Best Eldritch Invocations For Warlocks In D&D

Key Takeaways

Pact of the Blade allows Warlocks to deal more damage and bond with a weapon.
Thirsting Blade gives Warlocks an extra attack, crucial for melee-focused characters.
Eldritch Spear increases the range of cantrips, ideal for spellcasting Warlocks.

As a seasoned Dungeon Master with over two decades of tabletop gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that these Invocations are absolute game-changers for any Warlock worth their salt.

Regardless of which deity they follow, a significant aspect of the Warlock class in “Dungeons & Dragons” is Eldritch Invocations. These Invocations provide players with various benefits, such as additional life, extra attacks, or boosted cantrips. They are one of the defining traits that set the Warlock class apart. At lower levels, Warlocks may feel constrained in their spellcasting capabilities. But as they unlock more and more Eldritch Invocations, the class gains immense versatility, often becoming one of the most diverse options at the gaming table.

This discussion explores some of the top, flexible choices for Eldritch Invocations to assist players in deciding their preferences to enhance their character. Whether your goal is to deal heavy blows, cast potent spells, or maintain a balanced half-caster role, these Invocations cater to all Warlocks, making each attack feel more significant and impactful.

1 Pact Of The Blade

Allowing Warlocks To Hit Harder

Best Eldritch Invocations For Warlocks In D&D

Can be taken from level 1
Has no prerequisites, but is a prerequisite for other Invocations

The “Pact of the Blade” is an option for Warlocks to select, similar to how they choose their patron at level 3. This choice may significantly influence a Warlock’s gameplay as much as their patron selection does. With “Pact of the Blade”, a Warlock can link themselves with a weapon, gaining proficiency in its use. They can also utilize their charisma modifier for both attack and damage rolls. Moreover, instead of the usual damage, they can deal necrotic, psychic, or radiant damage with this weapon.

As a gamer, I’ve found that even though this ability might not seem overwhelmingly potent at first glance, it gives my Warlock character a much-needed edge in the early stages of the game. It helps compensate for the limited spell slots and underwhelming cantrips that Warlocks often start with. Plus, as I level up my Pact of the Blade abilities, this pact expands my Invocation options significantly. Some of these Invocations can make my character downright formidable if I choose to build a more aggressive, melee-focused Warlock.

2 Thirsting Blade

Hit Them Again

Can be taken from level 5
Requires Pact of the Blade

Among the given invocations, Thirsting Blade is the one that necessitates having Pact of the Blade feature prior to its usage. With Thirsting Blade, a Warlock can strike twice instead of just once every time they perform an attack action, adding a bit more power and versatility to their combat style.

The additional chance to strike makes all the difference during high-stakes battles. This Invocation is particularly suitable for Warlocks who prefer a direct combat style or those multiclassing into martial roles.

3 Eldritch Spear

Giving Cantrips More Range

Can be taken from level 2
Requires a cantrip that deals damage

The Eldritch Spear Invocation provides an extra feature to the warlock class, amplifying the range of a selected cantrip by 30 times the warlock’s level. This invocation encourages a more passive gameplay approach, as it enables the warlock to position themselves at a distance from the action, rather than focusing on the front lines like earlier abilities.

As a dedicated Warlock spellcaster, I find the extended reach provided by Eldritch Spear to be incredibly beneficial. By selecting it multiple times, I’m able to amplify the range of not just one, but several cantrips. While Eldritch Blast is undeniably popular, having the extra distance offered by Eldritch Spear can make a significant difference in various combat situations. And when coupled with some of the invocations further down the list, its value only increases.

4 Repelling Blast

Creating Distance In The Heat Of Battle

Can be taken from level 2
Requires a cantrip that does damage via an attack roll

Just like Eldritch Spear, the Invocation called Repelling Blast enhances selected cantrips, allowing it to be taken multiple times for various cantrip improvements. This ability gives a cantrip the power to shove a larger or smaller creature a distance of 10 feet, provided a successful attack roll is achieved. In tight situations, Repelling Blast can prove invaluable for Warlocks who aren’t primarily geared towards close-quarters combat, as it establishes a crucial 10-foot buffer between them and potential dangers, assuming they manage to hit their enchanted cantrip.

From my gaming experience, I’d say there’s general consensus among us gamers that Eldritch Blast, the mighty Warlock cantrip, stands out when it comes to the Eldritch Spear invocation. It’s not just about raw power; as a Warlock levels up, Eldritch Blast can hit multiple targets simultaneously, making it an excellent tool for crowd control in intense battles.

5 Lifedrinker

Hitting Even Harder And Draining Life

Can be taken from level 9
Requires Pact of the Blade

Life Drinker is another spell that a Warlock can utilize to fulfill the close-combat casting dream. Once in each turn, following a successful melee attack, the player has the option to inflict extra 1d6 of necrotic, psychic, or radiant damage, and also spend a hit point die to recover some hit points.

In the midst of intense battles, where Warlocks may not have the highest defense, being able to frequently restore health becomes extremely beneficial. This becomes even more manageable when Lifedrinker and Thirsting Blade are used together. Even if a player prefers not to forgo a hit dice roll, the potential of dealing an extra 1d6 damage each turn is substantial enough to make taking this Invocation worthwhile.

6 Eldritch Smite

Just Like Paladins, But A Little Less Holy

Can be taken from level 5
Requires Pact of the Blade

Eldritch Smite functions similarly to a Paladin’s smites. By spending a spell slot following a successful attack, you can inflict extra force damage equal to 1d8 plus an additional 1d8 for each level above 1 of the spent slot. If the targeted creature is either Huge or smaller, it will be knocked prone, making subsequent attacks easier and limiting their movement options on their next turn.

Just like Lifedrinker, this Invocation amplifies the power of a melee-focused Warlock, dealing even greater damage when they’re ready to forfeit a spell slot. At the very least, it’s incredibly entertaining to strike down foes as an unholy character.

7 Fiendish Vigor

Free Life On Demand

Can be taken from level 2

The “Fiendish Vigor” ability enables you to cast “False Life” without using any spell slots, ensuring it always reaches its maximum potency. This is a clever enhancement to a Warlock’s collection of skills, given that many Warlocks tend to have lower constitution and dexterity levels.

Giving characters temporary health boosts can prove incredibly useful in critical situations, even more so when it doesn’t require using up a precious spell slot that could be needed for another life-saving ability later on. Compared to other Invocations, the convenience of instantly increasing a player’s hit points whenever needed is hard to dispute due to its straightforward power.

8 Agonizing Blast

Making Cantrips Hurt That Much More

Can be taken from level 2
Requires a cantrip that deals damage

Just like other Invocations, Agonizing Blast enhances the destructive force of your damaging cantrips. You can select this Invocation more than once to amplify multiple cantrips. This ability enables you to boost your chosen cantrip’s damage roll with your Charisma score, thereby increasing your overall damage potential.

For any Warlock, regardless of pact, patron, or playstyle, Agonizing Blast stands out as an essential choice due to its ability to significantly enhance the destructive power of spells. In doubtful situations about which Invocation to select, there’s no better option than boosting the damage potential of your spells, especially when they are further amplified by other cantrip-enhancing Invocations.

2024-11-17 15:34