Handbooker Helper: Warlock (Quick Build)
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- The legendary Mary Elizabeth McGlynn stopped by the studio to offer some sage advice with a Warlock Quick Build for the latest #HandbookerHelper!
Featuring doodles by our friend Wendy: / wendydoodles
Subtitles provided by Critical Role Translate: bit.ly/2Ib8aBk
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When in doubt: Eldritch Blast.
Eldritch blast is essentially the Warlock's sword. This is the one thing you swing around most often.
"Say the warlock line"
@@strangemonarchist2818 Well its like an all purpose shotgun, simple, efficient scales nicely, multiple shots at higher lvls, is a type of dmg thats not really often resisted.
And with the Invocations it is highly customisable.
I Could Be Sleeping Right Now unless you’re a hexblade/pact of the blade warlock. Then you’re sword is just a sword.
Yup. I'm a 5th level Moon Druid with a level in Arcana cleric. About to add 3 to 5 levels of Lock next, the synergy is amazing - Spike Growth set behind the melee mob, and repelling eldritch blast the mofo back into it. Repeat, while hitting with Spiritual Weapon.
I like to imagine all Patrons know each other.
Like Fistandantilus, Asmodeus, Cthulhu, Titania and all other Patrons meet up once a month for dinner, games of wit and to boast about their newest Warlocks. The idea of it always makes me grin.
Two patrons talk to each other next to a water cooler at work:
- "The other day I was trying to teach my warlock how to absorb power from a magic weapon. You know, giving him the standard issue one word commands."
- - "He did not get it, right? They never get it on the first try. What did he do?"
- "He freaking tried to swallow the damn thing. I just gave up on the lesson and gave him the power anyway just to be done with it."
You should totally read the Battle Mage/Blood Mage/Chaos Mage trilogy by Stephen Aryan. It has a take on the godly pantheon I suspect you'll enjoy and is otherwise also a great read IMO.
@@GTOfire I'll add that to my reading list.
The same way Ed Greenwood wrote about hosting the meetings of the Wizards Three. Elminster (FR), Mordenkinen (Greyhawk), and Dalamar (DL) would get together every so often at his house on Earth to swap spells and tales of magic items. And for providing the space, and refreshments, Ed would get to record it all for him to write up and submit to Dragon Magazine. Elminster was in on it.
Sounds like a bunch of parents showing off their grandkids
Expected travis but didn't leave disappointed.
she played a warlock before him so it makes sense
He did the Barbarian Quick Build
Love Fjord, but when I think of Crit Role and Warlock Zarha comes to mind first.
Zahra is the OG
Can I just say THANK YOU again for showing people in their 50's playing D&D? My mom only heard of it when I started playing in high school, and now that she's nearing retirement she's shown a ton of interest in playing (heavy theatre background too). But she's been afraid that she's too old to play... which course isn't true, but it's great to see people like her playing!
MARY!!!!! Seriously, can we please get Mary in Campaign 2 please! PWETTY PLEASE!
No, she is already loved and immortalized in the Critters with Zahra. Plus we already have gotten memorable guests and some I would love to return
@@gregputnam7243 The entire main cast is loved and immortalized as their Campaign 1 characters. I get your point, but it kind of falls flat when you keep that in mind.
I loved Zahra but I would like to see what kooky character Mary could bring for campaign 2.
Since it's already been confirmed that Percy and Vex are on another continent and that the rest of VM are out there somewhere, I'd love to see a cameo of an older, traveling Zahara in the later episodes!
Bellymouth I agree! I would love Zahra chilling with the mighty nein!
Ah. The class equivalent to having a sugar daddy. My favorite class.
That's... yeah. That's what it is. A magic sugar daddy.
The internet putting things in simpler terms
...I cannot unsee this now. H*ck.
Yeah but this sugar daddy is more likely to kill you for your betrayal....or eat you if it's a fiend or a great old one.
Ahem...sugar mommy.
I would also like to add to this Quick Build.
Spell Slots
They upscale automatically as you level up. 2nd-level spells starting at 3, 3rd at 5, 4th at 7, and then finally 5th at 9. Also, you start with 1 and then you gain a 2nd at level 2, 3rd at 11, and 4th at 17. Why the limited number? Because unlike all other casters, warlock can recharge their slots after a short rest. (Barring Land Druids and Wizards except their short rest recovery is once a day).
