What is the Pact of the Blade Warlock?
A Pact of the Blade Warlock is a Warlock who has chosen a specific Pact Boon at 3rd level: the Pact of the Blade. This pact grants them the ability to summon a magical melee weapon out of thin air as an action. This isn’t just any weapon; it becomes an extension of the Warlock’s magic, acting as a conduit for their power. It is important to note that the weapon is not a random conjuration; the Warlock chooses the form of the weapon from the melee options found in the Player’s Handbook. This weapon is considered magical for overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. A key limitation is that if the pact weapon is more than 5 feet away from the Warlock for 1 minute or more, it disappears. This bond between Warlock and weapon is at the heart of the Pact of the Blade, making them formidable warriors alongside their spellcasting prowess.
The Core Mechanics of Pact of the Blade
The mechanics behind the Pact of the Blade are straightforward but potent. At its core, it allows the Warlock to:
- Conjure a Melee Weapon: As an action, the Warlock can create a melee weapon of their choice. They have proficiency with this weapon as long as they are holding it.
- Magical Nature: The summoned weapon is considered magical for overcoming nonmagical damage resistance and immunity, a crucial benefit in many combat scenarios.
- Temporary Weapon: The weapon disappears if it is more than 5 feet away from the Warlock for a minute or longer. This ensures the Warlock keeps the weapon close and in their possession.
- Weapon Choice: The weapon’s form is chosen by the Warlock from the available melee weapon options in the Player’s Handbook. This allows for customization based on preference or strategic need.
- Eldritch Invocations Enhancement: Specific Eldritch Invocations can enhance the Pact Weapon, such as Improved Pact Weapon which allows for the conjuration of ranged weapons and enhances attack and damage rolls, and Thirsting Blade allows for additional attack options during combat.
Pact of the Blade and Hexblade
While any Warlock can choose the Pact of the Blade, the Hexblade Patron is synergistically designed to work exceptionally well with it. A Hexblade’s Hex Warrior feature allows them to use their Charisma modifier for attack and damage rolls with one weapon they are proficient with (without the 2-handed property), as well as with their pact weapon, instead of using Strength or Dexterity. This means a Hexblade Warlock can become a highly effective melee combatant, using their key stat (Charisma) for both spellcasting and weapon attacks.
Here is why a Hexblade and Pact of the Blade work well together:
- Charisma-Based Attacks: As a Hexblade, you can use your Charisma modifier for attacks with your pact weapon. This allows you to be both a potent spellcaster and melee warrior.
- Armor Proficiency: Hexblades gain proficiency in medium armor and shields. This improves survivability for close-quarters fighting, something that most Warlocks do not normally have.
- Synergistic Invocations: Many of the best Eldritch Invocations, such as Thirsting Blade, support and enhance the Pact of the Blade.
While the Hexblade is the most optimized option, the Pact of the Blade can be utilized by other patrons as well. These other patrons will require more investment into either strength or dexterity depending on the type of melee weapon chosen, making them more dependent on multiple stats to be effective in combat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can any Warlock choose Pact of the Blade?
Yes, any Warlock can choose the Pact of the Blade at 3rd level as one of their Pact Boons. It’s not exclusive to any specific patron, though it is most commonly and effectively used by the Hexblade patron.
2. What weapons can a Pact of the Blade Warlock create?
A Pact of the Blade Warlock can create any melee weapon listed in the Player’s Handbook. This includes weapons like swords, axes, maces, spears, and more. Additionally, some Eldritch Invocations can expand this to ranged weapons as well.
3. Does the Pact of the Blade weapon count as magical?
Yes, the summoned pact weapon counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. This is one of the most significant benefits of the pact.
4. Can a Hexblade be a Pact of the Blade Warlock?
Absolutely. In fact, the Hexblade patron is specifically designed to work well with the Pact of the Blade. The Hex Warrior feature of the Hexblade allows you to use Charisma for weapon attacks, which synergizes perfectly with a Pact of the Blade build.
5. Can you dual-wield with Pact of the Blade?
The Pact of the Blade feature only applies to a single summoned weapon. While you could obtain another weapon, only the chosen pact weapon can be used with features like the ability to use charisma modifier for attacks.
6. Can a Hexblade use their sentient weapon as a pact weapon?
No, the Pact of the Blade specifically states “You can’t affect an artifact or sentient weapon in this way”. Since a Hexblade’s patron is a sentient weapon, it cannot become a pact weapon. The Hexblade can only form a new pact weapon by using this feature.
7. What happens if the Pact of the Blade weapon goes too far away?
If the pact weapon is more than 5 feet away from the Warlock for 1 minute or more, it disappears. The Warlock can summon it again as an action.
8. Does the Pact of the Blade make all attacks Charisma-based?
No, only if the Warlock is a Hexblade or utilizes certain Eldritch Invocations can they use Charisma modifier for their attack and damage rolls. If a Warlock chooses the Pact of the Blade but is not a Hexblade, they would likely need to use Strength or Dexterity.
9. Can the Pact of the Blade be combined with other pacts?
The Pact of the Blade is a mutually exclusive choice to the Pact of the Chain, Pact of the Tome, or Pact of the Talisman. A Warlock can choose one at level 3. You cannot take additional pacts unless a feature states otherwise.
10. Is the Pact of the Blade the best pact for a Warlock?
It depends on the desired playstyle. The Pact of the Blade is excellent for melee combat, especially for Hexblades. Other pacts like the Pact of the Chain, Pact of the Tome, and Pact of the Talisman cater to different styles, such as spellcasting utility, and summoning familiars.
11. Can a Pact of the Blade Warlock summon a magical weapon?
The weapon the Pact of the Blade Warlock summons is already considered magical, but they cannot directly affect a magic item or sentient weapon with the pact. They cannot turn a magic longsword they have found into their pact weapon.
12. Can a Pact of the Blade Warlock use a ranged weapon?
By default, the Pact of the Blade allows only the conjuration of melee weapons. However, the Eldritch Invocation Improved Pact Weapon allows the Warlock to conjure ranged weapons like shortbows, longbows, light crossbows, or heavy crossbows.
13. Why is the Hexblade Patron so good with Pact of the Blade?
The Hexblade’s Hex Warrior feature allows for the use of the Charisma modifier for weapon attacks with your pact weapon. This makes it synergistic, as Charisma is the primary spellcasting stat for Warlocks. This synergy is key to making the Pact of the Blade a viable combat option.
14. Can Pact of the Blade Warlocks use two-handed weapons effectively?
Pact of the Blade Warlocks can conjure and wield two-handed weapons if they chose to do so. However, Hexblades can not use the Charisma bonus on these, as the Hex Warrior feature stipulates that it must be a weapon without the 2-handed property.
15. What happens if a Warlock breaks their pact?
If a Warlock breaks their pact, they would likely lose their granted powers, including those granted by the pact of the blade, as well as most of the benefits provided by their patron, however there are no specific rules in the 5e Player’s Handbook for this situation. It is up to the DM to decide how this affects the character.