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Can You Make a Ranged Hexblade? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer is yes, absolutely! While the Hexblade Warlock is often envisioned as a melee combatant, wielding a pact weapon in close quarters, it is entirely viable and surprisingly effective to build a potent ranged Hexblade. This article will explore how to achieve this, delving into the mechanics, feats, spells, and considerations that make a ranged Hexblade a formidable force on the battlefield.

The Core of the Ranged Hexblade

The Hexblade subclass gains its power from its connection to a mysterious entity, a sentient weapon from the Shadowfell. This connection grants them abilities that are usually associated with melee combat, such as the Hex Warrior feature, which allows the Warlock to use Charisma for attack and damage rolls with one weapon. However, this doesn’t limit the Hexblade to melee; it merely opens up build options. The key to a successful ranged Hexblade lies in carefully selecting invocations, spells, and feats that synergize with ranged combat while still benefiting from the core Hexblade features.

Building Your Ranged Hexblade

Crafting a ranged Hexblade requires careful attention to several factors:

Weapon Choice: The first step is selecting your ranged weapon. The longbow is often the best choice due to its high damage die (1d8) and range. Light crossbows and heavy crossbows are options as well, but lack the longbow’s range. Remember, you need to be proficient to benefit from Hex Warrior, so choose a weapon your race grants proficiency in or take the Weapon Master feat to gain proficiency.
Invocations: Invocations are crucial for any Warlock build, and the ranged Hexblade is no exception. Some standout choices include:
- Agonizing Blast: Amplifies your Eldritch Blast, making it deal significant damage.
- Eldritch Spear: Increases the range of your Eldritch Blast to 300 feet.
- Improved Pact Weapon: Allows your pact weapon to become a +1 weapon and also be a shortbow, longbow, light crossbow, or heavy crossbow.
- Thirsting Blade: This invocation is usually for melee Hexblades, allowing them to attack twice, however, you can freely swap invocations when you level, so if you ever want to play in melee, this option is there.
Feats: Feats can significantly enhance your ranged capabilities.
- Sharpshooter: This feat is almost mandatory for any ranged damage dealer. It removes the disadvantage on ranged attack rolls at long range and allows you to take a -5 penalty to your attack roll for a +10 bonus to damage. The accuracy loss can be mitigated by advantage.
- Crossbow Expert: This feat would allow you to ignore the loading property of crossbows if you chose one of those options.
- Fighting Initiate: This feat lets you take a fighting style like Archery which gives you +2 to hit with ranged weapons.
Spells: Spell selection is critical for adding utility and control to your ranged Hexblade. Some useful options include:
- Hex: A classic Warlock spell that allows you to deal extra necrotic damage on your attacks against a single target and impair their ability checks.
- Armor of Agathys: Provides temporary hit points and deals cold damage to attackers who hit you in melee. This can deter enemies from approaching you.
- Misty Step: Essential for mobility and escaping dangerous situations.
- Counterspell: Shut down enemy spellcasters, keeping you and your party safe.
- Shadow of Moil: Grants you heavily obscured and deals necrotic damage to those near you.

Synergies and Tactics

A ranged Hexblade can excel in various combat scenarios by leveraging its unique strengths. Here are some tactical considerations:

Positioning: Maintain distance from enemies whenever possible. Use cover and movement to stay out of melee range.
Focus Fire: Concentrate your attacks on a single target to quickly eliminate threats. Hex and Hexblade’s Curse synergize perfectly for this.
Control the Battlefield: Utilize spells like Darkness, Hunger of Hadar, or Hypnotic Pattern to control enemy movement and create advantageous situations.
Pact of the Blade Versatility: Remember that you can switch your pact weapon during a short rest. This allows you to adapt to different situations, switching between a ranged weapon and a melee weapon as needed.

Multi-classing

While the Hexblade is very powerful on its own, sometimes it can be beneficial to multiclass. * Fighter: Dipping into Fighter for 1-2 levels gives you the archery fighting style, as well as action surge, which can allow you to shoot twice on your first turn. * Sorcerer: Taking a few levels into sorcerer will give you metamagic, letting you twin or quicken spells like Eldritch Blast.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Hex Warrior work with ranged weapons?

