Warlock

Warlocks quest for knowledge hidden in the fabric of the multiverse. They often begin their search for magical power by studying forbidden lore, experimenting with occult rites, or seeking places where the influence of powerful extraplanar beings can be felt. In time, each Warlock forms a binding pact with a supernatural patron. Drawing on the knowledge and power of beings such as angels, archfey, fiends, hags, and entities of the Far Realm, Warlocks uncover arcane secrets that strengthen their own abilities.

The relationship between a Warlock and their patron varies greatly. Some Warlocks respect or revere their patrons, some serve them grudgingly, and others seek to undermine them even while drawing upon the power provided by the pact.

Once such a pact is formed, study alone is rarely enough. Warlocks often pursue lost knowledge, supernatural mysteries, dangerous relics, and greater sources of power, drawing them naturally into lives of adventure.

This version of the Warlock preserves the class’s traditional Pact Magic structure. The Otherworldly Patron is chosen at 1st level, Pact Magic uses a small number of spell slots that recover on a Short or Long Rest, and the Warlock learns a fixed repertoire of spells rather than preparing spells each day.

Eldritch Invocations begin at 2nd level and increase throughout the class progression, reaching ten known Invocations at 18th level. The individual Invocation options are presented separately from the main class entry. A Pact Boon is chosen at 3rd level, while Eldritch Versatility allows that choice to be reconsidered at later Ability Score Improvement levels.

Magical Cunning provides limited recovery of Pact Magic between rests, while Contact Patron establishes a more direct relationship with the Warlock’s patron. Mystic Arcanum supplies level 6 through 9 magic without altering the Pact Magic slot progression.

At 20th level, Eldritch Master greatly improves Magical Cunning, allowing the Warlock to recover all expended Pact Magic slots as a Bonus Action. The aim is to preserve the Patron, Pact Boon, Invocation, and short-rest spellcasting systems that define the Warlock while making its limited magical resources more dependable over a full adventuring day.

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.

Warlock Features

Level 1: Warlock Subclass

You gain a Warlock subclass of your choice.

Your subclass represents the supernatural patron with whom you have formed your pact.

Your subclass grants features at Warlock levels 1, 6, 10, and 14.

Patron Spells

Your subclass grants additional spells associated with your patron.

These spells are always known, don’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know through Pact Magic, and count as Warlock spells for you.

Patron Spells are gained according to your Warlock level, regardless of your total character level.

Level 1: Pact Magic

Your pact grants you the ability to cast spells.

See the Player’s Handbook for the rules on spellcasting. The information below describes 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 one additional Warlock cantrip of your choice, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Warlock Features table.

Whenever you gain a Warlock level, you can replace one Warlock cantrip you know through this feature with another Warlock cantrip of your choice.

Pact Magic Spell Slots

The Warlock Features table shows how many Pact Magic spell slots you have and the level of those slots.

All of your Pact Magic spell slots are the same level.

To cast a Warlock spell of level 1 through 5, you expend one Pact Magic spell slot. You cast the spell at the level of the slot.

You regain all expended Pact Magic spell slots when you finish a Short or Long Rest.

Spells Known of Level 1+

At 1st level, you know two level 1 Warlock spells of your choice.

The number of Warlock spells you know increases as you gain Warlock levels, as shown in the Spells Known column of the Warlock Features table.

Whenever that number increases, choose additional Warlock spells until the number you know matches the number shown in the table.

A spell you learn through this feature must be of a level no higher than your Pact Magic Slot Level.

Whenever you gain a Warlock level, you can replace one Warlock spell you know through this feature with another Warlock spell that you are able to cast using Pact Magic.

Spells granted by another Warlock feature don’t count against the number of spells you know through this feature unless that feature says otherwise.

Spellcasting Ability

Charisma is your 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

Your study of occult lore has revealed Eldritch Invocations, supernatural techniques that permanently alter or expand your abilities.

You know two Eldritch Invocations of your choice.

You learn additional Invocations as you gain Warlock levels, as shown in the Invocations Known column of the Warlock Features table.

Whenever you gain a Warlock level, you can replace one Invocation you know with another Invocation for which you qualify.

If an Invocation has a prerequisite, you must meet that prerequisite to learn it.

If an Invocation you know is a prerequisite for another Invocation you know, you can’t replace the prerequisite Invocation unless you also replace any Invocation that depends on it.

The available Eldritch Invocations are presented separately from this class entry.

