D&D 5e Warlock guide: Best options for blasting and casting

Warlock is a popular class in Dungeons and Dragons, but its initial spellcasting simplicity can hide some surprising depth. We’ll walk you through what you need to know when creating a Warlock in D&D 5e.

As Baldur’s Gate 3 has proven, Warlocks make an excellent class for players starting out with spellcasting for the first time.

Warlocks’ spell options are somewhat limited when compared to arcane specialists like the Wizard. However, what Warlocks lack in a breadth of spells, they more than make up for in power and reliability.

Here’s what you should know when putting a Warlock build together in D&D 5e.

Best Race options for Warlocks in D&D 5e

WOTC

While the base version of D&D 5e ties character race and ability score improvements together, this system has been updated with the release of Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. If using the variant lineage rules from Tasha’s, players should pick a race with unique abilities that match their intended playstyle or create engaging roleplay potential.

If using the base 5e race rules, choosing a race with abilities scores that match your necessary Warlock stats should be aimed for.

Tiefling

With a huge boost to charisma – the Warlock’s casting stat – free once-per-rest spells and fire resistance, Tieflings are one of 5e’s most popular races for good reason and make especially good Warlocks.

Aasimar

Another charisma-heavy race with a boatload of enviable additional effects. The extra damage available through Aasimars’ transformations is a huge boon for Warlocks’ destructive power, and each Aasimar subrace has something to appeal to Warlocks, whether it be proximity damage, control, or maneuverability.

Changeling

The extra charisma on offer here should come as no surprise, but Changelings offer incredible versatility both in and out of combat. The social gameplay of Changelings is unmatched, allowing your Warlock to change their appearance at will, perfect for infiltration, deception, and much more.

Warlock Hit Dice: D8

Hit Dice determines the increase in your health when leveling up and how much HP you recover when taking a short rest. Warlocks love short resting, as it’s how they restore spell slots, so it’s a reliable restorative method for the class.

A D8 places warlock above Wizards and Sorcerers – the squishiest casters in the game – and on the same level as Druids and Clerics, fellow spell-slingers with slightly more survivability. 

Warlock Ability Scores and Saving Throws 

When building a Warlock, here is the order in which you should typically prioritize your ability scores. 

1. Charisma 
2. Dexterity 
3. Constitution 
4. Wisdom 
5. Strength 
6. Intelligence 

Charisma is your casting stat as a warlock, determining the effectiveness of your spells and the damage of your all-important Eldritch Blast (when using the right Invocations). Charisma also improves social skills like persuasion and intimidation, making Warlocks excel in a diplomatic party role. 

Dexterity is one of the most crucial stats to invest in D&D 5e. Dexterity governs important saves and ability checks like stealth, armor class when using medium and light armor, and it is also responsible for Initiative. Caster getting to go first in Initiative can completely swing the outcome of a battle, so boosting your Warlock’s dex is key for many builds. 

Constitution boosts your health as well as concentration checks, and is definitely worth bumping up for survivability’s sake. 

Wisdom is used for important saves against effects like mind control, and the perception and insight skills also run off of it. Not one of Warlock’s most crucial stats, but still not worth completely dumping. 

Strength usually matters little to Warlocks, unless playing a Pact of the Blade Warlock or a melee-specialising subclass like the Hexblade. If build a Warlock in this direction, Strength is bumped up to take Constitution’s place in terms of stat importance. 

Intelligence can be safely dumped as a Warlock without losing out on much mechanical efficacy. 

Warlock starting skills and proficiencies 

Warlocks begin with the following proficiencies: 

• Light armor 
• Simple weapons 
• Wisdom and Charisma saving throws 

In addition, Warlocks choose two skills from the following list to gain proficiency in: 

• Arcana 
• Deception 
• History 
• Intimidation 
• Investigation 
• Nature 
• Religion 

Arcana is useful for recalling magical knowledge, particularly if other party members are playing as martial classes. Deception and Intimidation are both great social options that gain a boost from Warlock’s high focus on Charisma. 

Warlock Class Features 

Pact Magic is a unique, repeatable form of spellcasting

What sets Warlocks apart from other arcane casters like the Wizard or Sorcerer is the nature of their magic. Instead of the Spellcasting feature, Warlocks have access to Pact Magic. Where the two differ is that Pact Magic offers much fewer spell slots than Spellcasting. Where Wizards will accrue many slots over their first few levels, Warlocks only gain their third total spell slot at level eleven.

Thankfully, Pact Magic comes with a significant upside. Where Spellcasting spell slots can usually only refresh on a long rest, the slots that Warlocks gain from Pact Magic all return on a short rest. While Warlocks may run out of juice fairly quickly, they can just as quickly resupply themselves, ensuring that they enter every combat encounter at the peak of their power.

Additionally, when casting a spell with Pact Magic, it is automatically upcast to the highest level Warlocks currently have access to.

Eldritch Invocations add incredible customization

One of the Warlock’s greatest features in D&D 5e is undoubtedly Eldritch Invocations. These invocations are permanent boosts to the Warlock that do not count against the number of spells the Warlock knows. These magical effects are myriad, ranging from the ability to change appearance at will, to the ability to encase yourself within a block of Ice and prevent damage, as if you were playing as Overwatch’s Mei.

Eldritch Invocations allow players to customize their Warlock as they see fit, adding fun and variety to their chosen build. Hopefully, other classes will see a similar level of variation when 2024’s One D&D updates arrive.

For some great, general-use Invocations, Agonizing Blast adds your Charisma mod to each damage roll of your Eldritch Blast, significantly upping your damage capabilities. Devil’s Sight allows your Warlock to see in all forms of darkness, which crucially even includes darkness caused by magic. Finally, once your Warlock hits level nine, Whispers of the Grave allows them to cast the Speak with Dead spell for free and at will.

Pact boons help to refine Warlock Builds

Starting at third level, Pact Boons offer yet more customization for the Warlock. These boons serve almost as secondary subclasses, allowing you to focus on different styles of play.

The Pact of the Blade allows Warlocks to function as spellswords, slinging magic and slicing with blades and other martial weapons in equal measure.

The Pact of the Tome sees Warlocks double down on their magic, gaining a grimoire that expands the Warlocks spell options with cantrips from any class.

Finally, the Pact of the Chain is the go-to for summoners. This Pact grants the Warlock a souped-up familiar with many useful abilities.

Each Pact unlocks specific Invocations that can be used to further power up your Warlock’s chosen role.

Warlock Subclasses 

WOTC

A Warlock’s subclass is crucial to their flavor and RP, as well as mechanics. This is because a Warlock’s subclass determines the nature of the bargain they have made for power and the source granting that power. 

The Warlock subclass options in the D&D 5e Player’s Handbook are detailed below, each being a different type of Patron for the Warlock. Additional subclasses and patrons can be found in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, and other sourcebooks. 

The Fiend 

A classic ‘deal with the devil’, the fiend imbues Warlocks with fiendish flames and a dark streak of luck that seems to kick in at just the right moment. 

The Great Old One 

The Great Old One is an Eldritch, unknowable font of forbidden knowledge. Drawing on Lovecraftian horror, the Great Old One patron imbues the Warlock with mind-altering powers including telepathy, psychic damage, and more. 

The Archfey 

A beguiling influence from the Feywild, Archfey Warlocks are granted illusions and enchantments to disrupt and disorientate their foes, and the power to sway hearts and minds. 

Best Warlock spells 

Here are our picks for the best Warlock spells per level to take you through D&D’s early game.

If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.