Warlocks are distinct in Dungeons & Dragons because, while they are technically spellcasters, their spells function differently, with a combination of spells and Eldritch Invocations. Warlocks use Pact Magic, which means they learn spells much more slowly than other classes and have a very limited number of casting slots. On the other hand, warlocks regain their spell slots after a short rest, whereas every other class regains them after a long rest.
Warlocks can compensate for their limited spellcasting by choosing a Pact Boon and Eldritch Invocations. Warlocks can choose from a variety of Eldritch Invocations starting at 2nd level, some of which allow you to cast specific spells (or similar effects) at will.
Warlocks can choose one Pact Boon starting at level 3. Pact of the Blade (for martial combat), Pact of the Chain (for taming a magical familiar), Pact of the Tome (for tapping into your magical roots), or Pact of the Talisman (for bestowing small gifts on yourself or another person) are your options.
Your Pact Boon describes your relationship with your patron as well as the types of gifts they bestow. Some Eldritch Invocations can only be used in conjunction with specific Pact Boons, so choose wisely when creating your character.
Table of Contents
Level 2 Eldritch Invocations
At level 2, you can choose two of the Eldritch Invocations listed below. When you level up as a warlock, you can swap out one of your Eldritch Invocations.
Agonizing Blast
Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip
When you cast eldritch blast, add your Charisma modifier to the damage it deals on a hit.
Armor of Shadows
You can use mage armor on yourself whenever you want without using a spell slot or material components.
Beast Speech
You can use speak with animals whenever you want without using up a spell slot.
Beguiling Influence
You gain proficiency in the Charisma (Deception) and Charisma (Persuasion) skills.
Devil’s Sight
You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, up to 120 feet away.
Eldritch Mind
You have advantage on Constitution saving throws made to maintain your concentration on a spell.
Eldritch Sight
You can cast detect magic at will, without expending a spell slot.
Eldritch Spear
Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip
The range of eldritch blast becomes 300 feet.
Eyes of the Runekeeper
You can comprehend writing in any language.
Mask of Many Faces
You can cast disguise self whenever you need. No spell slot necessary.
Misty Visions
You can cast silent image as many times per day as you need.
Repelling Blast
Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip
When you hit a creature with eldritch blast, you can move it up to 10 feet away in a straight line.
Thief of Five Fates
You can use a warlock spell slot to cast bane once. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish a long rest.
Level 3 Eldritch Invocations
The following Eldritch Invocations are available starting at level 3 and require the selection of one of the Pact Boons.
Book of Ancient Secrets
Prerequisite: Pact of the Tome
Magical rituals can now be written in your Book of Shadows. Choose two 1st-level ritual spells from any class’s spell list (they don’t have to be from the same list). The spells appear in the book and do not count against your total number of spells. You can perform rituals using the spells from your Book of Shadows. You can only cast the spells as rituals unless you’ve learned them in another way. If a warlock spell has the ritual tag, you can also cast it as a ritual.
Other ritual spells can be added to your Book of Shadows during your adventures. If you come across such a spell, you can add it to the book if its level is equal to or less than half your warlock level (rounded up) and you have the time to transcribe it. The transcription process takes 2 hours for each level of the spell and costs 50 gp for the rare inks required to inscribe it.
Investment of the Chain Master
Prerequisite: Pact of the Chain
When you cast find familiar, you infuse a portion of your eldritch power into the summoned familiar. Your familiar gains either a flying or swimming speed of 40 feet, it gains the ability to use the attack action in combat, its attacks are considered magical, it uses your spell DC, and if it takes damage, you can spend your reaction to reduce that damage.
Rebuke of the Talisman
Prerequisite: Pact of the Talisman
When an attacker within 30 feet of you hits the wearer of your talisman, you can use your reaction to deal psychic damage to the assailant equal to your proficiency bonus and move it up to 10 feet away from the talisman’s wearer.
Voice of the Chain master
Prerequisite: Pact of the Chain
As long as you are on the same plane of existence, you can converse telepathically with your familiar and see through their senses. Furthermore, while perceiving through your familiar’s senses, you can speak in your own voice through your familiar, even if your familiar is ordinarily incapable of speech.
Level 5 Eldritch Invocations
At level 5, you gain another one of the Eldritch Invocations, bringing your total to three. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you.
