I understand that sorcerers, warlocks and wizards all use arcane foci. I’m trying to understand if you can use something like a Rod of the Pact Keeper or a Pact of the Blade that say they can be used as a warlock focus to also cast spells as a sorcerer or wizards or are they too narrowly defined to just use for warlocks?
As you say, a sorcerer, warlock, and wizard all use an "arcane focus" as a spell focus. Each class description refers you to the equipment section of the PHB, where you'll find a table describing various "arcane focus" items: crystal, orb, rod, staff, wand. Any of those five items is an "arcane focus," and will work for a sorcerer, warlock, and wizard equally.
A Rod of the Pact Keeper is a special rod which provides bonuses specifically to Warlocks; however, it's also a rod. A sorcerer or wizard could use the Rod of the Pact Keeper as their Wizard or Sorcerer spell focus, though obviously they wouldn't get any benefit from the rod's special abilities. Other magic item rods, like Immovable Rod, Rod of Lordly Might, etc.... same thing. If the items tells you its a rod, then it is a suitable spell focus for a Warlock, Sorcerer, or Wizard, in addition to whatever other qualities the item may have.
The Improved Pact Weapon invocation for a Pact of the Blade Warlock allows you to use any weapon you summon with that pact "as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells." It does not say "as an arcane focus" (which would let you use it for Sorcerer or Wizard spells), just "for your warlock spells," so it only works for Warlock spells.
It does not say "as an arcane focus" (which would let you use it for Sorcerer or Wizard spells), just "for your warlock spells," so it only works for your Warlock spells.
I understand that sorcerers, warlocks and wizards all use arcane foci. I’m trying to understand if you can use something like a Rod of the Pact Keeper or a Pact of the Blade that say they can be used as a warlock focus to also cast spells as a sorcerer or wizards or are they too narrowly defined to just use for warlocks?
Thanks for any help guys.
If it says 'warlock focus' it can't be used for non-warlock spells unless some other trait permits doing so.
As you say, a sorcerer, warlock, and wizard all use an "arcane focus" as a spell focus. Each class description refers you to the equipment section of the PHB, where you'll find a table describing various "arcane focus" items: crystal, orb, rod, staff, wand. Any of those five items is an "arcane focus," and will work for a sorcerer, warlock, and wizard equally.
A Rod of the Pact Keeper is a special rod which provides bonuses specifically to Warlocks; however, it's also a rod. A sorcerer or wizard could use the Rod of the Pact Keeper as their Wizard or Sorcerer spell focus, though obviously they wouldn't get any benefit from the rod's special abilities. Other magic item rods, like Immovable Rod, Rod of Lordly Might, etc.... same thing. If the items tells you its a rod, then it is a suitable spell focus for a Warlock, Sorcerer, or Wizard, in addition to whatever other qualities the item may have.
The Improved Pact Weapon invocation for a Pact of the Blade Warlock allows you to use any weapon you summon with that pact "as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells." It does not say "as an arcane focus" (which would let you use it for Sorcerer or Wizard spells), just "for your warlock spells," so it only works for Warlock spells.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
FTFY.
😑
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.