Does a Hexblade Count as a Magic Weapon? A Deep Dive
The question of whether a Hexblade counts as a magic weapon in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (5e) is a common one, sparking debate and confusion among players and DMs alike. The short answer is: not inherently, but almost always, yes, in practice. The nuance lies within the mechanics of the Hexblade Warlock subclass and its interaction with the Pact of the Blade feature. Let’s break down why.
The Hexblade & Pact of the Blade: Understanding the Core Mechanics
The Hexblade Warlock subclass, introduced in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, gains its power from a mysterious entity from the Shadowfell, which manifests in sentient magic weapons. This connection doesn’t automatically make any weapon the Hexblade uses magical, but it does provide the foundation for it.
The key ability is the Hex Warrior feature, which allows the Hexblade to choose one weapon and use their Charisma modifier for attack and damage rolls, rather than Strength or Dexterity. This feature is crucial because it allows the Hexblade to be effective in melee combat even with a high Charisma score and no other melee training. But, this feature does not inherently make the chosen weapon magical.
However, most Hexblades synergize their subclass with the Pact of the Blade feature at 3rd level. This pact allows a Warlock to create a melee weapon as an action. Importantly, this Pact Weapon counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage, whether it is a created weapon or a weapon that has been magically bound to you.
Thus, while a Hexblade doesn’t start with a magic weapon and their Hex Warrior feature doesn’t make a weapon magical, when using Pact of the Blade, the weapon they conjure is considered magical. This synergistic pairing is why Hexblades are typically seen as magic weapon wielders.
The Nuances of “Counting as Magical”
It’s important to note the distinction between a weapon being “magical” and merely “counting as magical.” A Pact Weapon doesn’t gain any other properties of a magical weapon just for existing. It doesn’t have a +1 to attack or damage unless, and until, a specific feature grants that bonus. It’s still a mundane weapon, but for the specific purpose of bypassing resistance to non-magical attacks, it counts as if it were magical. This distinction is crucial for gameplay, as it affects how the weapon interacts with other game mechanics.
Improved Pact Weapon
The Improved Pact Weapon Eldritch Invocation significantly enhances this. This invocation grants a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls to the Pact Weapon, and explicitly allows the warlock to use their pact weapon as an arcane focus for their spells. This further solidifies the pact weapon as a magical tool. Therefore, with this invocation the pact weapon would have the properties of a magic weapon, not just “count as” one.
Hex Warrior’s Role
Hex Warrior does not make the weapon magical by default. This feature simply lets the Hexblade utilize their Charisma modifier for attack and damage rolls instead of Strength or Dexterity for a single chosen weapon. It’s the Pact of the Blade, and the invocation, that makes the weapon “count as magical” for overcoming resistance or immunity and provides the properties of a magic weapon. The Hex Warrior feature is critical because it allows the Hexblade to fully utilize any pact weapon through Charisma, not just weapons that are finesse or ranged, as is often the case with classes such as a ranger or rogue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can a Hexblade start with a magic weapon?
No. A Hexblade does not start with a magic weapon. The subclass gives you the ability to bond with one, but that process does not make a mundane weapon magic until it is bonded through Pact of the Blade.
2. Is a Pact Weapon always magical?
A Pact Weapon is not inherently magical, but it counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
3. Can a Hexblade use any weapon as a Pact Weapon?
Yes, assuming they don’t choose an artifact or sentient weapon. Pact of the Blade allows you to create any weapon you desire as your Pact Weapon, or to bind a non-artifact, non-sentient weapon to yourself.
4. Does the Hex Warrior feature make a weapon magical?
No. Hex Warrior allows a Hexblade to use Charisma for attack rolls and damage with a specific chosen weapon but does not make it magical, it is still a mundane weapon until it becomes a pact weapon.
5. Can a Hexblade have both a Hex weapon and a Pact Weapon?
Yes. Hex Warrior and Pact of the Blade are separate features. You can choose one weapon with Hex Warrior and create or bind a separate weapon through Pact of the Blade. If your Pact Weapon is the same as your chosen weapon, then your attack and damage will use your Charisma modifier.
6. Can a Hexblade use a bow as their Pact Weapon?
Yes, the Improved Pact Weapon invocation in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything allows pact weapons to be longbows and shortbows, as well as light and heavy crossbows.
7. Can a Hexblade use a two-handed weapon?
Yes, Hex Warrior removes any restriction on weapon size so the Charisma modifier can be used for any weapon that the warlock has proficiency in, including two-handed weapons when used as a Pact Weapon.
8. Can a Hexblade summon any weapon they want?
With the Pact of the Blade feature, a Hexblade can summon a weapon of their choice as long as it is not an artifact or sentient weapon. However, summoning a gun is a special feature, and there are limitations on which firearms you can summon.
9. Is a Pact Weapon a spellcasting focus?
Not by default. However, the Improved Pact Weapon invocation allows a Pact Weapon to be used as an arcane focus for the warlock’s spells.
10. Can a Pact Weapon be broken?
Yes, a pact weapon ceases being your pact weapon if you die, if you perform the 1-hour ritual on a different weapon, or if you use a 1-hour ritual to break your bond to it.
11. Can Hexblades dual wield?
Yes. A Hexblade can use a chosen weapon through the Hex Warrior feature as well as a Pact Weapon, effectively allowing them to dual wield different weapons, provided they have proficiency.
12. Is the Hexblade a patron or subclass?
The Hexblade is a subclass option for the Warlock class, not a patron. The patron is the entity from the Shadowfell that grants them the power through a mysterious sentient magical weapon.
13. Can Hexblades use Eldritch Blast?
Yes, Hexblades can use Eldritch Blast, or any other Warlock spell. The subclass does not restrict them to melee combat.
14. Can you be a Hexblade without Pact of the Blade?
Yes. You can be a Hexblade Warlock and choose a different pact. However, Pact of the Blade is most often taken with the Hexblade subclass because it enhances the role of a martial combatant that the subclass is often designed for.
15. Is a Hexblade inherently evil?
No. A Hexblade’s alignment depends on the character’s choices, not the subclass itself. While their patron often comes from the Shadowfell, which is generally an evil realm, a Hexblade can be of any alignment.
Conclusion
The question of whether a Hexblade’s weapon is magical isn’t a simple yes or no. While the Hex Warrior feature itself doesn’t grant magical properties, the synergistic combination with Pact of the Blade, especially when enhanced by the Improved Pact Weapon invocation, means that a Hexblade Warlock’s weapon is very often considered magical for most intents and purposes in gameplay. This distinction is critical to understanding how this powerful class interacts with the mechanics of D&D 5e. Understanding the core features will ensure your Hexblade Warlock is optimized for a variety of encounters.