Far Scribe
Prerequisite: Pact of the Tome
A new page has been added to your Book of Shadows. A creature can use its action with your permission to write its name on that page, which can contain a number of names equal to your proficiency bonus.
You can use the sending spell to target a creature whose name appears on the page without using a spell slot or material components. You must write the message on the page to accomplish this. The message is heard in the target’s mind, and if the target responds, the message appears on the page rather than in your mind. After 1 minute, the writing is gone.
As an action, you can magically erase a name on the page by touching it.
Fiendish Vigor
False life can be cast on yourself at will as a 1st-level spell without using a spell slot or material components.
Gaze of Two Minds
Until the end of your next turn, you can use your action to touch a consenting humanoid and perceive through its senses. You can use your action on later turns to maintain this link as long as the creature is on the same plane of existence as you, extending the duration until the end of your next turn. You benefit from any special senses possessed by the other creature while perceiving through its senses, and you are blinded and deafened to your own surroundings.
Mire the Mind
Slow can be cast once with a warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
One With Shadows
When you are in a dimly lit or dark area, you can use your action to make yourself invisible until you move or take an action or reaction.
Sign of Ill Omen
You can use a warlock spell slot to cast bestow curse once. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Thirsting Blade
Prerequisite: Pact of the Blade
When you take the attack action on your turn, you can attack with your pact weapon twice instead of once.
Undying Servitude
You can use animate dead without having to use a spell slot. You can’t cast it in this manner again until you finish a long rest.
Level 7 Eldritch Invocations
At level 7, you gain another one of the Eldritch Invocations, bringing your total to four. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you.
Bewitching Whispers
Compulsion can be cast once per warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Dreadful Word
Confusion can be cast once per warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Protection of the Talisman
Prerequisite: Pact of the Talisman
When the holder of your talisman fails a saving throw, they can add a d4 to the roll, potentially making the save successful. This benefit can be used an unlimited number of times, and all expended uses are regained when you finish a long rest.
Sculptor of Flesh
You can cast polymorph once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.
Level 9 Eldritch Invocations
At level 9, you gain another one of the Eldritch Invocations, bringing your total to five. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you.
Ascendant Step
You can cast levitate on yourself at will, without expending a spell slot or material components.
Gift of the Protectors
Prerequisite: Pact of the Tome
A new page has been added to your Book of Shadows. A creature can use its action with your permission to write its name on that page, which can contain a number of names equal to your proficiency bonus.
When a creature with a name on the page is reduced to 0 hit points but not killed, the creature magically drops to 1 hit point instead. No creature can benefit from this magic once it is activated until you finish a long rest. By touching a name on the page, you can magically erase it.
Minions of Chaos
Conjure elemental can be cast using a warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Otherworldly Leap
You can cast jump on yourself whenever you want without using a spell slot or material components. This is one of the least useful of the Eldritch Invocations. There is no build where this is a good use of an Eldritch Invocation slot.
Whispers of the Grave
You can cast speak with dead at will, without expending a spell slot.
Level 12 Eldritch Invocations
At level 12, you gain another one of the Eldritch Invocations, bringing your total to six. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you.
Bond of the Talisman
Prerequisite: Pact of the Talisman
You can use your action to teleport to the nearest unoccupied space while someone else is wearing your talisman. The wearer of your talisman can perform the same action, teleporting to you. The teleportation can be used an unlimited number of times, and all spent uses are returned when you finish a long rest.
Lifedrinker
Prerequisite: Pact of the Blade
When you strike a creature with your pact weapon, it takes additional necrotic damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).
Level 15 Eldritch Invocations
At level 15, you gain another one of the Eldritch Invocations, bringing your total to seven. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you. You gain your final Eldritch Invocation at level 18 for a grand total of eight.
Chains of Carceri
Prerequisite: Pact of the Chain
You can use hold monster to target a celestial, fiend, or elemental at any time without using a spell slot or material components. Before you can use this invocation on the same creature again, you must first complete a long rest.
Master of Myriad Forms
You can cast alter self at will, without expending a spell slot.
Visions of Distant Realms
You can use arcane eye whenever you want without using a spell slot. In our opinion, this is the best of all Eldritch Invocations because it is such a great way to scout ahead and avoid or prepare for upcoming encounters.
Witch Sight
While the creature is within 30 feet of you and in line of sight, you can see the true form of any shapechanger or creature hidden by illusion or transmutation magic.