Level 2: Magical Cunning

You can perform an esoteric rite to restore some of the power granted by your pact.

The rite takes 1 minute.

At its end, you regain expended Pact Magic spell slots up to half your maximum number of Pact Magic spell slots, rounded up.

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

Level 3: Pact Boon

Your patron grants you a supernatural gift.

Choose one of the following Pact Boons.

You normally have only one Pact Boon unless another Warlock feature specifically allows you to gain an additional one.

Pact of the Blade

As a Bonus Action, you can conjure a pact weapon in your empty hand or bond with a magic weapon you touch.

A conjured pact weapon can be any Simple or Martial Melee weapon of your choice. You have proficiency with the weapon while it is your pact weapon.

You can’t bond with an Artifact, a sentient weapon, or a weapon to which another creature is attuned.

When you attack with your pact weapon, you can use your Charisma modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity for the attack and damage rolls.

When you hit with the weapon, you can cause it to deal its normal damage type or Necrotic, Psychic, or Radiant damage.

A conjured pact weapon disappears if it remains more than 5 feet away from you for 1 minute, if you use this feature to conjure or bond with another weapon, if you dismiss it with no action required, or if you die.

Your bond with a magic weapon ends if you die, bond with another weapon, or perform a 1-hour ritual to end the bond.

Pact of the Chain

You know the Find Familiar spell. It doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know.

You can cast Find Familiar as a Magic action without expending a spell slot or requiring Material components.

When you cast it in this way, you can choose one of the spell’s normal familiar forms or one of the following special forms: Imp, Pseudodragon, Quasit, Skeleton, Slaad Tadpole, Sprite, or Venomous Snake.

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

Pact of the Tome

Your patron grants you a grimoire called a Book of Shadows. You determine its appearance.

Choose three cantrips from any class’s spell list.

While the Book of Shadows is on your person, you know those cantrips. They count as Warlock spells for you and don’t count against the number of Warlock cantrips you know through Pact Magic.

Also choose two level 1 spells with the Ritual tag from any class’s spell list.

While the Book of Shadows is on your person, you know those spells. They count as Warlock spells for you, don’t count against your normal Spells Known, and you can cast them only as Rituals.

You can use the Book of Shadows as a Spellcasting Focus for your Warlock spells.

If the book is lost or destroyed, you can perform a 1-hour ceremony during a Short or Long Rest to receive a replacement. The previous book is destroyed when the new one appears.

The book turns to ash when you die.

Pact of the Talisman

Your patron grants you a supernatural talisman, such as an amulet, ring, token, or similar object.

When the creature wearing the talisman fails a D20 Test, it can roll 1d4 and add the number rolled to the test, potentially turning the failure into a success.

The talisman can provide this benefit a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus.

It regains all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

If the talisman is lost or destroyed, you can perform a 1-hour ceremony during a Short or Long Rest to receive a replacement. The previous talisman is destroyed when the new one appears.

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 Warlock level that grants the Ability Score Improvement feature, you can replace your Pact Boon with another Pact Boon available to you.

If changing your Pact Boon causes you to no longer meet the prerequisite of one or more Eldritch Invocations you know, you must replace those Invocations at the same time with Invocations for which you qualify.

Level 9: Contact Patron

Your connection to your patron has strengthened enough for direct communication.

You always know the Contact Other Plane spell. It counts as a Warlock spell for you and doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know through Pact Magic.

You can cast Contact Other Plane once without expending a spell slot to contact your patron, and you automatically succeed on the saving throw associated with the spell.

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

Level 11: Mystic Arcanum

Your patron reveals a magical secret called an Arcanum.

Choose one level 6 Warlock spell.

You can cast that spell once without expending a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in this way when you finish a Long Rest.

The spell doesn’t count against the number of Warlock spells you know through Pact Magic.

You gain additional Arcana as follows:

• At Warlock level 13, choose one level 7 Warlock spell.

• At Warlock level 15, choose one level 8 Warlock spell.

• At Warlock level 17, choose one level 9 Warlock spell.

Each Arcanum can be cast once without expending a spell slot, and each regains its use 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.

Level 19: Epic Boon

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

Level 20: Eldritch Master

Your mastery of your pact allows you to restore its power almost instantly.

When you use Magical Cunning, you can perform its rite as a Bonus Action instead of taking 1 minute.

When you do so, you regain all of your expended Pact Magic spell slots instead of only half your maximum.

Mystic Arcanum uses aren’t restored by this feature.