Eldritch Invocations
At level 2, you start to have access to special add-ons called "invocations". You start with 2 and level 2 and then you gain an extra one of your choice at certain levels. These range from bonuses to your Eldritch Blast cantrip to extra spells you can cast at will or once a day to skill boons such as proficiency in Persuasion/Deception and 120 ft. of sight even in magical darkness. Be wary, though: there are prerequisites that you must have before you can take on an invocation, be it warlock levels, cantrips, or even specific pacts.
Additional Spell Recommendations
Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Armor of Agathys
Hey just wanted to thank you for adding this , I've been thinking about making a warlock character recently so I appreciate this!
Agreed. This is useful knowledge. Because the Warlock is one of those classes that let you switch a spell a level up, it is good to know how to identify spells that only grow more powerful (like Armor of Agathys) versus spells that stagnate.
Warlock spell slot recharge is actually worse as it still only works once per day and you have to wait til lvl 20 to get the ability.
@@thefatty01 No it doesn't. Unlike Land Druids and Wizards, you can have more than one short rest a day.
As for the level 20 feature, that requires you to spend a full minute to replenish your slots. THAT is a once a day thing.
It's also worth noting that Chill Touch(recommended in the video) is fairly situational, and won't help against the main creature that shrugs off the Force damage of your Eldritch Blast, the Helmed Horror. When the situations do come where Chill Touch can be fancy, it's VERY nice. I'd suggest waiting and possibly grabbing it later if you find yourself in a world where it's usefulness can be exploited regularly. I tend to go for something utilitarian as my other starting cantrip, like Minor Illusion or Prestidigitation. Both of them can be very handy and let you get creative with your roleplaying.
Something to keep in mind with your spell selection: CONCENTRATION SPELLS. You have a very limited number of spell slots, and a lot of the good spells on the Warlock list requires your Concentration to maintain. So if you want to be using Hex all the time for that per-hit damage bonus, keep in mind that something like Hold Person will require you to drop the Hex and there's a good chance you won't be able to re-Hex during the same battle. Now, those Concentration spells can often let you maximize the use of your limited number of spell slots by keeping their usefulness going over multiple rounds. But keep some non-Concentration spells around as well. Three of my favorites: Misty Step, use your Bonus Action to BAMF out of danger like Nightcrawler and fire off Eldritch Blast on the same turn! Mirror Image, a great defensive buff that will completely absorb a few hits for you. Shatter, some solid area-effect damage for a class that doesn't get a lot of it especially in the lower levels, and it's a damage type that's resisted way less often than Fire. So pick it up and strike.....like THUNDERBALL!
MARY!!!! The Coolest Warlock in the world!!!
Poor Fjord. I hope he's not too heartbroken from reading that.
@@Rathkryn He'll be cool after he fights a few more dragons
I was going to say “What about Taliesin,” but I remembered he’s not a warlock, he’s a patron for warlocks.
Not sure how I feel. Talesin should be on here as Mary's patron as we all know he is truly the dark lord
he is too busy, ruling from his dark tower.
@@rikremmerswaal2756 we all know he is just playing video games in there
How dare you call our Ethereal Pyramid a "dark lord". He benevolent and smites only sometimes
Tal is an eldritch god
My group have a homebrew game and Taliesin is my warlock patron
Sort of surprised that the Warlock's slots refreshing on Short Rests wasn't mentioned.
Its one of the things that can make a Warlock pretty powerful, but only if the GM plans to allow more than one Short Rest a day.
Only 1 a day? That could be pretty harsh y the GM nerfing the Warlock and the entire game mechanic beings HD for fast healing and more combat stretched events are what this edition is built around. It was the one complaint about all old editions. Needing long rests all the time, short rest brought the HD mechanic. . . and a Warlock niche. This also plays into resting and running to push possible exhaustion when long rests don't recoup or even available in some modules. But to each their own. . .
Agreed, but I've seen that mentioned a couple times when discussing the Warlock. You want to make sure how you GM is going to approach some of those mechanical things.
What a queen!
Can someone please tell me who Mary is?
