Pact of the chain. With it, you've got a pair of spying eyes and ears, as well as a way to deliver touch spells without having to get near the enemy, great RP possibilities , max hit point recovery, possible combat help action, etc.
Tome because the sheer volume of cantrips and cross-class nature of how they work. Since you're going to use these a lot, it can define a character. My completely not-a-rogue Warlock is serving Rogue duties as a result of Guidance and to a lesser extent Prestidigitation and Mage Hand. Not perfect but definitely useful. Has to be RP-heavy though or at least out-of-combat friendly.
Blade Pact, because spamming Eldritch Blast all the time gets rather dull. And since Xanathar's came out, the Improved Pact Weapon Invocation opens up a lot of new options: Bows, crossbows, and Pact Weapons as arcane foci.
And Eldritch Smite, FTW!
Edited to add: Never played a Hexblade, never will.
I’ve only played Pact of the Tome and for the first several levels it’s a ton of fun, but after 8th level or so I started picking cantrips at random that i planned on never using. But I never took the Book of Ancient Secrets Invocation, and I’m taking that with my current Warlock at 5th level and I think it will be fun too!
I’m trying Pact of the Chain next to see how it works. The ability to see through my familiar’s eyes normally without using an action seems like it will be great for scouting and exploring!
Pact of tome (chain very close second). 3 cantrips from any class is super useful, and the book of ancient secrets invocation will make the Wizard cry.
I just love everything that comes with Chain. The ability to get a companion you can control, see through and can help spy with (Rogue will love the support). Then the 100ft max heals you get just feel amazing, as if my patron really cares about my wellbeing (I often play benevolent patrons if going this route), plus my group healer(s) feel good about not wasting as high healing on me. Plus Chains of Carceri, literal game changer in my high-level games. In the end, Chain is my favourite cos it makes my party happy to be around me. I help everyone perform their skills easier without overtaking them.
The Rogue now has backup when sneaking around.
The Cleric/Druid can heal me at lower cost, making them feel powerful.
Every one is happy either a) someone is removed from combat, or b) the target is now on easier to hit.
Blade is next. The feeling of going into combat and crushing bad guys with my massive weapons with Eldritch Smite and Relentless Hex feels amazing. That said, Eldritch Smite relies on spell slots so can feel a bit limited at times, either cast spells or knock target prone. Can really depend on initiative.
Tome is last. I still feel good about the massive range of cantrips, but it just doesn't have the same weight behind it's abilities that the other two pacts do. You don't support the party the same why Chain does (since familiar can't be invisible here), and you don't feel super badass like the Blade can. You just fire lots of spells for different damage or act as the party swiss-army knife of cantrips & rituals. So crucial to the party but not in a fun way.
That said, this is just my opinion at the moment. I might make a Tomelock again in the future and have MEGAfun with that. It's all pretty close race in all, it just really depends on how I feel with the characters I make.
I find it totally dependant on the and size of group that I have. Thankfully all three allow for superb roleplaying opportunities.
Chain is ace in all groups, rogues love to have a buddy to scout with them in case they get into trouble and in groups without a capable scout your familiar can step up to the plate. They can also lighten the healing load in smaller groups. Also I’m a sucker for pets!
In small groups Tome is great because you can play the eccentric arcane practitioner who somehow knows more than they should with all your rituals, in larger groups I find them less useful stepping on other party members toes.
Blade is probably my least favourite but can be super flavourful. I really like it in larger groups where you can have a more specialised role.
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Alston | Level 12 | Human | Cleric | Forge Dorrin | Level 1 | Stone Dwarf | Warlock | Fiend DM | Toril Catastrophe | Rime of the Frostmaiden DM | Clockwork Contingent | Tyranny of Dragons
Personally, I really like the idea of Tome. but I feel it's under powered. Gaining new ritual spells (beyond the the 1st level ones you get with book of ancient secrets) is dependent upon how many scrolls you find. And of those you find, how many are going to have ritual spells... Further if you have other spell casters in your group, you may have to fight over who get's to record the spell in their book.
I guess it's depends on your campaign or DM, but I'd prefer if gaining new ritual spells were "baked" into the rules. For example, similar to other casters, you would gain a new spell with each level up.
Paying Blade was fun, but this is only competitive with true melees by using EVERY feat and invocation possible - and even then, by tier 3 you will never catch up with melees.
Playing Tome now; "I cast Agonizing Blast again" is no different from "I swing my weapon again", but this frees up EVERYTHING else (after max CHA) for fun flavor.
I’m surprised by the results so far...I had convinced myself convinced that 90% of Warlocks are Hexbladelocks. I love Pact of the Chain because it feels so much like your traditional witch/warlock of myths and folklore. A shape-changing imp posing as a raven or spider sitting in your shoulder...what’s not to love!
I’m surprised by the results so far...I had convinced myself convinced that 90% of Warlocks are Hexbladelocks. I love Pact of the Chain because it feels so much like your traditional witch/warlock of myths and folklore. A shape-changing imp posing as a raven or spider sitting in your shoulder...what’s not to love!
I'm one of the minority who voted for the Blade Pact, but I rather dislike the Hexblade Patron. It's badly designed in every possible way, and I have no plans to play one.
