Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3comes with a wide range of classes to choose from, from spellcasters to warriors. Warlocks are a balance between the two groups, with their skills being highly specialized between a few spells and talents that nonetheless hit hard and fast.Warlocks get their magic from a powerful patronthrough a deal, which opens the gates for all sorts of roleplaying potential, and the Warlock spell list is delightfully otherworldly.
Warlocks are people who have made a formal contract, or Pact, with a powerful being who grants them power in exchange for something from the Warlock. What the Warlock gives their Patron in exchange for their power isn’t stated inBaldur’s Gate 3, and is left up to the player’s imagination. Warlocks are given limited spell slots, but they always cast their spells at the highest level, they have the powerful Eldritch Blast cantrip, and their spell slots restore on a Short Rest rather than a Long Rest.
Building a Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3
Choose a Pact
A Warlock chooses their Pact in Level 1 during character creation. There are three types of Pacts to choose from, each with a different being behind the Pact.Warlock Pacts serve as the Warlock’s subclass.
The Fiend
The Fiend refers to a being from either the Hells or the Abyss, devils and demons, and the magic provided aligns with magic from these realms. Warlocks with the Pact of the Fiend gain Dark One’s Blessing, which confers additional hit points once an enemy is defeated. They also gain Burning Hands and Command at the first level.
The Great Old One
This pact involves unknowable beings and eldritch abominations in the far reaches of the Planes. Some of these beings occasionally reach out from the beyond and make Warlock Pacts in exchange for something unfathomable. The ancient being grants the Warlock entropy magic, and the ability to alter reality. At higher levels, the Warlock’s patron shields and reflects Psychic damage back onto attackers.
The Archfey
Fey creatures abound in Faerun and the Realms, with some ranking as supremely powerful beings. A lady or lord of the Archfey’s Pact with a Warlock grants magic from their realm, both beguiling and horrifying. Warlocks with a Pact of the Archfey can cast Sleep, can Charm and Frighten enemies, and gain immunity to Charm at higher levels.
Choosing the Direction of the Warlock’s Path in Baldur’s Gate 3
Unlocking Invocations
Warlocks gain Invocations at Level 2, which grant the Warlock more spells or improve the Warlock’s current spells and abilities. Many of the spells gained through Invocations do not use Warlock spell slots, making them incredibly useful. Invocations are best used toupgrade Eldritch Blast with Repelling Blastand Agonizing Blast, while the rest of the Invocations chosen depend on the Warlock’s build.
Choose a Pact Boon
There arethree Pact Boons inBaldur’s Gate 3to choose from once the Warlock reaches Level 3. Each one has different benefits, and some work well when paired with other classes such as Bard or Paladin.
Pact of the Chain
This boon allows Warlocks to summon a familiar. While players can choose the regular animal form, they also gain access to useful imp or quasit forms.
Pact of the Blade
This boon binds the weapon the Warlock has equipped, making it magical. The damage it deals uses theWarlock’s spellcasting ability modifier, Charisma. If the Warlock has no equipped weapon, the Warlock can summon a weapon and become proficient in it. This is incredibly useful for cross-class play, particularly for Paladins to pour their ability points into Charisma instead of splitting them between Strength and Charisma. It also works well with Bards who are a part of the College of Swords.
Pact of the Tome
This boon gives the Warlock the ability to cast Guidance, Vicious Mockery, and Thorn Whip. While not as flexible as the other pacts, these can be useful for a utility warlock build, especially considering the power of Guidance.
Playing a Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3
Master Eldritch Blast
Eldritch Blast is a powerful offensive cantrip that Warlocks of every Pact get from Level 1. Eldritch Blast sends projectiles of magic that deals Force Damage that scales as the Warlock levels. Multiple enemies can be targeted with Eldritch Blast, and it can be upgraded with the Invocations Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast. Eldritch Blast can be used alongside higher levelWarlock spells such as Hunger of Hadarto repel enemies back into the AoE, or it can be used simply to push low priority enemies into chasms.
Multiclassing as a Warlock
For some, Warlock as a pure class can be a little too simple, as it is largely built around Eldritch Blast and a few supplementary spells. Multiclassing takes care of this problem, and Warlock fits seamlessly into the other three Charisma-based classes: Paladin, Bard, and Sorcerer.Multiclassing into Paladingives the Warlock access to Heavy Armor and better weapon attacks, the Bard’s College of the Sword integrates perfectly with the Warlock’s Pact of the Blade, and Sorcerer spells pair well with the Warlock’s spell slots.
Roleplaying a Warlock
Warlocks have some of the greatest potential forroleplaying inBaldur’s Gate 3. Players are left to roleplay the reasons behind the circumstances of their Pacts, why their Warlocks would make them, and their relationship with their patrons. For example, a Warlock with a lord or lady of the Archfey as a patron, multiclassed as a Bard, could exchange music, poetry, and stories of their adventure in exchange for their power. There is a lot of space to create interesting stories for Warlock players, and just enough interaction with their Patrons in-game to make them relevant.
Use Darkness and Devil’s Sight
Darkness is a spell that Blinds targetsin an area. Devil’s Sight is a Warlock Invocation that allows the Warlock to see in Darkness, whether natural or magical. This allows the Warlock to cast Darkness move and attack freely with Advantage while their enemies attack with Disadvantage, all while being unable to use ranged attacks.
