The D&D 2024 Warlock class update introduces significant changes, enhancing their power and flexibility.
With new customization options, Warlocks can now access Eldritch Invocations earlier on, making their spells and abilities more versatile.
The new Player’s Handbook also updates the Warlock’s subclasses, now selected at the third level, allowing for more refined and impactful character builds. These changes make the 2024 Warlock not only more powerful but also more adaptable to different play styles and scenarios.
This article explores the essential changes to the 2024 Warlock, showcasing new abilities and features. While extensive updates are covered, some minor or unchanged aspects may not be highlighted.
What’s New for the 2024 Warlock?
The 2024 updates to the Player’s Handbook for Warlocks introduce many significant changes that affect how players experience the class, especially during the earlier levels.
These updates focus heavily on the unique connection between the Warlock and their chosen patron. Whether bonded to a Fiend, Archfey, Great Old One, or any other mystical entity, players can expect a more tailored and thematic gameplay experience.
Early Level Changes
The modifications made in the 2024 version mean that Warlocks receive major enhancements earlier in their leveling journey. These changes offer players the chance to experience the full flavor of their chosen patron more immediately.
Some key points:
- Subclasses: Now available at the third level instead of the first. This change aligns Warlocks with other classes.
- Patron Abilities: Powers from patrons such as Fiends, Fey, and Great Old Ones are accessed more quickly, giving Warlocks significant early advantages.
- Invocations: Way more flexible than before, allowing players to switch out abilities with greater ease.
Patron-Specific Features
Fiend Patron: Warlocks connected to a Fiend patron can now channel their dark energy to cause even more destruction on the battlefield. They can summon hellfire and gain boosts to their damage output, making them formidable foes.
Archfey Patron: Those who align with an Archfey can now tap into the elusive and enchanting powers of the Feywild. Enhanced speed and teleportation abilities allow these Warlocks to dart around their enemies, avoiding and striking with precision. (Regular readers know how much I love Fey things and I CANNOT WAIT to test out the revised Archfey Patron!)
Great Old One Patron: Warlocks under a Great Old One patron gain access to powerful psychic abilities. These can be used to control the battlefield and disorient enemies. Expect mind-breaking spells and enhanced mental resilience.
Celestial Patron: Warlocks devoted to celestial beings get spells and abilities that protect and heal. This subclass has been brought over from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything and updated with more detailed features.
Customization Options
Warlocks in the 2024 update can now create characters tailored to specific combat styles and magical preferences:
- Martial Warlocks: Those focusing on combat prowess can enhance their Pact of the Blade abilities and prefer close-quarters combat.
- Spellcasting Warlocks: For those who favor spells, leaning into the pact of the tome enhances their versatility and magical power.
- Balanced Builds: Players can mix and match features to create a Warlock that fits their unique playstyle.
Also, Mystic Arcanum adjustments now bring more versatility to the base class, making it easier for players to update and adapt their spell choices at higher levels.
D&D 2024 Warlock Changes Overview
The D&D 2024 Warlock has received several changes that enhance their gameplay and provide more flexibility. Let’s now take a slightly closer look at the changes being made to their features.
Eldritch Invocations — Level 1
Warlocks gain access to their first Eldritch Invocation at level 1. These special abilities enhance their combat prowess and spellcasting capabilities.
Unlike previous editions, the 2024 rules allow warlocks to choose one invocation right from the start, giving them more flexibility early on.
This is a pretty major change to the Warlock that we’ve come to know in the 10 years of D&D 5e. So let’s look at what this means on a few levels!
Pact Boons Integrated into Eldritch Invocations
In the 2014 edition, Warlocks received distinct Pact Boons like Pact of the Blade, Tome, or Chain at level 3. The D&D 2024 update merges these into Eldritch Invocations, streamlining the structure while retaining core mechanics.
Now, you can access multiple pacts as you level up, allowing for a pact weapon, familiar, and Book of Shadows all in one character if you so desire.
Additionally, these former Pact Boon invocations are available from level 1, two levels earlier than before!
Increased Access to Eldritch Invocations
Starting at level 1, the 2024 Warlock gains an Eldritch Invocation, with the total number maxing out at 10 by level 18, surpassing the 2014 Warlock. You can also swap out invocations when leveling up, provided they aren’t prerequisites for others.
Versatile and Repeated Invocations
Popular invocations like Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast now apply to any damaging Warlock cantrip, not just Eldritch Blast. You can even select these invocations multiple times for different cantrips, allowing for a highly customizable build.
While you’ll never catching me griping about Eldritch Blast, it’s very nice to have more options with these new Warlock class changes!
Independence from Spell Slots
Except for Eldritch Smite, none of the 2024 Eldritch Invocations require Warlock spell slots.
This creates a distinct power set unique to Warlocks, enhancing customization and making the class feel more versatile and exciting.
Magical Cunning — Level 2
The 2024 Warlock retains the same Pact Magic and spell slot progression as the 2014 version, including the ability to recover expended spell slots after a Short or Long Rest.