@@nuhelder1651 She's a very big VA and VA director who was a guest last campaign.
I'm a simple man: I see Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, I thumb up.
One day, someone will forget to do this joke on a video and the Internet will explode.
Spoiler for new players:
Wisdom isn't important for you at all, as you already have proficiency in Wis saving throw and none of warlock skill profis use wisdom. Wisdom saving throws are prominent, but in my opinion dexterity is a obviously better choice (your AC won't very high, as you lack proficiency in heavy armor and shields)
-AC boost; -initiative boost; -by far the most common saving throw is dexterity
To sum up, you will simply lack points to buy a high wisdom score - you'd better get those three 15s for Dex Con and Cha. And by the way, would you consider selling your soul to an ancient evil (or fey) a *wise* choice?
Yup. Learned it the hard way
*cries in AC 11*
@@dariakazakova2138 Oh. Maybe a cleric 1/warlock x warforged next time? You can get a stable 20+ AC ;)
@@hope_13alt thank you for the idea :) I was thinking about going for a Warlock 3/Sorcerer X, but, unfortunately, the campaign is too short for that, our DM doesn't wanna dive into multiclassing.
At least the party has 2 healers :) Mediocre ones! But two of them.
@@hope_13alt I'd say paladin instead, also Cha based.
@@EdwardDowner Aye, a good choice as well, especially if you are going for a bladelock.
Oh! I LOVE Mary! She did so good with this little episode! She's literally the embodiment of Charisma, CHARISMA, *CHARISMA!!!* Her voice is so soothing and majestic!
I love Mary Elizabeth McGlynn.
Here's the real kicker of being a Warlock:
Fewer spell slots than other classes, but they are all MAX LEVEL and recover after a SHORT REST.
You are the quick-loading Desert Eagle of spellslingers.
Nice intro to the Warlock, thank you! IMO... this class presents the biggest opportunity for DM/Player interaction. The DM not only roleplays the Patron but also must interpret their goals and intentions as well as keeping the Patron involved (or meddling) in the character's life (more so than a deity). Warlocks definitely bring challenging, but fun aspects into a D&D campaign and an easy way for a DM to include quests or plot hooks.
“Charisma, Charisma, Charisma is QUEEN!”
No, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, YOU are the queen.
"You got your perfect warlock"
Good Day, this is your friendly reminder that Mary McGlynn is AMAZING!!!
Great Job as always!
MARY MY LOVE I'VE MISSED YOU!!! WE NEED YOU IN CAMPAIGN 2!!
*Session 0*
DM: Ok, so you want to play warlock, what's your patron going to b-
Me: Cthulhu
DM: You mean the great old one?
Me: Yeah, Cthulhu
DM: Don't you want to at least look at the others? A patron isn't just for Christmas.
Me: I said, *_Cthulhu_*
What about Hex guys the best first level spell for warlocks
It syncs so well with the multiple attacks from eldritch blast. I recommend Hex over Witchbolt, most of the time.
It's also one that can sync up well with your team. Do you have a tavern brawling barbarian, a shield bashing cleric or other allies who like to shove their enemies around? Use Hex to impose disadvantage on that enemy's strength or dexterity rolls (ask your DM whether the enemy seems to rely on either precision or brute force the most when fighting), and watch them be tumbled around like a plaything for your allies.
It's even fun to use outside of combat under for example festivals with competitions. Give your bard an edge in a battle of the bands vs their main rival or let your fighter find their arm wrestle opponent a lot weaker than they first appeared. If you lean into the charlatan aspect, you can even play the shell game giving your target disadvantage on detecting your sleight of hand tricks. Just be sure you're standing somewhere both you and your verbal incantations blend in unnoticed when casting Hex
Very good at at all levels, but in like T2 I dont use it at all because it's frankly a boring spell
I hope one day we get a solid bloopers reel from all this
I really do love this series. The breakdown's of the magic using classes certainly made them less scary to try and plan/build/play.
I love the Warlock class, the Warlock that I’m playing as right now has been one of the most fun characters I’ve played yet!
i... i know there were words in this... i could hear her speaking but i was too caught up in basking in her glorious presence to concentrate on what was said.
i kid, it was a good guide. Thanks for your help, Mary!
i've been a *Major* fan of her for years. (huehuehue)
I saw Mary and I saw "warlock" and I thought "perfect!" With both the usual mechanical advice AND story advice, this one is indeed "pact-ed" with useful information.
