Can Hexblade Warlock Heal? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer is: no, not directly. Hexblade Warlocks do not possess inherent healing abilities in their base class features, beyond a very limited self-heal when dropping a cursed target. Their strengths lie in dealing damage, controlling the battlefield, and utility, rather than traditional healing. However, clever players can still incorporate healing or support elements into their Hexblade build through creative means.
Understanding the Hexblade’s Strengths and Weaknesses
The Hexblade subclass is renowned for its martial prowess, making it a potent front-line combatant. This stems from features like Hex Warrior, which allows them to use Charisma for attack and damage rolls with weapons, and Hexblade’s Curse, which significantly boosts their damage output against a single target. However, this focus on offense leaves a gap in their support capabilities, particularly in terms of healing.
The Limited Self-Heal
The sole healing-related feature of the Hexblade is tied to their Hexblade’s Curse. When the target of the curse drops to 0 hit points, the Hexblade gains temporary hit points equal to their Charisma modifier plus their warlock level. This provides a small buffer, but it’s reactive and dependent on eliminating an enemy, not a proactive healing solution for themselves or the party.
How Warlocks Can Circumvent Their Healing Limitations
While Hexblades lack direct healing spells, several avenues exist to increase their survivability and provide limited support:
- Temporary Hit Points: Warlocks excel at generating temporary hit points (THP). Spells like Armor of Agathys provide both THP and a damaging counterattack. This increases survivability, effectively acting as a buffer against damage that would otherwise require healing.
- Feats: Several feats can grant access to healing. Magic Initiate (Bard/Cleric/Druid) allows you to learn the cure wounds spell, providing a limited, but reliable, heal. Healer feat lets you stabilize dying creatures and heal small amounts of HP per short rest.
- Multiclassing: Dipping into classes like Cleric, Paladin, or Bard can unlock healing spells and abilities. A one or two-level dip can drastically alter the Hexblade’s support potential.
- Items and Consumables: Potions of healing and other magical items that restore hit points are available to all characters, including Warlocks.
- Celestial Warlock Subclass: This subclass grants a pool of d6s to heal, fueled by celestial energy. Consider this subclass if healing is a priority.
Enhancing Survivability Without Direct Healing
Since direct healing is limited, focus on preventing damage. Spells like blur, mirror image, and shadow of moil offer defensive buffs that make the Hexblade harder to hit. Control spells, such as hypnotic pattern or banishment, can disable enemies, reducing the amount of incoming damage the party takes.
Utilizing the Pact of the Blade
The Pact of the Blade allows the Warlock to conjure a magical weapon. Paired with the right invocations, this can significantly improve their combat prowess. Invocations like Improved Pact Weapon and Thirsting Blade (extra attack) make them a formidable force in melee combat. While not directly related to healing, a strong offense is a good defense, and a dead enemy can’t deal damage.
FAQs: Hexblade Warlock Healing and Support
1. Can a Hexblade warlock learn cure wounds?
Not inherently. Cure wounds is not on the standard Warlock spell list. However, a Hexblade Warlock could learn cure wounds by taking the Magic Initiate feat (choosing Bard, Cleric, or Druid), or by multiclassing into a class that has it on their spell list (Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Ranger).
2. Is Hexblade the best Warlock subclass for a party that needs a healer?
Absolutely not. The Celestial Warlock is the best Warlock subclass if you want a warlock to provide healing to the party. Hexblade excels at damage dealing and control, but healing is not its forte.
3. Can a Hexblade use revivify?
Revivify is not on the Warlock spell list by default, but with recent Errata, Warlocks can cast from a Scroll of Revivify if they acquire one. So, in essence, yes, a Hexblade can use revivify via a scroll.
4. What is a good multiclass for a Hexblade that wants some healing?
Cleric and Paladin are excellent choices. A one or two-level dip into either class provides access to healing spells, armor proficiencies, and potentially Divine Smite (Paladin) or useful cantrips and subclass features (Cleric).
5. Can a Hexblade use a potion of healing as an action?
Yes. Using a potion of healing is an action that any character can perform.
6. Does the Healer feat make a Hexblade a viable healer?
The Healer feat provides limited healing and can stabilize dying creatures. It offers some support capabilities but does not transform the Hexblade into a primary healer. It’s a supplement, not a replacement, for a dedicated healer.
7. How does the Hexblade’s Curse interact with temporary hit points?
Temporary hit points granted by the Hexblade’s Curse when the cursed target dies do not stack with other temporary hit points. You take whichever is higher. They act as a buffer against damage.
8. Can a Hexblade use Pact of the Chain to gain access to healing?
No, Pact of the Chain provides a familiar, but not direct healing. The familiar can, however, deliver potions of healing if you acquire them.
9. What spells should a Hexblade take to improve party survivability?
Focus on spells that control the battlefield (e.g., hypnotic pattern, fear, banishment) or provide defensive buffs (e.g., blur, mirror image, shadow of moil). Reducing the damage the party takes is often more effective than healing after the fact.
10. Does being a Hexblade mean my character has to be evil?
No. While Hexblades draw power from entities associated with the Shadowfell, their alignment is entirely up to the player. A Hexblade can be good, evil, or neutral. The source of their power doesn’t dictate their morality. This is just as any other class can be whatever you want them to be.
11. What is a good Hexblade patron?
A powerful entity connected to the Shadowfell, capable of manifesting shadowy powers into weapons. Examples include: a powerful Hag like Baba Yaga or Charon, the Boatman of the River Styx.
12. Is Hexblade the most powerful Warlock subclass?
Hexblade is considered one of the most powerful warlock subclasses due to its martial capabilities. A more versatile subclass on its own. It may be more effective than some other subclasses in combat.
13. If a warlock kills their patron, what happens?
Nothing happens. The power bestowed upon to the warlock is a pact and a pact cannot be revoked. They retain that power even if the patron dies.
14. Can a warlock end their pact?
If the warlock’s obligation has been fulfilled, the pact can’t be broken as it’s over from their end. If the pact has been fulfilled the consequences would depend on the patron.
15. Why can’t wizards heal?
Healing spells generally fall under divine magic, mediated directly by the gods (or nature spirits). This is distinct from arcane magic, which wizards wield.
Conclusion: The Supportive Hexblade
While Hexblade Warlocks aren’t traditional healers, they can still contribute to party survivability through smart spell selection, strategic feat choices, and potentially multiclassing. By focusing on damage prevention and utility, the Hexblade can be a valuable asset to any adventuring party, even without the ability to cast cure wounds. The Games Learning Society explores these complex class dynamics and character builds within D&D and other role-playing games, illustrating how game mechanics can influence collaborative problem-solving and strategic thinking. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more insights on the educational value of gaming.