Pact of the Chain Warlock 5e: The Ultimate Guide
- Jonas Nietzsch
- Feb 23
- 9 min read
Welcome, weary travellers, to the only guide you need to become a Pact of the Chain Warlock. Here you will learn how to create the best Warlock you can and how to make the most of what is arguably the most powerful pact. You’ll be picking up your Warlock pact at 3rd level, and the pact you choose can have quite an impact on your character!
What is Pact of the Chain?
While Pact of the Blade or Pact of the Tome can be tempting to choose for immediate power or knowledge gain, Pact of the Chain indicates a deeper connection between you and your patron. Pact of the Chain Warlocks might be considered less as slaves and more as powerful agents, signifying the trust your patron has in you. It could also be considered the ultimate subservience, asserting the control your patron has over you and their ability to bend your Warlock to their whims.
However you want to roleplay it, Pact of the Chain is an excellent option for Warlocks with a deep connection to their patron, even acting as a spy or messenger for them. They also gain access to an improved version of the find familiar spell – Your familiar is a strong, independent creature and will have its own personality and motives. Not only can your familiar be a powerful tool in battles, but also a helpful companion.
Why Choose Pact of the Chain?
The key benefit of choosing Pact of the Chain is the enhanced find familiar spell. This will be a ritual spell that doesn’t count toward your number of spells known, and you’ll have exclusive access to some powerful familiars. At 20th level, your familiar will become even more powerful than a typical familiar, allowing you to summon a reflection of your patron. The below familiars are exclusive to a Pact of the Chain Warlock and come with their own advantages for roleplaying or combat.
Familiar | Armour Class (AC) | Hit Points (HP) | Features |
Imp | 13 | 10 |
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Quasit | 13 | 7 |
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Sprite | 15 | 2 |
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Pseudodragon | 13 | 7 |
|
Although each familiar can be helpful in the right situations, the imp is a great all-rounder with solid HP and the best attack power with its Poison Sting. Your familiar can use its reaction to cast touch-range spells from a distance, and with the Investment of the Chain Master feat, they’ll gain access to even more powerful abilities.
Not only can they be a powerful tool in combat, but your familiar can create great roleplaying opportunities. Are they a loyal companion to you or are they spying for your patron? Do they resent your actions, or are they a friend? As always with Dungeons and Dragons, the choice is yours!
What are the Disadvantages of Pact of the Chain?
A Pact of the Chain Warlock’s power is tied to their familiar, meaning it can be quite troublesome to lose them. Compared to other pacts where you won’t lose abilities or perks, spending an hour and 10gp to resummon a familiar can be annoying and detrimental, particularly as your Warlock likely won’t have many options in combat without a familiar.
While a familiar provides many benefits, the pact doesn’t provide much direct benefit to the Warlock. Pact of the Tome, for example, grants the Warlock more spells, while Pact of the Blake provides melee bonuses. Choosing Pact of the Chain might require more creative use of both your Warlock and familiar rather than focusing on buffing your own spells and abilities.
Taking feats like Agonising Blast can be great for a Pact of the Chain Warlock, meaning you’ll deal massive amounts of Eldritch Blast damage. While more directly powerful invocations can be gained through other pacts, the bonuses that Pact of the Chain provides for familiars can be exceptionally beneficial if used creatively. If you’re looking for a pact that allows you to cast lots of spells or deal higher damage, check out the comparison table below!
