What Weapons Can Be a Pact Weapon? A Comprehensive Guide for Warlocks
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The Warlock’s Pact of the Blade is a versatile feature, allowing you to create or bond with a weapon to serve as an extension of your will. But what exactly can that weapon be? In its simplest form, a Pact Weapon can be any melee weapon. However, specific Eldritch Invocations and the nature of magic weapons can significantly expand these options, enabling ranged combat and allowing for greater customization. This article explores the intricacies of Pact Weapons, clarifying the limitations and possibilities available to Warlocks across various levels and subclass choices.
Understanding the Base Pact of the Blade Feature
The core Pact of the Blade feature, gained at 3rd level when choosing the Pact of the Blade boon, grants the ability to conjure a melee weapon or transform a magical weapon into your Pact Weapon.
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Conjuring a Weapon: You can use your action to create a melee weapon in your empty hand. This weapon can be any melee weapon you choose. This is a magical weapon, and you are proficient with it while you wield it.
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Transforming a Magic Weapon: You can transform one magic weapon into your pact weapon by performing a special ritual while you hold the weapon. This ritual takes 1 hour, which can be performed during a short rest. You can’t affect an artifact or a sentient weapon in this way.
It’s critical to note that without further modifications, the base Pact of the Blade feature is restricted to melee weapons only. This means you cannot conjure a ranged weapon like a bow or crossbow using just the basic feature.
Eldritch Invocations: Expanding Your Arsenal
Eldritch Invocations are the key to unlocking the full potential of your Pact Weapon. Several invocations directly impact the type of weapons you can wield and their capabilities.
Improved Pact Weapon
This invocation is crucial for Warlocks seeking ranged options. Improved Pact Weapon allows you to conjure specific ranged weapons, expanding your Pact Weapon options:
- Shortbow
- Longbow
- Light Crossbow
- Heavy Crossbow
Furthermore, Improved Pact Weapon grants a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with your pact weapon, making it a significant upgrade. Finally, you can use your pact weapon as a spellcasting focus
Thirsting Blade and Lifedrinker
While these invocations don’t change what weapons you can have as a pact weapon, they are absolutely critical for how effective it is, allowing for multiple attacks and the addition of your charisma modifier to the damage of your pact weapon! These invocations require 5th and 12th level respectively.
Other Relevant Invocations
Other invocations, while not directly impacting the type of weapon, enhance its capabilities. For example, Blade Mastery from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything provides benefits related to wielding a blade.
The Hexblade Patron and Pact Weapon Synergies
The Hexblade Warlock subclass significantly influences Pact Weapon choices, particularly concerning the Hex Warrior feature. Hex Warrior allows you to choose one weapon you are proficient with and use your Charisma modifier for attack and damage rolls made with that weapon. Importantly, this benefit also extends to your pact weapon.
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Synergy: Hex Warrior enables Warlocks to effectively use two-handed weapons (like greatswords or halberds) or ranged options obtained through Improved Pact Weapon, all while relying on Charisma as their primary attack stat.
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Limitations: It is critical to remember your Hex Warrior weapon and Pact Weapon are separate. While they both benefit from Charisma-based attacks if the Pact Weapon is eligible (melee or an Improved Pact Weapon ranged weapon), they are not inherently the same. This separation can be strategically advantageous.
Magic Weapons: A Path to Versatility
The Pact of the Blade allows you to transform a magic weapon into your Pact Weapon. This is a vital aspect, as it bypasses the limitations of the conjured weapon.
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Any Magic Weapon: Any magic weapon can become your Pact Weapon, provided it is not an artifact or sentient. This means if you find a magic firearm, you can indeed make it your Pact Weapon, even though you cannot conjure one through the base Pact of the Blade feature.
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Benefits: Transforming a magic weapon grants access to its inherent magical properties and enchantments. A +1 longbow, for example, could become your Pact Weapon, combining the benefits of a magic weapon with the advantages of the Pact of the Blade.
