Patron's Attitude

Every relationship is a two-way street, but in the case of warlocks and their patrons it's not necessarily true that both sides of the street are the same width or made of the same stuff. The feeling that a warlock holds for their patron, whether positive or negative, might be reciprocated by the patron, or the two participants in the pact might view one another with opposing emotions.

When you determine the attitude your warlock character holds toward your patron, also consider how things look from the patron's perspective. How does your patron behave toward you? Is your patron a friend and ally, or an enemy that grants you power only because you forced a pact upon it?

Special Terms of the Pact

A pact can range from a loose agreement to a formal contract with lengthy, detailed clauses and lists of requirements. The terms of a pact—what a warlock must do to receive a patron's favor—are always dictated by the patron. On occasion, those terms include a special proviso that might seem odd or whimsical, but warlocks take these dictates as seriously as they do the other requirements of their pacts.

Does your character have a pact that requires you to change your behavior in an unusual or seemingly frivolous way? Even if your patron hasn't imposed such a duty on you already, that's not to say it couldn't still happen.

Binding Mark

Some patrons make a habit of, and often enjoy, marking the warlocks under their sway in some fashion. A binding mark makes it clear—to those who know about such things—that the individual in question is bound to the patron's service. A warlock might take advantage of such a mark, claiming it as proof of one's pact, or might want to keep it under wraps (if possible) to avoid the difficulties it might bring.

If your warlock's pact comes with a binding mark, how you feel about displaying it probably depends on the nature of your relationship with the one who gave it to you. Is the mark a source of pride or something you are secretly ashamed of?

Multiclassing

Ability Score Minimum: Charisma 13
When you gain a level in a class other than your first, you gain only some of that class's starting proficiencies.
Armor: Light Armor

Creating a Warlock

As you make your warlock character, spend some time thinking about your patron and the obligations that your pact imposes upon you. What led you to make the pact, and how did you make contact with your patron? Were you seduced into summoning a devil, or did you seek out the ritual that would allow you to make contact with an alien elder god? Did you search for your patron, or did your patron find and choose you? Do you chafe under the obligations of your pact or serve joyfully in anticipation of the rewards promised to you?

Work with your DM to determine how big a part your pact will play in your character's adventuring career. Your patron's demands might drive you into adventures, or they might consist entirely of small favors you can do between adventures.

What kind of relationship do you have with your patron? Is it friendly, antagonistic, uneasy, or romantic? How important does your patron consider you to be? What part do you play in your patron's plans? Do you know other servants of your patron?

How does your patron communicate with you? If you have a familiar, it might occasionally speak with your patron's voice. Some warlocks find messages from their patrons etched on trees, mingled among tea leaves, or adrift in the clouds—messages that only the warlock can see. Other warlocks converse with their patrons in dreams or waking visions, or deal only with intermediaries.

Class Features

• Hit dice: 1d8 per Warlock level.
  
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
  
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per Warlock level after 1st.

Eldritch Blast

At 1st level, you learn the Eldritch Blast Cantrip. This does not count against your Cantrips known and is as follows:

Eldritch Invocations

At 1st level, you have unearthed Eldritch Invocations, pieces of forbidden knowledge that imbue you with an abiding magical ability or other lessons. You gain one invocation of your choice, such as Pact of the Tome. Invocations are described in the "Eldritch Invocation Options" section later in this class's description.

Prerequisites. If an invocation has a prerequisite, you must meet it to learn that invocation. For example, if an invocation requires you to be a level 5+ Warlock, you can select the invocation once you reach Warlock level 5.

Replacing and Gaining Invocations. Whenever you gain a Warlock level, you can replace one of your invocations with another one for which you qualify. You can't replace an invocation if it's a prerequisite for another invocation that you have.

When you gain certain Warlock levels, you gain more invocations of your choice, as shown in the Invocations column of the Warlock Features table.

You can't pick the same invocation more than once unless its description says otherwise.

Fiendish Vigor

Prerequisites: 2nd level Warlock
You can cast False Life on yourself without expending a spell slot. When you cast the spell with this feature, you don't roll the die for the Temporary Hit Points; you automatically get the highest number on the die.

Gaze of Two Minds

Prerequisites: 5th level Warlock
You can use a Bonus Action to touch a willing creature and perceive through its senses until the end of your next turn. As long as the creature is on the same plane of existence as you, you can take a Bonus Action on subsequent turns to maintain this connection, extending the duration until the end of your next turn. The connection ends if you don't maintain it in this way.