Hellish Rebuke at the end is awesome.
Ugh. I love Mary Elizabeth!
"Just a bargain" also yaaaay for Mary!
With weapons and supplies.
Mary Elizabeth, yay!!! I love that they're including not just the Critical Role cast in this mini series :)
... have they had Will Friedle on here yet? He should be next if they haven't!
I want Wil Wheaton on to talk about the various... dice. ;)
Maybe Will Friedle will do the paladin one considering that episode from all work no play
the 'pact' pun! xD
AAAHHHH I LEGIT THOUGHT SHE WAS ENGLISH FROM ALL THOSE TIMES ON CRIT ROLE IM SHOOK
I love how the last part was hellish rebuke which is what she killed the white dragon with (amazing kill btw)
I find that a cool patron for a Hexblade warlock is a sentient weapon housing the soul of a legendary warrior of old who passes on some of his power through your pact, as you set out on a quest or duty the hero failed to fulfill. And should you choose Pact of the Blade, your weapon may resemble the weapon they once wielded.
An advanced warlock guide would be great in the future. Explaining how spell slots work with Warlocks (automatically upscales and restores on short rest). As well as what Invocations actually are (basically additional features. Some are passive. Some require activation)
Surprised it's not Travis Doing this build since I mean. Arguably his most loved character.
Mary 💖💖💖💖 so happy to see her again, I really loved her as Zahra and her many one-shot appearances! Wish she could appear in Campaign Two, too...
And spell slots recharge after a short rest, not a long rest! A key part of warlocks.
A good thing to understand about Warlocks before you play one for the first time, is that they are very much a martial spell caster. They aren't called WARlocks for nothing. This means that, much like how a fighter usually gets by by just repeatedly slashing their sword at an enemy until they die, so does a Warlock usually just blast enemies to death as well with their eldritch blast cantrip.
This can leave many players disappointed if, when picking a spell caster, they were expecting something along the lines of a versatile wizard who merely has the flavor distinction that they channel their magic from their patron rather than through arcane study.
On the other hand, if you can get a grip on all the customization options/eldritch invocations, you'll find yourself a spell caster that's very easy to actually play while still feeling like they have a few more options in combat that for example your champion fighter.
Also, be sure to speak with your DM about how they handle the quantity and difficulty of their combat encounters each day. The game itself is kind of designed around the expectation that you actually have a decent amount of digestible combat encounters every day with room for short rests between them (which is GREAT for warlocks, monks and a few others!), but MANY DMs rely more on one big combat encounter per day and then every other spell caster in the party wants a long rest :P
I do think it's worth noting that, for the vast majority of Warlocks, Darkness, Eldritch Blast, and Hex, along with the Agonizing Blast and Devil's Sight invocations, will be extremely helpful. Alternatively, if you're going Pact of the Blade, then take Lifedrinker instead of Agonizing Blast. Either way, more damage is nothing to complain about and Darkness plus Devil's Sight is like casting Invisibility and blinding the enemy at the same time. It's just mean.
As for more specific tips, if you're a Pact of the Tome Warlock, there's a lot of options for added cantrips, though Mending, Light (if anyone in the party doesn't have Darkvision. Note this probably doesn't include you, because Devil's Sight), and Guidance are the standouts. Don't be that guy who takes Acid Splash, though. Combat cantrips are not worth it, since Eldritch Blast exists. You could try to go for Spare the Dying or Friends if you want, but I wouldn't recommend them. In terms of general utility, while some would consider Druidcraft or Thaumaturgy, Warlocks already have Prestidigitation and Minor Illusion in their spell list. Also for Pact of the Tome, Book of Ancient Secrets is always a fun time. Warlocks have so few spell slots, don't naturally get ritual casting, and can't switch spells like Wizards, so the ability to pretend you're a Wizard and cast rituals from your book opens up a lot of versatility.
My favorite class.
you should look up an ebook called the Tomb of Pacts on DM's guild it has tweaked versions of the 3 original and the 2 from Xanathars guide but also ads 3 new pacts for patrons that are embodyments of chaos order and nutrality respectivly
She is the reason my warlock exists, love her and her voice.
