So the table for the Warlock has Slot Level, which goes to 5th from level 9 and above. I see that. Now does that mean that the highest level of spell I can go up to is level 5? Then why do the lists of spells show Warlock goes up to level 9, with spells like Conjure Fey, Finger of Death, and True Polymorph?
While I’m here, I’m trying to figure out how to homebrew the patron in Beyond. Is there a wiki or a section in the forum that goes into that step-by-step? My character I’m working on doesn’t really go with the ones in PHB, Tasha’s or Xanathar’s.
So the table for the Warlock has Slot Level, which goes to 5th from level 9 and above. I see that. Now does that mean that the highest level of spell I can go up to is level 5? Then why do the lists of spells show Warlock goes up to level 9, with spells like Conjure Fey, Finger of Death, and True Polymorph?
Warlocks have pact slots - these are spell slots for your spells. All their pact slots increase in level and the maximum is 5th. So any spell cast through these pact slots will be cast at 5th level, even if a lower level spell.
The list of Warlock spells still goes to higher levels because Warlocks get Mystic Arcanum - a 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th level spell of choice (from a limited list) that they can cast once per day without using any pact/spell slots.
While I’m here, I’m trying to figure out how to homebrew the patron in Beyond. Is there a wiki or a section in the forum that goes into that step-by-step? My character I’m working on doesn’t really go with the ones in PHB, Tasha’s or Xanathar’s.
The patron is basically their Subclass. So you would need to create a homebrew subclass (Collections > Create a Subclass).
There's no guides on how to specifically create a warlock subclass but there is a FAQ/Guide with a lot of info that may help you create features. The link is in my signature below.
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Warlocks have pact slots - these are spell slots for your spells. All their pact slots increase in level and the maximum is 5th. So any spell cast through these pact slots will be cast at 5th level, even if a lower level spell.
The list of Warlock spells still goes to higher levels because Warlocks get Mystic Arcanum - a 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th level spell of choice (from a limited list) that they can cast once per day without using any pact/spell slots.
oh ok, I read the Mystic Arcanum and didn’t understand that. So, a Warlock just walking around, can only get up to level five spells. So level 9 Warlock, level 10 Warlock, only those spells. Once at level 11 can access the level six spells but can only pick one, say Conjure Fey. Walking and walking, still those up-to level 5 spells, with that additional level 6 spell. Oh look, level 13, can now pick one level 7 spell, and so on, got that right?
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Warlocks have pact slots - these are spell slots for your spells. All their pact slots increase in level and the maximum is 5th. So any spell cast through these pact slots will be cast at 5th level, even if a lower level spell.
The list of Warlock spells still goes to higher levels because Warlocks get Mystic Arcanum - a 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th level spell of choice (from a limited list) that they can cast once per day without using any pact/spell slots.
oh ok, I read the Mystic Arcanum and didn’t understand that. So, a Warlock just walking around, can only get up to level five spells. So level 9 Warlock, level 10 Warlock, only those spells. Once at level 11 can access the level six spells but can only pick one, say Conjure Fey. Walking and walking, still those up-to level 5 spells, with that additional level 6 spell. Oh look, level 13, can now pick one level 7 spell, and so on, got that right?
The upside is that, by level 9, EVERY magic missile you cast is level 5. Every wall of fire is level 5. Every spell that can be upcast, IS upcast. Warlock's pact magic is definitely a trade off; the usual choice and utility of most casters traded for brutal combat efficiency.
(Insert bad Columbo impression) Oh just one more thing…….For Clerics, Sorcerers, etc. after a long rest can reallocate essentially the groups of spells. Like I have a crystal ball and know in the next encounter I’m going to need this and that, oh darn I should’ve taken that one. Like packing for a trip to the beach, “You didn’t bring the suntan lotion?” Same for Warlocks I would guess? I may have access to 11 first level spells, it’s the “spells known” column, and that’s total spells? So a level 20 Warlock can know 15 spells, that’s just total between level 1-5. And 6, 7, 8 and 9 with the Mystic Arcanum, or that’s outside of that number?
