Does Hex Apply to Each Beam of Eldritch Blast? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of whether Hex applies to each beam of Eldritch Blast is a common one among players of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e), particularly those who favor the Warlock class. The short answer is yes, Hex does apply to each beam of Eldritch Blast, provided each beam hits the cursed target. This synergy makes the combination incredibly potent, but it’s vital to understand the mechanics at play to maximize its effectiveness.
Understanding the Mechanics of Hex and Eldritch Blast
Before diving into the specifics, let’s recap the essential mechanics of both spells:
Hex
Hex is a 1st-level spell that allows you to place a curse on a creature, granting you the following benefits:
- You deal an additional 1d6 necrotic damage to the cursed creature whenever you hit it with an attack.
- The cursed creature has disadvantage on ability checks with one ability of your choice.
Eldritch Blast
Eldritch Blast is a cantrip that fires beams of magical energy at a target. The number of beams increases as you level up:
- One beam at 1st level.
- Two beams at 5th level.
- Three beams at 11th level.
- Four beams at 17th level.
Each beam requires a separate attack roll. If successful, it deals 1d10 force damage.
The Synergistic Power of Hex and Eldritch Blast
The key to the Hex and Eldritch Blast combination is the phrase “whenever you hit it with an attack” within the description of Hex. Since each beam of Eldritch Blast is considered a separate attack, each successful hit will trigger the extra 1d6 necrotic damage from Hex.
This is where the real power lies. At 5th level, when Eldritch Blast fires two beams, you’re potentially dealing 2d10 force damage + 2d6 necrotic damage if both beams hit the target under the effects of Hex. At higher levels, with three or four beams, this becomes extremely potent.
However, it is crucial to note that if one or more beams miss, you do NOT apply the extra 1d6 damage to the misses. The extra damage only applies to the beams that successfully land an attack.
Related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the nuances of Hex and Eldritch Blast, here are 15 related frequently asked questions:
1. Can you cast Hex and Eldritch Blast in the same turn?
Yes, you can absolutely cast Hex and Eldritch Blast in the same turn. Hex requires a bonus action to cast, while Eldritch Blast requires an action. Therefore, you can cast Hex as your bonus action and then cast Eldritch Blast as your action, or the other way around, provided you are under the rules of the game that can cast a spell on an action and a bonus action during the same turn.
2. Does Agonizing Blast apply to each beam of Eldritch Blast?
Yes, Agonizing Blast does apply to each beam of Eldritch Blast that hits. The Agonizing Blast invocation adds your Charisma modifier to the damage roll of each beam. Therefore, if you have a +4 Charisma modifier and two beams hit, you add +4 damage twice, resulting in 2d10 + 8 force damage from the blasts themselves.
3. Does Hex damage crit?
Yes, the 1d6 necrotic damage from Hex is doubled on a critical hit. Just like other bonus damage dice from features like Sneak Attack or Divine Smite, Hex’s damage dice are included in the doubling effect of a critical hit.
4. Does Hex work with other cantrips?
Yes, Hex works with any cantrip that involves making an attack roll, not just Eldritch Blast. For instance, if you use a cantrip like Chill Touch or Ray of Frost and successfully hit the hexed target, you will deal the additional 1d6 necrotic damage.
5. Can you infinitely use cantrips like Eldritch Blast?
Yes, you can use cantrips like Eldritch Blast an unlimited number of times, as they do not expend spell slots. They are designed to be reliable, basic offensive options that you can use turn after turn without any resource cost.
6. How do you get Eldritch Blast to hit more times in a turn?
Normally, you are limited to the amount of beams the spell generates as you increase in levels. You can use features like Action Surge (if you are a multiclass Fighter) to gain additional actions to cast the spell multiple times. The metamagic Quicken Spell, if you are a Sorcerer, allows you to cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action.
7. Why is Eldritch Blast considered so powerful?
Eldritch Blast is a powerful cantrip because of its damage type (Force is rarely resisted), scalability with character level and most importantly, its synergistic capabilities with Eldritch Invocations, such as Agonizing Blast, which add significant damage and customization.
8. Does Crusher work with Eldritch Blast?
Yes, under certain circumstances. If you have a feature, like the Genie Warlock’s Genie’s Wrath, which converts Eldritch Blast damage to bludgeoning damage, then you can apply the Crusher feat to push the target 5 feet. Without such feature, Eldritch blast does not inflict bludgeoning damage.
9. Can you Quickened Spell Eldritch Blast?
Yes, you can use the Sorcerer’s Quickened Spell metamagic to cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action. This means you can potentially cast Eldritch Blast twice in one turn, or cast it alongside a regular leveled spell.
10. Can you Twin Eldritch Blast?
It depends on the level of the caster. When a character is at levels 1-4, they can twin Eldritch Blast since the spell only targets one creature. At level 5 and beyond, it is not possible to Twin Eldritch Blast as it can target multiple creatures (the multiple beams don’t target the same creature necessarily).
11. Can Hexblade’s Curse work with Eldritch Blast?
Yes, Hexblade’s Curse does indeed work on Eldritch Blast. When you use Hexblade’s Curse, you gain a bonus to damage rolls against the cursed target, based on your proficiency modifier. This bonus applies once to the total damage output, so once per Eldritch Blast usage, not per beam.
12. Do Hexblades automatically get Eldritch Blast?
No, Hexblades do not automatically get Eldritch Blast. They are still a warlock subclass, and Eldritch Blast is a warlock cantrip that they have to pick like any other.
13. Can you split Eldritch Blast beams between different targets?
Yes, you absolutely can split your Eldritch Blast beams between multiple targets. Each beam can be directed at a different enemy within range.
14. Does casting a cantrip remove invisibility?
The act of casting a cantrip by itself does not break invisibility. However, if the cantrip requires you to make an attack roll, you will break your invisibility. Therefore, casting Eldritch Blast will break your invisibility, since it requires you to make attack rolls.
15. Are cantrips worth it?
Yes, cantrips are incredibly worthwhile! They offer reliable damage, utility, or support without expending spell slots. Classes that have access to many cantrips, such as Warlocks, are very powerful because of their consistent output of damaging or control effects.
Conclusion
The combination of Hex and Eldritch Blast is a cornerstone strategy for many Warlock players. Understanding how the mechanics of these spells interact allows you to optimize your damage output and take full advantage of your Warlock’s abilities. By remembering that each beam is considered a separate attack and that Hex applies to each successful attack, you can unleash a barrage of magical power upon your foes.