Pact | Playstyle ️ | Pros | Cons |
Pact of the Chain | Enhanced familiar for combat and utility | Great scouting, more offensive combat presence, defensive advantages | Reliant on familiar, not effective in AoE-heavy combat, less direct damage from Warlock |
Pact of the Blade | Strong melee-combat | Charisma-based melee attacks, high-damage close-range combat | Reliant on a Hexblade patron, less spellcasting, requires high AC and health for close combat |
Pact of the Tome | Versatile spellcasting and utility | Can use spells from all lists, doesn’t rely on short rests for spellcasting, lots of ritual spell opportunity | No combat bonuses, low damage output, spell availability may depend on DM |
Pact of the Talisman | Supportive role able to grant buffs | Good skill bonuses, able to effectively support party, good defensive options | No offensive power, focused on supporting party, low spell versatility |
Building a Pact of the Chain Warlock
Since Warlocks rely on charisma for spellcasting, it’s a great class for characters with relevant bonuses or even characters that are just charismatic in personality! Tieflings are one of the best race options for a Warlock since they have innate spells, fire resistance, and a bonus to their charisma. Changelings also gain a charisma bonus and can be great for roleplaying a more deceptive character. Ideally, you want to focus on charismatic creatures that will provide a bonus to your spellcasting.
Your choice of patron can also be important, offering different feats and affecting your familiar differently. Ultimately, your patron depends on your playstyle and the type of Warlock you want to roleplay, or the abilities you want access to. Similarly, your spell choices can dictate the kind of fighter you are and how efficient you might be in battle. For a Pact of the Chain Warlock, we recommend spells that support your familiar’s strengths and boost your damage output.
Eldritch Blast is one of the best cantrips for any Warlock since it can be heavily buffed through feats or invocations, which is especially helpful for a Pact of the Chain Warlock who may not have many offensive spells. We also recommend some escape options like Misty Step or Dimension Door. Counterspell and Hold Monster are also great choices for combat, allowing you to control your enemies and the battlefield.
With lots of invocations to choose from as well, we’ve compiled a list of the best ones for a Pact of the Chain Warlock:
Investment of the Chain Master – Helps your familiar fly and attack better, as well as making their abilities stronger.
Voice of the Chain Master – You can communicate with your familiar from any distance, which is particularly helpful for scouting or stealthy missions.
One with Shadows – Allows you to turn invisible in dim light, which can be great for those with stealthy familiars who want to take a sneaky approach.
Misty Visions – Grants you the ability to cast Silent Image at will, which can be helpful to distract or confuse enemies.
What are the best multiclass options?
Multiclassing can greatly increase your spellcasting options, power, or survivability, especially as a Warlock who relies heavily on their familiar. Naturally, Sorcerer is a great multiclassing choice, especially as they can gain extra spell slots through Font of Magic. For sneaky Warlocks, Rogue can be a helpful option to increase your stealth and boost your damage output via sneak attacks.
Although we recommend multiclassing as a Sorcerer or Rogue to maximise your spell slots and damage, any class can be useful! Multiclassing as a Bard can be great for social Warlocks, while a Wizard can provide more spell versatility. However you want to roleplay is always up to you, but we’ve provided some recommendations below!
Recommended Builds
If you’re stuck on ideas, we’ve got the inspiration for you! Below, we’ve provided some suggested builds for playing a Pact of the Chain Warlock, including example backstories. Keep in mind your familiar’s personality as it’ll be a big factor during roleplaying. Consider what your familiar likes or dislikes, and how they might react to your choices. You can also use them to create interesting story hooks. For example, what if your familiar starts to get jealous of other party members, or they get replaced by your patron?
If you’re still a little stuck, take a look at our example builds to flesh out your character, or simply roll a D3 and take the chance!
The Infernal Soldier
Playstyle: Aggressive, high damage, combat-focused Ideal Patron Type: Fiend Ideal Races: Tiefling (Charisma bonus, fire resistance), Half-Orc (bonus melee damage)Ideal Backgrounds: Soldier, Acolyte
Advantages: High-damage fire spells, temp HP from Dark One’s Blessing, good battlefield control Disadvantages: Low defence, many enemies are resistant to fire damage
Gorro, the Ashen One (Lawful Evil)A follower of Demogorgon, this primal Half-Orc is a master of chaos, power, and violence.
Gorro was raised as a slave in the fiery depths of hell, knowing nothing more than ash and brimstone, fighting for others’ amusement. Although most slaves yearn for freedom, the only thing Gorro seeks is the next battle. Their prowess and eagerness for blood led to a fateful meeting with The Demon Prince himself. The offer? Ultimate power and freedom from hell in return for subservience. What’s trading one master for another if it means more power? And so, the deal was struck.
