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Throughout the realms ofDungeons & Dragons, the undead lurk within the shadowy forests of the Feywild, rest within the crypts of frozen wastes, and brood over the parapets of Ravenloft. Dead yet still going on, these beings seek those that still draw breath to carry out their dark intentions, whether by stumbling upon a desperate adventurer or seeking out a power-hungry individual they can puppet and provide with dark secrets.
Introduced in Van Richten’s Guide To Ravenloft, The Warlock of the Undead is a spell-focused warlock that relies on damage and ranged attacks while cloaking themselves in the supernatural elements of their patron.
An undead patron can be incredibly varied, ranging froma ghost that may have haunted your familyfor generations to alich channeling magic through youto further her necromantic study. They may also be sinister and forbidding, bringing to mind concepts such as a vampiric patriarch seeking to bring you into his fold or a ghoulish presence looking to return to life.
Here are a couple of ideas for a patron who may or may not have already undergone rigor mortis:
Azalin Rex
Theenigmatic darklord and wizard-king of Darkon, Azalin Rex ascended to both titles after executing his son for freeing political prisoners. Wracked with doubt over his decision, the king became a lich in an effort to discover how to bring his son back before he was swept into the mists of Ravenloft, where he schemes and plots his escape…
A dead ancestor
Perhaps a ghost who was sworn to protect the family in life, perhaps a kindly mother or uncle who wishes to see their descendants safe.A dead ancestor is a unique and interesting way to approach being a warlock, especially considering the familial tie to your patron.
Lord Soth
Adeath knight and fallen warrior from the land of Krynnwho"can kill with a single word"and"rule a squadron of skeleton warriors that can destroy with touch alone,“Lord Soth is cursed to live for as long as every soul that perished in the cataclysm his wife predicted. Including his wife. Who he also killed.
Ankhtepot
The mummified darklord of Har’Akirlives and broods within his tomb, cursed to have the immortality that he sought in his mortal life granted, but at the cost of leaving him with the power to wither a living being with a single touch. Now, he sleeps in his sarcophagus, ruling over a splinter of what his empire once was.
A haunted object
Anobjectsuch as adoll, weapon, or portraitmay containthe spirit of a malevolent or helpful being, controlling the warlock’s power from within the confines of the object they’re bound to as well as their undeath.
Strahd von Zarovich
Perhaps the most famous on this list, theCount of Baroviais known across the realms asThe First Vampire, The Devil Strahd,and, of course,‘the Ancient and the Land.‘Most often forgotten, perhaps, is his final title:Master Necromancer.
Many unique darklords in the Ravenloft setting may fit your idea of a powerful patron and can provide you some unique goals while assisting them within the mists.
Atfirst level,you manifest an aspect of your patron’s power, be it fangs, a skeletal face, or the glowing eyes of a revenant.
Form of Dread
You activate the aspect on abonus action.It lasts for a single minute. During this minute, you’re granted the following boons:
This feature replenishes on a long rest and can be done a number of times based on your proficiency bonus.
Atsixth level, you grow past the need tobreathe, eat, or drink,much like the undead. You also get the ability to swap out damage types.
Grave Touched
After hitting a creature with an attack, you gain the ability toreplace the damage type (poison, cold, etcetera.) with necrotic damage.If using your Form of Dread, you roll an additional damage die for the necrotic damage.
There are six different levels of exhaustion. Level one gives you disadvantage on ability checks. Level six is death. Be careful!
At thefourteenth level, you learn to astrally project, and not even through meditation! Your body stays behind in a state of stasis, but you? You’re astrally projecting!
Your spirit leaves your possessions behind, such as armor, weapons, or magic items.Your spirit and body are still linked, sowhatever hurts you hurts both of you equally.You can pretty much stay this way for an hour or until your concentration is broken, and then you’ll return to your body. If you’re too far, your body will teleport to your space. You get to choose.
Theyuan-tihaspoisonandmagical resistance, which improves your character’s strength in combat andcombines nicely with the necrotic resistance you’ll receive at earlier levels.In settings where magic is highly used, you’ll have most of your bases covered.
Fallen aasimarprovides fantastic flavor and theNecrotic Shroudability, though resistance to necrotic damage is redundant. Still, it’s thematic and fun!
Speaking of theme,dhampirandrebornmake great undead warlocks with reborn’sDeathless Naturehelping with your undead warlock’s durability,advantage on death saving throws, and a long rest in four hours.
Advantage on death saving throws is the best feature in the reborn’s wheelhouse becauseNecrotic Huskdoes drop you to one hit point, and a body radiating necrotic energy while on a single hit point does not a happy enemy make.
Dhampirgives youdarkvision, Spider Climb,and aneasy way to heal in short bursts.Now, you want to stay out of melee range, but it’s good to have the ability nonetheless.
Githzeraiis a great species for innate spellcasting to line the warlock’s spell list (as well as access to one cast ofShieldandDetect Thoughts), as isdrow, fairy,andhalf-drowfor Faerie Fire.
If a longer form campaign is planned, you will get a fly speed and much better boons simultaneously, so you won’t be missing the flight from fairy should you choose not to pay one.
Firbolgmay also be a good choice for similar innate spellcasting,letting you cast without expending a precious spell slot.
Charisma is yourmost significant ability score.It’s your biggest ability score because it’s yourspellcasting modifier.Undead warlocks may not seem like good faces of the party, but this Charisma score should prove that otherwise.
ConstitutionandDexteritycan be swapped around for thesecond most important ability score, but neither should be lower than second or third.
If you really want to play a glass cannon, you can try to lower your Constitution to maximize theNecrotic Huskbenefit, asConstitutionis directly related to the number of hit points you have, but that’s not exactly recommended for the longevity of your character.
Wisdomwill sit nicely at fourth, so you can stay unfettered by enemy spells, andIntelligenceandStrengthshould battle for last place.
Class Spells
You’ll receive a number of spells as your undead warlock grows in level.
Antilife Shell
Cloudkill
Do some of these spells look familiar? They may! Undying warlock shares quite a few spells with undead warlock, but the features of the undead warlock are far more comprehensive than those of the Undying. If you’re struggling between the two, Undead may be the easier and more complete choice.
Cantrips
For undead warlock, only one cantrip is a must. Others can be chosen based on utility, fun, or damage, but they’re not as necessary as it may be with other subclasses due to the undead warlock’s tendency to skew towards being a good Eldritch Blaster withyour at-will fear inducement and extra necrotic damage.
Description
Hex
Make acreature’s saving throwsbe at disadvantage. It’s fun. It’s useful. Plus, you get even more necrotic damage. Add this onto Eldritch Blast while using your Form of Dread and you can take out some high CR enemies pretty quickly.
Arms of Hadar
This spell is great if you need todisengageat early levels, and it does a sufficient amount of damage. On a failed save,a target takes 2d6 necrotic damage, can’t take reactions until the next turn, and will take half damage on a success. Switch this out when you level, but keep it for early levels and just-in-cases.
Armor of Agathys
There’s no save to the cold damage you expel when your enemy hits your armor,your opponent simply takes the damage.Now, you’re able to’t use any features with it, but you’ll at least be more protected and will have a supply of temporary hitpoints.
Protection From Evil and Good
If the fear condition doesn’t work, there’s always the disadvantage this spell will provide before battle. It works on a slew of creatures includingundead, so not only will it keep you semi-safe from an angry patron, but it’ll also help you cut through hordes ofundead, aberrations, fey, fiends, and elementalswithout compromising your safety much.
