Warlock

Warlocks channel arcane might wrested from primeval entities. They commune with infernal intelligences and fey spirits, scour enemies with potent blasts of eldritch power, and bedevil foes with hexing curses. Armed with esoteric secrets and dangerous lore, warlocks are clever and resourceful foes. Warlocks have gained a reputation as dark cultists and fiend-worshippers, and while many warlocks fit that description, there are those who would use their power for more lofty goals. The pacts are complete. The rites have concluded. The signs are drawn in blood, and the seals are broken. Your destiny beckons.

<php>echo “<b>Hit Dice:</b>”;</php> d6
<php>echo “<b>Alignment:</b>”;</php> Varies; see Eldritch Pact class feature
<php>echo “<b>Armor Proficiencies:</b>”;</php> Light armor
<php>echo “<b>Weapon Proficiencies:</b>”;</php> All simple weapons
<php>echo “<b>Skill Points/Level:</b>”;</php> 2 + Int
<php>echo “<b>Class Skills:</b>”;</php> Arcana (Int), Concentration (Con), Cosmology (Int), Deception (Cha), Dungeoneering (Int), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Religion (Int), Stealth (Dex), Trade (Int)

<php>echo “<b>Invocations:</b>”;</php> A warlock does not prepare or cast spells as other wielders of arcane magic do. Instead, he possesses a repertoire of attacks, defenses, and abilities known as invocations that require him to focus the wild energy that suffuses his soul. A warlock can use any invocation he knows at will, with the following qualifications:
A warlock’s invocations are spell-like abilities; using an invocation is therefore a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity. An invocation can be disrupted, just as a spell can be ruined during casting. A warlock is entitled to a Concentration check to successfully use an invocation if he is hit by an attack while invoking, just as a spellcaster would be. A warlock can choose to use an invocation defensively, by making a successful Concentration check, to avoid provoking attacks of opportunity. A warlock’s invocations are subject to spell resistance unless an invocation’s description specifically states otherwise. A warlock’s caster level with his invocations is equal to his warlock level.
The save DC for an invocation (if it allows a save) is 10 + equivalent spell level + the warlock’s Charisma modifier. Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, a warlock cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat. He can, however, benefit from the Ability Focus feat (see page 303 of the Monster Manual), as well as from feats that emulate metamagic effects for spell-like abilities, such as Quicken Spell-Like Ability and Empower Spell-Like Ability (see pages 303 and 304 of the Monster Manual).
The four grades of invocations, in order of their relative power, are least, lesser, greater, and dark. A warlock begins with knowledge of one invocation, which must be of the lowest grade (least). As a warlock gains levels, he learns new invocations, as summarized on the table above and described below. At any level when a warlock learns a new level of invocation, he can also replace an invocation he already knows with another invocation of the same or a lower grade. At 6th level, a warlock can replace a least invocation he knows with a different least invocation (in addition to learning a new invocation, which could be either least or lesser). At 11th level, a warlock can replace a least or lesser invocation he knows with another invocation of the same or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new invocation, which could be least, lesser, or greater). At 16th level, a warlock can replace a least, lesser, or greater invocation he knows with another invocation of the same or a lower grade (in addition to learning a new invocation, which could be least, lesser, greater, or dark).
Finally, unlike other spell-like abilities, invocations are subject to arcane spell failure chance. However, because the somatic components required for warlock invocations are relatively simple, a warlock can use any of his invocations while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like arcane spellcasters, a warlock wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure (all invocations, including eldritch blast, have a somatic component). A multiclass warlock still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from levels in other classes. Warlocks can qualify for some prestige classes usually intended for spellcasters; see page 18 of the Complete Arcane for details.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Pact:</b>”;</php> In order to obtain his power, a warlock must enter a pact with a powerful entity, an agreement sealed in blood. A warlock gains access to exclusive invocations and abilities depending on the entity in which he enters the pact with. A warlock must choose one eldritch pact upon taking his first level of warlock. Once made, this choice cannot be changed. A warlock who changes to a prohibited alignment or otherwise dishonors his eldritch pact may suffer consequences as the DM sees fit. Typically, if the warlock strays from his allowed alignment, he may not advance as a warlock until his alignment changes to one within the limits of the pact. If the warlock does something more drastic, such as breaking his pact completely, or directly acting against the entity in which he has entered the pact, the warlock may lose his class features and ability to cast invocations, or may suffer the direct wrath of the entity in question. Again, the DM has final say on the matter and should act as he sees fit.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Blast (Su):</b>”;</php> The first ability a warlock learns is eldritch blast. A warlock attacks his foes with eldritch power, using baleful magical energy to deal damage and sometimes impart other debilitating effects. An eldritch blast is a ray with a range of 60 feet. It is a ranged touch attack that affects a single target, allowing no saving throw. An eldritch blast deals damage equal to 1d6 + the warlock’s Cha modifier at 1st level and increases in power as the warlock rises in level. An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a 1st level spell. If you apply a blast shape or eldritch essence invocation to your eldritch blast (see Complete Arcane page 130), your eldritch blast is considered a spell equivalent to the highest level of the shape or essence.
An eldritch blast is subject to spell resistance, although the Spell Penetration feat and other effects that improve caster level checks to overcome spell resistance also apply to eldritch blast. An eldritch blast deals half damage to objects. Metamagic feats cannot improve a warlock’s eldritch blast (because it is a spell-like ability, not a spell). However, the feat Ability Focus (eldritch blast) increases the DC for all saving throws (if any) associated with a warlock’s eldritch blast by 2 (see page 303 of the Monster Manual).