Zahra, how are the twins? How is Kashaw handling it?
I always imagine Kashaw rolling his eyes and making sarcastic comments when Zahra wants him to spend time with the children or change the diapers, and when no one is looking, he kisses the children and hugs them constantly, because he loves all three no end.
@@owlsdragons906 And then Vesh kills them all except Cashew!
Holy Moly, I'm watching the video and the room is shaking!!!!!!! It's July 5 2019 8:22 pm Las Vegas, N.V, this is a great video or I'm feeling an after shock. hahahahaha
This 4:21 video explained quintessentially than other 30:00 warlock video. Thank you!! ❤️
No. I need more of her. How dare anybody dislike. More Mary. NOW
Warlocks are always my fav class to give to new players who want spellcasting but are a bit overwhelmed. Great quick build.
Maybe it wasn't touched on because you don't start getting them until 2nd level, so they don't factor into a "quick build" (which doesn't make sense, since she talks about Pact Boons), but Eldritch Invocations are also a pretty significant tool in the warlock's belt! A lot of them grant you access to non-cantrip spells, either once per long rest or even at will!
For those looking for recommendations in this regard (and assuming you don't have your own personal picks based on your character's "style"), it might be best to try to use your 1st-level adventuring to get a feel for what sort of campaign your DM is running. If you think they're going to throw a lot of strange writing and unknown languages at you, Eyes of the Rune Keeper is solid, if they are going to put you into a lot of social interactions and you want to double down on your Deception and Persuasion, Beguiling Influence is useful (as is Mask of Many Faces if you just want to avoid being noticed), and Eldritch Sight gives you access to Detect Magic at all times! Beyond those, if you're using Eldritch Blast a lot (which is common for warlocks), investing in one of the invocations that augments that cantrip can be helpful.
If you plan to make a pact of the blade warlock I recommend making dex your highest stat. With the armor of shadows invocation you can get a really high AC at level 2, which you will need for a close quarters build.
Your dey modifier also nicely combos with the Mirror Image spell. You get clones and for each clonr ac is dependent on your Dex modifier. Enemies will have a hard time hitting you now with conventional weapons.
Read me a story 😭 beautiful lady and beautiful vocie. Her and Somalee reading stories is heavenly ❤️
You are my hero!!!! Playing my first warlock and this has helped me so much!!!
And now I imagine Nina Williams sitting down and playing D&D against her sister. Priceless but also makes sense.
Love that Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. Bonus points for those sleeves.
OH I MISS MARY ON CR SO MUCH I'd love to see her come back second campaign !!
Mary!!!! Ahhh I missed her so much!
I've been playing a Pact of the Blade Hexblade Warlock in Adventurer's League and it's really awesome. It's a perfect match of a heavy-weapon-user gish with fullcaster progression, all in one single class.
*∙Melee combat:* Combine Great Weapon Master (using your spellcasting stat, Charisma!) with Darkness + Devil's Sight or, at level 7, Shadow of Moil; both improve your chance to land that +10. And Hexblade's Curse can add another +2 to +6 to damage to each attack.
*∙Ranged combat:* Eldritch Blast + Agonizing Blast. Also affected by Hexblade's Curse.
*∙Blasting:* Cone of Cold and Synaptic Static are pretty solid when you want to bring down destruction to the hordes. Sickening Radiance in the right circunstances is also very good.
*∙Buffing:* Darkness and Shadow of Moil, as mentioned above, plus the awesome Armor of Agathys.
*∙Battlefield control:* Hold Person/Hold Monster, Banishment, Forcecage.
*∙Utility:* Fly, Dimension Door.
Lol "I would like to cast.....(whimper)f÷@k me!"
Damn that was a great episode.
How is she just, so, so cool?
Tome pact is, more often than not, the best way to go for warlocks.
If you're thinking blade pact you should consider the fact that your pact weapon needs to be built up with multiple invocations as you level, and possibly taking the hexblade patron to really capitalize on that choice. Or you can just take the druid cantrip shillelagh and get 80% of the mechanical benefits of scaling up your pact weapon with your limited invocation slots.
