Warlock

A warlock is an arcanist who gains power through pacts with powerful entities, most commonly baatezu, elder evils of the Far Realm, fey, or tanar'ri. Warlocks cast special spells called invocations, which are released through sheer force of will rather than by trained practice or innate ability. The spells of a warlock tend to be more powerful and deadly than those of a wizard, though with limited range or area of effect. When forced into combat, experienced warlocks often elude enemy blows through spells of flying, teleportation, or invisibility.

Dark Pact Warlock


Dark pact warlocks are so called due to an ancient tradition of their existence within drow society, though many ambitious arcanists outside of the Underdark have sought the aid of demons. These warlocks gain powers reflecting the pain, poison, and madness inherent in the forces of the Abyss.

Dark pact warlocks also gain an ability known as a darkspiral aura, which enables them to feed off the death in battle to create more and more powerful eldritch spells.

Star Pact Warlock


So-called star pact warlocks forge their arcane alliances with the unknowable and alien forces of the Far Realm. Star pact warlocks often form these deals without a direct connection, interacting with the elder evils through the intermediary of ancient stars of the void, learning the secret names of these celestial objects, which act as doorways into the Far Realm.

Star pact warlocks gain much from this alliance, including degrees of prescience and powerful spells infused with radiant energy that inspire fear in the arcanist's enemies.