FAQs: Pact Weapons Unveiled
1. Can my Pact Weapon be a ranged weapon by default?
No, not without the Improved Pact Weapon invocation or by transforming a magic ranged weapon. The base Pact of the Blade only allows for the conjuration of melee weapons.
2. Can I use Shadow Blade as my Pact Weapon?
No. The Shadow Blade spell specifically states it does not count as a Pact Weapon or Hex Warrior weapon. Therefore, you cannot use Charisma for attack and damage rolls with Shadow Blade, regardless of your Pact of the Blade or Hexblade features.
3. Can a Hexblade use a bow as their Pact Weapon?
Yes, if you take the Improved Pact Weapon invocation or if you transform a magic bow into your Pact Weapon. Otherwise you can make the bow your hex weapon.
4. Can I dual wield with Pact of the Blade?
The Pact of the Blade boon only applies to one weapon at a time. You can’t have multiple conjured Pact Weapons simultaneously. However, you can wield a separate weapon in your off-hand while wielding your Pact Weapon, following the standard dual-wielding rules. Only your Pact Weapon will use Charisma for attack and damage rolls (assuming you have Hex Warrior or similar).
5. Can I summon two Pact Weapons?
No. The Pact of the Blade feature explicitly states that you can only have one Pact Weapon at a time. Creating a new one causes the previous one to disappear.
6. Can a Hexblade turn a greatsword into their Pact Weapon?
Yes! Hex Warrior lets you use CHA for attacks with pact weapon regardless of the type.
7. Can a Pact Weapon be infused?
Potentially, yes, but it’s highly situational and dependent on the timing. Artificer Infusions can only be applied during a long rest. A conjured Pact Weapon must exist at the end of the long rest and remain until the Infusion’s duration ends. A transformed magic weapon, on the other hand, could be infused normally.
8. What are the benefits of having a Pact Weapon?
Pact Weapon has power spikes and greater potential. Invocations like Lifedrinker and Thirsting Blade add significant damage and extra attacks. It also allows for spellcasting through the Improved Pact Weapon invocation.
9. Can I have more than one Pact at a time?
As per the rules, the Pact of the Blade allows for one Pact Weapon. However, the Warlock’s relationship with their patron is more flexible. A DM might allow multiple pacts with different entities, leading to unique roleplaying and mechanical consequences.
10. Does Booming Blade work with a Pact Weapon?
Yes. Booming Blade requires a weapon worth at least 1 sp. A Pact Weapon, due to its magical conjuration or transformation from a magic weapon, meets this requirement. Shadow Blade does not, since it is made out of shadow.
11. Does a Hexblade weapon count as a magic weapon?
No, the Hex Warrior feature does not inherently make the weapon magical. The Pact of the Blade feature itself does not grant the “magical” property to the weapon.
12. Can I make a hand crossbow my Pact Weapon?
Yes, if you choose Improved Pact Weapon. Otherwise, you must transform a magic hand crossbow into your Pact Weapon.
13. Can a longsword be a Hex weapon?
Yes, if you make it your hex weapon or pact weapon, yes. The hex weapon is determined each long rest.
14. Can a Hexblade cast with a shield?
Yes, if they use the holy symbol on their shield as their spellcasting focus.
15. What is a good Hexblade patron?
A powerful entity connected to powerful weapons can be a great choice. Charon, the Boatman of the River Styx is also a good patron who grants power in return for souls.
Conclusion
The Pact of the Blade offers a versatile and customizable weapon option for Warlocks. Understanding the core features, Eldritch Invocations, and the influence of the Hexblade subclass allows you to tailor your Pact Weapon to suit your playstyle, whether it’s a two-handed greatsword, a versatile longbow, or a magically enhanced firearm. By carefully selecting your invocations and considering the potential of magic weapons, you can forge a potent bond with your chosen weapon, making it an indispensable tool in your adventures.
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