Welcome to one of the best cantrips in all of 5e D&D, welcome to Eldritch Blast!
Ok… Let me correct myself, it is the best cantrip in all of 5e!
This cantrip is so great that most Warlocks use it as the foundation for their character builds a majority of the time. The Warlock class also becomes the ultimate ranged war machine with this versatile cantrip.
So the next time all the martial sniper types in the party say “we got this!” you tell them to hold your beer… or mead… same difference…
Welcome to this spell guide for Eldritch Blast in D&D 5e!
What is Eldritch Blast?
Eldritch blast is an amazing cantrip and the main reason many choose to roll up a Warlock for their next campaign.
It’s not uncommon for characters to multiclass and take at least one level in Warlock just for this. Let’s be real, if someone’s going to make a deal with some powerful being and possibly trade their soul for a cantrip, it has to be pretty special, eh?
Enhancing it with Eldritch Invocations, it becomes a versatile and reliable powerhouse that punches way above what other cantrips can even dream of doing.
As usual, we’ve provided the official spell description from the 5e Player’s Handbook below for reference and clarity.
Eldritch Blast
LEVEL: Cantrip
CASTING TIME: 1 Action
RANGE/AREA: 120 feet
COMPONENTS: V, S
DURATION: Instantaneous
SCHOOL: Evocation
ATTACK/SAVE: Ranged spell attack
DAMAGE/EFFECT: Force damage
A beam of crackling energy streaks toward a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 force damage.
The spell creates more than one beam when you reach higher levels: two beams at 5th level, three beams at 11th level, and four beams at 17th level.
You can direct the beams at the same target or at different ones. Make a separate attack roll for each beam.
What Does Eldritch Blast Do in D&D 5e?
Eldritch Blast is a cantrip from the School of Evocation.
This nasty little cantrip fits under the “ranged spell attack” category. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 force damage. Even beyond the damage die, this is excellent since force damage is incredibly reliable!
Not to be outdone, the range on this bad boy to start with is 120 feet, which is very impressive. However, the range can be increased as you level up and choose certain Eldritch Invocations. We’ll cover this later in the article so make sure to keep reading on.
As your character levels up, you can gain access to multiple beams. A 5th-level Warlock gets two Eldritch Blast beams, three beams at 11th level, and four beams once you reach level 17.
Multiple beams can target multiple enemies which lets you decide how you want to spread damage around. It’s especially great if you find yourself getting swarmed by a large amount of weaker enemies.
Just keep in mind that each beam requires a separate attack roll.
Of course, you can also choose to have more than one beam strike the same target. Nothing sends a message quite like four beams straight to the BBEG’s face!
Who Can Cast Eldritch Blast in D&D 5e?
As you may have already guessed from the paragraphs above, Eldritch Blast is a cantrip available to Warlocks and is not Patron-specific.
Others that potentially have access to Eldritch blast are characters who choose a feat like Magic Initiate or Spell Sniper and select the Warlock spell list.
Tips For Players Using Eldritch Blast in D&D 5e
Eldritch Blast is a fairly straightforward spell attack that’s bursting with damage-dealing awesomeness. However, there are still some finer points that you’ll want to be aware of to get the most out of this legendary cantrip.
Here are some useful tips for Warlocks to keep in mind if they choose Eldritch Blast as one of their cantrips. (And why wouldn’t they?!)
Mind Your Eldritch Invocation Choices
One of the special aspects that makes a Warlock a Warlock is their access to Eldritch Invocations.
Many of these Invocations “level up” the Eldritch Blast in some BIG ways. Remember when we mentioned many Warlocks base almost all their Warlock build on Eldritch Blast?
It’s typically worth picking up at least one Eldritch Invocation to buff your Eldritch Blast. This is the staple “bread and butter” spell of the Warlock class, so you’ll be using it A LOT on your adventures.
Agonizing Blast
So Eldritch Blast already does 1d10 Force damage. Imagine being able to add your Charisma modifier to that damage! Luckily, if you choose this Invocation, you won’t have to imagine doing some substantial extra damage.
