Undead
Contents
Warlock – Undead Subclass | ||||||||||||||
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Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | Spells Known | Spell Slots | Slot Level | Invocations Known | |||||||
1st | +2 | Pact Magic, Otherworldly Patron | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1st | — | |||||||
2nd | +2 | Eldritch Invocations | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1st | 2 | |||||||
3rd | +2 | Pact Boon | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2nd | 2 | |||||||
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement, Eldritch Versatility | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2nd | 2 | |||||||
5th | +3 | — | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3rd | 3 | |||||||
6th | +3 | Otherworldly Patron feature | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3rd | 3 | |||||||
7th | +3 | — | 3 | 8 | 2 | 4th | 4 | |||||||
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 9 | 2 | 4th | 4 | |||||||
9th | +4 | — | 3 | 10 | 2 | 5th | 5 | |||||||
10th | +4 | Otherworldly Patron feature | 4 | 10 | 2 | 5th | 5 | |||||||
11th | +4 | Mystic Arcanum (6th level) | 4 | 11 | 3 | 5th | 5 | |||||||
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 11 | 3 | 5th | 6 | |||||||
13th | +5 | Mystic Arcanum (7th level) | 4 | 12 | 3 | 5th | 6 | |||||||
14th | +5 | Otherworldly Patron feature | 4 | 12 | 3 | 5th | 6 | |||||||
15th | +5 | Mystic Arcanum (8th level) | 4 | 13 | 3 | 5th | 7 | |||||||
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 13 | 3 | 5th | 7 | |||||||
17th | +6 | Mystic Arcanum (9th level) | 4 | 14 | 4 | 5th | 7 | |||||||
18th | +6 | — | 4 | 14 | 4 | 5th | 8 | |||||||
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 15 | 4 | 5th | 8 | |||||||
20th | +6 | Eldritch Master | 4 | 15 | 4 | 5th | 8 |
Pact Magic
Your arcane research and your patron’s magic have given you spellcasting ability.
Cantrips
You have two cantrips of your choice from the warlock spell list. At higher levels, you learn additional warlock cantrips of your choice, as indicated by the Warlock table’s Cantrips Known column.
Spell Slots
The Warlock table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your warlock spells from 1st to 5th level. The table also shows the level of each slot; all of your spell slots are the same level. To cast one of your warlock spells of the first or higher level, you must use a spell slot. When you finish a short or long rest, you regain all of your expended spell slots.
For example, at fifth level, you have two 3rd-level spell slots. To cast the 1st-level spell witch bolt, you must use one of those slots and cast it as a 3rd-level spell.
Spells known at the first level and higher
At 1rst level, you can choose two 1st-level spells from the warlock spell list.
When you learn more warlock spells of 1st level or higher, the Spells Known column of the Warlock table displays them. A spell you choose must have a level no higher than that indicated in the table’s Slot Level column for your level. When you reach sixth level, for example, you learn a new warlock spell that can be of the first, second, or third level.
Furthermore, when you level up in this class, you can replace one of your warlock spells with another from the warlock spell list, which must be of the same level as your spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for warlock spells, so use it whenever a spell mentions your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier to determine the saving throw DC for a warlock spell you cast and to make an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier.
Spell attack modifier equals your proficiency bonus plus your Charisma modifier.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus to cast warlock spells.
Expanded Spell List
When you learn a warlock spell, the Undead gives you access to a larger list of spells. You now have the following spells added to your warlock spell list.
Spell Level | Spells |
---|---|
1st | bane, false life |
2nd | blindness/deafness, phantasmal force |
3rd | phantom steed, speak with dead |
4th | death ward, greater invisibility |
5th | antilife shell, cloudkill |
Otherworldly Patron
At the 1st level, you have made an agreement with an otherworldly being chosen from the list of available patrons. Your choice grants you features at the first level, as well as at the sixth, tenth, and fourteenth levels.
The Undead
You have made a deal with a deathless being, a creature that defies the cycle of life and death by abandoning its mortal body in order to pursue its inexhaustible desires indefinitely. For such beings, time and morality are fleeting concepts, the concerns of those for whom grains of sand continue to pass through life’s hourglass. These ancient undead, who were once mortal, are well-versed in the paths of ambition and the paths beyond death. They eagerly share this profane knowledge, as well as other secrets, with those who seek to impose their will on humanity.
This type of being includes the demilich Acererak, the vampire tyrant Kas the Bloody-Handed, the githyanki lich-queen Vlaakith, the dracolich Dragotha, the undead pharaoh Ankhtepot, and the elusive Darklord Azalin Rex.
