How to Play a Hexblade Warlock in Dungeons and Dragons 5e

[@varasatoshi3961]

Hey bro what do you want to eat? A bagel *THE SOULS OF THE INNOCENT* Two bagels.

[@brunop.8745]

nice meme my dude

[@elijahculper5522]

Vara Satoshi You’ve been hanging out with too many vegans.

[@benthomason3307]

my hexblade's patron actually prefers to eat the souls of the _guilty_ . because a hexblade weapon can have any sort of personality whatsoever.

[@Ragnarok6664]

Ribs with extra soul

[@saintpoli6800]

@@benthomason3307 *Hoar intensifies*

[@P-diddykong]

The madman did it. He actually did. He picked a Warlock without Eldritch Blast

[@sodabob]

When I heard that warlocks "must" take Eldritch Blast... I didn't.

[@davidgeldner2167]

Unfathomable knowledge beyond comprehension

[@paulblake6712]

Hexblades probably prefer Eldritch Smite

[@davidgeldner2167]

@@paulblake6712 I guess but honestly they still benefit from staying at a distance bc as much as they’re survivable they’re also still not a fighter or barbarian etc

[@paulblake6712]

@@davidgeldner2167 your not wrong, but if I have a Morningstar, ima gonna use

[@sophia-tc5sl]

I love this cuz my hexblade is essentially the evil part that they’re talking about and his sword is actively trying to make him a better person

[@williamwontiam3166]

That’s actually really fun... is he an orc?

[@sophia-tc5sl]

@@williamwontiam3166 half elf

[@mytzlplk]

Compelling concept. And when you say "better", is that a relative term? That is, a thief is better than a murderer? So, his sword is trying to get him to do more larceny versus capital crimes? Also, it's been 3 years since your comment. Can you share what your Warlock's character progression is/was? Did he become a better person?

[@notovny]

"I am the Nameless Blade. Over a thousand years, I have had six Wielders. Over a thousand years, I have had six Names. For a thousand years since, I have been Lost. If you agree, I will grant you a sliver of my power, so that you may go forth and become Worthy. Then Seek me. Find me. Claim me, and Name me. Know, however, that there can be only one Seventh Wielder, and you are not the only candidate."

[@arcticwiz2249]

I now have an idea for my campaign, thank you very much.

[@dndknower]

As do i.

[@meris8486]

Where's that quoted from?

[@notovny]

@@meris8486 The quote was created for the comment.

[@meris8486]

@@notovny Oh neat

[@captainthorrek262]

I love how one example Hexblade is an aggressive powerhouse, while the other is a scalpel designed to cut out the problem in a combat.

[@gunhead7159]

Warlock is my favorite class by a long shot. They’re versatile, can cast spells, can take a few hits, is able to pick the best cantrips (mate hand, minor illusion, prestidigitation, and of corse Eldritch Blast! Not to mention the pact of the tome allowing you to pick 3 CANTRIPS FROM ANY CLASS!! I’m a huge cantrip lover so this is a big deal for me) spellcasting is simple so you know that it’s always like 2 spell slots at 3rd level for my 8 spells I have to remember, freaking free disguise self invocation so you’re basically a doppleganger, it’s just my favorite thing to play and you’ll have to try real hard to get me to main anything else.

[@AllThingsFascinate]

Glad you love it! I'm so interested in the feel, but struggling. I can smite way more with a paladin, and get to prepare ,rather than know, spells. Bards are probably my favorite class, and I feel like I can do just about all the warlock things on my Bard, but with infinitely more spells. Locks just seem mechanically bad. Invocations still cost a spell slots??? Only one option at higher levels spells. Slots are at higher level, but many on the warlock list can't be upcast. I love the idea of invocations, but run out making the character effective, not enough room for the really fun ones. I feel like tome and chain are amazing. Love the flavor of summoning a blade. Sigh. The 2 slots don't just ruin your experience? I my Bard can melee, cast really useful spells, tons of social utility, and then tons of slots for shield. Wish I felt like you did!

[@robbierotten2024]

Alex Jobe That’s true, but the point of hexblade isn’t to smite, it’s having a true magical melee class. Your eldritch invocations give you a ton of variety in the abilities you have. Smite is just the extra bonus tbh. Fighters have martial prowess, rogues have sneak attacks, barbarians have rage, monks have ki and martial arts, the Paladin has smite and holy magic; but the warlock has a massive variety of invocations and abilities allowing him to super power his weapon, create extra hp and levitate at will, teleport, summon weapons, and curse your opponents. The list goes on of course, but essentially the main difference with hexblade is that you’re literally an eldritch melee class if that makes any sense. You’re a melee class built around your invocations and careful use of your spells, you can get so many abilities. It’s just totally different. As for the rest of warlock, not all invocations require spell slots, just some do because they’re powerful. You can cast armor of agathis at will, mask of many faces lets you disguise self at will, moonlight lets you never have to sleep and can stand guard at all times. Bards can’t have a super powered familiar, nor will they have the variety of cantrips warlock can get. Getting spells back on a short rest helps mediate your spell slot use, and it makes me feel like my spell slots are just that more important. I’m always waiting for the right moment to use my 2 level 5 spell slots, and the abilities from your patron give varied abilities. That tend to be more powerful than other classes class abilities. Great old one warlock gets a permanent thrall as a class ability out of any creature it can cast thrall on, which is insane. Warlock has access to tons of crazy things, but it’s important to understand that it CANNOT do everything. Warlocks are specialists, you don’t spec into everything, you spec into some things from a very big list of many things that have powerful perks.

[@oscarbrazil9922]

ah yes the Mate Hand the most powerful and useful cantrip that there is.

[@lufasumafalu5069]

mage's hand ? i got gale's hand in bg3

[@felipespartani4603]

Mate hand? What you do with that? 😳

[@alexnuzlocker12]

Everyone's talking about Eldritch horrors with this and I'm here like "but what if I take a pact with a Holy Avenger?"

