How Does Pact of the Blade Work?

Pact of the Blade is a Warlock feature in D&D 5e that allows players to create a magic weapon in any form they desire, with which they are automatically considered proficient, and it will vanish if they are more than 5ft away from it for any longer than 1 minute. The Pact of the Blade can be obtained at level 3 by the Warlock class, enabling them to summon a pact weapon of their choice as an action, choosing the form that this melee weapon takes each time they create it.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. Can you make any weapon with Pact of the Blade?: Yes, the Pact of the Blade allows you to conjure any melee weapon out of thin air, with your patron infusing you with the power to make your very own weapon.
2. What is the best patron for the Pact of the Blade?: The Hexblade patron is designed to work with the Pact of the Blade, making the Warlock a better combatant.
3. Is Pact of the Blade good with Hexblade?: Yes, Pact of the Blade integrates the best feature of the Hexblade subclass, the ability to use CHA for attacks and damage with weapons.

Pact of the Blade Mechanics

4. Does Pact of the Blade use an action?: Yes, you can use your action to create a pact weapon in your empty hand, choosing the form that this melee weapon takes each time you create it.
5. How long does Pact of the Blade last?: Your pact weapon disappears if it is more than 5 feet away from you for 1 minute or more.
6. Can you dual wield Pact of the Blade?: No, the Pact of the Blade boon only applies to one weapon, therefore you should only be allowed to use CHA on whichever weapon you have designated as your pact weapon.

Hexblade and Pact of the Blade

7. What is the Hexblade patron?: The Hexblade Patron is typically a powerful entity connected to the Shadowfell, an entity who can manifest their shadowy powers into weapons and gift their pact holders with the ability to cast shadowy hexes that leave targets vulnerable to their attacks.
8. Can a Hexblade have two pact weapons?: You only get one active Pact Weapon at a time, but it’s up to your DM in the end, as Hexblade allows you to use Charisma for attacks with one weapon you choose, plus with any pact weapon you have.
9. Are Hexblade and Pact of the Blade the same?: No, Pact of the Blade and Hexblade are two separate things, with Hexblade being a pact made at 1st level with a ‘Patron’.

Advanced Questions

10. Can you use Shadow Blade as your pact weapon?: No, Shadow Blade never counts as a pact weapon or as a hex warrior weapon, so you can never use Charisma with it.
11. Does Booming Blade work with Pact of the Blade?: Yes, Booming Blade works with Pact of the Blade, as a Pact Weapon is considered to have the value of the weapon it becomes.
12. Can you change a magic weapon with Pact of the Blade?: No, Pact of the Blade does not allow you to change the form of the magical weapon you’ve bonded to, invocations or no.

Game-Specific Questions

13. How does Pact of the Blade work in Baldur’s Gate 3?: In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Pact of the Blade gives you an edge, allowing you to summon a pact weapon of your choice, with the Hexblade patron not being featured in the game.
14. Can you be a Hexblade in BG3?: No, the Hexblade Warlock subclass is not available in Baldur’s Gate 3.
15. What happens if a Warlock kills their patron?: Nothing happens, as the power bestowed upon the Warlock is a pact and a pact cannot be revoked, so they retain that power even if the patron dies.