieflings also have the option of Darkness, and you can use it for more than mitigating the Sunlight Sensitivity
For min max, a vanilla half elf is objectively better for charisma based casting all around. Still get the +2 charisma but then +1 to 2 more attributes, still get dark vision (although not as far), no light sensitivity, and 2 free skill choices. Additionally half elves are more welcome in cities than drow as they tend to kidnap people to enslave them and worship an evil god. Tends to make social interactions a bit more difficult.
You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
You don't need thick storm clouds, a simple overcast should be enough..
You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
You don't need thick storm clouds, a simple overcast should be enough..
You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
You don't need thick storm clouds, a simple overcast should be enough..
or an umbrella
I would reread the text he provided.
"You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight."
By the same token, Drow can't just wear cloaks, flashy hats, or tinted goggles, though I would probably debate the last one.
hen you choose warlock, always pick drow as your race. It gives you +2 to charisma, plus the ability to wield good weapons, makes it a really good choice
Elliott Neve
But the drow have light sensitivity which is a serious disadvantage most of the time. Besides, what warlock needs a weapon other than their pact weapons?
Not that the drow is a bad choice if you're playing a warlock, but it's not the only good choice and there are serious disadvantages to go with the advantages.
Professional computer geek
I'm going to have to concur, sadly. Though I think Light Sensitivity is often overblown in terms of how damaging it actually is (after all, you should have a fair amount of control over when and where you are engaging in combat), the benefits listed here are very overblown as well. All of the added weapon proficiencies are suboptimal compared to using eldritch blast, or better yet, if you're going the bladelock route, being a hexblade, which gives proficiency with them anyway. On top of that, the main advantage they have (120 ft darkvision) is an inferior version of the Warlock invocation "Devil's Sight", which gives 120ft darkvision that even works in magical darkness (which turns darkness into a no save blindness which affects an unlimited number of targets, giving all of them disadvantage on attack rolls towards you and you advantage on attack rolls towards them).
Here are all the races which give a charisma bonus:
Lightfoot Halfling: You can move through the space of larger creatures, you have advantage vs frighten effects, +2 dex, +1 charisma, small, and most importantly lucky- reroll all natural ones, which not only improves your odds of success, it also makes it so you just don't roll critical / automatic failures, if your campaign uses those.
Human: +1 to all stats, or the massively more powerful variant human, with +1 to 2 stats, a skill proficiency, and a Feat! Everyone can use more feats.
Dragonborn: Resistance to an element, a breath weapon, +2 Strength, +1 Charisma
Half Elf: +2 Charisma, +1 to 2 other stats, 2 skill proficiencies, immunity to sleep effects, advantage vs charm effects
Tiefling: +2 Charisma, +1 Int, resistance to fire, thaumaturgy cantrip, and bonus spells- hellish rebuke and darkness, once per day
Drow: +2 Dex, +1 Charisma, Dancing Lights cantrip, and bonus spells - faerie fire and darkness, once per day, proficiency with some swords and a hand crossbow, and sunlight sensitivity
Mind you, this is without leaving the PHB. Tieflings and Half Elf warlocks are likely the strongest, and humans and halflings are not to be underestimated. Drow (which only give +1 charisma, not +2) are an acceptable choice, but FAR from the only choice, and are likely no better than the 5th best option (primarily due to that sunlight sensitivity).
Picking up darkness early and also getting a free cast of darkness per day without using a slot at level 5 really cuts down the disadvantages. Also playing smart mimimizes the downside of the drow's sunlight sensitivity.
But Darkness blocks Darkvision unless you have Devil’s Sight, you’re a Shadow Sorcerer and you cast it using Sorcery Points, or you have Blindsight which is pretty rare. And even when you have those, your allies won’t so you’ll either interfere with them or you’ll be on your own.
Professional computer geek
i just made a Drow Warlock in a campaign that is mostly in the desert, should be fun :)
Fyi, i had more luck with hitting at disadvantage than hitting normally so far...should work out great.
Meh. I mean it has a coolness factor, but even a straight Human as a Warlock gets many of the advantages without the disadvantages (Sunlight Sensitivity... and you blend in so much easier anywhere you go). Sure, you don't get an extra cast of Darkness. And Darkness is great, until you trigger the DM by using it all the time. Then what was your advantage becomes a serious liability to the party as only you and all the enemies can see through the darkness or have blindsight or whatever. You learn to work through that as you try on Blink and Blur. And when you finally make it to level 11 where you get your 3rd spell slot... the DM is going to end the campaign...
One of these days I'm going to give it a go again, but I'm going Wood Elf and adding Mobility down the line. And yeah, I'm not too worried about weapons. Even a hexblade warlock is usually messing up when they enter melee. I mean, it's a good backup... but use your feet and get some distance cause Eldritch Blast and control spells that allow you to manipulate enemy tactics to your parties benefit is where the lembas and butter is at.
There are so many to chose from, Half elf, Satyr, Yuan-ti, Aasimar, Tiefling, Human variant. I would take any of them before having to deal with the Drow light sensitivity - especially as far more games occur during the daytime than at night. Just being outdoors on any day that doesn't have thick dark storm clouds over head and you have disadvantage. It's majorly crippling.
Tieflings also have the option of Darkness, and you can use it for more than mitigating the Sunlight Sensitivity
For min max, a vanilla half elf is objectively better for charisma based casting all around. Still get the +2 charisma but then +1 to 2 more attributes, still get dark vision (although not as far), no light sensitivity, and 2 free skill choices. Additionally half elves are more welcome in cities than drow as they tend to kidnap people to enslave them and worship an evil god. Tends to make social interactions a bit more difficult.
Light Sensitivity is only in direct sunlight.
Sunlight Sensitivity
You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
You don't need thick storm clouds, a simple overcast should be enough..
or an umbrella
I would reread the text he provided.
"You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight."
By the same token, Drow can't just wear cloaks, flashy hats, or tinted goggles, though I would probably debate the last one.
Shouldn't get a penalty in a normally dense forest either 🤔