With a thick layer of hellish ash permeating their skin, Gorro was sent to spread chaos and spill blood in the name of Demogorgon. To Gorro’s surprise (and disdain), they arrived with a small but ferocious imp named Stone, sent to watch and report progress back to Demogorgon. Although they initially tried to kill and eat each other, Gorro and Stone have since found mutual respect and admiration in their shared bloodlust, combining their strengths to release hell upon unsuspecting foes.
The Whispering Shadow
Playstyle: Stealthy, deceptive, manipulative Ideal Patron Type: The Great Old One Ideal Races: Changeling, Elf Ideal Backgrounds: Charlatan, Spy, Noble
Advantages: Opportunity for deceptive roleplay, good at infiltration, excellent stealth
Disadvantages: Mind-based spells may not always succeed, doesn’t deal high direct damage
Laris, the Man of a Thousand Smiles (True Neutral)
A proficient changeling conman, Laris is a master of manipulation.
Growing up and learning from the best (or worst) conmen, Laris has figured out the perfect, charming smile for every situation. Working his way into a lavish lifestyle, Laris had everything made for himself… until he went too far. Impersonating a noble, Laris became entranced by the whispers of forbidden knowledge coming from a sealed, ancient-looking tome.
Too intrigued and feeling on top of the world, Laris read its pages and sealed his fate, becoming bound to the Elder God Tharizdun. Tharizdun’s voice quickly began haunting every thought, reminding Laris every moment who controls him. Armed with a tormenting quasit loyal to Tharizdun, Laris seeks an end to his torment while enacting upon the whispers of his god.
The Eldritch Trickster
Playstyle: Chaotic, deceptive, illusionist Ideal Patron Type: The Archfey Ideal Races: Fairy, Satyr, Changeling Ideal Backgrounds: Entertainer, Folk Hero, Charlatan
Advantages: Great crowd control, creative solutions or combat using illusions
Disadvantages: Requires improvisation and creative thinking, illusion magic may not always be helpful
Zaria, the Mayhem Maker (Chaotic Good)This good-natured trickster fairy seeks fun and enjoyment above all, spreading joyous chaos for everyone!
Zaria first found her footing as a fae bard, delighting and entertaining drunken patrons through music and mischief. On a particularly alcohol-heavy expedition, Zaria found herself drunkenly performing in the Fey Court of Titania. Though the performance was enchanting and amusing for some, Titania did not take kindly to Zaria’s flagrant disrespect and bound her.
Although it may still be considered punishment by some, Zaria took this as a blessing, wholeheartedly taking on the role of Titania’s personal trickster. Gifted with a mischievous sprite named Zero, Zaria set out to become the harbinger of mischief and mayhem, spreading Titania’s wonder and chaos across the lands. Freedom might be nice, but power is pretty fun too…
Recommended Tactics
Keep your familiar alive! This is naturally a key tactic as a lot of your damage output and abilities will be tied to them. Try to keep them out of danger or make sure they have an escape route.
Use your familiar to cast touch-range spells from a distance. It’s a good idea to complement your familiar’s spellcasting with your own. For example, weaken an enemy with Hex or Hold Person and have your familiar go in for the kill.
Enhance your Eldritch Blast. As a Warlock, this is a great cantrip to rely on and optimise with feats like Agonising Blast, Repelling Blast, and Hexblade’s Curse.
Conclusion: Pact of the Chain Warlocks
Your pact will heavily impact how your Warlock interacts with the world both in and out of combat. Although Pact of the Chain is great for those wanting a more complex and creative style of playing, it’s important to note that you can’t change your pact later. Make sure you consider the roleplaying and combat aspects, as well as the level of micromanaging you want to be doing with your Warlock. There are lots of great options, though Pact of the Chain is certainly a unique one and allows for a lot of fun and creative roleplay with familiars!
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