[@saarthak421]

Is holy avenger though?? I dunno so that’s why I am asking

[@Aidscapade71]

Do it. I was inspired by blade of Zariel, and play a chaotic good person and sword reached out in desperation and,seeks to remake him as its new. Champion of justice

[@zachmdful]

Absolutely no reason you can't reskin the subclass, I love the idea!

[@MordaeTir]

Holy avenger is a great option especially if your playing a character along the lines of King Arthur

[@oOPPHOo]

The shadowfell is built into the core flavor of the subclass more than a the blade pact is. Would a Holy Avenger summon undead, life draining spirits from your slain enemies or let you consume their essence to restore parts of your own vitality? I understand if some people would find that hard to reconcile the flavor and the mechanics. Of course, if you can make it work well enough to satisfy your own needs, go for it! :D When prompted by my DM, I personally made up a patron that embraces the shadowfell theme. A legendary shadow dragon sealed within a ruby of the war mage attached to an entirely mundane sword. The dragon is content to be within the ruby, but it desires to consume both life and necrotic energy as well as be giving a stronger stronger vessel to be attached to. Finally, it desires to be reunited with key item of its lost treasure hoard, now spread across the continent. This treasure cannot be spent. There's this inherent "greed" in the mechanics of the subclass that I feel is embodied well by a shadow dragon. I figured a DM could have some fun with that. I also invented a tie in with Drow politics, since that's relevant to my character's backstory, but that's another matter

[@thedisabledviking]

almost every DnD video ive seen: "warlock is a very diverse class" every warlock player ive seen: eldritch blast spam everywhere

[@revelationmd]

Unfortunately, so true!

[@aldoushuxley5953]

Think of them as a halfcaster class. EB is just like "I shoot my bow" or "I swing my sword" for Rangers and Paladins

[@QuiescentPilot]

Christoffer Olsen Jonathan Böcker is definitely correct; while Warlock gives you a large number of choices you can make, a lot of the time, what you want to do in-game is use at-will abilities and melee attacks. The Warlock’s Eldritch Blast, when combined with Agonizing Blast, is pretty much the equivalent of a weapon attack. IMO, the only reason not to take it is if you’re a Hexblade, in which case you can do melee attacks instead.

[@tylerlibby8230]

The hexlock I'm playing does more melee damage then the fighter, she has this cheeky combo know as improved pact weapon + thirsting blade + pact of the blade (glaive) + great weapon master + branding smite and then blink if things get bad (picking up eldrich smite next level to really whack)

[@apollyonnoctis1291]

BlueBurton even then it’s useful when out of range.

[@gregoryfloriolli9031]

King Arthur is a Hexblade Warlock. Change my mind.

[@robertstegmann9260]

Hexblade warlocks don't get to wield their patron.

[@CCartman69]

@@robertstegmann9260 Merlin is Arthur's Patron. Or barring that, the Lady in the Lake. Excalibur (and the other one before) are his bonded weapons.

[@theonlymatthew.l]

When did Arthur cast any spells whatsoever?

[@leodouskyron5671]

I am actually not going to change your mind. 1st, you do you 2nd Author had 2 magic swords at different times (typically one in the stone and one from the lady of the lake) and a magic scabbard. That last bit being why he never wore armor in some stories ; the scabbard prevented him from being cut and thus wielded the armor of faith (or armor of shadows). If you need a sword giving patron, the lady of the lake makes a nice person to have given him the blade. Instead of cursing his foes he calls upon a “prayer” to defeat his enemy. Easy re-skin. 3rd was he only thing that works against him being a Warlock is that he would never all a cursed Spector. Have fun!

[@Draeka]

@@robertstegmann9260 They don't? Reconsider that.

[@johnnybtheshooter1457]

Warlock is my favorite class. I’m so excited about the hex blade. Btw, I just started playing DnD

[@fardareismai4495]

Nice! I hope you'll enjoy playing for many decades! Warlock is brilliant, they come with such amazing hooks and roleplay opportunities built into their core. I'm still very partial to my rogue though... I always have such a hard time picking one class as my favourite.

[@CallenExile]

I love Warlocks and Fighters. Warlock/Battlemaster is the short rest god.

[@hollowcat6756]

Welcome to the party. (Literally)

[@samuelschurman3762]

I’m playing a hex blade warlock in a campaign right now. Most ridiculous fucking backstory ever lol.

[@cravingtacos7690]

JohnnyB theShooter tv no I N

[@cloudygamessometimes]

I love the use of Relentless Hex and I had someone that was listening in to the video, and gave me an idea: “If you can teleport to a target with a hex, could you hex an object and drop that object somewhere, then Minato Namikaze yourself to the object?”

[@cloudygamessometimes]

Daniel Bernhardt ok, that makes sense. But yeah, if it’s house ruled that you can hex an object it would be a great thing to role play

[@cloudygamessometimes]

Daniel Bernhardt really would be

[@hadarc01]

Thats just Misty Step with less misty and extra steps.

[@etienneruche2844]

12:17 “I think you kinda gotta be a little unhinged to make an eldritch pact.” Nonsense! Just do what my warlock did and be so good at legalese and lawyering that you make an airtight, mutually beneficial contract with a devil.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

If I need to make a warlock pact, I'm hiring Metalocalypse to negotiate for me. Heck, Murderface is a notary!

[@nicho.7400]

My character became a warlock because their mom was an eldritch being, married to a bard of course. Mother eldritch horror was very worried for their child and turned them into a warlock so they can defend themselves

[@GrassPokeKing]

@@nicho.7400 It's like a spicy sorcerer!

[@j.sawyer4946]

I'm rolling a character based off Charlie Daniels song Devil Went Down to Georgia. Johnny is a bard who won a bet with the devil and got his golden fiddle. So now he's multiclassed Warlock.

[@zubetube7111]

Actually, I’m building my Hexblade as a Scourge Aasimar, because of the +2 Cha and +1 Con. The backstory is that the radiant corruption was completely uncontrolled, threatening his life, and the Hexblade offered him an enchanted mask that allowed him advanced powers as a combat caster, and control his radiant corruption. His pact quite literally is the only thing keeping him alive.

