The new UA Spirit Shroud spell gives an extra d8 damage vs Hex's d6 (can also choose narcotic or radiant), and it applies to any enemy within 10 feet of you with a rider reducing enemy movement speed, wheras Hex's rider grants disadvantage on a single skill, which I find doesn't actually come up that often in combat.
In my mind, the only plus Hex still has over Spirit Shroud is that Hex has potential 8-hour concentration moving target to target, while SS only has 1 minute. HOWEVER, SS's upcast damage is nothing to shake a stick at either. Thoughts?
The new UA Spirit Shroud spell gives an extra d8 damage vs Hex's d6 (can also choose narcotic or radiant), and it applies to any enemy within 10 feet of you with a rider reducing enemy movement speed, wheras Hex's rider grants disadvantage on a single skill, which I find doesn't actually come up that often in combat.
In my mind, the only plus Hex still has over Spirit Shroud is that Hex has potential 8-hour concentration moving target to target, while SS only has 1 minute. HOWEVER, SS's upcast damage is nothing to shake a stick at either. Thoughts?
Hex imposes disadvantage on an ability score, not just a single skill, and this is extremely useful. There are tons of ways to use it.
Barbarian trying to grapple a foe? Hex their Strength.
Rogue trying to sneak past someone? Hex their Wisdom.
Enemy wizard counterspelling yours? Hex their Intelligence.
Enemy rogue trying to sneak off? Hex their Dexterity.
One caveat: some players interpret the text of the Hex spell to be overly broad in effect. The disadvantage applies to ability checks only. This penalty does not apply to the target's saving throws or attack rolls with the disadvantaged ability.
RE: Spirit Shroud. This spell's damage scales up with level; Hex damage does not. Warlock pact magic spells are automatically upcast, so a 7th level Warlock casting Spirit Shroud will get 2d8 damage, and this will increase to 3d8 at 9th level.
(Clerics can upcast Spirit Shroud to 9th level; a 17th level cleric will do 7d8 with Spirit Shroud!)
At 7th level and higher, I'd sometimes prefer this over Eldritch Smite. For one spell slot, it's likely to do more damage, potentially a lot more if I don't lose concentration. Once I hit 9th level and both Spirit Shroud and Eldritch Smite are maxed out, Spirit Shroud can do as much damage as Smite in a single round, if I hit twice. And it's not tied to my Pact Weapon, so it makes using an off-hand weapon more attractive; something I wouldn't normally consider as a BladeLock.
For other Warlocks (Tome & Chain) Spirit Shroud looks like attractive; they shouldn't normally be fighting enemies within ten feet.
The new UA Spirit Shroud spell gives an extra d8 damage vs Hex's d6 (can also choose narcotic or radiant), and it applies to any enemy within 10 feet of you with a rider reducing enemy movement speed, wheras Hex's rider grants disadvantage on a single skill, which I find doesn't actually come up that often in combat.
In my mind, the only plus Hex still has over Spirit Shroud is that Hex has potential 8-hour concentration moving target to target, while SS only has 1 minute. HOWEVER, SS's upcast damage is nothing to shake a stick at either. Thoughts?
Hex imposes disadvantage on an ability score, not just a single skill, and this is extremely useful. There are tons of ways to use it.
Barbarian trying to grapple a foe? Hex their Strength.
Rogue trying to sneak past someone? Hex their Wisdom.
Enemy wizard counterspelling yours? Hex their Intelligence.
Enemy rogue trying to sneak off? Hex their Dexterity.
I had not thought about the counter spell option. Admittedly you cast so few spells a fight I'm not sure how often it will come up fro your own spells, but teamplay wise that is solid.
Spirit Shroud does look like it could be the better choice for melee Bladelocks from a pure damage perspective, at least in some situations. The damage scales, it isn't tied to a specific target, the speed reduction and healing denial are nice little kickers, and being able to choose radiant damage is nice, lots of things resist necrotic. But Hex has a couple of significant things going for it. One, the duration. Two, the ability check nerf can be quite useful as described above. Three, there are multiple invocations that let you do extra things when you have hexed or cursed a target, Spirit Shroud doesn't interact with those invocations.
The new UA Spirit Shroud spell gives an extra d8 damage vs Hex's d6 (can also choose narcotic or radiant), and it applies to any enemy within 10 feet of you with a rider reducing enemy movement speed, wheras Hex's rider grants disadvantage on a single skill, which I find doesn't actually come up that often in combat.
In my mind, the only plus Hex still has over Spirit Shroud is that Hex has potential 8-hour concentration moving target to target, while SS only has 1 minute. HOWEVER, SS's upcast damage is nothing to shake a stick at either. Thoughts?
Spirit shroud is a third level spell. I'm not surprised it is better than hex. I still know where you're coming from.
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Hex imposes disadvantage on an ability score, not just a single skill, and this is extremely useful. There are tons of ways to use it.
Barbarian trying to grapple a foe? Hex their Strength.
Rogue trying to sneak past someone? Hex their Wisdom.
Enemy wizard counterspelling yours? Hex their Intelligence.
Enemy rogue trying to sneak off? Hex their Dexterity.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
Interesting, looks like I've been misreading that
One caveat: some players interpret the text of the Hex spell to be overly broad in effect. The disadvantage applies to ability checks only. This penalty does not apply to the target's saving throws or attack rolls with the disadvantaged ability.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
RE: Spirit Shroud. This spell's damage scales up with level; Hex damage does not. Warlock pact magic spells are automatically upcast, so a 7th level Warlock casting Spirit Shroud will get 2d8 damage, and this will increase to 3d8 at 9th level.
(Clerics can upcast Spirit Shroud to 9th level; a 17th level cleric will do 7d8 with Spirit Shroud!)
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
Yeah that's what has me thinking that the difference is definitely circumstantial, SS for when you need straight damage, hex for utility.
At 7th level and higher, I'd sometimes prefer this over Eldritch Smite. For one spell slot, it's likely to do more damage, potentially a lot more if I don't lose concentration. Once I hit 9th level and both Spirit Shroud and Eldritch Smite are maxed out, Spirit Shroud can do as much damage as Smite in a single round, if I hit twice. And it's not tied to my Pact Weapon, so it makes using an off-hand weapon more attractive; something I wouldn't normally consider as a BladeLock.
For other Warlocks (Tome & Chain) Spirit Shroud looks like attractive; they shouldn't normally be fighting enemies within ten feet.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
Looks pretty decent for an appropriately leveled, two-weapon Hexbuckler. Which is where my new character is headed.
I had not thought about the counter spell option. Admittedly you cast so few spells a fight I'm not sure how often it will come up fro your own spells, but teamplay wise that is solid.
Spirit Shroud does look like it could be the better choice for melee Bladelocks from a pure damage perspective, at least in some situations. The damage scales, it isn't tied to a specific target, the speed reduction and healing denial are nice little kickers, and being able to choose radiant damage is nice, lots of things resist necrotic. But Hex has a couple of significant things going for it. One, the duration. Two, the ability check nerf can be quite useful as described above. Three, there are multiple invocations that let you do extra things when you have hexed or cursed a target, Spirit Shroud doesn't interact with those invocations.
Yeah im realizing it's probably less of an either/or situation and more you probably want both and to use them situationally.
One has a duration of 1 minute, the other of 8 or 24 hours if you keep concentration.
I already do too much damage in combat with Hex. Can't keep getting the side eye from all the other party members!