If you're thinking chain pact you get several invocation options that offer access to different spells, and your choice of a pet imp, quasit, or sprite that can act as an invisible scout all day long. Or you can go tome and pick up the book of ancient secrets invocation. It enhances your pact tome and gives you two free ritual spells. One of which can easily be find familiar. Furthermore, your tome now gives you ritual caster so long as you have it on you, and you can write in ritual spells as if you were a wizard. And the spells can be from the spell lists of any class. Seriously, one warlock invocation is a supercharged version of the ritual caster feat, and the only prerequisite is taking pact of the tome at level 3.
Goodness! Handbooker Helper is giving out lots of pleasant surprises!
I love Mary Elizabeth McGlynn so much.
I've no idea who she is, could watch her extol the virtues of the humble Lock all day.
"Grim-WAAAAAOOIIRRREEESS." Lmao I love you Mary
loved the Hellish rebuke at the end. I would have mentioned a bit more about Eldritch blast since its so versatile to Warlocks.
1:57
I don't understand. I thought familiats were always with you. I think she meant patron. If she did can you please confirm and if you can explain the use of familiars in dnd and if you can have them.
Familiars are a creature summoned by a Find Familiar spell. If they die you have to resummon them again using the same spell.
Love the "Hellish Rebuke" call back
They are having so much fun building this business - best of luck to them.
I could listen to her forever.
😮 YESSSSSsssssss! I am so excited for this video and glad Mary covered it
I shall play the heck out of Warlocks! I just love the idea of being a character that gets their power from a bond with a patron.
Eeeeeeee! Warlock! With Mary Elizabeth McGlynn!
The one thing she forgot to mention was Innovations that are the Warlock specialty that make up for the limits spell list.
I understand why because a lot of these abilities are passive and boost already existing abilities but these really define what type of Warlock you would like to be and some are only available based on your which patron you have chosen. Needless to say, these are very player focused rather than class focused and Handbooker Helper is created for generic or open-ended play styles. They provide the advice with some tips and tricks and you as the player create your character and move forward from there
People always forget that warlocks are half casters not full, because of Eldritch Blast being the best Cantrip to use in combat in the entire game. They're meant to be fighters who use magic every once in a while, especially if you use the Pact of the Blade.
Noooooo. Don't take Witch Bolt. It is an actual trap for new players. It's one of the worst spells in the game. Requires your action on following turns to do weak damage that doesn't scale. (Only the initial damage scales) and it's super easy for creatures to get out of it. They just need to move over 30 feet away from you and it's gone, or step out of your line of sight and it's gone. This spell is honestly just bad. Hex would have been a much much much better recommendation for new players than Witch Bolt.
Hold up there buddy. Witch bolt is better than you think. At those squishy lower levels with barely any spell slots, having guaranteed damage each round is super handy. Plus if you can pin the enemy in with the threat of opportunity attacks with your companions, you can keep your target where you want.
@@Furcas00 While this is a fair assumption, I don't think Witch Bolt is reliable enough to say 'guaranteed' damage. Yes, it's automatic... but it's fairly easy to break from it. Either through concentration, walking away, or moving the one hitting you away, I'd say witch bolt suffers do you how much you rely on the conditions being right.
@@BlackCerberus These conditions are pretty common in normal fights though, especially with larger parties. Forcing someone to retreat 30ft from you is not a bad compromise either, as you can force some nice opportunity attacks from friends that are more equipped to land those hits. Mind you, I'm not recommending that you should keep Witchbolt into later levels, (~4th or 5th level or as soon as you pick up Agonizing Blast Evocation) it's clearly designed to be an early game spell. Just swap it out at any level up when it's no longer useful.
If the target moves out of sight, Witch Bolt is also dropped. Eldritch Blast is just a better option for action economy even at lower levels, due to range. At lower levels, you probably aren't hitting anything with a very high AC. If your going caster, you probably want to be over 30ft. away. 30 is an average speed for humanoid creatures, so if you latch an energy shackle on something, it will be able to get into your face right away. Honestly, if Witch Bolt was even just a bonus action to do the follow up damage, it would make it acceptable.
As it stands, Heat Metal (Level 2) is just an all around better spell. Sadly none of the same classes get both, but Heat Metal is an example of how to make a spell like it or Witch Bolt actually worth taking.