While perceiving through the other creature's senses, you benefit from any special senses possessed by that creature, and you can cast spells as if you were in your space or the other creature's space if the two of you are within 60 feet of each other.

Gift of the Depths

Prerequisites: 5th level Warlock
You can breathe underwater, and you gain a Swim Speed equal to your Speed.

You can also cast Water Breathing once without expending a spell slot. You regain the ability to cast it in this way again when you finish a Long Rest.

Gift of the Protectors

Prerequisites: 9th level Warlock, pact of the tome
A new page appears in your Book of Shadows when you conjure it. With your permission, a creature can take an action to write its name on that page, which can contain a number of names equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one name).

When any creature whose name is on the page is reduced to 0 Hit Points but not killed outright, the creature magically drops to 1 Hit Point instead. Once this magic is triggered, no creature can benefit from it until you finish a Long Rest.

As a Magic action, you can erase a name on the page by touching it.

Investment of the Chain Master

Prerequisites: 5th level Warlock, pact of the chain
When you cast Find Familiar, you infuse the summoned familiar with a measure of your eldritch power, granting the creature the following benefits.

Aerial or Aquatic. The familiar gains either a Fly Speed or a Swim Speed (your choice) of 40 feet.

Quick Attack. As a Bonus Action, you can command the familiar to take the Attack action.

Necrotic or Radiant Damage. Whenever the familiar deals Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing damage, you can make it deal Necrotic or Radiant damage instead.

Your Save DC. If the familiar forces a creature to make a saving throw, it uses your spell save DC.

Resistance. When the familiar takes damage, you can take a Reaction to grant it Resistance against that damage.

Lessons of the First Ones

Prerequisites: 2nd level Warlock
You have received knowledge from an elder entity of the multiverse, allowing you to gain one Origin feat of your choice.

Repeatable. You can gain this invocation more than once. Each time you do so, choose a different Origin feat.

Lifedrinker

Prerequisites: 9th level Warlock, pact of the blade
Once per turn when you hit a creature with your pact weapon, you can deal an extra 1d6 Necrotic, Psychic, or Radiant damage (your choice) to the creature, and you can expend one of your Hit Point Dice to roll it and regain a number of Hit Points equal to the roll plus your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 Hit Point).

Mask of Many Faces

Prerequisites: 2nd level Warlock
You can cast Disguise Self without expending a spell slot.

Master of Myriad Forms

Prerequisites: 5th level Warlock
You can cast Alter Self without expending a spell slot.

Misty Visions

Prerequisites: 2nd level Warlock
You can cast Silent Image without expending a spell slot.

One With Shadows

Prerequisites: 5th level Warlock
While you're in an area of Dim Light or Darkness, you can cast Invisibility on yourself without expending a spell slot.

Otherworldly Leap

Prerequisites: 2nd level Warlock
You can cast Jump on yourself without expending a spell slot.

Pact of the Blade

As a Bonus Action, you can conjure a pact weapon in your hand — a Simple or Martial Melee weapon of your choice with which you bond—or create a bond with a magic weapon you touch; you can't bond with a magic weapon if someone else is attuned to it or another Warlock is bonded with it. Until the bond ends, you have proficiency with the weapon, and you can use it as a Spellcasting Focus.

Whenever you attack with the bonded weapon, you can use your Charisma modifier for the attack and damage rolls instead of using Strength or Dexterity; and you can cause the weapon to deal Necrotic, Psychic, or Radiant damage or its normal damage type.

Your bond with the weapon ends if you use this feature's Bonus Action again, if the weapon is more than 5 feet away from you for 1 minute or more, or if you die. A conjured weapon disappears when the bond ends.

Pact of the Chain

You learn the Find Familiar spell and can cast it as a Magic action without expending a spell slot.

When you cast the spell, you choose one of the normal forms for your familiar or one of the following special forms: Imp, Pseudodragon, Quasit, Skeleton, Slaad Tadpole, Sphinx of Wonder, Sprite, or Venomous Snake (see appendix B for the familiar's stat block).

Additionally, when you take the Attack action, you can forgo one of your own attacks to allow your familiar to make one attack of its own with its Reaction.

Pact of the Tome

Stitching together strands of shadow, you conjure forth a book in your hand at the end of a Short or Long Rest. This Book of Shadows (you determine its appearance) contains eldritch magic that only you can access, granting you the benefits below. The book disappears if you conjure another book with this feature or if you die.

