How do people think Warlock is good? Isnt it the worst class in the game??

[Amplifier]

I've had Wyll in my party plenty of times and he does wreck enemies, but he just doesnt really stand out to me. Like there's literally nothing this warlock can do my other party members can't.

People like to say Eldritch blast is what defines the Warlock but isnt that spell also available to other classes eventually anyway?? Warlocks also have the bad limitation of having only useful spell slot. And I know Warlocks can regain that slot after a short rest but whats the point in that when I can have way more spell slots from other classes and that isnt merely limited to one measly level 4 spell? In the same span of time before a long rest, I can cast multiple times more spells from other classes like Wizards and Clerics. A sorcerer can also regain spell slots without needing to force a short rest that also be wasted on the rest of the party which may have high health

Another beneift people say is the CHAR damage multiplier. But if I wanna deal high damage, it's better to just invest in a martial based class like Fighter and Paladin instead

Lastly there arent even any unique Warlocks have other classes cant get. Gale as my wizard man can already use all of Wyll's same spells from levelling up or reading scrolls. Someone please tell me what I'm missing here.

[Brian_the_Brute]

Only way I play Warlock is multi class, such as 1 level in Wizard with the ogre headband. That gives them utility with 4 extra spells you can learn from scrolls, based on total caster levels of all magic user classes.

Hunger of Hadar is the best spell, but a bard gets that spell as well at level 5 or 10 so it kind of makes warlock redundant as bard is probably the best class in the game.

[LordOfTheBread]

Every class can be the worst in the game id you don't know how to pay it. Warlock having free push and crowd control pretty much each turn is huge.

[Nauct]

Originally posted by NukacolaBottleCap:

Warlock is an underwhelming class. I've been experimenting with different builds suggested on various forums and none of them are amazing. I frankly don't understand why anyone thinks this is a good class. If you were looking to build a character that is solid in combat and can act as the face of the group, you're better off going Sword Bard. If you want a magic user who can dominate the battlefield, then you're better off with a Sorcerer.

Warlock is the gold standard for a Striker class. If your damage build can't do more consistent dps than hex+eldritch blast it's bad. Not to mention there's so many pieces of gear in the game that buff eldritch blast

[TheMasterBlaster]

Warlocks should be used like a tactical nuke and in a 'short rest' party composition to utilize their full potential.

an 11th or 12th lvl Fiend Warlock can upcast a 5th lvl Fireball 9 times per long rest (using two default short rests). with a bard they can do it 12 times. other casters have more spell slots, but none of them can high level upcast as many times as a Warlock per long rest. If you're using Warlock spells that don't have an upcast benefit, then you're doing it wrong.

if in the same party with a bard and two other classes with strong short rest features and weapon actions, you have a party capable of going full blast in every encounter.

If all of those characters have the Durable feat, they all heal full hit points per short rest.

BG3 is a co-op game. you shouldn't consider the merits of each class individually. instead, you have to think about your entire party and how best to synergize their features.

[Nauct]

Originally posted by TheMasterBlaster:

Warlocks should be used like a tactical nuke and in a 'short rest' party composition to utilize their full potential.

an 11th or 12th lvl Fiend Warlock can upcast a 5th lvl Fireball 9 times per long rest (using two default short rests). with a bard they can do it 12 times. other casters have more spell slots, but none of them can upcast as many times as a Warlock per long rest. If you're using Warlock spells that don't have an upcast benefit, then you're doing it wrong.

if in the same party with a bard and two other classes with strong short rest features and weapon actions, you have a party capable of going full blast in every encounter.

If all of those characters have the Durable feat, they all heal full hit points per short rest.

BG3 is a co-op game. you shouldn't consider the merits of each class individually. instead, you have to think about your entire party and how best to synergize their features.

In normal tabletop DnD the warlock gets to pop off every fight and make the other casters jealous. I think people just long rest like crazy in BG3 so they don't appreciate it

[Draknalor]

Eldrich blast on targeted affected with hex does a lot of dmg.

I tend to Run 1 great weapon master classs, 1 Wizard, 1 Flex spot (whatever i feel like here) and 1 Dexterity class for lockpick etc.

I have had Warlock on the flex spot a few times, I like the blast and the pushback.

But warlock is not Something i'd run if i ever did Honor mode and tried to optimise

[FunkyMonkey]

Warlocks are great. How I play them is I pick 2 or 3 high-impact concentration CC spells when leveling and cast one of them once a fight. Rest of the time it's just Eldritch blast.

Also, because your spell slots level with you and come back on a short rest, spells like Invisibility and Fly, which target more characters when upcast are good picks for them. Also, your counterspell is always at the highest level, if that is what you want.

For example, Hold person is great on a Warlock because it also scales with your spell slots, adding more targets. Also Hunger of Hadar is amazing for controlling an area and with Repelling blast you can send enemies back into it.

On Fiend Warlocks you can also get Command, which is amazing. Fireball is cool, but Command is better for a Warlock, in my opinion. A non-concentration CC spell that levels with spell slots, what is not to like.

Warlocks are basically "magic archers" who use Eldritch blast instead of bows and pack a ton of spell utility to boot.

[KRON]

Originally posted by FunkyMonkey:

Warlocks are basically "magic archers" who use Eldritch blast instead of bows and pack a ton of spell utility to boot.

