In skilled hands, the Warlock class in Baldur’s Gate 3 offers an exhilarating gaming experience. The sheer power of Eldritch Blast is enough to make your journey entertaining, especially when combined with various subclasses and unique abilities that allow you to form pacts with weapons and cast high-level illusion spells to confuse your foes.
This is where the Hexblade Warlock shines. This subclass allows your character to connect with magical weapons, gaining instant proficiency and leveraging your Charisma instead of Strength or Dexterity to enhance weapon capabilities. Let’s explore how to create the ultimate BG3 Hexblade Warlock build to transform even the simplest swords and daggers into formidable armaments.
Overview of the Hexblade Warlock Build
The Hexblade Warlock, true to its name, revolves around binding magical weapons to your character. While you’re unable to drop or throw your weapon, you gain instant proficiency if you didn’t possess it before and can apply Hexblade’s Curse to your targets. You also automatically gain proficiency with Medium Armor, Shields, and Martial Weapons.
Here’s a quick overview of the essential abilities and features for the Hexblade Warlock class:
| Abilities | Description |
|---|---|
| Bind Hexed Weapon (Action) | Bind your main hand weapon, making its damage magical. You cannot drop or throw this weapon, and you gain proficiency with it if you lacked it previously. Each time you attack with this weapon, there’s a chance for Hexblade’s Curse to apply. |
| Hexblade’s Curse (Bonus Action) | Curse a target, giving a bonus to your damage rolls equal to your Proficiency Bonus. The number needed for a Critical Hit against this target is decreased by 1. This effect remains active for 10 turns and has an 18-meter range. |
| Hex Warrior (Subclass feature) | Gain proficiency with Medium Armor, Shields, and Martial Weapons. You can use your Charisma modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity for attacks with weapons you’re proficient with. |
At level one, you’ll also select from the following Cantrips and spells:
Starting Cantrips
- Blade Ward
- Booming Blade
- Bone Chill
- Eldritch Blast
- Friends
- Mage Hand
- Minor Illusion
- Poison Spray
- Toll the Dead
- True Strike
The two key starting cantrips for your Hexblade Warlock build are Eldritch Blast and Booming Blade. Warlocks have ample opportunities to upgrade Eldritch Blast, making it your primary cantrip in most scenarios. Coupled with the Hexblade subclass, Booming Blade serves as a solid melee range attack, inflicting Resonance that deals Thunder damage whenever the target makes a move.
As we’ll cover later, selecting specific races can grant additional Cantrip options. If you choose one of these races, consider acquiring a non-combat cantrip like Friends for Advantage on Charisma Checks against non-hostile creatures, or spells like True Strike, which provide Advantage on your next Attack Roll.
Starting Spells
- Armor of Agathys
- Arms of Hadar
- Charm Person
- Expeditious Retreat
- Hellish Rebuke
- Hex
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Shield
- Witch Bolt
- Wrathful Smite
For Hexblade Warlocks, the best early spell is Wrathful Smite, another melee option dealing regular weapon damage plus 1d6 Psychic damage, with the potential to frighten targets, restricting their movement and imposing Disadvantage on their Ability Checks and Attack Rolls.
Your second spell choice can vary according to your playstyle, but worthwhile options include Shield, Hellish Rebuke, or Hex. Since this build emphasizes melee, Shield is recommended for raising your Armor Class by five and becoming immune to Magic Missile. While its usefulness diminishes late-game as your gear improves, it can be lifesaving during the early Acts.
Optimal Race and Background for Hexblade Warlock
The optimal race for a Hexblade Warlock is the Half-Orc. Half-Orcs receive Savage Attacks, allowing an extra die of weapon damage on a Critical Hit with melee attacks. Given that Hexblade Warlocks thrive on melee, any early-game buffs significantly enhance your effectiveness.
Alternatively, the High Elf offers distinct advantages. With Fey Ancestry, they gain Advantage on Saving Throws against being Charmed, and Elven Weapon Training enhances proficiency with both melee and ranged weapons, along with an extra Cantrip choice. High Elves are a strong, all-around option for any Warlock build.
For backgrounds, Entertainer is the most beneficial for a Hexblade Warlock. This background provides proficiency in Acrobatics and Performance, enhancing Dexterity and Charisma skills. If not partnering with Astarion, the Charlatan background also boosts Deception and Sleight of Hand abilities.
Top Ability Scores for Hexblade Warlock
For the Hexblade Warlock, Charisma is paramount. While the build centers on melee damage using hexed weapons, your damage output directly correlates with your Charisma modifier, making it your most vital attribute.
Consequently, Strength is negligible since it doesn’t influence melee power. Focus on Dexterity as your secondary concern, followed by Constitution. Dexterity enhances your Armor Class and Initiative, while Constitution increases health points to keep you viable on the front lines.