Three spells
Two spells
Four spells
One spell
One Spell
One spell
One spell
One spell
One spell
For a total of 15. Or do the ones from 6-9 don’t count and I can add more to the lower levels? I’m guessing the former.
The number in the "spells known" column does not include the Mystic Arcanum spells. Those are separate.
However, Warlocks do not have the ability to swap out the spells they know on a Long Rest the way Clerics do. Warlocks can only swap out one spell at a time, and only when gaining a level. This works differently for different spellcasting classes. It's all spelled out in the description of their class features, but here's a summary:
2014 Rules:
Artificer, Cleric, Druid, Paladin: change out any or all selected spells for any spells from the class list on a long rest
Wizard: change out any or all selected spells for any spells from your spellbook on a long rest
Bard, Ranger, Sorcerer, Warlock: change out one selected spell for another from the class list when gaining a level
2024 Rules:
Cleric, Druid: change out any or all selected spells for any spells from the class list on a long rest
Wizard: change out any or all selected spells for any spells from your spellbook on a long rest
Paladin, Ranger: change out one selected spell for any spell from the class list on a long rest
Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock: change out one selected spell for another from the class list when gaining a level
15 spells of 1st thru 5th level prepared from the warlock spell list. Warlocks can only change these spells on leveling up so once they hit 20th level they're kind of set in stone. The warlock also has ~10 additional spells prepared from their patron that they do not get to select. The warlock casts any of those spells as a 5th level spell using the 4 pact slots the class provides.
The Contact Patron ability also added Contact other Plane to the list of prepared spells and a warlock can cast that once per day for free.
Mystic Arcanum would give the warlock a 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th level spell prepared from the warlock spell list and these can each be cast once per day. There are no spell slots for them and they fall into the category of being cast once per day without using a spell slot, which can be relevant to other game mechanics.
Several invocations allow for more spells prepped or free castings that are worth adding.
Warlocks have pact slots - these are spell slots for your spells. All their pact slots increase in level and the maximum is 5th. So any spell cast through these pact slots will be cast at 5th level, even if a lower level spell.
The list of Warlock spells still goes to higher levels because Warlocks get Mystic Arcanum - a 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th level spell of choice (from a limited list) that they can cast once per day without using any pact/spell slots.
oh ok, I read the Mystic Arcanum and didn’t understand that. So, a Warlock just walking around, can only get up to level five spells. So level 9 Warlock, level 10 Warlock, only those spells. Once at level 11 can access the level six spells but can only pick one, say Conjure Fey. Walking and walking, still those up-to level 5 spells, with that additional level 6 spell. Oh look, level 13, can now pick one level 7 spell, and so on, got that right?
The upside is that, by level 9, EVERY magic missile you cast is level 5. Every wall of fire is level 5. Every spell that can be upcast, IS upcast. Warlock's pact magic is definitely a trade off; the usual choice and utility of most casters traded for brutal combat efficiency.
Tech ically true, but full casters can cast that many L5 spells by the time Warlocks can...plus a whole bunch of other lower level ones (and later, higher as well). That's offset by the Short Rest/Long Rest differential, but really, Warlocks are weaker here and make it back in other ways.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
15 spells of 1st thru 5th level prepared from the warlock spell list. Warlocks can only change these spells on leveling up so once they hit 20th level they're kind of set in stone. The warlock also has ~10 additional spells prepared from their patron that they do not get to select. The warlock casts any of those spells as a 5th level spell using the 4 pact slots the class provides.
Oh yeah, forgot about those. So if the Patron give “add hats” spell, that doesn’t count on that spells column, got it.
The Contact Patron ability also added Contact other Plane to the list of prepared spells and a warlock can cast that once per day for free.
Mystic Arcanum would give the warlock a 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th level spell prepared from the warlock spell list and these can each be cast once per day. There are no spell slots for them and they fall into the category of being cast once per day without using a spell slot, which can be relevant to other game mechanics.
ok so I was right then, thanks,
Several invocations allow for more spells prepped or free castings that are worth adding.