Yes, Hex Warrior allows you to use your Charisma modifier for attack and damage rolls with one weapon that you are proficient with. This weapon can be ranged or melee.

2. Can I use Sharpshooter with my Pact Weapon?

Yes, as long as your Pact Weapon is a ranged weapon that qualifies for the Sharpshooter feat (e.g., a longbow), you can use it.

3. How can I make sure I hit with Sharpshooter’s -5 attack penalty?

Gain advantage on your attack rolls. Options for gaining advantage include:

Faerie Fire
Darkness (coupled with Devil’s Sight invocation)
Elven Accuracy (for Elves or Half-Elves)
Steady Aim (for Rogues)

4. Is Eldritch Blast still useful for a ranged Hexblade?

Absolutely! While your Pact Weapon will be your primary damage dealer, Eldritch Blast is a fantastic backup option, especially when you need to target multiple enemies or overcome resistance to your weapon’s damage type. Agonizing Blast remains a powerful invocation for extra damage.

5. What are the best races for a ranged Hexblade?

Any race with a Charisma bonus is a good start. Elves and Half-Elves are excellent due to their Dexterity and Charisma bonuses, as well as potential access to Elven Accuracy. Variant Human is also strong for the free feat, allowing you to take Sharpshooter early.

6. Can I use the Improved Pact Weapon invocation for a ranged weapon?

Yes! The Improved Pact Weapon invocation allows your pact weapon to be a shortbow, longbow, light crossbow, or heavy crossbow, and it also gains a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls.

7. How does Hexblade’s Curse interact with ranged attacks?

Hexblade’s Curse provides a bonus to damage rolls against the cursed target. This bonus applies to any attack roll, whether melee or ranged. You also crit on a 19 or 20 when attacking the cursed target.

8. What happens if an enemy gets into melee range?

A ranged Hexblade is not completely helpless in melee. You can use spells like Armor of Agathys to deter attackers. You could also use invocations like Repelling Blast on your Eldritch Blast to push enemies away. Furthermore, you can still use your Pact Weapon for melee attacks if necessary. Don’t forget disengaging is an action that can get you out of melee range!

9. Should I prioritize Charisma over Dexterity for a ranged Hexblade?

Yes. Since Hex Warrior allows you to use Charisma for attack and damage rolls, Charisma is your primary stat. Dexterity is still important for initiative, saving throws, and AC if you’re not wearing medium armor (discussed next).

10. Can I wear medium armor as a Hexblade?

Yes, but only if you take the Medium Armor Master feat. This feat allows you to wear medium armor with no disadvantage on Stealth checks and increases the maximum Dexterity bonus you can apply to your AC from +2 to +3. However, light armor may be preferred.

11. How important is the Darkness/Devil’s Sight combo for a ranged Hexblade?

While powerful, it’s not essential. It can provide advantage on attacks, but it can also hinder your party members. Consider it a situational tool rather than a core component of your build.

12. What is the best Pact Boon for a ranged Hexblade?

Pact of the Blade is generally considered the best option, as it is required to summon a ranged weapon like the longbow.

13. How do I deal with creatures resistant to non-magical weapon damage?

Improved Pact Weapon turns your weapon into a +1 weapon, which means that you will deal magical damage. You can also take the Lifedrinker invocation at level 12, to add necrotic damage to your attacks.

14. At what level does a ranged Hexblade really come online?

Around level 3-5. By level 3, you have your Pact Boon and second-level spells. By level 5, you have thirsting blade, meaning you can attack twice.

15. Is a ranged Hexblade better than a melee Hexblade?

Neither is inherently “better.” They are simply different playstyles. A ranged Hexblade offers superior range and battlefield control, while a melee Hexblade excels in close-quarters combat. The best choice depends on your personal preferences and your party’s needs. Both are powerful and viable options.

Can you make a ranged Hexblade?