Here’s an illustrative breakdown of ideal character stats upon creation:
| Ability | Points |
|---|---|
| Strength | 8 |
| Dexterity | 16 (+1) |
| Constitution | 14 |
| Intelligence | 10 |
| Wisdom | 10 |
| Charisma | 16 (+2) |
Skills and Level Progression for Hexblade Warlock
Here’s an extensive guide to leveling your Hexblade Warlock from level one to twelve in BG3:
Level 1
- Class: Warlock
- Cantrips: Eldritch Blast and Booming Blade
- Subclass: The Hexblade
- Spells: Wrathful Smite and Shield
- Ability Points:
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 16 (+1)
- Constitution: 14
- Intelligence: 10
- Wisdom: 10
- Charisma: 16 (+2)
Level 2
- Two Eldritch Invocations: Agonising Blast and Repelling Blast
- Two Spells: Armor of Agathys and Hex
Your best early spells to acquire are Hex and Armor of Agathys. Armor of Agathys provides temporary hit points and deals Cold damage to attackers, whereas Hex inflicts Necrotic damage and allows for recasting if the target perishes.
For Eldritch Invocations, choose Agonising Blast and Repelling Blast. Both enhance Eldritch Blast by adding your Charisma Modifier to damage and pushing enemies away, potentially sending them to their demise from heights or edges—effective strategies for any Warlock.
Level 3
- Pact Boon: Pact of the Blade
- Spell: Shadow Blade
- Replace Spell: Shield with Hold Person
While initially it may seem unnecessary to choose Pact of the Blade, since you already have Bind Hexed Weapon, it ultimately provides an additional attack later, making it worthwhile.
Shadow Blade and Hold Person are the recommended spells. Although removing Shield may seem premature, other party members will likely provide defensive support, allowing you to focus on incapacitating enemies and dealing damage through Cantrips and Shadow Blade, particularly as its strength grows in the following levels.
Level 4
- Cantrip: Toll the Dead
- Spell: Darkness
- Replace: Hex with Branding Smite
- Feat: Ability Improvement (Charisma)
Selecting the Toll the Dead Cantrip diversifies your damage options, dealing 1d12 Necrotic damage with a penalty against targets at full health. While this may compete with Eldritch Blast and Booming Blade, it offers a solid backup choice against vulnerable foes, along with replacing Hex using Branding Smite for greater melee options.
When it comes to spells, opting for Darkness allows you to blind enemies within its area. Since your Shadow Blade rolls have Advantage in dim light or darkness, your melee capability dramatically increases. Be cautious, however, as this will impact your allies, though future levels provide counters to this challenge.
Lastly, choose Ability Improvement for Charisma to raise your score from 16 to 18, significantly enhancing every aspect of your character’s performance.
Level 5
- Class Feature: Deepened Pact
- Your patron grants new boons; Pact weapon holders can make an extra melee attack.
- Eldritch Invocation: Devil’s Sight
- Spell: Hunger of Hadar
At level five, your Deepened Pact significantly enhances your attack capabilities, allowing two attacks with your Pact of the Blade.
With Darkness already in your arsenal, Hunger of Hadar becomes your optimal spell choice, blinding enemies within its range and inflicting damage at the start and end of their turns. Its AoE capabilities coupled with debuff effects solidify its value across multiple class builds, including this one.
Given the inclusion of Darkness, Devil’s Sight is an excellent choice for seeing in darkness without any penalties. While some other invocations may seem appealing, the benefits of this choice abound, especially in combat situations.
Level 6
- Subclass Feature: Accursed Spectre
- Slaying a creature afflicted with Hexblade’s Curse allows you to raise an Accursed Spectre to aid you for a short time.
- Spell: Misty Step
While primarily a melee fighter, having mobility options is crucial for escaping precarious situations. Misty Step allows you to teleport within an 18-meter radius, providing strategic positioning during confrontations.
Level 7
- Eldritch Invocation: Dreadful Word
- Spell: Staggering Smite
Continuing your melee strategy, Staggering Smite is an excellent addition, allowing you to stagger foes and deliver both bludgeoning and psychic damage. By this point, you have several smite options to tackle various enemy types based on the situation.
Opt for Dreadful Word as your Eldritch Invocation. This grants an AoE Confusion, causing enemies to attack randomly and potentially miss their turns, making encounters significantly easier.
Level 8
- Spell: Blight
- Feat: Ability Improvement (Charisma)
Level eight focuses primarily on spells. Selecting Blight offers high damage potential, while Phantasmal Killer is another choice for dealing Psychic damage per turn, limiting enemy mobility and imposing Disadvantage on their checks.
Again, take Ability Improvement, raising your Charisma to 20, maximally enhancing all aspects of your character’s abilities, from combat to dialogue.
Level 9
- Eldritch Invocation: Minions of Chaos
- Spell: Cone of Cold
For level nine, select Minions of Chaos, enabling you to conjure an elemental ally. While invocations such as Mire the Mind or Sculptor of Flesh are also viable, the elemental companion can serve as an additional damage dealer or protective force.