[@aaronhumphrey2009]

Great character hook.. Vega ScourgeLock..

[@jordancabe732]

Comrade! How did your epic character turn out! :D

[@AmazingJMS]

This is a great chanel for DnD fans.

[@rocky1man624]

My First D&D session this Saturday!!!

[@TheHawkhead1HunterK]

I really like the idea of a paladin or something coming across a set of Demon Armor that then convinces him to Pact Bond with it, so instead of using his trusty longsword, the Demon Armor protects him and allows his fists to deal the same amount of damage. I've gotta make this character now.

[@RealPhuggly]

I took inspiration from the Dresden Files, and made my Hexblade as a chosen “Winter Knight” of Mab, The Queen of Air and Darkness.

[@theonlymatthew.l]

That series of books is amazing. In every single book there are dozens of inspirations for any D&D player. I've yet to read a single book from that author that I didn't absolutely love

[@nathanbaca5131]

Jim Butcher is awesome

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

Jim is a phenomenal RPer btw

[@stub0794]

Favorite series by far!!!

[@andyh2783]

Yet to read any of them.....I'm just finishing up reading all the Dying Earth books by Jack Vance....but the Dresden books continously come up whenever D&D inspiration is the topic

[@Ryquard1]

I really enjoy how Kim Richards plays Nova in High Rollers they took all things hexblade and put her own twist on it.

[@MagusAgrippa8]

One of my favorite warlock builds, though the Specter thing can feel really weird depending on the build. Also. You can totally play with Hexblades as a freakin Magical Girl. On another note, it slightly annoys me that other classes that can conditionally gain better armor or weapons (Cleric comes to mind, as they can start with heavy armor or martial weapons with the right subclass) can get those weapons as a part of their starting equipment pack. Hexblade Warlocks cannot, they have to spend their starting gold on it.

[@rodjacksonx]

Yeah, I plan on asking my DM if I can swap the feature out for something mundane.

[@MurdersMachine]

It's unfortunate this hobby/game attracts so many weirdo weebs.

[@MagusAgrippa8]

Ryan Murders I can see how that can be a problem, but at the same time, anime works as a great chassis for character concepts. Magical Girls do fit super well if the item they transform with is the item that forged their pact. The problems there is if someone goes to far weeb with it.

[@Fektthis]

@@MurdersMachine better someone who sources anime as opposed to someone who sources actual D&D movies or cartoons, or hell, even a crap ton of the books. Hell, I'll take someone sourcing anime all day long over another Drizzt clone. You ever read those books? It's seriously the same book over and over as far as plot elements and development is concerned.

[@oOPPHOo]

I recently homebrewed an invocation that was meant serve the fantasy of a power-up transformation magical girl style. It's mechanically rather uninspired though. Basically, as an action, you get to spend two warlock spell slots to cast the Hex spell twice and as if concentrating on a only a single spell. The hexes can be divided among two targets or focused on a single one, essentially letting your hex deal double damage. I also allowed the damage type to be switched to radiant if so desired. True anime style, this power-up causes you a level of exhaustion when the spell(s) end or you lose concentration on them, but the duration of course increases with the level of the spell slot used. for now I've put a 5th level prerequisite. It's meant to function well with eldritch blast most of all because, I feel that cantrip is super easy to reflavor as something magical girl inspired. Your eldritch blast can easily be a spectral bow shooting projectiles with explosive rosebuds as the arrowhead. As such I'm debating just giving a damage dice bonus to all your attack rolls that hit to keep things simple. Most importantly, you're encouraged to described spending the spell slots as undergoing

[@rodjacksonx]

Finally, the Hexblade gets some discussion! I'm just starting with a Hexblade in a game; went with spear and shield, and I'm trying my best to stay with a cold theme without being too underpowered (Frostbite cantrip, Armor of Agathys, plan to pick up Cone of Cold later, and even his Shield spell is described as a whirlwind of ice chunks protecting him.)

[@pedrodarosamello64]

Tomb of Levistus is also a decent eldritch invocation that literally covers you in ice

[@MrRaposaum]

Really... I like Hexblade a lot and I love ice-themed things. Great idea you had, I bet is a lot of fun playing it.

[@connorfrithsen2213]

I’m doing a similar thing in my campaign right now. I am currently trying to get the ring of winter from the dinosaur person’s friend in ToA

[@Observer31]

Armor of Agathys is *really* good if you combo it with damage resistance/reduction. Consider taking a few levels of fighter (battlemaster and parry, or rune knight and rune of the hill giant for damage resistance). It does delay your high level abilities/spells, but fighting style and action surge *really* boost your fighting abilities.

[@stevenpeven258]

My current Dragonborn character made a pact with the raven queen through one of her raven proxies, when he became trapped in a mine where the veil between the material plane and the shadowfell was extraordinarily thin. The pact essentially boiled town to “ill give you the power you need to get out of this mine, if you answer my summons to protect my realm whenever I need you.”

[@Flowerbandit7]

As a fellow Hexblade Knight of the Raven Queen, I approve

[@talongreenlee7704]

I had somewhat of a similar character, who made a pact with the Raven Queen because he was told by a seer that he would die in an upcoming battle and wanted to avoid his fate

[@demon3203]

I hope you had some good reasons for the pact, as far as i know dragonborn do not look up to deity and believe in their own strength. If a dragonborn ever did worship god or was a follow of a deity they would be looked down apon by their fellow dragonborn. *even in the rare case a dragonborn ever is religious they often times don't worship, but instead try to impress their god by being the best they can be. This way different then praying and giving things to your deity."

