What Modifier Does a Pact Weapon Use? A Warlock’s Guide
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The modifier used for attack and damage rolls with a pact weapon depends entirely on the Warlock’s specific build and choices. By default, a pact weapon uses Strength or Dexterity, just like any other weapon, unless specific features alter this. The Pact of the Blade Warlock subclass, combined with certain Eldritch Invocations, allows the Warlock to use their Charisma modifier instead. Understanding these nuances is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of your Warlock character.
Understanding Pact Weapon Mechanics
The Base Pact of the Blade Feature
The Pact of the Blade is a Warlock Pact Boon that enhances your martial capabilities. At its core, it allows you to create a pact weapon, which is a melee weapon you summon from thin air or bond with an existing weapon. The default rules state that you are proficient with this weapon and it counts as magical for overcoming resistances.
The Charisma Connection
The key to using Charisma with your pact weapon lies in certain Eldritch Invocations, specifically in Baldur’s Gate 3. In tabletop D&D, the Hexblade subclass grants this functionality, but since it’s absent in BG3, Invocations bridge the gap. These Invocations empower you to use your Charisma modifier for attack and damage rolls instead of Strength or Dexterity.
The Importance of Eldritch Invocations
Eldritch Invocations are a defining feature of the Warlock class. They are magical secrets that grant you new abilities and enhance existing ones. For Pact of the Blade Warlocks, specific Invocations are essential for turning your Charisma into your primary weapon stat. Without these Invocations, you’re stuck using Strength or Dexterity, which might not align with your character build.
The Absence of Hexblade in BG3
The Hexblade subclass from tabletop D&D is a popular choice for Pact of the Blade Warlocks because it inherently grants the ability to use Charisma for weapon attacks. Its omission from Baldur’s Gate 3 changes the landscape significantly, making the selection of Eldritch Invocations even more critical.
Magical Weapon Considerations
The Pact of the Blade feature also allows you to transform an existing magic weapon into your pact weapon. This is done through a ritual. This opens up exciting possibilities for using powerful magical items with your Charisma modifier if you have the appropriate Invocations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pact Weapons
1. Can my pact weapon be my hex weapon?
According to Crawford, rules as intended definitely allow a Pact Weapon and a weapon that you touch after a long rest to be Hex Weapons. This interpretation gives you the flexibility to combine features and optimize your character.
2. Can a pact weapon be any weapon?
You can only summon melee weapons via the pact, you are automatically proficient with it, and it overcomes the magical resistance of creatures. If you like, you can use an existing magical non-sentient weapon in a ritual to solidify it as your only pact weapon.
3. What can my pact weapon be?
The Invocation allows you to “create” ranged weapons (specifically shortbow, longbow, light crossbow, or heavy crossbow), but the base Pact Weapon feature allows you to transform any magic weapon into your Pact Weapon. (Note that it has to be magic, though.)
4. Can you infuse a pact weapon?
Worth noting: Infusions can only be created/stood down/mucked with at the end of a long rest. A Pact weapon, of the conjured, strictly-temporary variety, would have to exist at the time Infusions can be mucked with, and then continue existing throughout the Infusion’s run time.
5. Can a pact weapon be a bow?
The Improved Pact Weapon Eldritch Invocation allows an extended list of summoned pact weapons which extends to short and long bows, and both heavy and light crossbows.
6. Can a pact weapon be broken?
It’s mentioned in the rule itself already: “The 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. The weapon appears at your feet if it is in the extradimensional space when the bond breaks.”
7. Can you turn Shadow Blade into a pact weapon?
The key things are that shadow blade never counts as a pact weapon or as a hex warrior weapon so you can never use charisma with it. This means the hexblade has to use strength or dexterity to attack with a shadow blade and not charisma.
8. Can my Hexblade be a bow?
It’s certainly possible to do it, the only issue is you’d be casting your Warlock spells with Charisma, but the DC for your Arcane Archer shots would be based on Intelligence.
9. Can you dual wield with a pact weapon?
If you just want the extra attack, this is a good way to get it. If you actually want to literally dual wield then it won’t work.
10. Can a Hexblade have two weapons?
Hexblade allows you to use Charisma for attacks with one weapon you choose, plus with any pact weapon you have. So you can have two separate weapons: your pact weapon, plus your Hexblade-chosen weapon.
11. Can my pact weapon be a greatsword?
Yes, you can turn a greatsword into your pact weapon with the Pact of the Blade feature as the benefit extends to every pact weapon you conjure with that feature, no matter the weapon’s type, which can include two-handed weapons.
12. Does booming Blade work with pact weapon?
The material component for Booming Blade is a weapon that’s worth at least 1 sp. RAW: Yes. A Pact Weapon is considered to have the value of the weapon it becomes, whereas the weapon created by Shadow Blade is composed of “gloom”, which has no value.
13. Can a magic weapon be a pact weapon?
You can transform one magic weapon into your pact weapon by performing a special ritual while you hold the weapon. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest.
14. Can you dual wield Pact of the Blade?
Well per 5e rules the Pact of the Blade boon only applies to one weapon, therefore you should only be allowed to use CHA on which ever weapon you have designated as your pact weapon.
15. Can a pact weapon be an arcane focus?
One of the features of the Improved Pact Weapon invocation in Xanathars is that it explicitly allows the warlock to use their pact weapon as an arcane focus for their spells.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the Pact of the Blade and managing your Eldritch Invocations carefully can turn your Warlock into a potent melee combatant, using their Charisma to its fullest potential. Remember to carefully consider your build and the available Invocations in Baldur’s Gate 3 to optimize your character’s effectiveness. Always be aware of the current rules and interpretations.
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