Get your Charisma to 20, get Agonising blast and Potent Robe from Alfira and your eldrich blasts will deal 11-20 damage instead of 1-10. That's a lot of damage for a cantrip.

[Pat Fenis]

They are very good, once you have the requisite gear and levels. They are pretty meh until late Act 2, and godlike with all their gear in Act 3. I prefer a wizard throughout the game tbh.

[You Touched My Tralala]

All points valid. Warlock is a swiss tool which can do small tasks occasionally but you don't want to use it on constant basis.

Warlock is great with EB build, but it depends heavily on items. Without potent robe your only hope to deal meaningful damage past level 5 is amplifying crit chance and multiclassing. And after that you want to use bonus points to use EB with. And that leaves us with multiclass where warlock is only 2 levels... Basically, it's not warlock build, it's a sorc build.

All while you could have had pure sorc and build it around cold damage with proper items and staff of morning frost.

Or you could run as warlock dual wielder and quickly find out you really want to wear some armor. And that you still want high DEX. And that you want dual wielding fighting style. And all that is just simpler to get by having Eldritch Knight build instead of warlock.

Warlock is versatile but with versatility comes limited usability. It's good when you are playing game first time. You can quickly fill up holes in your party's weak spots on the go.

Without Hexblade subclass Warlock is good for multiclassing with 1-2 levels in, but single classing - no, just no

[NukacolaBottleCap]

Originally posted by Nauct:

Originally posted by NukacolaBottleCap:

Warlock is an underwhelming class. I've been experimenting with different builds suggested on various forums and none of them are amazing. I frankly don't understand why anyone thinks this is a good class. If you were looking to build a character that is solid in combat and can act as the face of the group, you're better off going Sword Bard. If you want a magic user who can dominate the battlefield, then you're better off with a Sorcerer.

Warlock is the gold standard for a Striker class. If your damage build can't do more consistent dps than hex+eldritch blast it's bad. Not to mention there's so many pieces of gear in the game that buff eldritch blast

If a class/build doesn't shine to me in the first few levels, it's hard for me to justify spending anymore time on it just because there's a possibility that my experience will get better once I get the best gears in the future.

Originally posted by You Touched My Tralala:

All points valid. Warlock is a swiss tool which can do small tasks occasionally but you don't want to use it on constant basis.

Warlock is versatile but with versatility comes limited usability. It's good when you are playing game first time. You can quickly fill up holes in your party's weak spots on the go.

Having experimented with the class; I've come to the exact same conclusion. A magic build could benefit doing 1 or 2 levels of multiclass with warlock, but it's lackluster on its own.

[DeMasked]

It should be possible to have Radiating Orb and Reverberation to stack on enemies multiple times at 5 and 10.

This would debuff enemies, deal a bit more Thunder damage and possibly prone said enemies for better melee attacks. Might be another item that can work on top of the Thunder damage.

Oh and the Lightning Staff can give you Lightning Charges easily.

Eldritch Blast being a free Magic Missiles while lacking the 100% hit chance and homing stuff can be really good with Warlock. You can choose Drow to use handcrossbows for bonus action attacks as well with Arcane Acuity.

edit: Though Arcane Acuity might not work with EB.

[Atech]

Imo they feel bit weak other than as dedicated multiclassed melee builds. Their main strength is short rests recovery but it leads to them just being weak for single hard fights and who really prefers that opposed to gathering power for single fights for hard bosses? I sure don't.

Compared to Sorcerers who have insanely strong metamagic and charisma + damage to ALL spells of singe element instead of just cantrip and Wizards who have super strong defensive option with abjuration and some other good options, secret spells, super versatile spell list.

Both Wizard and Sorcerer have insane utility, great defenses with shield, mirror images and counterspell, globe of invulnerability and plentiful misty steps, Great CC spells, Insane burst damage while poor warlock gets the 2 or 3 spell slots for hard fight and probably they were used for Armor of Agathys and hunger of hadar that's it and just eldritch blasts. Tome warlock gets couple more spells.

It would be different story if warlocks had their proper mechanics with Eldritch blast customization with shapes and essences like they are supposed to and if scrolls were not braindead and if there were wands and warlocks could properly have mastery over them with Deceive item.

[TheMasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Atech:

Imo they feel bit weak other than as dedicated multiclassed melee builds. Their main strength is short rests recovery but it leads to them just being weak for single hard fights and who really prefers that opposed to gathering power for single fights for hard bosses? I sure don't.

No. Short rest recovery is one of their strengths but not their main strength. Upcasting of ALL of their spells is their main strength.

[Atech]

Originally posted by TheMasterBlaster:

Originally posted by Atech:

Imo they feel bit weak other than as dedicated multiclassed melee builds. Their main strength is short rests recovery but it leads to them just being weak for single hard fights and who really prefers that opposed to gathering power for single fights for hard bosses? I sure don't.

No. Short rest recovery is one of their strengths but not their main strength. Upcasting of ALL of their spells is their main strength.

Its the same thing when sorcerer and Wizard can upcast just as well for single fight, Actually even better since they cast upcast 2 spells to 5th lvl and one lvl to 6th lvl opposed to 11+ lvl warlock who can upcast 3 spells to 5th lvl.

Imo it's more of a drawback. That you are forced to upcast all your spells. Want to use that misty step or mirror image? gratz for wasting 5th lvl spell slot for it. Might as well not have them on your spell list because it's so painful to use them.