Verdict
A controller that is more fun than strong in the early levels, and much better once Eldritch Hex arrives at 10. The 2024 version is a major rewrite of the old one, so older advice doesn't apply. It works best when you commit to Hex and use the mind-affecting spells on the list.
How it plays
You still do your damage with Eldritch Blast, and the subclass gives you tools to weaken one target at a time. Clairvoyant Combatant and Hex compete for your Bonus Action early, so you pick your moment in each fight.
From level 10 the plan comes together: Eldritch Hex makes a save-or-suffer spell land more often, and at 14 Create Thrall lets an aberration fight for you while you hold Concentration on Hex. Warlocks have only a few slots, so use the always-prepared spells to save your picks for other things.
Features by level
| Level | Feature | What it does, in short |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Great Old One Spells | Always-prepared mind-affecting spells (full list below). |
| 3 | Awakened Mind | Telepathy with creatures that share a language with you, now a Bonus Action with limits on range and time. |
| 3 | Psychic Spells | Enchantment and Illusion spells can be cast without verbal or somatic components, and your Warlock damage spells can deal psychic damage instead. |
| 6 | Clairvoyant Combatant | Link minds with an enemy. If it fails a Wisdom save, it has Disadvantage on attacks against you and you have Advantage on attacks against it. Limited uses between rests. |
| 10 | Eldritch Hex | Hex is always prepared, and the target has Disadvantage on saving throws against one ability you choose. |
| 10 | Thought Shield | Your thoughts can't be read, you resist psychic damage, and you deal psychic damage back to whatever hurt you with it. |
| 14 | Create Thrall | Summon Aberration can be cast without Concentration, and the aberration gains temporary hit points and adds extra damage against your Hex target. |
The Great Old One is not in the free SRD, so this is our own summary. Feature names and levels agree across DungeonMister, Wargamer, RPGBot and D&D Beyond's Warlock changes article. We left out Awakened Mind's exact range and duration, the Thought Shield damage details and the Create Thrall numbers because we couldn't confirm them in two places. Check your copy of the book for those, and for how often Clairvoyant Combatant resets (one review says once per rest, with a slot to regain it).
Patron spells
Level shown is your Warlock level. These are always prepared.
| Warlock level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3 | Detect Thoughts, Dissonant Whispers, Phantasmal Force, Tasha's Hideous Laughter |
| 5 | Clairvoyance, Hunger of Hadar |
| 7 | Confusion, Summon Aberration |
| 9 | Modify Memory, Telekinesis |
Hunger of Hadar at 5 is the standout. Hunger of Hadar and Modify Memory are new to this list in 2024.
Telepathy and psychic uses
Where each feature earns its place.
| Situation | Feature | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Scouting and quiet coordination | Awakened Mind | Talk to a creature you can see without making noise, which suits stealth and negotiation scenes |
| A boss resists fire or necrotic damage | Psychic Spells | Switch a Warlock damage spell to psychic, a type that few monsters resist |
| Charming or deceiving a guard in public | Psychic Spells | Cast Enchantment or Illusion without spoken words or hand gestures, which makes the casting far less obvious |
| A dangerous melee enemy | Clairvoyant Combatant | Disadvantage on its attacks against you and Advantage on yours, if it fails the save |
| A save-or-suffer spell on a strong target | Eldritch Hex | Pick the ability the spell targets, so the save is rolled at Disadvantage |
| Enemy mind-reader or psychic caster | Thought Shield | Blocks thought-reading and punishes psychic damage |
| A long fight with Hex already running | Create Thrall | Keep Concentration on Hex while an aberration fights beside you |
Building one
- Ability scores: Charisma first, Constitution second, Dexterity third.
- Invocations: Agonizing Blast on Eldritch Blast first. See the Warlock guide for the rest.
- Hex habit: start fights with Hex on the target you plan to control, so Eldritch Hex's Disadvantage is ready.
- Feats: War Caster or Resilient (Constitution) to protect Concentration on Hex.
- Slots: Pact Magic slots return on a short rest, so spend them on Hunger of Hadar or Summon Aberration early and keep one in reserve.
Who should pick it
Pick it if you like a creepy controller, mind games and a patron who is clearly not human. Skip it if you want simple damage; the Fiend or a patron with a bigger spell list is steadier early on. A different take on the class is in the Vestige Patron guide.
Corin Ashdown is the pen name of the editor who writes and checks every guide on Vorbelutrioperbir. How we write and check guides.