[@stevenpeven258]

Adam R it was more a case of life or death. He was in the mine because he was/is a jewellers apprentice, and his mentor sent him down the mine to assess the quality of gems available in a newly discovered cavern, rich in various crystals and gems. As the job should have only taken an hour or two at most, he didn’t have any resources to survive down there, other than some very basic rations, which wouldn’t last more than a day. He ultimately decided to accept the offer, rather than die in the mine, and have his mentors time and talents wasted teaching him, for him to end up dead, without having providing any real benefit to his clan.

[@benthomason3307]

gods themselves don't have warlocks, they have clerics

[@Sleepylohan]

I appreciate and respect how much you guys get into it

[@deanweir9023]

If you take spell sniper feat. Booming blade range doubles so you can use reach weapons for booming blade and green flame blade.

[@tristannolan5432]

The range of the spell is self so you can already use the reach weapons without sniper

[@Clarity_Control]

@@tristannolan5432 The cantrip states that you make a melee attack against one creature *5 ft away from you*

[@tristannolan5432]

@@Clarity_Control ah, the wording is dumb

[@Clarity_Control]

@@tristannolan5432 It's a stupid thing to add to the cantrip

[@darcraven01]

idea: pick up a cursed weapon that sucks your soul into itself (or at least part/most of your soul?). the curse twists your soul, corrupting it. your body becomes lich-like with the blade as your phylactery and your twisted soul becomes your own hexblade patron..

[@darcraven01]

@Buddha UwU um... no? "An oathbreaker is a paladin who breaks their sacred oaths to pursue some dark ambition or serve an evil power. Whatever light burned in the paladin's heart been extinguished. Only darkness remains." (thats from dnd5e.wikidot.com/paladin:oathbreaker ) besides, even if it were.... its a paladin, not a warlock. lol

[@thisstatementisfalsenothin5312]

I had an idea for a warlock based on what I believe is some Japanese thing where if a sword kills enough people it becomes magical and sentient so I thought a fighter who killed enough people for his sword to come to life and give him magic I’ve not thought much about it so it’s not very specific but that’s the general idea

[@j-wilk4835]

Im playing a Barovia campaign and I picked up a cursed staff, Gulthias Staff. Expending 1 charge, I can regain health when I hit a creature with the weapon, but I have to make a wisdom saving throw or go temporarily insane. I think that could be a fantastic corruption option for my player, especially since I went a couple levels in Paladin. I could then go with Oathbreaker Pally, after going temporarily insane from the staff made me do some horrific things, and lead into a redemption/fallen character arc.

[@aaronhumphrey2009]

So dark..a cursed weapon that gradually drains the user soul.. Or go darker still..A Runeblade with a potent Demon bound to it..one that's willing to bestow some of its power to a 'worthy' wielder - for a price.. Think Soul Blade..

[@darcraven01]

@@aaronhumphrey2009 the twist of the blade not having anything bound to it and it just being a trap but you overcame it and were able to still function as a lich makes a more compelling character.. at least thats how i see it. a demon trapping your soul in a blade is kind of the normal.. said demon being in the blade less so but still makes it more like an evil genie... in this case, i dont like the idea of you making a pact with an outside force but rather you "making a pact" with yourself to use the power behind the curse as your own

[@a.z.pantera5577]

I think most people that I know, including myself, would shoot for some kind of redemption arc and inevitably start taking Paladin levels. Or vice versa, where they break their oath and start going into Warlock, more often than not due to being led astray. I'm honestly trying not to draw parallels to Kingdom Hearts, but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it casts Zetta-flare.

[@DigitalWayfarer]

If zetta-flare was a spell in DnD it definitely would be a warlock exclusive spell. ZETTA-FLARE!!!

[@Hadaron]

Thanks for reminding me of the cursed fact that the only casters of Zetta Flare in all of the Square Enixverse are Airy: The Piercer of Boundaries and the Servant of the Serpent who Devours the Horizon… and Donald Duck.

[@OpenBiolabsGuy]

In the interest of being different, I’m going to go with Tortle as a choice pick for hex blade. It wouldn’t be too far fetched to say that a Tortle who went out into the world at 15 stumbled across a magical object they didn’t fully understand, and made a pact with it not initially understanding what they were agreeing to. Also, that 17 AC from the shell immediately improves your Warlock’s survival early game. Gaining access to shields just boosts that. I’d also avoid picking eldritch blast for this build. I think that thematically, everything should play off the cursed weapon that is the namesake of the class and make the Tortle tankier.

[@aussiegamer9668]

So you give up the one cantrip that is pivotal to the warlock. Essentially knee capping yourself, that's really silly.

[@joshmcclure9423]

I just made an Eladrin Bard with a Hexblade dip, and I made her source of Hexblade powers a magical bagpipe, it’s my second campaign ever and I’m so excited. So it was really nice to see the dungeon dudes confirm my idea of how things work in DnD. You two are the literal best!

[@PedroAugusto-xp4tt]

What a neet timing, just began creating a character and was thinking about the Hexblade

[@winkledorf17]

Cha and Con are your bread and butter

[@elis.5350]

Glaive, Polearmmaster, Sentinal, tough, and greatweapon master take these feats as you go with your last 3 levels as a battlemaster fighter cause Eldritch Master is trash and you will be a melee fighting spell slinging God by the end...oh and take Foresight as your 9th level spell all day advantage while your enemies have all day disadvantage paired with armor of hexes is broken AF

[@chrishardy3439]

Consider multi-classing into bard (or pally if you want mega-damage) for extra spell slots access dual-wield pact weapon/shadow blade, faerie fire, darkness, shield, bestow curse can all be extremely useful when you have extra slots. Plus if you start off bard you’ll have dex save proficiency unless you’d prefer wis saves (?) from warlock.. expertise, swords bard gets flourishes lots to play with

[@colinmyers6680]

Do it, so much fun and a fantastic class for multi classing. Really adaptable to whatever kinda character you wanna play

[@colinmyers6680]

@@elis.5350 this is pretty much what my character is though I'm speccing heavier into fighter with a splash of lock. I want all those attacks :)

[@RylanBones1]

the camera quality is SO GOOD in this video! Love it!

[@DungeonDudes]

Thanks!

