Who Can Wield the Power of Eldritch Blast in D&D 5e?
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The iconic Eldritch Blast, a hallmark of the Warlock class in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, is a force to be reckoned with. Its versatility, scalability, and the ability to be enhanced with various invocations make it a popular choice for many players. However, the burning question on many minds is: can other classes learn Eldritch Blast, or is it solely the domain of the Warlock? The short answer is yes, other classes can learn Eldritch Blast, although not through the standard progression of most classes.
The Warlock’s Exclusive Cantrip, But Not Exclusively
Eldritch Blast is, by default, a spell unique to the Warlock class. It’s a fundamental part of their kit, and its scaling with additional beams at higher levels makes it one of the most reliable damage-dealing options available. The Warlock also has access to Eldritch Invocations, special abilities that further enhance Eldritch Blast, such as the highly coveted Agonizing Blast, which adds the caster’s Charisma modifier to the damage.
Feats as the Key
While other classes do not get Eldritch Blast inherently, they can gain access through specific feats. The two primary feats that allow characters to learn this powerful cantrip are:
- Magic Initiate: This feat allows you to choose a class and learn two cantrips from that class’s spell list, and one 1st-level spell. If you choose Warlock, you can learn Eldritch Blast as one of your cantrips.
- Spell Sniper: This feat allows you to learn a single ranged attack cantrip from any class’s spell list. Again, Eldritch Blast is a viable choice here.
The Cost of Non-Warlock Eldritch Blast
It’s important to note that using either of these feats to obtain Eldritch Blast has certain implications. Most notably, the chosen feat comes at the cost of an Ability Score Improvement (ASI). This means that another character level cannot be taken to increase their main stats, weakening them somewhat in their primary role. Furthermore, if you are not a Warlock, you can’t utilize the powerful Eldritch Invocations to enhance the spell, including the extremely potent Agonizing Blast, rendering the non-warlock Eldritch Blast less efficient in terms of damage output. This makes it a useful, yet inferior option than the Warlock’s version.
The Role of Spellcasting Ability
Normally, Eldritch Blast uses the caster’s Charisma modifier for attack rolls and damage. If you gain it through Magic Initiate or Spell Sniper, it will still use Charisma. This can make it less effective for characters with lower Charisma scores, unless you utilize any magic items to help with this issue.
15 Frequently Asked Questions About Eldritch Blast
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of learning and using Eldritch Blast:
1. Can a Paladin learn Eldritch Blast?
Yes, a Paladin can gain access to Eldritch Blast by taking either the Magic Initiate feat and selecting Warlock, or by taking the Spell Sniper feat and choosing it as their ranged attack cantrip.
2. Can a Wizard learn Eldritch Blast?
Yes, a Wizard can learn Eldritch Blast through the Magic Initiate or Spell Sniper feats. However, this comes at the cost of their ASI, potentially making them weaker in their primary role as a Wizard.
3. Can a non-Warlock character take Eldritch Blast Invocations?
No. The Eldritch Invocations that enhance Eldritch Blast, like Agonizing Blast, can only be taken by Warlocks. If an invocation has a prerequisite (like the ability to cast Eldritch Blast itself) you can only choose it if you’re a Warlock and you meet that prerequisite. This rule severely limits non-Warlocks access to the most powerful aspects of Eldritch Blast.
4. Can you use Eldritch Blast with a Quicken Spell?
Yes, a Sorcerer with the Metamagic option Quicken Spell can use it to cast Eldritch Blast as a bonus action, allowing them to cast it a second time as an action on the same turn or cast an additional spell. This is one of the primary reasons a Sorcerer might choose to take the Magic Initiate or Spell Sniper feats.
5. Can Eldritch Blast hit allies?
Generally, no. Eldritch Blast, like other ranged attacks, can only hit allies if you are using the optional Hitting Cover rules from the Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG). In the base rules, allies simply don’t count as valid targets for your beam, although you would have to roll to see if you hit an enemy behind them.
6. How does Eldritch Blast scale?
Eldritch Blast scales by adding more beams at higher levels. You get two beams at level 5, three at level 11, and four at level 17. Each beam requires a separate attack roll, effectively increasing your damage output as you level up.
7. Is Eldritch Blast better than Fire Bolt?
On its own, Eldritch Blast is generally comparable to Fire Bolt, but Eldritch Blast becomes incredibly superior when used by a Warlock with invocations. Fire Bolt scales by increasing damage dealt, while Eldritch Blast adds more beams, which when combined with invocations can be much more effective.
8. Can you twin Eldritch Blast?
Yes, potentially. At levels 1-4, Eldritch Blast only targets a single creature, therefore, it can be twinned using the Sorcerer’s Metamagic, but from level 5 it cannot be twinned due to the extra beams.
9. Can Eldritch Blast be Counterspelled?
Yes. Counterspell works against Eldritch Blast as it is a spell with a verbal component. Any time you are casting a spell that requires a verbal component, you open yourself up to this counter.
10. Can you split Eldritch Blast beams?
Yes. When you gain multiple beams, you can choose to direct them at the same target or different targets, so long as they are all in range and within line of sight.
11. Can you curve Eldritch Blast around cover?
No. Eldritch Blast does not curve. If an obstacle is between you and your target, you must either go around it or attack through it, which may impose disadvantage.
12. Can Eldritch Blast push huge creatures?
Yes, If you take the Eldritch Invocation Repelling Blast you can push a creature 10ft per hit and this has no size limit, so you can push an ancient dragon 10ft on a hit or potentially 40ft if you hit with all 4 beams.
13. How many times can a Warlock use Eldritch Blast per turn?
A Warlock can normally use Eldritch Blast once per turn as it has a casting time of one action, however, through multiclassing and feats they can potentially use it twice.
14. Can you use Hex and Eldritch Blast with the Quicken Spell ability?
No. Hex requires you to make a weapon attack on a turn to activate, while Eldritch Blast is a spell, therefore, they cannot be used in tandem on the same turn.
15. Is Eldritch Blast good without Agonizing Blast?
Yes, Eldritch Blast is still a good cantrip on its own, and has great scaling and versatility. However, the Agonizing Blast invocation is a massive power boost for Warlocks, making it much more effective than a non-Warlock version.
Conclusion
While Eldritch Blast is most well-known as a Warlock cantrip, its power can be accessed by other classes through the Magic Initiate or Spell Sniper feats. However, without the Eldritch Invocations, especially Agonizing Blast, it isn’t as powerful as it is for Warlocks. The choice to use a feat to learn Eldritch Blast is a strategic one, depending on your class and desired build. Understanding the limitations and benefits allows you to make informed decisions when crafting your DnD character.