<php>echo “<b>Use Magic Device (Ex):</b>”;</php> The warlock can attempt to use scrolls, wands, and other such magic items as if he were a magic user of the appropriate type. When using such an item, the warlock rolls 1d20 + his warlock level + his Cha modifier. If the warlock has levels in another class that grants this feature, those levels stack with his warlock level for determining the results of the check. You must make such a check each time you activate an item such as a wand. If you are using the check to emulate an alignment or some other quality in an ongoing manner, you need to make the relevant Use Magic Device check once per hour.You must consciously choose which requirement to emulate. That is, you must know what you are trying to emulate when you make a Use Magic Device check for that purpose. The DCs for various tasks involving Use Magic Device checks are summarized on the table below.

<php>echo “<b>Dark Vigor (Su):</b>”;</php> The warlock can call forth a surge of energy from within, allowing him to heal at an unnaturally fast rate. At 2nd level, the warlock can enter a state that lasts for 1 minute. While in this state, the warlock gains fast healing equal to half his class level. A warlock can use this ability once per day, and gains additional uses per day at 10th and 18th level.

<php>echo “<b>Detect Magic (Sp):</b>”;</php> At 2nd level, a warlock can use detect magic at will, as per the spell.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Resistance (Su):</b>”;</php> At 4th level, the warlock gains energy resistance 5 against an energy type dependent on his eldritch pact. This energy resistance increases to 10 at 12th level, and 15 at 20th level.

<php>echo “<b>Deceive Item (Ex):</b>”;</php> At 4th level and higher, a warlock has the ability to more easily commandeer magic items made for the use of other characters. When making a Use Magic Device check, a warlock can take 10 even if distracted or threatened.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Armor (Su):</b>”;</php> At 8th level, the warlock gains damage reduction 5 of a specific type dependent on his eldritch pact. See the eldritch pacts section below for the type of damage reduction each pact grants.

<php>echo “<b>Imbue Item (Su):</b>”;</php> A warlock of 12th level or higher can use his supernatural power to create magic items, even if he does not know the spells required to make an item (although he must know the appropriate item creation feat). He can substitute a Use Magic Device check (DC 15 + spell level for arcane spells or 25 + spell level for divine spells) in place of a required spell he doesn't know or can’t cast.If the check succeeds, the warlock can create the item as if he had cast the required spell. If it fails, he cannot complete the item. He does not expend the normal costs for making the item; his progress is simply arrested. He cannot retry this Use Magic Device check for that spell until he gains a new level.

<php>echo “<b>Greater Eldritch Armor (Su):</b>”;</php> At 16th level, the warlock’s damage reduction from his eldritch armor class feature increases by 5, to a total of 10.

The following pacts represent all the different sources of power that the warlock has access to. To view the invocations available to each pact, see the Magic section in the back of the book.

The warlock makes an eldritch pact with an alien entity from the Far Realm. A warlock who enters this pact must be of a nongood, nonlawful alignment.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Resistance:</b>”;</php> Acid
<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Armor:</b>”;</php> DR/lawful

The warlock makes an eldritch pact with an entity from the Feywild. A warlock who enters this pact must be of a nonlawful alignment.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Resistance:</b>”;</php> Electricity
<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Armor:</b>”;</php> DR/cold iron

The warlock makes an eldritch pact with a powerful devil from the fires of Baator. A warlock who enters this pact must be of a nongood, nonchaotic alignment.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Resistance:</b>”;</php> Fire
<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Armor:</b>”;</php> DR/silver

The warlock makes an eldritch pact with a dark agent of the Shadowfell. A warlock who enters this pact must be of a nongood alignment.

<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Resistance:</b>”;</php> Cold
<php>echo “<b>Eldritch Armor:</b>”;</php> DR/good