[@trigon525]

Just a note on the hand crossbow as a pact weapon. Rules as written ANY magic weapon can be made into the pact weapon, as the weapon bonding rule is separate from the weapon creation rule. This allows a warlock to use a hand crossbow pact weapon, assuming the DM gives one.

[@Dara-qk5md]

im playing a fairy hexblade warlock not very optimized obv I just love the visual of a tiny guy swinging around a massive greatsword :)

[@pontuslindheohlsson2184]

Perk of choosing the invocation Relentless Hex: you become the ultimate horror villain who slowly pursues a running character and still always manages to be right behind them...

[@k_geokin]

Falling back into DnD again and have been surfing the videos on youtube for tips and tricks, and boy do i appreciate the D Dudes' concise, helpful, and EDITED videos. Keep up the great work Dudes!

[@robdefibaugh1781]

Hexblade is my favorite class/sub class. I have played several including one that mixed Inquisitive rogue to add that extra punch, but ultimately hexblades are better left as a single class for me. I also am an old fan of Elric so that leads down the dark hole of moral dilemmas.

[@jessecapra2350]

Perfect timing! My lady is rolling up a warlock for my next campaign once she gets home! Cheers, gents!

[@HallofCraftVids]

You guys really nailed it on this video. Hexblade is by far my favourite class, and I could never put my finger on why. But you guys spelled it right out for me here, its the built in role-play options. Although its hard to not start out as a paladin to get that heavy armour proficiency xD. Cheers.

[@Ollardell]

Something I love about the hexblade warlock, is that it makes a pretty good archer character! Ya, it isnt as great as eldritch blast for ranged damage, but it feels more like an arcane archer than an arcane archer is.

[@Ikaraii]

I know this comment is two years old but I just wanted to say that I made an archer Hexblade. For flavour I renamed Eldritch Blast to Eldritch Arrow. I always imagine him creating his pact bow and shooting a high level, high damage ‘Dark Arrow’ (common RPG ability in video games). This becomes even cooler as you level up as you can shoot multiple Eldritch Arrows at the same time!

[@Flowerbandit7]

I play a Hexblade warlock, and I have been enjoying it so much. Hes strong enough to tank not 1 but 2 death knights, as he did in last nights fight.

[@jgibson9989]

When you guys said the hand of Vecna as a source of power... I couldn’t get the image of yoshikage Kira out of my head... Exploding things and keeping hands... yum

[@georgetourloukis7194]

Every time you use fireball yell KIRA QUEEN

[@thebuggameista5100]

@@georgetourloukis7194 DAI ICHI NO BAKUDAN!

[@jwall1646]

I would love a video like this for the war wizard and spores Druid as they both seem really weird to me

[@jamesgardner9926]

I really like the idea of the weapon actually possessing a character. This gives me ideas. A multi class where a paladin or fighter discovers a cursed weapon.

[@aaronhumphrey2009]

It's cool, but use it sparingly, because the PC's will resent being turned into NPC observers after a very short time.

[@maid_of_heart3261]

@@aaronhumphrey2009 The player could roleplay as both the weapon and their regular character, there's no need for the DM to play the weapon while it possesses the character. Or the weapon could take over if the player can't make it that night but everyone else can

[@aaronhumphrey2009]

@@maid_of_heart3261 perhaps..but 1 really the PC naturally reduces the impact of the ' cursed weapon ' to a tiny inconvenience, if that.. And " having a wpn take over for the absent PC" sounds interesting, probably okay except when it results in the DM having to play the PC as an NPC and somehow not killing them off if it's neccesary or inevitable in the plot... It's always better to have the players make the decisions/ roleplay out actions that result in thier PCs ( heroic or ignominious) deaths...

[@SerLoinSteak]

Psychic Scream is absolutely bonkers if your target fails the save. They're stunned until they succeed the save or die. If you can shut down a group of enemies nearly indefinitely with a single spell, you become the MVP

[@JB-xl2jc]

Eldrjitch blaeeessst

[@aaronperkins2880]

Get outta here, Caleb

[@TitoMcFadden]

Oooh! Yeehaw!

[@jarnevanbelle2163]

*Bell witch gast Jocat fans will know.

[@phc3165]

I really love playing Hex Blades. They're such fun! Especially when you can use them as "The forgotten Face" character, where the rest of the group assumes you're only good for swinging swords. I've found a strong race to play is Yu-Anti.... But that mmight be because Yu-Anti are somewhat OP.

[@maid_of_heart3261]

Magic resistance and poison immunity cannot be ignored, and Suggestion as an innate spell is also great. Yuan-ti are great warlocks and sorcerers

[@codenamezq8027]

Oh wow, this is quite relevant to me as I recently made a dragonborn Paladin Oath of Conquest/Hexblade Warlock. Least that's the plan anyway!

[@LupineShadowOmega]

As someone that played a Vengeance Paladin/Hexblade its really fun. But the issue is when to multiclass because missing out on double attack too long can be annoying, as can missing auras. But once everything comes together its amazingly fun, both mechanically and RP-wise as well.

[@M0ebius]

Conquest Hexblade becomes really fun once you get the aura going. Freeze your enemies and then pound them with EB+Spiritual Weapon.

[@theundeaddaedra7584]

LupineShadowOmega I’m in the process of building this around “mobility and sentenal” feats with a whip. Based around fear and controlling enemy movement while hitting them hard and out of reach

[@savagecabbage8013]

6 pally, 14 hexblade is the optimal build

[@Booklat1]

@@LupineShadowOmega 5 pala 1 warlock then pala until auras?

[@kaijurider9505]

My favorite eldritch invocation is summon elemental because, well, imagine sneaking around kinda like a rouge, getting behind enemy lines, and then summoning a earth elemental and having it stop on everything.

[@JayChampagne]

I think another great Hexblade spell is Armor of Agathys. It gives a little protection, deals a little damage, and is a persistent effect that doesn't require concentration.