As per the 5e DnD Player’s Handbook:
Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip
When you cast eldritch blast, add your Charisma modifier to the damage it deals on a hit.
Charisma is already the most important ability score for Warlocks, so you should already have a nice modifier.
This means that even a low-level Warlock is potentially capable of doing an extra 4 to 5 points of damage depending on their Charisma score!
Eldritch Spear
Eldritch Blast normally has a range of 120 feet, which is quite impressive.
But what if I told you that that distance could be extended to a mindblowing 300 feet? The Eldritch Spear option does just that.
As per the 5e DnD Player’s Handbook:
Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip
When you cast eldritch blast, its range is 300 feet.
Eldritch Spear can also be accessed at an early level which really helps low-level Warlocks support the adventuring party in combat and ensures they avoid melee and even most ranged attacks.
Admittedly, situations where you’ll need 300 feet of range because 120 feet just isn’t enough tend to be rare. But when you want to ruin someone’s day from a football field away, this is exactly how you do it!
Grasp of Hadar
If you want to go full Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, this invocation is exactly how you tell enemies to “GET OVER HERE!”
As per Xanathar’s Guide to Everything:
Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip
Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with your eldritch blast, you can move that creature in a straight line 10 feet closer to you.
This works similarly to Repelling Blast (which we’ll go over in just a moment). I have to admit, I love features and abilities like this that let me manipulate enemies’ movement.
Because you’re pulling an enemy 10 feet toward you, you can use this in all kinds of dastardly ways. You can pull them into AoE spell effects or environmental hazards like lava or send them down off of a cliff or into a deep pit full of spikes.
Of course, don’t underestimate the power of pulling an enemy spellcaster out from behind their allies and into the range of your own frontliners!
Lance of Lethargy
Whether you’re facing a particularly quick enemy, need to slow down something that’s chasing you, or otherwise, Lance of Lethargy is a fun option to consider.
As per Xanathar’s Guide to Everything:
Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip
Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with your eldritch blast, you can reduce that creature’s speed by 10 feet until the end of you next turn.
There is no shortage of tactical options that come with being able to slow an enemy down. This is especially useful for keeping enemies trapped in AoE spell effects for longer.
Even better, many of these AoE effects also create difficult terrain which requires the enemy to spend more movement to escape. With 10 feet less movement available, they’ll be having a very bad time!
Repelling Blast
Watching your enemies take two steps forward and one step backward is great fun and also a great tactic. Repelling Blast allows for just that.
With every Eldritch Blast that strikes a target, your Warlock can move the target 10 feet away from you. You can push targets into hazards and even break grapples. All from a comfortable distance!
As per the 5e DnD Player’s Handbook:
Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip
When you hit a creature with eldritch blast, you can push the creature up to 10 feet away from you in a straight line.
Repelling Blast is also accessible at early levels and can be an effective part of your Warlocks tactics right out of the gate.
Whether you are delaying adversaries from engaging in melee, pushing melee combatants away from wounded companions, or pushing enemy spellcasters outside of their effective range, Repelling Blast can be a thorn in most enemies’ sides.
Not to mention, there’s a certain trolling potential here that I love. An enemy finally manages to get out of a nasty AoE spell effect (like Hunger of Hadar) only for you to blast them right back into it!
Use the Long Distance Range to Your Advantage
Eldritch Blast has a great range and can be very effective at whittling down enemies from a distance. Whether those enemies be ranged combatants or melee combatants trying to enter the fray, they’ll have a hard time dealing with you.
Also, don’t forget those backline spellcasters working their magic on your party without a worry in the world.
Targeting enemies using concentration-based spells is a no-brainer here. Making those enemies lose their concentration on their biggest spells is a massively impactful way to turn the tides in combat!
With 120 feet of range (or more if you took Eldritch Spear), there’s virtually no target you can’t blast into bits. Just be mindful of your positioning in combat and you can potentially stay almost uncontested in most fights!
Of course, the other huge upside of having so much distance is avoiding most incoming damage altogether.
