Warlock

Warlocks are seekers of forbidden power, bound by pacts to entities that exist beyond mortal understanding.

Whether sworn to ancient fae, slumbering horrors, or forgotten gods, warlocks channel arcane might through the terms of a bargain—one that always comes with a price.

In Eldareth, where whispers travel farther than light and secrets have teeth, warlocks walk a perilous path between revelation and ruin.

Their magic is not studied or born—it is given... and may one day be claimed.

Forging pacts for power, this Warlock combines the foundational structure of the 2014 version—choosing a Patron at L1, learning specific Spells Known fueled by short-rest Pact Magic, and selecting a defining Pact Boon at L3 (including a potent Charisma-based Pact of the Blade)—with modern enhancements.

Gain Eldritch Invocations from level 2 onwards (with more total choices available), regain limited power with Magical Cunning, commune directly via Contact Patron, flexibly manage Mystic Arcanum, and reach mastery through the improved Eldritch Master.

This design delivers the classic feel of a pact-bound arcane specialist, bolstered by contemporary features for greater flexibility and sustained power.

Becoming a Warlock...

As a Level 1 Character

• Gain all the traits in the Core Warlock Traits table.
• Gain the Warlock’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Warlock Features table.

As a Multiclass Character

• Gain the following traits from the Core Warlock Traits table: Hit Point Die and training with Light armor.
• Gain the Warlock’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Warlock Features table. See the multiclassing rules to determine your available spell slots.

As a Warlock, you gain the following class features when you reach the specified Warlock levels. These features are listed in the Warlock Features table.

Level 1: Warlock Subclass

You gain a Warlock subclass of your choice. A subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Warlock levels. Your choice grants you features at 1st level and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th level. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass’s features that are of your Warlock level or lower.

Level 1: Pact Magic

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 the Player’s Handbook for the rules on spellcasting. The information below details how you use those rules with Warlock spells.

Cantrips. You know two Warlock cantrips 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.

Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher. At 1st level, you know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the warlock spell list.

The Spells Known column of the Warlock table shows when you learn more warlock spells of your choice. A spell you choose must be of a level no higher than what's shown in the table's Slot Level column for your level. For instance, when you reach 6th level, you learn a new warlock spell, which can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level.

If another Warlock feature gives you spells that you always know (such as from your Otherworldly Patron), those spells don’t count against the number of spells shown in the Spells Known column, but they otherwise count as Warlock spells for you.

Replacing Known Spells: Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the warlock spells you know and replace it with another spell from the warlock spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

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.

Level 2: Eldritch Invocations

In your study of occult lore, you have unearthed Eldritch Invocations, fragments of forbidden knowledge that imbue you with an abiding magical ability.

You gain two eldritch invocations of your choice. Your invocation options are detailed at the end of the class description. When you gain certain warlock levels, you gain additional invocations of your choice, as shown in the Invocations Known column of the Warlock table.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the invocations you know and replace it with another invocation that you could learn at that level.

Prerequisites. If an invocation has prerequisites (such as a minimum Warlock level, a specific Pact Boon chosen at 3rd level, or the ability to cast a certain spell), you must meet them to learn it. You can learn the invocation at the same time that you meet its prerequisites. You can’t replace an invocation if it’s a prerequisite for another invocation that you have, unless you also replace the second invocation. (You can’t learn an invocation more than once unless its description says otherwise).

Level 2: Magical Cunning

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.

Level 3: Pact Boon

Your otherworldly patron bestows a gift upon you for your loyal service. You gain one of the following features of your choice.

Pact of the Blade. As a Bonus Action, you can conjure a pact weapon in your empty hand—a Simple or Martial Melee weapon of your choice with which you are proficient—or you can touch a magic weapon, bonding with it as your pact weapon (you can't bond with an artifact, a sentient weapon, or a weapon someone else is attuned to). You are proficient with your pact weapon while you wield it. This weapon counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Whenever you attack with your pact weapon, you can use your Charisma modifier, instead of Strength or Dexterity, for the attack and damage rolls. Furthermore, when you hit with your pact weapon, you can choose for the weapon to deal its normal damage type or change the damage type to Necrotic, Psychic, or Radiant.

Your pact weapon disappears if it is more than 5 feet away from you for 1 minute or more. A conjured weapon also disappears if you use this feature again, if you dismiss the weapon (no action required), or if you die. Your bond with a transformed magic weapon ends if you die, if you perform the bonding Bonus Action on a different weapon, or if you use a 1-hour ritual to break your bond to it. The magic weapon appears at your feet if it is in the extradimensional space when the bond breaks. (Note: See Eldritch Invocations for options that enhance this pact weapon, such as using it as a focus, granting armor proficiencies, or allowing additional attacks).

Pact of the Chain. You learn the find familiar spell. You can cast this spell as an Action without expending a spell slot. The spell doesn't count against your number of spells known. When you cast the spell, you can choose one of the normal forms for your familiar or one of the following special forms: imp, pseudodragon, quasit, skeleton, slaad tadpole, sprite, or venomous snake. Additionally, when you take the Attack action, you can forgo one of your own attacks to allow your familiar to make one attack with its reaction using its stat block.

Pact of the Tome. Your patron gives you a grimoire called a Book of Shadows (you determine its appearance). When you gain this feature, choose three cantrips from any class's spell list. While the book is on your person, you can cast those cantrips at will. They count as warlock spells for you but don't count against your number of cantrips known. Additionally, when the book appears, choose two 1st-level spells that have the Ritual tag from any spell list.

While the book is on your person, you know these two spells, they count as warlock spells for you, and you can cast them only as rituals. These ritual spells do not count against your number of spells known. You can use the Book of Shadows as a Spellcasting Focus for your warlock spells. If you lose your Book of Shadows, you can perform a 1-hour ceremony during a short or long rest to receive a replacement from your patron, which destroys the previous book. The book turns to ash when you die. (Note: See Eldritch Invocations for options that further enhance this book).

Pact of the Talisman. Your patron gives you an amulet, ring, or any other talisman that can aid the wearer when the need is great. When the wearer fails an ability check, they can add a d4 to the roll, potentially turning the roll into a success. This benefit can be used a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and all expended uses are restored when you finish a long rest. If you lose the talisman, you can perform a 1-hour ceremony to receive a replacement from your patron. This ceremony can be performed during a short or long rest, and it destroys the previous amulet. The talisman turns to ash when you die.

Level 4: Ability Score Improvement

You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Warlock levels 8, 12, and 16.

Level 4: Eldritch Versatility

Whenever you reach a level in this class that grants the Ability Score Improvement feature, you can do one of the following, representing a change of focus in your occult studies:

• Replace one cantrip you learned from this class's Pact Magic feature with another cantrip from the warlock spell list.
• Replace the option you chose for the Pact Boon feature with one of that feature's other options.

If this change makes you ineligible for any of your Eldritch Invocations, you must also replace them now, choosing invocations for which you qualify.

Level 9: Contact Patron

In the past, you usually contacted your patron through intermediaries. Now you can communicate directly; 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.

Level 11: Mystic Arcanum

Your patron grants you a magical secret called an arcanum. Choose one level 6 Warlock spell as this arcanum.

You can cast your arcanum spell once without expending a spell slot, and you must finish a Long Rest before you can cast it 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).

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

Level 19: Epic Boon

You gain an Epic Boon feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. Boon of Fate is recommended.

Level 20: Eldritch Master

When you use your Magical Cunning feature, you regain all your expended Pact Magic spell slots.