Yeah I was trying to get my head around those, I want all of them…..Sure, pick the right ones, I know.
Warlocks have pact slots - these are spell slots for your spells. All their pact slots increase in level and the maximum is 5th. So any spell cast through these pact slots will be cast at 5th level, even if a lower level spell.
The list of Warlock spells still goes to higher levels because Warlocks get Mystic Arcanum - a 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th level spell of choice (from a limited list) that they can cast once per day without using any pact/spell slots.
oh ok, I read the Mystic Arcanum and didn’t understand that. So, a Warlock just walking around, can only get up to level five spells. So level 9 Warlock, level 10 Warlock, only those spells. Once at level 11 can access the level six spells but can only pick one, say Conjure Fey. Walking and walking, still those up-to level 5 spells, with that additional level 6 spell. Oh look, level 13, can now pick one level 7 spell, and so on, got that right?
The upside is that, by level 9, EVERY magic missile you cast is level 5. Every wall of fire is level 5. Every spell that can be upcast, IS upcast. Warlock's pact magic is definitely a trade off; the usual choice and utility of most casters traded for brutal combat efficiency.
Tech ically true, but full casters can cast that many L5 spells by the time Warlocks can...plus a whole bunch of other lower level ones (and later, higher as well). That's offset by the Short Rest/Long Rest differential, but really, Warlocks are weaker here and make it back in other ways.
At 9th level when they all get 5th level spells the regular spell progression only gives 1 spell slot. Warlocks have 2 pack slots and magical cunning recovers a slot. Warlocks have 3 times as many 5th spell slots before any resting.
What warlocks don't have is all the lower level slots. In a typical day the warlock will cast 5 5th level spells when they get them. Other full casters will have 13 lower level slots. If the warlock uses SLA's from the invocations 8 times that the other casters would have spent a slot on they're still fairly even over time, and that's at one of the worst levels for comparison.
I think warlocks are great at lower levels with their rest mechanics and at-will options. The mystic arcanum structure is a lot more limited because it eventually leaves them short a 6th and 7th level spell slot, and they lack the versatility in options to spend high level spell slots and that's what really hurts them in comparison.
Warlocks are good for plenty of at-will abilities and moderately powerful spell slot use but the higher level spell mechanics don't keep up.
Another question if I may. As the table shows, as the levels go up obviously the Warlock can cast 1st, 2nd, etc. But you don’t necessarily have to take it in the order right? Up towards level 20 there’s a max of 18 spells, in theory I could populate them with every level 1 spells, then fill the rest with level 2? The only certainty is when that Mystic Arcanum comes into play for the level 6 et al. Basically at level 1 I pick 2, I’m assuming it has to be level 1, not picking level 5 while I’m a beginner. Just as the levels reach higher and I get to level five spells, I could still choose the other levels if I wanted?
Another question if I may. As the table shows, as the levels go up obviously the Warlock can cast 1st, 2nd, etc. But you don’t necessarily have to take it in the order right? Up towards level 20 there’s a max of 18 spells, in theory I could populate them with every level 1 spells, then fill the rest with level 2? The only certainty is when that Mystic Arcanum comes into play for the level 6 et al. Basically at level 1 I pick 2, I’m assuming it has to be level 1, not picking level 5 while I’m a beginner. Just as the levels reach higher and I get to level five spells, I could still choose the other levels if I wanted?
When you pick a spell, it just has to be of a level that you can cast. You can cast a L1 spell with a 5th level slot, so yes you can pick all L1 spells if you desired.
Just bear in mind that upcast spells (spells you cast using a slot higher than the native spell level) generally are weaker than a similar spell cast natively at that level. For example, Fireball is natively L3. If we upcast it to L9, it does 14d6 damage. Meteor Swarm, a natively L9, does 40d6 damage. It also hits 32 times as many targets and spreads the damage over two different types and so is kess likely to be resisted. So it does nearly 100 times the damage (with better types), for the same level slot. Other spells, like Alter Self don't offer any improvement at all. So a good rule of thumb for Warlocks is that you're better off going for a higher level spell that offers similar effects if you can. Other classes, with their matrix of spells, have more of a trade-off - they can go higher for more bang-for-buck, or lower for more flexibility. Warlocks don't have those concerns.
