What is the Best Weapon for a Warlock in D&D 5e? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of the best weapon for a Warlock in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition is nuanced, and the straightforward answer is: it depends on your build and playstyle. Unlike classes like Fighters or Barbarians, Warlocks aren’t primarily reliant on weapons for their damage output. Their power comes from their spells, invocations, and pact boons. That said, weapon choice can significantly enhance a Warlock’s capabilities, especially for those who choose the Pact of the Blade or the Hexblade subclass. Therefore, let’s delve into the specifics, examining different options, and understanding their pros and cons for various Warlock builds.
Understanding Warlock Weapon Mechanics
Pact of the Blade
The Pact of the Blade is a Warlock pact boon that allows you to create a pact weapon. This can be any melee weapon that you are proficient with, and it counts as magical for overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks. Importantly, you can change the weapon’s form each time you create it. This flexibility is a significant advantage.
The Hexblade Subclass
The Hexblade subclass further complicates the weapon issue. Unlike other Warlocks, Hexblades are proficient with medium armor and shields, and they are also proficient with martial weapons. More importantly, they can use their Charisma modifier for attack and damage rolls with their chosen Hexblade weapon. This makes weapons far more central to a Hexblade’s damage output.
Weapon Type Considerations
One-Handed Melee Weapons
One-handed melee weapons are generally popular among Warlocks, for several reasons.
- Whips: The whip is often cited as a strong contender. Its reach allows a Warlock to attack from a safer distance while holding a shield, improving survivability. This is especially useful for non-Hexblade Warlocks who don’t have medium armor proficiency or a reliable way to mitigate damage in close combat.
- Swords (Shortswords, Scimitars, Rapiers): These are good options, especially if the Warlock has proficiency with them. A rapier offers a higher damage die (1d8) than a shortsword (1d6) or scimitar (1d6), but requires proficiency. For non-Hexblade Warlocks, lacking weapon proficiency can be a significant hurdle.
Two-Handed Melee Weapons
Two-handed melee weapons, such as greatswords or mauls, offer the highest potential damage dice, making them attractive to damage-focused builds.
- Greatswords: A greatsword can be a formidable choice, especially for a Hexblade Warlock. The Hexblade’s ability to use Charisma for attacks and damage means it can deliver substantial melee damage in addition to spells.
- Versatile Weapons (Longswords): These weapons are a middle ground, that can be wielded in one hand for use with a shield, or with two hands for additional damage.
Ranged Weapons
While less common, there are arguments for Warlocks considering ranged weapons. However, it is typically less effective than using their spells.
- Light Crossbows: If you find yourself unable to utilize melee weapons, a light crossbow is a decent fallback option, though it will not synergize with the Pact of the Blade.
Magic Focuses
Staves and Wands are not typically used for direct combat, but are more commonly used as spellcasting focuses.
- Staves: While some magical staves offer benefits for spellcasting and sometimes have special properties, they are not usually used for attacking.
- Wands: Wands are similar to staves, used to enhance spellcasting rather than to attack.
Best Weapon Recommendations by Warlock Build
The Standard Warlock
For a standard Warlock, one who is not a Pact of the Blade or Hexblade, a staff or wand is the best focus for their spells and a whip is a solid option for melee. These builds typically rely on spells and Eldritch Blast for damage, using a weapon only when required. A whip allows them to maintain a safe distance while still having a melee option.
Pact of the Blade Warlock
If your Warlock takes the Pact of the Blade, you have significantly more flexibility. The choice often depends on play style and the desired role in the party:
- Greatsword: A greatsword, while normally not used by spellcasters, is great in combination with the Pact of the Blade, especially if you are going for a melee focused build.
- Any magical weapon: Consider also having the ability to conjure a unique and magical weapon, making it possible to use other weapons like swords, axes, spears, and mauls with the pact of the blade feature.
Hexblade Warlock
The Hexblade’s ability to use Charisma for weapon attacks changes the game entirely. Any weapon they have proficiency with (including martial weapons) can become potent, but several tend to stand out:
- Greatsword: With its high base damage and two-handed damage die, a greatsword, paired with the hexblade’s damage bonuses from hexblade’s curse, is a great option for the melee hexblade.
- Longsword: Versatile, can be wielded with one or two hands, also offers additional damage output without being as heavy and slow as the greatsword.