Form of Dread
You embody a portion of your patron’s terrifying power. As a bonus, you can transform for one minute. During the transformation, you gain the following benefits:
- You gain temporary hit points equal to 1d10 plus your warlock level.
- During each turn, when you hit a creature with an attack roll, you can force it to make a Wisdom saving throw. If the save fails, the target is afraid of you until the end of your next turn.
- You are immune to the frightened state.
You can transform an equal number of times as your proficiency bonus, and after a long rest, you regain all expended uses.
The appearance of your Form of Dread reflects something about your patron. For example, your form could be a shroud of shadows that forms the crown and robes of your lich patron, or your body could glow with glyphs from ancient funerary rites and be surrounded by desert winds, implying your mummy patron.
Eldritch Invocations
In your research into occult lore, you discovered eldritch invocations, fragments of forbidden knowledge that endow you with a permanent magical ability.
At the 2nd level, you gain two eldritch invocations of your choosing. The Optional Features page contains a list of all available options. When you reach certain warlock levels, you gain access to additional invocations of your choice, as indicated in the Warlock table’s Invocations Known column.
Furthermore, as you advance in this class, you can replace one of the invocations you know with another invocation that is available at that level.
If an eldritch invocation requires prerequisites, you must meet them before learning it. You can learn the invocation while meeting the prerequisites. A level prerequisite indicates your level in this class.
Pact Boon
At the third level, your otherworldly patron rewards you with a gift for your loyal service. You receive one of the following features of your choosing.
1. Pact of the Blade
You can use your action to make a pact weapon with your empty hand. You can change the form of this melee weapon each time you create it. You are skilled with it when you use it. This weapon is classified as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
Your pact weapon vanishes if it is more than 5 feet away from you for 1 minute or longer. It will also disappear if you use this feature again, dismiss the weapon (no action required), or die.
You can turn one magic weapon into your pact weapon by performing a special ritual while holding it. The ritual is performed over a one-hour period, which can be completed during a brief rest. You can then dismiss the weapon, which disappears into an extradimensional space and reappears whenever you create a pact weapon after that. This method cannot be used to affect an artifact or a sentient weapon. If you die, perform the 1-hour ritual on a different weapon, or break your bond with the weapon, it no longer serves as your pact weapon. If you are in extradimensional space, the weapon appears at your feet when the bond is broken.
2. Pact of the Chain
You learn the find familiar spell and can use it in a ritual. The spell does not count against your total number of spells known.
When you cast the spell, you can select one of your familiar’s normal forms or one of the special forms listed below: imp, pseudodragon, quasit, or sprite.
Furthermore, when you use the Attack action, you can skip one of your own attacks and allow your familiar to use its reaction to launch one of its own.
3. Pact of the Talisman
Your patron gives you an amulet, which is a talisman that can help the wearer in times of great need. When the wearer fails an ability check, they can add a d4 to the roll, potentially resulting in a success. This benefit can be used as many times as your proficiency bonus, and all expended uses are restored after a long rest.
If you lose the talisman, you can request a replacement from your patron by performing a one-hour ceremony. This ceremony can be performed during a short or long rest period and destroys the previous amulet. When you die, the talisman turns into ash.
4. Pact of the Tome
Your patron gives you a grimoire known as the Book of Shadows. When you gain this feature, select three cantrips from any class’s spell list. The cantrips do not have to come from the same spell list. You can cast those cantrips whenever you want while carrying the book. They do not count against your total number of known cantrips. Any cantrip you cast using this feature is considered a warlock cantrip by you. If you lose your Book of Shadows, you can request a replacement from your patron by performing a one-hour ceremony. This ceremony can take place during a short or long rest, and it destroys the previous book. When you die, the book turns into ash.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach the 4th level, you can choose to increase one ability score by two or two ability scores by one. This feature cannot be used to increase an ability score above 20.
If your DM permits the use of feats, you may instead take one.
Eldritch Versatility
is an optional feature for fourth-level warlocks.
When you reach a level in this class that grants the Ability Score Improvement feature, you can do one of the following, which represents a shift in your occult studies.
Replace one cantrip learned through this class’s Pact Magic feature with another from the warlock spell list.
Replace the option you selected for the Pact Boon feature with one of its other options.
If you are 12th level or higher, replace one of your Mystic Arcanum spells with another warlock spell of the same level.
If this change makes you ineligible for any of your Eldritch Invocations, you must replace them with invocations for which you are eligible.
Otherworldly Patron Feature
At the 6th level, you gain a feature granted by your Otherworldly Patron.
Grave Touched
Your patron’s abilities have a significant impact on your physicality and magic. You do not need to eat, drink, or breathe.