Cantrips and Rituals. When the book appears, choose three cantrips, and choose two level 1 spells that have the Ritual tag. The spells can be from any class's spell list, and they must be spells you don't already have prepared. While the book is on your person, you have the chosen spells prepared, and they function as Warlock spells for you.

Spellcasting Focus. You can use the book as a Spellcasting Focus.

Repelling Blast

Prerequisites: 2nd level Warlock, a Warlock Cantrip That Deals Damage via an Attack Roll
Choose one of your known Warlock cantrips that requires an attack roll. When you hit a Large or smaller creature with that cantrip, you can push the creature up to 10 feet straight away from you.

Repeatable. You can gain this invocation more than once. Each time you do so, choose a different eligible cantrip.

Thirsting Blade

Prerequisites: 5th level Warlock, pact of the blade
You gain the Extra Attack feature for your pact weapon only. With that feature, you can attack twice with the weapon instead of once when you take the Attack action on your turn. You can also replace one of these attacks with the casting of a Warlock Cantrip.

Visions of Distant Realms

Prerequisites: 9th level Warlock
You can cast Arcane Eye without expending a spell slot.

Whispers of the Grave

Prerequisites: 7th level Warlock
You can cast Speak with Dead without expending a spell slot.

Witch Sight

Prerequisites: 15th level Warlock
You have Truesight with a range of 30 feet.

Pact Magic

At 1st level, Through occult ceremony, you have formed a pact with a mysterious entity to gain magical powers. The entity is a voice in the shadows—its identity unclear—but its boon to you is concrete: the ability to cast spells. See chapter 7 of the 2024 Player's Handbook for the rules on spellcasting. The information below details how you use those rules with Warlock spells, which appear in the Warlock spell list in the 2024 Player's Handbook.

Cantrips. You know two Warlock cantrips of your choice. Fire Bolt and Prestidigitation are recommended. Whenever you gain a Warlock level, you can replace one of your cantrips from this feature with another Warlock cantrip of your choice.

When you reach Warlock levels 4 and 10, you learn another Warlock cantrip of your choice, as shown in the Cantrips column of the Warlock Features table.

Spell Slots. The Warlock Features table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your Warlock spells of levels 1–5. The table also shows the level of those slots, all of which are the same level. You regain all expended Pact Magic spell slots when you finish a Short or Long Rest.

For example, when you're a level 5 Warlock, you have two level 3 spell slots. To cast the level 1 spell Witch Bolt, you must spend one of those slots, and you cast it as a level 3 spell.

Prepared Spells of Level 1+. You prepare the list of level 1+ spells that are available for you to cast with this feature. To start, choose two level 1 Warlock spells. Charm Person and Hex are recommended.

The number of spells on your list increases as you gain Warlock levels, as shown in the Prepared Spells column of the Warlock Features table. Whenever that number increases, choose additional Warlock spells until the number of spells on your list matches the number in the table. The chosen spells must be of a level no higher than what's shown in the table's Slot Level column for your level. When you reach level 6, for example, you learn a new Warlock spell, which can be of levels 1–3.

If another Warlock feature gives you spells that you always have prepared, those spells don't count against the number of spells you can prepare with this feature, but those spells otherwise count as Warlock spells for you.

Changing Your Prepared Spells. Whenever you gain a Warlock level, you can replace one spell on your list with another Warlock spell of an eligible level.

Spellcasting Ability. Charisma is the spellcasting ability for your Warlock spells.

Spellcasting Focus. You can use an Arcane Focus as a Spellcasting Focus for your Warlock spells.

Magical Cunning

At 2nd level, you can perform an esoteric rite for 1 minute. At the end of it, you regain expended Pact Magic spell slots but no more than a number equal to half your maximum (round up). Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a Long Rest.

Warlock Subclass

At 3rd level, you gain a Warlock subclass of your choice. A subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Warlock levels. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass's features that are of your Warlock level or lower.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach Warlock Level 4, and again at Warlock Levels 8, 12, and 16, you gain the Ability Score Improvement Feat as well as one other feat of your choice for which you qualify.

Patron's Gift

At 5th level, your Patron gifts you more of their power. Choose one Level 1 Spell granted by your Warlock Subclass. Once per Long Rest, you can cast that Spell without expending a spell slot.