However, the new feature, Magical Cunning, adds another layer of resource management. Once per Long Rest, you can perform a 1-minute ritual to restore half of your maximum spell slots, rounded up.
The Eldritch Master feature, still available at level 20, allows you to regain all of your Pact Magic spell slots. In the 2024 edition, this ability is seen as a more potent extension of the Magical Cunning feature introduced at level 2.
Warlock Subclass — Level 3
In D&D 2024, Warlocks now gain their subclass at level 3, aligning them with other classes in the updated Player’s Handbook. This change simplifies level management for players and Dungeon Masters alike.
The Archfey, Fiend, and Great Old One Patrons have all been significantly updated. These changes include revamped always-prepared spell lists and adjustments that enhance their thematic elements.
Unlike in 2014, where the Expanded Spell List merely added spells to your list, the 2024 update ensures these spells are always prepared, providing a substantial upgrade.
Archfey Patron
The Archfey Patron now emphasizes the Feywild nature of your patron.
Misty Step is added to your prepared spell list, and many features grant additional uses of this spell, along with healing bonuses and damage effects on enemies. Beguiling Defenses has been updated to reduce incoming damage and allow you to inflict damage as a reaction.
This is the kind of Archfey Warlock we’ve been waiting for!
Celestial Patron
Originally from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, the Celestial Patron has been revised for the 2024 Player’s Handbook.
The spell list now includes Aid and Summon Celestial, replacing Flaming Sphere and Flame Strike. Radiant Soul is limited to once per turn, and Celestial Resilience grants Temporary Hit Points after using Magical Cunning or finishing a Short or Long Rest.
Searing Vengeance can now be applied to you or an ally which is a fantastic upgrade!
Fiend Patron
The Fiend Patron saw some changes across the board as well.
Dark One’s Blessing now also grants Temporary Hit Points if an enemy is reduced to 0 HP within 10 feet of you by someone else. Meanwhile, the Fiend Spells list has been updated: Suggestion replaces Blindness/Deafness, and Geas and Insect Plague replace Flame Strike and Hallow.
Dark One’s Own Luck can now be used multiple times per Long Rest, equal to your Charisma modifier. Finally, Hurl Through Hell requires a Charisma save, deals 8d10 Psychic damage, and can be used again by expending a Pact Magic spell slot.
Great Old One Patron
The Great Old One Patron has undergone the most significant changes, now deeply rooted in Lovecraftian horror.
This subclass focuses on cursing enemies with Hex, dealing Psychic damage, and unleashing aberrant horrors on the battlefield, enhancing its eldritch horror theme. I think we’re going to see a lot more GOO-locks in D&D 2024!
Do you want brain-hungry Mind Flayers? ‘Cause that’s how you get brain-hungry Mind Flayers!
Contact Patron — Level 9
The 2024 Player’s Handbook introduces a new feature for Warlocks that emphasizes their connection with their patron. Starting at level 9, Warlocks gain the ability to directly contact their patron once per Long Rest.
This feature provides the spell Contact Other Plane as an always-prepared spell. You can use this spell once a day without expending a spell slot, and you automatically succeed on the Intelligence saving throw required to complete it.
Whatever Patron you choose, this is a great way to bring them more into the game in a way that is both thematic and mechanically useful.
Mystic Arcanum — Level 11
Mystic Arcanum in the D&D 2024 Warlock retains the same functionality and progression as in the 2014 version, with an added benefit.
Starting at level 11, whenever you gain a Warlock level, you can replace one of your Mystic Arcanum spells with another spell of the same level. This provides greater flexibility and allows you to adapt your spell repertoire to better suit your needs as you advance.
It’s a small change with a big impact which is exactly what I like to see!
Epic Boon — Level 19
Warlocks reaching level 19 are awarded an Epic Boon, a powerful enhancement that can significantly augment their abilities. Options may include boosts to hit points, magical resistance, or other supernatural benefits, making them formidable spellcasters in any scenario.
As with the other classes, Warlocks can select one of twelve Epic Boons at level 19. If they would prefer something else, they can instead choose an additional feat.
Epic Boons are pretty cool, but we’ll have to cover those in a different article, so stay tuned!
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Conclusion – D&D 2024 Warlock Changes
The Warlock changes in D&D 2024 have been a major topic of discussion in the D&D space.
While they haven’t been overhauled to the same degree as, for example, the D&D 2024 Monk changes, there are still some major changes here. It’s hard not to be excited for them!
Personally, I like most of what we’re seeing for the new Warlock class. I understand why folks are upset that they no longer get a Patron at level 1, but one could argue that Invocations are even more important than Patrons. Getting Invocations sooner is a great thing!
With so many shakeups to Patrons, Invocations, and Pact Boons, I think we’re going to see some truly awesome Warlock builds in the near future.
Furthermore, I think these changes will make it easier to really theme your Warlock how you want while still making mechanical sense rather than being shackled to just casting Eldritch Blast most of the time. I’m pumped!
But what are YOUR thoughts about the D&D 2024 Warlock changes? Is this a deal you’re willing to take? Share your thoughts about the new Warlock in the comments!
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