- Shield and one-handed weapon: If you need to be more defensive, pairing a shield with a one-handed weapon is a good choice.
Key Takeaways
- Warlocks are not primarily weapon-based: Their strengths lie in spells and invocations.
- Pact of the Blade and Hexblade subclasses change weapon dynamics: These builds gain more power from their chosen weapons.
- Variety is key: The “best” weapon depends on your subclass, pact, build, and party composition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can any Warlock use weapons effectively?
Yes, any Warlock can use weapons, but generally, they are not as proficient as other classes. Only a Hexblade Warlock can reliably use weapons as a primary damage source, due to their Charisma modifier being applied to attack and damage rolls. For other Warlocks, weapons are often used as a last resort, or in certain utility situations.
2. Can a Warlock dual-wield weapons?
Technically, a Warlock cannot dual-wield two pact weapons at the same time. However, it is possible to have one Hexblade weapon and a separate Pact of the Blade weapon. You would still only have the proficiency of each weapon as you would normally though.
3. Is a whip really the best option for a non-Hexblade Warlock?
The whip is popular because of its reach and one-handed nature. This allows the Warlock to stay at a safer distance while still being able to make melee attacks and holding a shield. However, its low damage die means it’s not a primary damage option.
4. What about magic weapons?
If you can bind a magic weapon through Pact of the Blade, you cannot easily change that weapon’s form. But this allows you to use the weapon as a focus, and retain the weapon’s magic properties.
5. Can a Warlock use a greatsword?
Yes, any Warlock can use a greatsword, but Hexblade Warlocks get the most out of it due to their ability to apply their Charisma modifier to attacks and damage. Non-Hexblades may struggle with the low hit probability due to the lack of proficiency.
6. Does the weapon type matter for a Pact of the Blade Warlock?
Yes, the type of weapon matters for Pact of the Blade Warlocks because different weapons have different damage dice and properties. Choosing a weapon that aligns with your preferred fighting style and the rest of your Warlock build is crucial.
7. Can a Warlock carry a shield?
Warlocks only get proficiency in light armor, so to use a shield without penalty, they must either take levels in a class that grants shield proficiency or take the Moderately Armored feat.
8. What are the best magical staves for Warlocks?
Staves of crones and the spell sparkler are often cited as good options, but staff of crones can be detrimental because it has a chance of breaking your concentration on a spell. These weapons are best used as focuses for spells rather than for direct combat.
9. Can a Warlock use a rapier?
Yes, a Warlock can use a rapier, but they will not have proficiency in its use unless they have it through their background or subclass. Without proficiency, their attack rolls will not be as good.
10. Why do Hexblades rely on weapons more than other Warlocks?
Hexblades use their Charisma modifier for weapon attacks and damage, which allows them to deal substantial melee damage. The Hexblade’s Curse also boosts damage output in melee. This changes the class from a support class into a hybrid role with melee and spellcasting capabilities.
11. What is the best attribute for a melee Warlock?
Dexterity is crucial for a melee Warlock for better armor class, initiative, and finesse-based attacks. Constitution is also important for health and concentration saves. Charisma, as always, is crucial for spellcasting and subclass features.
12. Can a Warlock use a pact weapon for opportunity attacks?
Yes, a Warlock can use a pact weapon for opportunity attacks, provided they are within the weapon’s range. This adds to the utility of melee weapons.
13. Can a Warlock change their pact weapon form during combat?
No. You can only change the form of your pact weapon during a short or long rest when conjuring it, as it is an action to conjure the weapon into your hand.
14. What is the biggest weakness of a Warlock?
Warlocks have limited spell slots, which can be a weakness if they are in extended engagements, with many battles between rests. However, their ability to cast powerful spells and recharge these on a short rest make the warlock a formidable force to deal with.
15. Is multiclassing beneficial for Warlocks?
Multiclassing can be powerful for Warlocks. Dipping into Sorcerer or Paladin are popular choices for additional spell slots, combat capabilities and features. However, any multiclass can be optimized to create the right Warlock build for you.
In conclusion, while weapons are not the primary focus for all Warlock builds, a thoughtful selection can significantly boost their effectiveness. Understanding your subclass and preferred playstyle is key to choosing the right weapon for your adventure.