Polearm master: A couple of caveats here because if this is your build you are going to want both.
PAM has two features: Bonus action attack, and reaction attack Warcaster has three features: Ease of casting with full hands, reaction spell, and Advantage on Concentration saves
With Eldritch Mind you can manage the Concentration saves. I have played a caster with full hands before without warcaster. Its tough. You are going to want both but I think you can manage without warcaster for longer.
If you really want to cast a lot in combat you need Warcaster though. So without warcaster you need to map out what spells you are going to cast. I would recommend knowing exactly how many hands you need for each spell and then optimize spell choice for as few hands as possible. Ponder starting round 1 without a weapon drawn.
Warcaster. Sure, you could use an eldritch invocation to make up for that portion, but you could also use that same invocation for something else. While you could get away with juggling components and weapons to satisfy casting, it's just a much easier thing to cast seamlessly.
Now, if your hex blade leaned into heavy, GWM type style, you definitely want PAM as that damage is much more useful than anything else, and especially since somatic components can be done with just a free hand at no expense.
IMO, the best feat for a hexblade is GWM. The +10 damage is what will make you stand out, and the -5 can be easily ignored with the amount of options the hexblade has to hit with advantage (Darkness + Devil's Sight or Shadow of moil, especially).
PAM with spear and shield works well with the duelist combat style. Without the combat style, it's better with a glaive or halberd.
Warcaster is always good for a melee caster, but the hexblade doesn't use as much magic in combat. Normally you have the Armor of Agathys from before the fight, and Darkness or Shadow of moil need material components. Then you need the free hand even if you have warcaster. Still, being free, warcaster is a good option especially for concentration. That saves you eldritch mind. Obviously on paper the hexblade has other spell options. But anything other than Armor of Agathys + Shadow of moil (or darkness until you have your lvl 4 spells), is less optimal than that combination. That whenever we talk about a melee Hexblade. If you play a ranged Hexblade, its spell options are those of a "normal" warlock. And for that build warcaster it is unnecessary.
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Please explain why.
Polearm master:
A couple of caveats here because if this is your build you are going to want both.
PAM has two features: Bonus action attack, and reaction attack
Warcaster has three features: Ease of casting with full hands, reaction spell, and Advantage on Concentration saves
With Eldritch Mind you can manage the Concentration saves. I have played a caster with full hands before without warcaster. Its tough. You are going to want both but I think you can manage without warcaster for longer.
If you really want to cast a lot in combat you need Warcaster though. So without warcaster you need to map out what spells you are going to cast. I would recommend knowing exactly how many hands you need for each spell and then optimize spell choice for as few hands as possible. Ponder starting round 1 without a weapon drawn.
Warcaster. Sure, you could use an eldritch invocation to make up for that portion, but you could also use that same invocation for something else. While you could get away with juggling components and weapons to satisfy casting, it's just a much easier thing to cast seamlessly.
Now, if your hex blade leaned into heavy, GWM type style, you definitely want PAM as that damage is much more useful than anything else, and especially since somatic components can be done with just a free hand at no expense.
IMO, the best feat for a hexblade is GWM. The +10 damage is what will make you stand out, and the -5 can be easily ignored with the amount of options the hexblade has to hit with advantage (Darkness + Devil's Sight or Shadow of moil, especially).
PAM with spear and shield works well with the duelist combat style. Without the combat style, it's better with a glaive or halberd.
Warcaster is always good for a melee caster, but the hexblade doesn't use as much magic in combat. Normally you have the Armor of Agathys from before the fight, and Darkness or Shadow of moil need material components. Then you need the free hand even if you have warcaster. Still, being free, warcaster is a good option especially for concentration. That saves you eldritch mind. Obviously on paper the hexblade has other spell options. But anything other than Armor of Agathys + Shadow of moil (or darkness until you have your lvl 4 spells), is less optimal than that combination. That whenever we talk about a melee Hexblade. If you play a ranged Hexblade, its spell options are those of a "normal" warlock. And for that build warcaster it is unnecessary.