Also, regardless of Witch Bolts usefulness, I'm shocked they didn't recommend Hex instead of it, as Hex is one of the bread and butter spells of the Warlock.
Well i mean, Zhara witch bolted a White Dragon to death with VM as part of the Slayer's take and that was metal as fuck, ever since that i keep Witch Bolt in my spell lists, also cool Warlock flavor of being able to reapply without rolling like it was a curse.
DISCLAIMER: No offense is meant to Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, any of the people at Geek & Sundry, or Wizards of the Coast. If you don't want to see someone disagree with Mary, DO NOT CLICK "Read more". You have been warned.
Is the quick-build verbatim from the Player's Handbook?
Because to be brutally honest, the quick build from the PHB is pretty crap. Both Chill Touch and Witch Bolt compete with Eldritch Blast for your ranged attack - and Eldritch Blast wins that battle every single time. Pick basically any other cantrip (even Prestidigitation, it's roleplay gold) and Hex instead.
Stats-wise, Wisdom is important as a saving throw and for Perception, but I'd argue that Dexterity and Constitution are more important to the Warlock. Dexterity governs your AC and how well you can deal with being cornered, Constitution governs your Concentration.
If you're going with the Pact of the Tome and the Book of Ancient Secrets invocation, Intelligence is also an important stat. You want to succeed on those Arcana checks to put Ritual spells in your book when you get them from scrolls.
@Follow the howl An Arcana check is 100% needed for scribing *from scrolls*. It's a feature of spell scrolls, as described in the Dungeon Master's Guide - and you're more likely to encounter spell scrolls than full spellbooks.
The reasoning is the scroll gets destroyed upon reading, adding a chance of outright failure and forcing the spellcaster to memorize what it said/did from a single moment of seeing it. A spellbook entry doesn't go away upon reading it - making failure boring and unnecessary since you can just try again and keep the spellbook entry right there.
Also, is it verified that what she said about Wisdom is a joke? If so, she has a heck of a deadpan delivery.
Main things to add:
a) spell choice. Make absolutely sure you pick Hex. It's an awesome way to get more damage and help your team - maybe disadvantage on Wisdom checks to make sure your rogue succeeds on their bonus action hide. Or Strength, allowing your fighter or paladin to use their shield master.
b)Don't take high wisdom. You already have proficiency in Wis saving throw and none of warlock skill profis use wisdom. As your AC won't be very high, (no proficiency in heavy armor and shields), simply take dex.
c)cantrips. Surely chill touch is strong, but if you wish to be a front line just pick booming blade. Stable +d8 bonus, and potential 2d8?
d)no invocations mentioned! They are crucial to your warlocks. Surely Agonizing Blast, Devils Sight and Armor of Shadows are good picks.
If you wish to get optimal, I would highly recommend taking:
Half elf/ or drow pact of the blade hexblade warlock with Devil's sight, improved pact weapon and sharpshooter and elven accuracy. You basically get stable triple advantage which doesn't mess up your teammates and allows to use freely sharpshooter's -5 to hit +10 damage. At level 5, make sure to take Extra attack invocation.
Darkness goes well with Devil's Sight. Even if you're just blasting from the rear, advantage for you and disadvantage for anybody attacking you is AMAZING.
Where do you get the advantage from? If it's Darkness, that WILL mess up your party, and Warlocks don't get Improved Invisibility.
Or better yet be a Hexblade and get a far superior version of it without having to waste one of your precious spell slots to cast it.
@@Linerunner99 Or do both, as they do different things. Just don't try to do them BOTH at the same time, as they are still both concentration.
@@patricklyons794 Darkness won't be a problem for your team if you go with hexblade longbow. That way, without obscuring your enemies, you get advantage against them as they cannot see you. Keep 20 ft of distance from your party, simple as that.
If you want more spell slots - take a drow, one additional darkness for free.
Don't forget that Warlocks are different from all other spellcasters, as they get ALL of their spell slots back on a short rest!
*This woman voiced Ecaterina The Wise in "Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption (...and Pisha in "Bloodlines")!"*
And the Major.
@@JnEricsonx *Who?*
@@Brettbren Motoko Kusanagi, Ghost in the Shell.