Those aren't Warlock spells, I'm just using them to demonstrate the principle.
Another principle - you can only change one spell per level. So if your Warlock is starting at L3, they can't have all L2 spells because they'll only have had chance to convert one of their previously learned spells to L2. They could have at most two L2 spells and therefore two L1 spells. The higher level you are, the less it matters because the character will have had more opportunity to change them (by L17, you could have them all at L5 if you wished), but it's something to be careful of. Your DM may waive this for simplicity.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
The power of the Warlock is contained in the Eldritch Invocations, where you can cast a variety of spells WITHOUT using a spell slot. Also, the warlock cantrips Eldritch Blast is one of the most powerful cantrips in the game, capable of dishing out more damage than a Fireball.
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So the table for the Warlock has Slot Level, which goes to 5th from level 9 and above. I see that. Now does that mean that the highest level of spell I can go up to is level 5? Then why do the lists of spells show Warlock goes up to level 9, with spells like Conjure Fey, Finger of Death, and True Polymorph?
While I’m here, I’m trying to figure out how to homebrew the patron in Beyond. Is there a wiki or a section in the forum that goes into that step-by-step? My character I’m working on doesn’t really go with the ones in PHB, Tasha’s or Xanathar’s.
Warlocks have pact slots - these are spell slots for your spells. All their pact slots increase in level and the maximum is 5th. So any spell cast through these pact slots will be cast at 5th level, even if a lower level spell.
The list of Warlock spells still goes to higher levels because Warlocks get Mystic Arcanum - a 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th level spell of choice (from a limited list) that they can cast once per day without using any pact/spell slots.
The patron is basically their Subclass. So you would need to create a homebrew subclass (Collections > Create a Subclass).
There's no guides on how to specifically create a warlock subclass but there is a FAQ/Guide with a lot of info that may help you create features. The link is in my signature below.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
The list of Warlock spells still goes to higher levels because Warlocks get Mystic Arcanum - a 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th level spell of choice (from a limited list) that they can cast once per day without using any pact/spell slots.
oh ok, I read the Mystic Arcanum and didn’t understand that. So, a Warlock just walking around, can only get up to level five spells. So level 9 Warlock, level 10 Warlock, only those spells. Once at level 11 can access the level six spells but can only pick one, say Conjure Fey. Walking and walking, still those up-to level 5 spells, with that additional level 6 spell. Oh look, level 13, can now pick one level 7 spell, and so on, got that right?
Yep.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
The upside is that, by level 9, EVERY magic missile you cast is level 5. Every wall of fire is level 5. Every spell that can be upcast, IS upcast. Warlock's pact magic is definitely a trade off; the usual choice and utility of most casters traded for brutal combat efficiency.
(Insert bad Columbo impression) Oh just one more thing…….For Clerics, Sorcerers, etc. after a long rest can reallocate essentially the groups of spells. Like I have a crystal ball and know in the next encounter I’m going to need this and that, oh darn I should’ve taken that one. Like packing for a trip to the beach, “You didn’t bring the suntan lotion?” Same for Warlocks I would guess? I may have access to 11 first level spells, it’s the “spells known” column, and that’s total spells? So a level 20 Warlock can know 15 spells, that’s just total between level 1-5. And 6, 7, 8 and 9 with the Mystic Arcanum, or that’s outside of that number?
For a total of 15. Or do the ones from 6-9 don’t count and I can add more to the lower levels? I’m guessing the former.
The number in the "spells known" column does not include the Mystic Arcanum spells. Those are separate.
However, Warlocks do not have the ability to swap out the spells they know on a Long Rest the way Clerics do. Warlocks can only swap out one spell at a time, and only when gaining a level. This works differently for different spellcasting classes. It's all spelled out in the description of their class features, but here's a summary:
2014 Rules:
2024 Rules:
pronouns: he/she/they
So by 20th level the warlock has...