[@user-ch6xl1zc6k]

One of my favorite characters I’ve played was a Hexblade warlock/Conquest Paladin. He and his patron lived in a symbiotic relationship. My character had a prosthetic arm that was essentially the material form of his patron: so the warlock got magical weapons and powers, in exchange for furthering the influence of his patron. He was this really nice friendly guy who became this cold brute in combat. He was fun

[@lemonicity4834]

that sounds awesome. I play a conquest paladin and am about to play a hexblade in a different campaign, I'm definitely keeping that in mind!

[@marcos2492]

I'm playing an Protector Aasimar right now in one of my campaigns, with a blood thirsty patron on one shoulder and his celestial guide on the other. Such a grey character and I'm loving the RP moments

[@martyhoward6727]

Ready for the Celestial warlock video! Running an Aasimar in the next game I play.

[@DDCRExposed]

Super helpful for me, watching this episode. It helps me focus on what's most important for each class and subclass. This is great to see what could be focused on when building the Hexblade and leveling up the character. I've mentioned in other comments how I've poorly built a few characters, not really focusing on a type of playstyle and just picking whatever looked good at that time.

[@davidhamblin5825]

Love you guys so much! Definitely subbed and sending this to the player in my group who's rolling up a Hexblade

[@johnturner112]

I think the one thing you missed is that the Patron weapon isn't necessarily in the possession of the character.

[@EDarien]

See? This is the part that confuses me. From an RP perspective it sounds like it should be. But then the game mechanics make it sound like "Oh just grab that random dagger you have and now it's imbued with extra power!" So what happened to the original object in this case? It's very confusing.

[@rayleo9940]

@@EDarien It's confusing because in UA your patron was a sentient weapon, but in the final version of the Hexblade's description it reads that your patron is a mysterious Shadowfell entity that manifests in sentient weapons. Your patron isn't a weapon itself, just an entity that happens to be behind the creation of sentient weapons. Imo the best way to explain it is that your patron is Sauron, not the ring of power itself. EDIT: I do agree with most people though that the Hexblade's flavor is pretty weak compared to the other patrons. So you can interpret/use it however you want

[@anthonymonaghan4964]

I must correct you the hexblade does not form a pact with a weapon or magic item .. 6th line of yhe Hexblade description pg. 55 states the pact is with the shadowy force BEHIND the weapon

[@Deiniel91]

Came to say just this. The shadowy force just manifest through the weapon tha Hexblade choses to wield.

[@nickwilliams8302]

Honestly, you would think that a hobby that requires one to read rules and do mental arithmetic would attract fewer illiterate idiots. Yet the idea that Hexblade Patrons are sentient weapons just refuses to die.

[@greembyjimbols5671]

Y'all really down diabolical huh

[@zachbrown9350]

Love the Hexblade subclass, loved the Yu-Gi-Oh reference. Great discussion video!

[@mlhcomics]

Re: Hand Crossbows You can *find* a hand crossbow and *make* it your pact weapon... you just cannot create one.

[@alanschaub147]

mlhcomics What about ammunition?

[@dmnemaine]

There is an invocation in Xanathar's called "Improved Pact Weapon" that allows you the choice of ranged or melee for the pact weapon you create. So you can create a hand crossbow pact weapon if you have that invocation.

[@dmnemaine]

Oops. Never mind. DIdn't realize that the invocation only allowed for specific ranged weapons. Ignore what I said. lol

[@randallcunningham4360]

mlhcomics, thank you for pointing this out. Hexblade requires a weapon that lacks the two handed property. Hand crossbow is an amazing option.

[@mlhcomics]

@@alanschaub147 What about it?

[@kmoustakas]

Finally, the most wanted video. As a longtime warlock player, I disagree with everything you guys say yet there's still so much insight to gain from this! Something you didn't mention, hexblades just happen to be the best blasters, too. Hex warrior's curse applies to each beam of eldritch blast.

[@MaskedMike004]

Thanks for making this video, I'm fairly new to the game and my 1st character is a Hexblade warlock. I'm looking forward to the cool spells/abilities I'll get later on

[@astralastral810]

this really helped me out bc where fixing to play a big dnd 5e campaign and im playing a half elf hexblade and this really helped me out for my hexblade

[@goatmeal5241]

It seemed like you were implying lightning lure would combo with polearm master to get you an AO as you pull them closer. This wouldn't work since it's forced movement, which doesn't provoke AOs. The only exception is dissonant whispers, AFAIK, which is in a weird place of provoking AOs but not triggering booming blade according to developers.

[@timothywelch7130]

Another exception might be the Battlemaster manoeuvre “Brace” - Rules as written suggests this would combo with Lightning Lure and the Grasp of Hadar eldritch invocation I think?

[@claduke]

The Hand of Vecna idea reminded me of the Blue Beetle Scarab from DC. Additionally, I started a homebrew of a warlock that was based on the keyblade from Kingdom Hearts. It borrower heavily from the concepts in the Hexblade.

[@pablorocchi]

the Yuan Ti is also an amazing warlock. Beside that, this video is amazing. thank you, and keep it up.

[@alanschaub147]

Pablo Rocchi I love the idea a Yuan Ti Hexblade with Mask of Many Faces, the Actor Feat, and the Suggestion spell at 3rd Level. I would also take the Friends cantrip.

[@chasebalcziunas4289]

Alan Schaub I’m not a part of the pyramid scheme. I AM the pyramid scheme.

[@pablorocchi]

@@alanschaub147 MY LORD, I LOVE IT. i know what i'm gonna play after my bard now.

[@knightghaleon]

@@alanschaub147 I made a Yuan Ti Celestial Warlock who's patron was a Couatl who appeared to him in a vision while he was exiled from his clan. Heavenly snake with wings looked cooler than night serpent so he went that way. He eventually became a divine soul sorcerer as the Couatl eventually found him and drove a scale and a feather into his body.