My first Warlock was a Hexblade Chain Lock. It wasn’t too bad but I never really understood the Hexblade lore. I just made by patron a powerful hag rather than a sentient weapon from the Shadowfell.
It seems to me that Hexblade has become the go-to Warlock dip for optimizers. It’s the gold standard for the Sorlock build because of the front loaded features
I’m really enjoying my Fiend Patron Chainlock though!
Thematically I prefer tome... Nothing starts a story better then, "I found this book and now I'm an adventurer."
I have a half-elf warlock that was tricked into handling a tome by his High-Elf Grandmother who wanted him to get out of the library. Now he has a Nymph patron that wants him to better himself by making the world a more beautiful place.
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Alright so I have seen some pretty cool combinations with each of the different pacts
currently I am running with pact of the tome (7 cantrips at level 3)
but have heard of some awesome combos with pact of the chain and some great warriors with pact of the blade.
So which is your favorite and why?
Let the fight begin!
Pact of the chain. With it, you've got a pair of spying eyes and ears, as well as a way to deliver touch spells without having to get near the enemy, great RP possibilities , max hit point recovery, possible combat help action, etc.
Tome because the sheer volume of cantrips and cross-class nature of how they work. Since you're going to use these a lot, it can define a character. My completely not-a-rogue Warlock is serving Rogue duties as a result of Guidance and to a lesser extent Prestidigitation and Mage Hand. Not perfect but definitely useful. Has to be RP-heavy though or at least out-of-combat friendly.
Blade Pact, because spamming Eldritch Blast all the time gets rather dull. And since Xanathar's came out, the Improved Pact Weapon Invocation opens up a lot of new options: Bows, crossbows, and Pact Weapons as arcane foci.
And Eldritch Smite, FTW!
Edited to add: Never played a Hexblade, never will.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
I’ve only played Pact of the Tome and for the first several levels it’s a ton of fun, but after 8th level or so I started picking cantrips at random that i planned on never using. But I never took the Book of Ancient Secrets Invocation, and I’m taking that with my current Warlock at 5th level and I think it will be fun too!
I’m trying Pact of the Chain next to see how it works. The ability to see through my familiar’s eyes normally without using an action seems like it will be great for scouting and exploring!
Professional computer geek
Pact of tome (chain very close second). 3 cantrips from any class is super useful, and the book of ancient secrets invocation will make the Wizard cry.
Pact of the Chain
Scouting with your invisible buddy is invaluable and you can use him to deliver touch spells or administer healing potions :)
Est Sularus oth Mithas
My order is Chain first, then Blade, then Tome.
In the end, Chain is my favourite cos it makes my party happy to be around me. I help everyone perform their skills easier without overtaking them.
That said, this is just my opinion at the moment. I might make a Tomelock again in the future and have MEGAfun with that. It's all pretty close race in all, it just really depends on how I feel with the characters I make.
I find it totally dependant on the and size of group that I have. Thankfully all three allow for superb roleplaying opportunities.
Chain is ace in all groups, rogues love to have a buddy to scout with them in case they get into trouble and in groups without a capable scout your familiar can step up to the plate. They can also lighten the healing load in smaller groups. Also I’m a sucker for pets!
In small groups Tome is great because you can play the eccentric arcane practitioner who somehow knows more than they should with all your rituals, in larger groups I find them less useful stepping on other party members toes.
Blade is probably my least favourite but can be super flavourful. I really like it in larger groups where you can have a more specialised role.
Personally, I really like the idea of Tome. but I feel it's under powered. Gaining new ritual spells (beyond the the 1st level ones you get with book of ancient secrets) is dependent upon how many scrolls you find. And of those you find, how many are going to have ritual spells... Further if you have other spell casters in your group, you may have to fight over who get's to record the spell in their book.
I guess it's depends on your campaign or DM, but I'd prefer if gaining new ritual spells were "baked" into the rules. For example, similar to other casters, you would gain a new spell with each level up.
Paying Blade was fun, but this is only competitive with true melees by using EVERY feat and invocation possible - and even then, by tier 3 you will never catch up with melees.
Playing Tome now; "I cast Agonizing Blast again" is no different from "I swing my weapon again", but this frees up EVERYTHING else (after max CHA) for fun flavor.
I’m surprised by the results so far...I had convinced myself convinced that 90% of Warlocks are Hexbladelocks. I love Pact of the Chain because it feels so much like your traditional witch/warlock of myths and folklore. A shape-changing imp posing as a raven or spider sitting in your shoulder...what’s not to love!
lol same here
I'm one of the minority who voted for the Blade Pact, but I rather dislike the Hexblade Patron. It's badly designed in every possible way, and I have no plans to play one.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
My first Warlock was a Hexblade Chain Lock. It wasn’t too bad but I never really understood the Hexblade lore. I just made by patron a powerful hag rather than a sentient weapon from the Shadowfell.
It seems to me that Hexblade has become the go-to Warlock dip for optimizers. It’s the gold standard for the Sorlock build because of the front loaded features
I’m really enjoying my Fiend Patron Chainlock though!
Thematically I prefer tome... Nothing starts a story better then, "I found this book and now I'm an adventurer."
I have a half-elf warlock that was tricked into handling a tome by his High-Elf Grandmother who wanted him to get out of the library. Now he has a Nymph patron that wants him to better himself by making the world a more beautiful place.