Lean On the Synergy With the Warlock’s Hex
Another great and iconic Warlock spell that works nicely with Eldritch Blast is Hex.
Hex deals an additional 1d6 Necrotic damage per attack that hits. Not bad! Plus, if you also have Agonizing Blast, the amount of damage your Warlock will be dishing out is substantial, to say the least!
With a range of 90 feet, you shouldn’t have too much difficulty getting Hex on a target. From there, focus them down with a barrage of Eldritch Blasts!
Just make sure to keep a bonus action handy for when they drop to 0 hit points. You’ll want that so that you can move your Hex onto the next target that you want to suffer your wrath!
Eldritch Blast – DM Tips
Many of the NPCs that have access to Eldritch Blast don’t usually benefit from the added Eldritch Invocations. However, it’s still a great spell and as a DM you’ll love its simplicity.
As we know Eldritch Blast deals a good chunk of damage, doesn’t use spell slots, and has a fantastic range. Having an NPC Warlock stand back and blast the party works great. Just be sure to prioritize any PCs using concentration-based spells as well.
A key element that makes Eldritch Blast so handy is its mix of power and range, so any NPC that’s casting it would be using that advantage to pick off high-threat PCs.
NPC Warlocks often have access to Hex as well, so be sure to use the two spells in tandem against the PCs.
Treat NPC Warlocks with Eldritch Blast as a PC would: fight fire with fire.
Is Eldritch Blast a Good Spell in D&D 5e?
Eldritch Blast isn’t just a good spell: it’s phenomenal!
It becomes even more incredible once you factor in the Eldritch Invocations available to enhance this spell. Of course, the fact that you’re getting all of this in a cantrip just makes the spell that much better.
The range of 120 feet is fantastic, though increasing the range to 300 feet with Eldritch Spear makes it epically ridiculous. On a large enough battlefield, your PC can avoid almost all harm even from other spellcasters.
The damage is on par if not a bit better than most martial ranged attacks such as bows. With the Agonizing Blast Invocation, it more than holds its own.
Some will say the fact that it requires a roll to hit might not make it as effective as Magic Missile at lower levels when it comes to damaging opponents, but I feel that’s quite a contrarian take. Attack rolls allow for the ever-present chance of scoring some critical hits and on average it does more damage than Magic Missile.
Not to mention: as a cantrip, it’s not costing you your valuable spell slots!
Eldritch Blast is a seriously versatile and powerful ranged spell attack with a huge range that never runs out of ammo and increases in power over the course of your character’s career.
I don’t know if it’s possible to “oversell” how awesome this is. I mean, there’s a reason it’s so iconic!
Eldritch Blast in D&D 5e – FAQs
Before we wrap up, let’s take a look at some of the more common questions that people tend to have about Eldritch Blast in D&D 5e.
As always, feel free to reach out in the comments if you still have questions. We’re always happy to help you out!
Does Eldritch Blast with Repelling Blast Create Opportunity Attacks?
No. Forced movement does not count for triggering an Opportunity Attack. Unless a spell causes a creature to use its action, movement, or reaction to move, you can’t make an attack of opportunity.
Can Repelling Blast Break a Grapple?
Yes. In fact, Repelling Blast is especially useful when trying to break a grapple.
Can Repelling Blast Push a Creature Off a Cliff?
Yes, as long as they are within range of being pushed off. It also works if you want to push someone into a pit, fire, river, vat of boiling hot chocolate, etc.
Does Repelling Blast Have a Size Limit?
No. Repelling Blast works on any sized creature. Have fun yeet-ing Frost Giants!
Do Eldritch Blast-Related Eldritch Invocations Work on Every Blast?
Mostly Yes. Every blast can have Agonizing Blast, Repelling Blast, and Eldritch Spear applied to it.
However, some Invocations (such as Grasp of Hadar and Lance of Lethargy) can only be used once on your turn when you hit a target with your Eldritch Blast.
Does Hex Work with Eldritch Blast?
Yes. Every time you hit a creature with an Eldritch Blast you can add your Hex damage. For example, if you Hex an orc and hit them with two blasts, you would then apply the Hex damage to each hit.