More Mary is always a good thing. I absolutely adore her!
While I don't necessarily agree with this build, I'm completely in love with this woman and her way to explain things!
I love watching her and travis. Always a blast
YES!! My favourite class explained by one of my favourite CR guest stars!
The Major strikes without mercy! Love you Mary!
I have a Tiefling Tomelock w/ a Celestial patron from Xanathar's. When she says cantrips are your friend, OH YEAH! Between my variant tiefling, patron spells, tome pact, magic initiate, & base warlock spells, I know 12, yes you heard me, TWELVE CANTRIPS! Even if my warlock runs out of our very limited slots, I still have other spells for days! 😁 + a Dark Shard Amulet to cast any Warlock cantrip I want w/ a DC 10 Arcana check.
Old one is the best patron
Cthulu: "Ok here are some powers here ya go"
Me: "I can talk to anybody within 30 feet telepathically and I dont even need to speak their language for them to understand me?"
Cthulu: "Yes, have fun"
Much Later
My friends: "So we heard you made a deal with some god?"
Me: "Yup, is this annoying Im speaking to you without even speaking isn't this just wonderful and I can do this as long as I can see you and you are within 30 feet. Also ELDRITCH BLAST"
Nice, I'd add, as I just discovered, that Warlocks regain all their expended spell slots at the end of a SHORT rest. I run a game for a party coming into tier 2 and the warlock just discovered this...
Warlocks are neat casters, I want to make a fiend pact warlock at some point whose patron is the now-dead character I played in another game, a minor dwarven princess who wanted to steal the throne by assassination and build a dark fortress. In my headcanon, she now has her dark fortress in the nine hells.
she seems like she'd be so much fun to campaign with
Just want to mention that witchbolt is fine for lower levels, but by the time you hit 5th lvl, eldritch blast is better in every way. So you should definitely swap witchbolt out for something else by then.
Witch Bolt? Nah! Hex, Hellish Rebuke or Armor of Agathys. Those are infinitely better.
Seriously. How do you put Eldritch Blast next to Witch Bolt and not realize Witch Bolt has to go.
Then again, this script was almost entirely copy pasta from the PHB
She didn't say it was the strongest or best option. She said it was one of the more popular ones. A lot of first time players really like the idea of Witch Bolt, even if it's not that great in practice.
@@SkiesTurnedGrey That still doesn't make it a good idea to put it in a quick build video for warlock
@@irocky7772 Agreed
@@SkiesTurnedGrey I would have to agree, I just started running for family and my cousin who is playing for the first time took Witch Bolt. She found it is disappointing.
I'd love to see Mary Elizabeth McGlynn return in Campaign 2!!
Everyone: Patrons are magic Sugardaddies
Me: Patrons are magic banks that give you a small loan of magic that you'll level up (hopefully) throughout your entire campaign and return upon your final death, that fiend there isn't after your soul, it's after that sweet sweet loan interest and his smile grows even bigger everytime you level up.
yeeeessss I was just thinking I needed Mary to do the warlock guide!!!
Ah, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. The woman behind my favourite character of all time, the D3 Crusader. What an inspiration.
Definately gonna need mary to do a supplemental video and invocations too. They are very important to any warlock
best warlock sleeves
Always love that outro music.
There's a reason Johanna is my favorite tank in Heroes of the Storm, and the Major is my favorite character in Ghost in the Shell: SAC. Please guest in season 2!! ♥
I had a pretty cool idea for a warlock that I'd like to try out some day! I'd like to play a young girl whose spirit was separated from her body but allowed a second chance at life when her patron made a pact with her and trapped her wondering spirit in a doll. She constantly tries to hide the fact that she's actually a doll and not a "living" person anymore by wearing clothes that completely cover her limbs, hiding those line things that help allow dolls to move, and claiming to be a gnome to explain why she's so short. A funny trait I thought she could have was that, because her body is made of plastic, some of her limbs can come off without serious harm to her but it also making her quite vulnerable to having her limbs come off more easily, resulting in her having to scatter to regather her limbs. I keep laughing whenever I think about an event when this would result in her head coming off and, as her body tries to retrieve her head back, she keeps accidentally kicking herself each time she tries to grab for it.
Love Mary so much!!!