[@alanschaub147]

Levant I was considering a Yuan Ti Ancient Oaths Paladin / Divine Soul Warlock, with Jazirian as a Patron, for a Chult campaign. She would eventually become immune to both poison (racial) and disease (Paladin). Jazirian seems like a great patron for a character that has no moral compass. Her mission is to test the virtue of others: “Virtue untested is merely innocence.” I think of her kind of like Lilith (“Mother of Demons”) in the Garden of Eden, working with the snake to tempt humanity (Adam and Eve). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazirian

[@ozymondiaz4031]

I love my Tabaxi Hexblade. Got the thirsting blade, improved pact weapon, and eldritch smite. I love that smites ability to, without a save, knock an enemy prone.

[@killianduggan8730]

For concentration, I'd use Elemental weapon, especially from level 9. With polearm master you end up doing an extra 3d4+3 at 5 and 6d4+6 if you hit all your attacks. It lasts an hour too so that is an incredible return on investment for your limited slots.

[@firstnamelastname7298]

dont forget elemental bane

[@Eric-kv4kv]

But if you have your Improved pact Weapon, it doesnt stack with Elemental Weapon

[@juliankoko1758]

Damn good timing, I just began building a noble hexblade for a friend's campaign

[@zapperj1]

I needed this!! I’ve been trying to figure it out for weeks now.

[@benthomason3307]

"the hand itself counts as another weapon" so you're just litch slapping everyone?

[@svofoy_tre]

Guys don’t forget about the drow you’ll get a +1 to a CHA and +2 to DEX and you also get proficiency in extra weapons as well as a few extra spells that can be expanded with a feat

[@svofoy_tre]

You also get superior dark vision and with the suns light sensitivity there’s ways around that

[@aldoushuxley5953]

Hexblade Paladin Multiclasses are awesome! (HB14/Pal 6)

[@stijnvannieuwpoort6217]

Definetely my favorite subclass, thx guys this really made my day!

[@Tjandcats]

hex blade and battle master work really well together and are a lot of fun to play

[@SituationNormalGames]

My favorite DND Character of all time was a Half-Elf Hexblade Warlock who, in an attempt to save his town from bandits and mercenaries, was tricked into taking up a blade cursed by a Shadowfell demigod who is bent on destroying the Raven Queen and taking her place as the lord of the Shadowfell. He ended up killing all the mercenaries but also killed many in his village, including his own mother. He was banished from his home and forced to wander, not even understanding what he had become or what a Warlock was.

[@joakimhalstensen9604]

He-Man, Lion-O and Blackstar are all Hexblades

[@sarahgilliss3503]

What about She-Ra?

[@quickenedsilver3493]

Hexblades are straight-up my favourite class, okay. The best one I've made: meet Durdana, resident Lesbian Vodka Aunt. She's an aging tabaxi who works as royal bodyguard to a couple of other PCs in a new political marriage. Used to be a swordswoman, but after debilitating physical injury, she refurbished a pawn shop crossbow which turned out to be her pact weapon. Thing is, *she* was the serious and cruel one of the pair, not the childish sentient crossbow. It was an interesting play experience to have a disabled character who's just too damn stubborn to retire.

[@sandrols7]

Seeing as I JUST rolled up a Hexblade… your timing couldn't be better guys!!

[@Shadowgaming908770]

This is great! My favorite class is warlock and this subclass is my favorite subclass for warlock so this makes me happy. It really just makes everything better in my opinion.

[@mingbritson]

your vids just get better and better w/ more watches -- THX!!!

[@GeargusArchfiend]

Playing Hexblade in HotDQ. Finds Hazirawn Me:"Damn, it's sentient, I can't make it my pact weapon." DM:"The cursed blade forcibly attunes and makes itself your pact weapon. Me:"You sure you want to give me this?" DM:"Yeah, it'll be cool and can't be *that* overpowered. TWO LEVELS LATER DM:" How the f*** did you one-shot a dragon!?"

[@G-Blockster]

As the secondary spellcaster for the party, I plan to build a 14 Hexblade (Pact of the Tome)/ 6 Shadow Sorcerer, using his curses and invocations to buff his movement and spell attacks.

[@risingpath]

I modeled my hexblade warlock after the Witchblade from Image Comics. I’ve been waiting for you guys to do this particular video.

[@cosmic_kittee1077]

Im making a tabaxi warlock and I was struggling a lot. This helped so much. Thank you!

[@konradwright7725]

1 Fighter/ 1 Hexblade / 18 Sword Bard for the craziest of ACs. I’m talking 40+ and they have disadvantage to hit. I always like splashing in 1 Hexblade for role play and mechanics. 2 Hexblade and rest Divine Sorc for a curse slinging, Eldritch blast sniping mad lad is my favorite though. Curse still works with Eldritch Blast.

[@MurdersMachine]

LOL @ the first build. Taking fighter just to get heavy armor is dumb, especially when you're giving up an entire ASI for it. And no one splashes one level of hex for role play reasons. You do it for mechanics, and make up the role play to fit it.

[@Observer31]

@@MurdersMachine I think a splash of fighter can really toughen your hexblade up. Rune knight/battlemaster really combos well with armor of agathy, and eldrich knight adds more magical depth - you could have a familiar, a few more cantrips, 2 level 1 slots to keep in your back pocket for emergencies etc...

[@lukelblitz3627]

@@Observer31 ....you can't have subclasses without going at least 3 levels in.and using the quarter casters as dips never goes well

[@Observer31]

@@lukelblitz3627 I've done it and I had fun with it - *much* tougher than a pure hexblade, and with much more magical breath. Take a long while to come online though :(

[@tn00bz]

I know a lot of people dislike warlocks, but it's hands down my favorite class. It is not a simple class, just simple in combat. I had a great hexblade/paladin. He was a tiefling who made a pact with a demonic weapon who promised to lift the curse on his bloodline allowing his child to live a normal life. Early on it became clear that the weapon kept on altering the deal so he also made a deal with a holy deity. He played both sides. It was super fun to rp.

[@ratman505]

I want to make a Hexblade just to yell out "IGNATIUS!"