For spells, Cone of Cold is a devastating AoE attack, useful for engaging enemies or inflicting damage during a tactical retreat.
Level 10
- Subclass Feature: Armour of Hexes
- When a cursed creature attacks you, you can attempt to nullify the attack as a reaction, with a 50% success rate.
- Cantrip: Blade Ward
- Spell: Banishing Smite
At level ten, the Armour of Hexes subclass feature allows for attack nullification, enhancing your durability. For additional protection against physical damage, select Blade Ward. As for spells, Banishing Smite offers excellent crowd control and integrates well into melee combat.
Level 11
- Mystic Arcanum: Circle of Death
- Spell: Phantasmal Killer
Circle of Death unleashes an impressive 8d6 Necrotic damage radius, ideal for dealing with large groups of enemies efficiently. This spell becomes increasingly useful as you face more formidable foes in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Choose Phantasmal Killer as your spell, haunting creatures and dealing significant psychic damage each turn while inflicting Disadvantage on key rolls—a highly valuable ability as long as you maintain concentration.
Level 12
- Eldritch Invocation: Lifedrinker
- Spell: Hold Monster
- Feat: Alert
At level twelve, you gain the crucial Master Hexblade’s Curse, enhancing damage against targets and allowing healing upon their defeat.
Choosing Lifedrinker as your Eldritch Invocation grants extra necrotic damage linked to your Charisma when attacking with your Pact Weapon, making it the superior option for this build.
For spells, Hold Monster provides an additional means to paralyze foes. You’ll be empowered to restrain multiple humanoids with Hold Person or single-target with Hold Monster, enhancing your versatility in encounters.
Lastly, take Alert as your final feat, granting a +5 Initiative bonus and immunity to surprise attacks, ensuring you often strike first in combat. This is invaluable for numerous character builds, particularly for a Hexblade Warlock.
Optimal Weapons and Armor for Hexblade Warlock
The weapons and armor for a Hexblade Warlock in BG3 will greatly depend on your game progress. Here’s a guide to early and late-game gear options for your build:
Early-Game Equipment
- Head: Haste Helm
- Armor: Adamantine Scale Mail
- Gloves: Gloves of Missile Snaring
- Footwear: Disintegrating Night Walkers
- Cloak: Deathstalker Mantle or Cloak of Protection
- Amulet: Broodmother’s Revenge
- Rings: Strange Conduit Ring and Ring of Protection
- Weapons: Phalar Aluve
- Off-Hand: Adamantine Shield
- Ranged Weapon: Bow of Awareness
Late-Game Equipment
- Head: Birthright
- Armor: Bhaalist Armor or Armor of Agility
- Gloves: Helldusk Gloves
- Footwear: Helldusk Boots
- Cloak: Deathstalker Mantle or Cloak of Protection
- Amulet: Amulet of Greater Health
- Rings: Strange Conduit Ring and Ring of Protection
- Weapons: Shar’s Spear of Evening
- Off-Hand: Viconia’s Walking Fortress
- Ranged Weapon: Hellrider Longbow
At early levels, items like the Haste Helm and Disintegrating Night Walkers boost mobility, while Adamantine Scale Mail and Shield minimize damage taken. One standout early weapon is the Phalar Aluve, a powerful longsword providing team buffs and enemy debuffs.
In the later stages, Bhaalist Armor and Helldusk gear enhance damage output. If you prefer a defensive playstyle, consider swapping to Armor of Agility or similar options. Birthright also comes with a beneficial +2 Charisma score, effective as a free Ability Improvement.
Furthermore, acquiring the Shar’s Spear of Evening perfectly complements this build by synergizing with Darkness and Devil’s Sight. Alternatively, if you decide on Shadowheart’s divergent path during the game, the Phalar Aluve remains a strong choice throughout your adventure.
FAQs about the Hexblade Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3
What is the best strategy for playing a Hexblade Warlock?
The best strategy involves leveraging your Charisma for melee attacks while utilizing spells like Hex and Shadow Blade to maximize damage and control on the battlefield.
What races are ideal for a Hexblade Warlock?
The Half-Orc is optimal due to Savage Attacks, while the High Elf provides versatility and additional Cantrip options.
How should I allocate ability scores for a Hexblade Warlock?
Prioritize Charisma for damage, followed by Dexterity for Armor Class, and Constitution for health.
What are the ideal spells for Hexblade Warlock?
Essential spells include Wrathful Smite, Hunger of Hadar, and Cone of Cold for damage control and versatility.
What equipment should I focus on for a Hexblade Warlock?
Early on, target items like Adamantine Scale Mail and Phalar Aluve. In late-game, Bhaalist Armor and Shar’s Spear of Evening are paramount for enhancing your effectiveness.