15 spells of 1st thru 5th level prepared from the warlock spell list. Warlocks can only change these spells on leveling up so once they hit 20th level they're kind of set in stone. The warlock also has ~10 additional spells prepared from their patron that they do not get to select. The warlock casts any of those spells as a 5th level spell using the 4 pact slots the class provides.
The Contact Patron ability also added Contact other Plane to the list of prepared spells and a warlock can cast that once per day for free.
Mystic Arcanum would give the warlock a 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th level spell prepared from the warlock spell list and these can each be cast once per day. There are no spell slots for them and they fall into the category of being cast once per day without using a spell slot, which can be relevant to other game mechanics.
Several invocations allow for more spells prepped or free castings that are worth adding.
Tech ically true, but full casters can cast that many L5 spells by the time Warlocks can...plus a whole bunch of other lower level ones (and later, higher as well). That's offset by the Short Rest/Long Rest differential, but really, Warlocks are weaker here and make it back in other ways.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Ouch
At 9th level when they all get 5th level spells the regular spell progression only gives 1 spell slot. Warlocks have 2 pack slots and magical cunning recovers a slot. Warlocks have 3 times as many 5th spell slots before any resting.
What warlocks don't have is all the lower level slots. In a typical day the warlock will cast 5 5th level spells when they get them. Other full casters will have 13 lower level slots. If the warlock uses SLA's from the invocations 8 times that the other casters would have spent a slot on they're still fairly even over time, and that's at one of the worst levels for comparison.
I think warlocks are great at lower levels with their rest mechanics and at-will options. The mystic arcanum structure is a lot more limited because it eventually leaves them short a 6th and 7th level spell slot, and they lack the versatility in options to spend high level spell slots and that's what really hurts them in comparison.
Warlocks are good for plenty of at-will abilities and moderately powerful spell slot use but the higher level spell mechanics don't keep up.
Another question if I may. As the table shows, as the levels go up obviously the Warlock can cast 1st, 2nd, etc. But you don’t necessarily have to take it in the order right? Up towards level 20 there’s a max of 18 spells, in theory I could populate them with every level 1 spells, then fill the rest with level 2? The only certainty is when that Mystic Arcanum comes into play for the level 6 et al. Basically at level 1 I pick 2, I’m assuming it has to be level 1, not picking level 5 while I’m a beginner. Just as the levels reach higher and I get to level five spells, I could still choose the other levels if I wanted?
Yes, your regular known spells can be any level up to and including the listed spell slot level.
pronouns: he/she/they
When you pick a spell, it just has to be of a level that you can cast. You can cast a L1 spell with a 5th level slot, so yes you can pick all L1 spells if you desired.
Just bear in mind that upcast spells (spells you cast using a slot higher than the native spell level) generally are weaker than a similar spell cast natively at that level. For example, Fireball is natively L3. If we upcast it to L9, it does 14d6 damage. Meteor Swarm, a natively L9, does 40d6 damage. It also hits 32 times as many targets and spreads the damage over two different types and so is kess likely to be resisted. So it does nearly 100 times the damage (with better types), for the same level slot. Other spells, like Alter Self don't offer any improvement at all. So a good rule of thumb for Warlocks is that you're better off going for a higher level spell that offers similar effects if you can. Other classes, with their matrix of spells, have more of a trade-off - they can go higher for more bang-for-buck, or lower for more flexibility. Warlocks don't have those concerns.
Those aren't Warlock spells, I'm just using them to demonstrate the principle.
Another principle - you can only change one spell per level. So if your Warlock is starting at L3, they can't have all L2 spells because they'll only have had chance to convert one of their previously learned spells to L2. They could have at most two L2 spells and therefore two L1 spells. The higher level you are, the less it matters because the character will have had more opportunity to change them (by L17, you could have them all at L5 if you wished), but it's something to be careful of. Your DM may waive this for simplicity.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
The power of the Warlock is contained in the Eldritch Invocations, where you can cast a variety of spells WITHOUT using a spell slot. Also, the warlock cantrips Eldritch Blast is one of the most powerful cantrips in the game, capable of dishing out more damage than a Fireball.