Furthermore, once per turn, when you use an attack roll to hit a creature and roll damage against it, you can replace the damage type with necrotic damage. When determining the necrotic damage the target receives while using your Form of Dread, you may roll one additional damage die.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach the 8th level, you can choose to increase one ability score by two or two ability scores by one. This feature cannot be used to increase an ability score above 20.
If your DM permits the use of feats, you may instead take one.
Otherworldly Patron Feature
At level 10, you gain a feature granted by your Otherworldly Patron.
Necrotic Husk
Your body is now filled with undeath and necrotic energy. You are resistant to necrotic damage. If you transform into your Form of Dread, you become immune to necrotic damage.
Furthermore, if you are reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to drop to 1 hit point instead, causing your body to erupt with deadly energy. Each creature of your choice within 30 feet of you receives necrotic damage equal to 2d10 + your warlock level. You then gain one level of exhaustion. Once you have used this reaction, you can not do it again until you have completed 1d4 long rests.
Mystic Arcanum (6th level):
At 11th level, your patron bestows upon you a magical secret known as an arcanum. Choose one 6th-level spell from the warlock spell list for this arcanum.
You can cast the arcanum spell once without using a spell slot. You must take a long break before you can do it again.
At higher levels, you gain more warlock spells of your choosing that can be cast in this manner: one 7th-level spell at 13th level, one 8th-level spell at 15th level, and one 9th-level spell at 17th level. After a long rest, you regain full use of your Mystic Arcanum.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach the 12th level, you have the option of increasing one ability score by two or two ability scores by one. This feature cannot be used to increase an ability score above 20.
If your DM permits the use of feats, you may instead take one.
Mystic Arcanum (7th level):
At 13th level, your patron bestows upon you a magical secret known as an arcanum. Select one 7th-level spell from the warlock spell list for this arcanum.
You can cast the arcanum spell once without using a spell slot. You must take a long break before you can do it again.
Otherworldly Patron Feature
At level 14, you gain a feature granted by your Otherworldly Patron.
Spirit Projection
Your spirit can become detached from your physical body. You can project your spirit out of your body. You leave behind an unconscious body that is in suspended animation.
Your spirit is almost identical to your mortal form in every way, including your game statistics but not your possessions. Any damage or other effects that occur in either your spirit or physical body affect the other. Your spirit can leave your body for up to an hour or until your concentration is broken (as if you were concentrating on a spell). When your projection concludes, either your spirit returns to your body or your body magically teleports to your spirit is space (your choice).
Projecting your spirit provides the following advantages:
- Your spirit and body become resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
- When you cast a conjuration or necromancy spell, no verbal or somatic components are required, nor are there any material components that do not cost gold.
- You can hover and fly at the same speed as you do while walking. You can move through creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain, but if you end your turn inside one of them, you will take 1d10 force damage.
- While using your Form of Dread, when you deal necrotic damage to a creature once per turn, you gain hit points equal to half the amount of necrotic damage dealt.
You cannot use this feature again until you have completed a long rest.
Mystic Arcanum (8th level):
At 15th level, your patron bestows upon you a magical secret known as an arcanum. Choose one 8th-level spell from the warlock spell list for this arcanum.
You can cast the arcanum spell once without using a spell slot. You must take a long break before you can do it again.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach the 16th level, you have the option of increasing one ability score by two or two ability scores by one. This feature cannot be used to increase an ability score above 20.
If your DM permits the use of feats, you may instead take one.
Mystic Arcanum (9th level):
At level 17, your patron bestows upon you a magical secret known as an arcanum. Choose a 9th-level spell from the warlock spell list for this arcanum.
You can cast the arcanum spell once without using a spell slot. You must take a long break before you can do it again.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach the 19th level, you can choose to increase one ability score by two or two ability scores by one. This feature cannot be used to increase an ability score above 20.
If your DM permits the use of feats, you may instead take one.
Eldritch Master
At 20th level, you can tap into your inner reservoir of mystical power while begging your patron to restore expended spell slots. You can spend 1 minute begging your patron for help to reclaim all of your expended spell slots from your Pact Magic feature. Once you’ve regained spell slots using this feature, you must take a long rest before you can do it again.
Further Reading
Some articles that might interest you:
- More details about the various Type of Creature in 5e
- Learn more about Area of Effect attacks
- Discover how to use the Armor Class in DnD 5e
Credits
The Archfey is a Warlock Subclass from Dungeons and Dragons 5e.
Here are the sources used to create this article:
- Learn more about the Warlock subclass Fathomless
- Discover more informations about this subclass
- Artwork used at the start of the article