Contact Patron

At 9th level, you can communicate directly with your Patron; you always have the Contact Other Plane spell prepared. With this feature, you can cast the spell without expending a spell slot to contact your patron, and you automatically succeed on the spell's saving throw.

Once you cast the spell with this feature, you can't do so in this way again until you finish a Long Rest.

Mystic Arcanum (6th Level)

At 11th level, your patron bestows upon you a magical secret called an arcanum. Choose two 6th-level spells as this arcanum.

You can cast each of the Spells from your arcanum once without expending a spell slot, and you must finish a Long Rest before you can cast either in this way again.

As shown in the Warlock Features table, you gain another Warlock spell of your choice that can be cast in this way when you reach Warlock levels 13 (level 7 spell), 15 (level 8 spell), and 17 (level 9 spell). You regain all uses of your Mystic Arcanum when you finish a Long Rest.

Whenever you gain a Warlock level, you can replace one of your arcanum spells with another Warlock spell of the same level.

Mystic Arcanum (7th Level)

At 13th level, you gain two level 7 Warlock Spells of your choice.

Mystic Arcanum (8th Level)

At 15th level, you gain two level 8 Warlock Spells of your choice.

Mystic Arcanum (9th Level)

At 17th level, you gain a level 9 Warlock Spell of your choice.

Eldritch Gifts

At 17th level, choose a single level 1 Warlock spell from your list of prepared spells. You may now cast this spell without expending a Spell Slot. If you change that spell for another prepared spell, you must also choose a new spell for this feature.

Patron's Favor

At 18th level, you can now cast the level 1 Spells granted to you by your Warlock Subclass without expending a Spell Slot, but if you do so they are cast as level 1 Spells.

You also choose one level 2 Spell granted to you by your Warlock Subclass to use with your Patron's Gift Feature instead of a level 1 spell.

Eldritch Master

At 20th level, when you use your Magical Cunning feature, you regain all your expended Pact Magic spell slots.

Additionally, choose a level 3 Warlock spell you know. You can cast this Warlock spell without expending a Spell Slot. When you do so, it is cast as a level 3 Spell, and you can't cast it in this way again until you finish a short or long rest.

Patron's Chosen

At 20th level, you are your Patron's Chosen One. Your Charisma score increases by 4, to a maximum of 26.

Archfey Patron

Your pact draws on the power of the Feywild. When you choose this subclass, you might make a deal with an archfey, such as the Prince of Frost; the Queen of Air and Darkness, ruler of the Gloaming Court; Titania of the Summer Court; or an ancient hag. Or you might call on a spectrum of Fey, weaving a web of favors and debts. Whoever they are, your patron is often inscrutable and whimsical.

Steps of the Fey

At 3rd level, your patron grants you the ability to move between the boundaries of the planes. You can cast Misty Step without expending a spell slot a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

In addition, whenever you cast that spell, you can choose one of the following additional effects.

Refreshing Step. Immediately after you teleport, you or one creature you can see within 10 feet of yourself gains 1d10 Temporary Hit Points.

Taunting Step. Creatures within 5 feet of the space you left must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or have Disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than you until the start of your next turn.

Misty Escape

At 6th level, you can cast Misty Step as a Reaction in response to taking damage.

In addition, the following effects are now among your Steps of the Fey options.

Disappearing Step. You have the Invisible condition until the start of your next turn or until immediately after you make an attack roll, deal damage, or cast a spell.

Dreadful Step. Creatures within 5 feet of the space you left or the space you appear in (your choice) must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or take 2d10 Psychic damage.

Beguiling Defenses

At 10th level, Your patron teaches you how to guard your mind and body. You are immune to the Charmed condition.

In addition, immediately after a creature you can see hits you with an attack roll, you can take a Reaction to reduce the damage you take by half (round down), and you can force the attacker to make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the attacker takes Psychic damage equal to the damage you take. Once you use this Reaction, you can't use it again until you finish a Long Rest unless you expend a Pact Magic spell slot (no action required) to restore your use of it.

Bewitching Magic

At 14th level, your patron grants you the ability to weave your magic with teleportation. Immediately after you cast an Enchantment or Illusion spell using an action and a spell slot, you can cast Misty Step as part of the same action and without expending a spell slot.

Celestial Patron

Your pact draws on the Upper Planes, the realms of everlasting bliss. You might enter an agreement with an empyrean, a couatl, a sphinx, a unicorn, or another heavenly entity. Or you might call on numerous such beings as you pursue goals aligned with theirs. Your pact allows you to experience a hint of the holy light that illuminates the multiverse.

