Do You Add Anything to Eldritch Blast Damage? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, you absolutely add modifiers to Eldritch Blast damage, and this is one of the key reasons why it’s such a popular and powerful cantrip in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. The base damage of Eldritch Blast is 1d10 force damage per beam, but its versatility and scalability come from the ways it can be enhanced. The primary modifier you add is your Charisma modifier, but there are other ways to increase its damage as well, making it a highly customizable spell. Let’s delve deeper into how these modifiers work and why they make Eldritch Blast a force to be reckoned with.
The Power of Agonizing Blast
The most common and potent modifier to Eldritch Blast damage comes from the Agonizing Blast Eldritch Invocation. This invocation is almost essential for any Warlock looking to maximize their damage output. Agonizing Blast allows you to add your Charisma modifier to the damage of each beam of Eldritch Blast that hits.
Double-Dipping with Charisma
As a Charisma-based caster, Warlocks benefit significantly from this invocation. It’s often referred to as “double-dipping” because your Charisma score not only determines your spell attack bonus, making it easier to hit your target, but also directly boosts the damage of each beam you land. For example, if you have a Charisma modifier of +4 and you hit with two beams of Eldritch Blast at level 5, each beam would deal 1d10 + 4 force damage. This is a massive damage increase compared to simply rolling 1d10 per beam.
How Agonizing Blast Scales
The power of Agonizing Blast becomes even more apparent as you gain levels. At level 5, you launch two beams; at level 11, three; and at level 17, four. Each of these beams benefits from your Charisma modifier with Agonizing Blast, making it incredibly potent at higher levels. This unique scaling mechanism of additional beams instead of just more damage dice is a significant advantage over other damage cantrips.
Other Factors Affecting Eldritch Blast Damage
While Agonizing Blast is the primary damage modifier, it’s important to understand that other factors can indirectly impact your overall damage output with Eldritch Blast.
Accuracy and Attack Rolls
It’s important to remember that Eldritch Blast requires a ranged spell attack. You roll a d20 and add your spell attack modifier, usually proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier. You must roll against the target’s AC (Armor Class) to determine if your beam hits and deals damage. If you don’t hit, you won’t be applying the Agonizing Blast modifier either. It is not a direct damage modifier but it effects your overall damage per turn.
No Intelligence Modifier for Eldritch Blast
It’s worth noting that while Wizards can eventually add their Intelligence modifier to evocation spells at level 10, this does not apply to Eldritch Blast. Even if you multiclass as a Warlock and Wizard, the intelligence modifier only affects evocation spells of the wizard class. This difference highlights the unique design of Eldritch Blast, making it specifically tuned for Warlocks and their Charisma-based casting.
Damage Type
The force damage type of Eldritch Blast is another important factor. Force damage is the least resisted damage type in D&D, meaning that creatures are less likely to have resistance or immunity against it. This consistent damage potential is a major reason why Eldritch Blast is a reliable source of damage.
Critical Hits
Like any other attack roll, Eldritch Blast can score critical hits. When you roll a 20 on your attack roll, you double the damage dice, meaning you roll 2d10 instead of 1d10 for each beam that scores a critical. The bonus from Agonizing Blast is not doubled on a critical hit.
Optimizing Your Eldritch Blast
Beyond the standard damage modifiers, there are several ways you can optimize Eldritch Blast to reach its full potential.
Repelling Blast
The Repelling Blast Invocation is another popular choice for Warlocks that can indirectly increase their damage potential. It allows you to push a target 10 feet away per hit, making it easier to reposition them.
Spell Sniper Feat
While not a direct damage boost, the Spell Sniper feat can significantly improve your accuracy. It doubles the range of spells, including Eldritch Blast, and ignores cover. It will help you more consistently land attacks and apply damage.
Hex
The spell Hex is an essential choice for Warlocks when you want to increase your damage. This spell adds 1d6 necrotic damage to each attack you land on a target.
Metamagic Options
If you multiclass into a Sorcerer, you could use Quicken Spell Metamagic to cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action. While it doesn’t increase the damage per beam, it allows you to cast it twice in a single turn, effectively doubling your damage output.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions to help clarify any remaining questions about Eldritch Blast damage:
1. Does the damage scale with Warlock level or character level?
Eldritch Blast scales with your total character level, not just your Warlock level. So, if you multiclass, it will continue to grow with your total character level.
2. How do multiple beams work?
At higher levels, you get more beams of Eldritch Blast: two at 5th level, three at 11th, and four at 17th. You can target the beams at the same creature or different creatures, making it flexible.
3. Do I roll damage for each beam?
Yes, you roll damage separately for each beam. You roll 1d10 for each beam, and add your Charisma modifier to the total of each beam if you have the Agonizing Blast invocation.
4. What is the base damage of Eldritch Blast?
The base damage is 1d10 force damage per beam before any modifiers are applied.
5. Is Eldritch Blast a good damage cantrip compared to others?
Yes, Eldritch Blast is considered one of the best damage cantrips, mainly due to its scalability and the availability of modifiers, and the fact that it deals force damage, the least resisted damage type.
6. Can Eldritch Blast critically hit?
Yes, like any attack roll, Eldritch Blast can critically hit. You will then roll 2d10 for the damage die instead of 1d10, but only for the beams that resulted in a critical hit.
7. Can Eldritch Blast be used as a bonus action?
Yes, but only if you are a Sorcerer using the Quickened Spell Metamagic, or if you have a class or feature that allows you to cast spells as a bonus action.
8. Does Eldritch Blast benefit from Hex?
Yes, Hex can add 1d6 necrotic damage to each attack that hits with Eldritch Blast.
9. Can you push a creature with Eldritch Blast?
Yes, with the Repelling Blast invocation, each beam that hits pushes the creature 10 feet away.
10. Is there any way to add my Intelligence modifier to Eldritch Blast?
No, there is no way to add your Intelligence modifier to Eldritch Blast damage. It only benefits from your Charisma modifier.
11. Does Eldritch Blast ever do fire damage?
No, Eldritch Blast always does force damage.
12. What happens if a target is immune to force damage?
If a target is immune to force damage, the beams of Eldritch Blast will not do any damage. However, very few monsters have immunity to force damage.
13. Does Spell Sniper help with Eldritch Blast accuracy?
Yes, Spell Sniper doubles your range and ignores cover with Eldritch Blast.
14. Is Agonizing Blast the only damage modifier for Eldritch Blast?
Agonizing Blast is the primary damage modifier for Eldritch Blast. You can add some additional damage via the Hex spell.
15. What is the best way to make Eldritch Blast do the most damage?
The best way to maximize damage with Eldritch Blast is to take the Agonizing Blast invocation, maximize your Charisma modifier, use Hex and other spells to increase attack, and use feats such as Spell Sniper to improve accuracy.
Conclusion
Eldritch Blast is more than just a simple cantrip. Its flexibility, scalability, and the ability to enhance it with Eldritch Invocations makes it a powerful force on the battlefield. The Agonizing Blast invocation is essential for any Warlock who wants to make the most out of this iconic spell. Understanding how damage modifiers interact with Eldritch Blast can be the key to building a powerful and versatile character. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran, knowing the nuances of Eldritch Blast can significantly enhance your D&D experience.