[@crimbizzleA]

Dudes! That intro gave me goosebumps! Love it!

[@leodouskyron5671]

I would go with Aasimar (Scourge) with Haunted One background. I know it broken background and a combination that is not allowed in Adventure league; but it has a lovely story resonance for me. (You can ignore the remainder good picks in your show.) A child of the angel and a mortal finds a home in a village with a family that just wanted any child. The forces of light shielding the place until the child grows to adulthood. Alas the spell knew better the child’s Time of birth and failed with out anyone knowing. The demons held at bay for years swam in. The villagers had prepared for a party are taken unawares. The lucky are torn asunder many wish they had been so lucky as they are taken. In house of the child, the child with others to take the rite of coming of age ponders where had come a single gift with the words “From Seriphina”. It is then they hear the cries and they want to at run only to have their way bared by a cruel demonic female. They back away as one and the creature of horrific beauty salters in. She can hardly fantom the weak creatures in front of her. She says in an exasperated voice in recognition of the child “You have been a true annoyance. A waste of time. If you could give me a fight then I would let you go but you are no fighter, mage or even a cleric. You are too weak to even get a deal from. Realizing the end was here, with bravery of an adult the child grabbed the gift and swung at the darksiders wing. The tear was minor and more a paper cut then not but a single drop of blood fell on then rent box revealing a blessed blade. The demon looks at the child and smeared the crimson evidence of the strike in the child’s face. “Today you and those you protect live but I will remember this face and destroy you tomorrow ... unless the others get you first” the creature left leaving a cloud of darkness in her passing. The village was doomed and escape the only option. But in the moment that the child became an adult as did the new adult’s companions. A hasty mask was fashioned for the new adult and they fled into the night knowing they were seen and would face that horror again. Now I would get to make stats.

[@paulh3892]

Hex blade warlock just oozes with flavor! This is a great video for explaining a class / subclass that has a wide variety of customization in terms of mechanics and role play. Solid video, Dungeon Dudes!

[@Jaspertenpenny]

Now I want to make a Hexblade based on venom, talking like he’s two people, using we instead of I

[@moodyfingers7301]

The best part is that the first of Venom's race was created as a living Sword.

[@Floormat-ux4rw]

I’m glad you mentioned the legacy weapon! My DM from my last campaign invited me to a whole different group which actually is taking place in one of the old worlds that I played a hexadin in! That timeline was reset at the end of the campaign and the BBEG of that campaign now never even existed. I’m playing my previous character’s daughter who was given the hexblade weapon from my past character. My old character is still slightly jaded that their heroic journey was forgotten in the time reset so they passed the weapon onto a daughter to finally make something of the droverson name

[@cheekylilac2306]

Who is the hater that left a dumbs down on the excellent content we get from dungeon dudes.

[@thefracturedbutwhole5475]

Usually good content, but the information was all wrong in this case, the guy who disliked probably understands the subclass. twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/958950931776774144?lang=en www.sageadvice.eu/2018/02/02/having-trouble-grasping-how-a-sentient-weapon-becomes-a-patron-would-you-mind-giving-an-example/

[@shura0107]

Just found this vid. I'm playing a single class Hexblade. I've been wanting to play him ever since XGtE came out, but didn't get to until recently, so I've had lots of time to plan. Thanks for the insights and suggestions too. His story is that his Hexblade powers have been passed down through the generations of his noble family, and the "patron" is an ancient ancestor that rose up to defend/guard the area, whose will eventually manifested as the powers in his descendants. My character was originally hesitant to take those powers, but only did so when his love disappeared suddenly.

[@xylemicarious]

Small thing, but I don't think Lightning Lure works with Polearm Master like that... Forced movement never provokes AoOs.

[@finalfantasy50]

He maybe meant that they are just out of reach but can use lightning lure as an action and the d4 bonus attack to hit the enemy and smite if you crit

[@nerf7674]

finalfantasy50 Nope. Can only bonus action polearm master after a weapon attack. The only time I see this being situationally viable is if you’re 45 feet away from an enemy you want to target. 30 feet of movement, shoot with lightning lure action & hexblade’s curse bonus action. It’s not good but it’s something.

[@OrangeyChocolate]

I haven't played a Hexblade myself, but I used the Hexblade as a basis to build Ghirahim (From The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword) in D&D, as a character-building exercise. It ended up working fairly well, in the end.

[@matthewmuir8884]

Cool. Incidentally, sword spirits like Ghirahim and Fi would make great patrons for a hexblade.

[@EYEOFATE3800]

That's it! I'm making a Hexblade Warlock who has guns as his Pact Weapon.

[@M0ebius]

Eldritch Knight 7+/Hexblade 2 can use the War Magic mechanic with Hand Crossbow to EB+weapon attack up to 5 times per turn all buffed with Hex/Hexblades Curse. I styled my weapon as a Crossbow on top and Wand on bottom like a tactical pistol and call the build the Eldritch Gunslinger.

[@EYEOFATE3800]

@@M0ebius Nice

[@AllThingsFascinate]

@@M0ebius beautiful

[@spoonyluv19]

One of my players has a drow hexblade warlock. She also took entertainer as a background so she has a lot of sneaky ways to get damage in and is multifunctional outside of combat.

[@MikeKilo1969]

I like symbiotic relationship idea of Venom, think the wet boys from the Night Angel series.

[@blackreaper3525]

Kylar Stern would be a fun character to play in a campaign

[@MikeKilo1969]

@@blackreaper3525 I agree!!

[@SirStanleytheStumbler]

@17:07 I thought the rule was that opportunity attacks can only occur if the target uses their own movement, action, or reaction to trigger it and that forced movement doesn't count. So Lightning Lure shouldn't work with Pole Arm Master.

[@XenosvonFaneli]

kind of think it's limiting when everyone just treats warlocks as special children needing a dark edgy backstory where you made some awful choice

[@BigKingSwing]

I've got a Kalashtar Hex Blade and I'm digging it so far.