Searing Vengance

At 14th level, When you or an ally within 60 feet of you is about to make a Death Saving Throw, you can unleash radiant energy to save the creature. The creature regains Hit Points equal to half its Hit Point maximum and can end the Prone condition on itself. Each creature of your choice that is within 30 feet of the creature takes Radiant damage equal to 2d8 plus your Charisma modifier, and each has the Blinded condition until the end of the current turn.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a Long Rest.

Fiend Patron

Your pact draws on the Lower Planes, the realms of perdition. You might forge a bargain with a demon lord such as Demogorgon or Orcus; an archdevil such as Asmodeus; or a pit fiend, balor, yugoloth, or night hag that is especially mighty. That patron's aims are evil—the corruption or destruction of all things, ultimately including you—and your path is defined by the extent to which you strive against those aims.

Hurl Through Hell

At 14th level, once per turn when you hit a creature with an attack roll, you can try to instantly transport the target through the Lower Planes. The target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw against your spell save DC, or the target disappears and hurtles through a nightmare landscape. The target takes 8d10 Psychic damage if it isn't a Fiend, and it has the Incapacitated condition until the end of your next turn, when it returns to the space it previously occupied or the nearest unoccupied space.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a Long Rest unless you expend a Pact Magic spell slot (no action required) to restore your use of it.

Great Old One Patron

When you choose this subclass, you might bind yourself to an unspeakable being from the Far Realm or an elder god—a being such as Tharizdun, the Chained God; Zargon, the Returner; Hadar, the Dark Hunger; or Great Cthulhu. Or you might invoke several entities without yoking yourself to one. The motives of these beings are incomprehensible, and the Great Old One might be indifferent to your existence. But the secrets you've learned nevertheless allow you to draw strange magic from it.

Create Thrall

At 14th level, when you cast Summon Aberration, you can modify it so that it doesn't require Concentration. If you do so, the spell's duration becomes 1 minute for that casting, and when summoned, the Aberration has a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to your Warlock level plus your Charisma modifier.

In addition, the first time each turn the Aberration hits a creature under the effect of your Hex, the Aberration deals extra Psychic damage to the target equal to the bonus damage of that spell.

Hexblade Patron

You’ve made a pact with a sentient magic weapon and the cursed forces contained within its blade. Such a weapon could be the sword sheathed at a Warlock’s side, or it could be an infamous magic weapon stored elsewhere, projecting its power across the multiverse to further its cunning plans. To those who are willing to follow this weapon’s whims, these inscrutable patrons offer the power to bestow malignant curses, deliver punishing blows, and bolster the wielder.

Hexblade Manifest

At 3rd level, Your patron grants you the power to summon cursed echoes of its blade to hinder your foes. You can cast Hex without expending a spell slot a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest. When you cast Hex, a spectral weapon resembling your patron orbits the cursed target.

Armor of Hexes

At 10th level, when you take damage from the cursed target of your Hex, you can take a Reaction to reduce the damage you take by an amount equal to 1d8 plus your Charisma Modifier plus half of your Warlock Level (rounded down). If this reduces the damage you take to 0, the target of your Hex immediately takes 1d8 plus your Charisma Modifier Necrotic Damage.

You can use this Feature a number of times equal to your Charisma Modifier (minimum once) and regain all expended uses at the end of a Short or Long Rest.

Masterful Hex

At 14th level, your patron’s accursed might flows even more strongly through you, granting the following benefits.

Accursed Critical. Any attack roll you make against the target cursed by your Hex with a Melee Weapon or Unarmed Strike scores a Critical Hit on a roll of a 18, 19, or 20 on the d20.

Infectious Hex. When you use one of your Battle Maneuvers, you can target one additional creature within 30 feet of the cursed target. The additional target takes 1d6 Necrotic damage.

Resilient Hex. The Hex spell no longer requires Concentration when you cast it, but you can only have one cursed target with Hex at a time. If you cast the spell again, the first casting of the Spell ends.

Undead Patron

You’ve made a pact with a creature that defies the cycle of life and death: a powerful lich, vampire, or other entity of undeath. Having once been mortal themselves, these ancient patrons know firsthand the paths of ambition and the routes past the doors of death. They eagerly share this profane knowledge, along with other secrets, with those who work their will among the living.

Credits

Changelog