Conclusion – Eldritch Blast in D&D 5e
Eldritch Blast is why many decide to try playing a Warlock or continue to play them.
It’s a perfect example of not only a great and effective cantrip but also a great influential spell that can shape your entire character build. Eldritch Blast adds a ton of versatility to a Warlock and is something the entire party will love.
It also scales nicely which is a great feeling. It’s hard not to love a cantrip that deals decent damage at 1st level all the way through 20th.
We’d love to hear more about your thoughts on this much-loved cantrip in the comments below.
Until next time!
Don’t forget to sign up for the Tabletop Joab newsletter! It’s the best way to get all the latest player guides, DM Tips, news, reviews, and more for D&D 5e right to your inbox!
You can also follow Tabletop Joab on Facebook and Twitter.
If you found this article helpful and want to support the site, you can buy me a coffee here! (It’s not expected, but very appreciated!)
Oh, yes, a cantrip that I take on every Warlock and on some other casters if I can.
The part about adding Agonizing Blast bonus to every ray is often ignored – but it shouldn’t be, as it boosts already impressive potential to extreme levels. But what is even more impressive – you may do it from Level 2, while other classes need either a feat or Level 8 (some Clerics).
It is also interesting that Eldritch Blast is basically description-neutral – just an energy beam with force damage. So, a player may describe it in any way possible; for example, my Archfey Warlock sends bolts of solidified winter power, my Celestial one hurls darts of blinding light and so on. And that actually helps to mask that you’re Warlock in-character.
One thing that is also often ignored or overlooked, though: Eldritch Blast works only on creatures. No blasting obstacles with it, sadly (except a mimic check).
And, as I wrote about multiclasses recently… A few levels of a Sorcerer will give an ability to twin Hex. So, Hex two targets and hit both of them with beams of Eldritch Blast. It is especially sinister in the hands of an NPC villain.
Another scene, though hilarious, is that the party or enemies may have several Warlocks or members with feats. Imagine them taking Repelling Blasts/Grasp of Hadar and playing field tennis with the targets.
Hi V-Z!
I can’t imagine playing a Warlock and not taking Eldritch Blast with the Agonizing Blast option. It’s just too good to pass up!
Also, you make an excellent point regarding the description of the spell. Where some might see it as a “generic” description, the potential to describe it and add flavor in a way that fits the Warlock’s patron (or some other aspect of the character) is wonderful.
It’s terrifying what can happen as a multiclass Warlock/Sorcerer. Twinned Hex is definitely something that will make any Dungeon Master start to sweat and feels almost unfair to use against the party! 😉
I hadn’t considered Warlocks playing tennis with targets, but the mental image is hilarious. They keep pushing and pulling an enemy through a “net” that just happens to be a Wall of Fire. Haha!
Thank you, now I just must put such a scene if I ever run an adventure dealing with fiends and their servants. Perhaps, two Warlocks may even invite the characters to join!
On a semi-related note: imagine my surprise when just the basic Monster Manual presented me a creature of CR 4 that is outright immune to force damage. I think, Helmed Horrors are really horrors of Warlock and Amethyst lineages.
Helmed Horrors are a very underused monster. I’m excited to write an article about them, though there are a few other monsters I’m wanting to feature first.
I remember the first time I threw one at one of my groups.
The Rogue went first, but couldn’t beat the HH’s armor class. Next was the Warlock’s turn who rolled a critical hit with her Eldritch Blast.
Everyone cheered until they realized that it had no effect. The table got very quiet and one of the players asked the group “should we run?”
They ultimately prevailed, but they were terrified the whole time!
I am testing various things right now, one of them is a conversion of Council of Wyrms. So, a party of four wyrmlings and an Elf ally recently met two Helmed Horrors.
..well. The Artificer was extremely surprised that his cannon is not working. The Wizard was equally surprised that her favourite Chromatic Orb has no effect. The Ranger just was annoyed that he failed to hit them. The Paladin was very sorry for not using Smites right away.