Warlocks are distinct in Dungeons & Dragons because, while they are technically spellcasters, their spells function differently. Warlocks use Pact Magic, which means they learn spells much more slowly than other classes and have a tiny handful of casting slots. On the other hand, Warlocks regain their spell slots after a short rest, whereas every other class recovers them after a long rest.
Pact Boons
Warlocks can compensate for their limited spellcasting by choosing a Pact Boon and Eldritch Invocations. Warlocks can choose from various Eldritch Invocations starting at 2nd level, some of which permit you to cast particular spells (or similar effects) at will.
Warlocks can choose one Pact Boon starting at level 3. Pact of the Blade (for martial combat), Pact of the Chain (for taming a magical familiar), Pact of the Tome (for tapping into your magical roots), or Pact of the Talisman are your options (for bestowing small gifts on yourself or another person).
Your Pact Boon describes your relationship with your patron as well as the types of gifts they bestow. Some Eldritch Invocations can only be used in combination with particular Pact Boons, so choose wisely when designing your character.
Level 2 Eldritch Invocations
At level 2, you can choose two of the Eldritch Invocations listed below. When you level up as a Warlock, you can swap out one of your Eldritch Invocations.
Agonizing Blast
Prerequisite: Eldritch Blast cantrip
When you use Eldritch Blast, add your Charisma modifier to the damage it deals on a successful hit. This is one of the best Eldritch Invocations, and it’s pretty uncommon to see a Warlock without this. Even at high levels, Eldritch Blast continues to be the bread and butter of any Warlock who isn’t a Hexblade. Hexblades may not be as keen to take Agonizing Blast, but remember that Eldritch Blast gains enough rays to scale just as well as a weapon.
Armor of Shadows
You can use Mage Armor on yourself whenever you want without using a spell slot or material components. Warlocks who aren’t Hexblades only have access to light armor and likely haven’t put a very high score into Dexterity, so Mage Armor is very helpful.
Beast Speech
You can use speak with animals whenever you want without using up a spell slot.
Beguiling Influence
You gain proficiency in the Charisma (Deception) and Charisma (Persuasion) skills. Considering that Charisma is a Warlock’s best ability score, it makes sense to have proficiency in as many Charisma skills as possible. Warlocks who want to pick up other skills might enjoy this Eldritch Invocation.
Devil’s Sight
You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, up to 120 feet away. This is another excellent Eldritch Invocation, especially for Warlocks who enjoy casting darkness over the battlefield. Your allies may not thank you for hampering them, but if you frequently get separated from your party or go scouting ahead, utilizing darkness to sneak up on your enemies is an excellent way to win a fight.
Eldritch Mind
You have an advantage on Constitution saving throws made to keep your focus on a spell.
Eldritch Sight
You can use Detect Magic whenever you want without using up a spell slot.
Eldritch Spear
Prerequisite: Eldritch Blast cantrip
Eldritch Blast has a range of 300 feet when cast. It’s not often that you need to be able to cast a spell at that distance, but it happens often enough that the developers decided to add this. There is a feat that does something similar, Spell Sniper, that doubles the distance of your attack spells.
Eyes of the Rune Keeper
You can read all writing. The usefulness of this Eldritch Invocation depends heavily on the type of campaign you’re playing. We recommend not taking this Invocation when you first begin playing if you start at level 2 or higher. It’s always better to start with more broadly helpful Invocations until you get a handle on what your DM will throw at you and what your group wants out of your game.
Campaigns with a heavy focus on exploration and discovery are the optimal place for this Eldritch Invocation.
Mask of Many Faces
You can cast Disguise Self at will without expending a spell slot.
Misty Visions
You can cast Silent Image whenever you want, without using a spell slot or material components.
Repelling Blast
Prerequisite: Eldritch Blast cantrip
When you hit a creature with an Eldritch Blast, you can move it up to 10 feet away in a straight line. It might be tempting to take this to keep opponents from getting too close to you, but since Eldritch Blast is a ranged spell attack, you have disadvantage if you target someone within melee range. However, if you manage to hit them anyway, they’ll be yanked out of melee range.
Thief of Five Fates
You can use a warlock spell slot to cast Bane once. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Level 3 Eldritch Invocations
The following Eldritch Invocations are available starting at level 3 and need you to select one of the Pact Boons.
Book of Ancient Secrets
Prerequisite: Pact of the Tome
Magical rituals can now be written in your Book of Shadows. Choose two 1st-level ritual spells from any class’s spell list (they don’t have to be from the same list). The spells appear in the book and do not count against your total number of spells.
You can perform rituals using the spells from your Book of Shadows. You can only cast the spells as rituals unless you’ve learned them in another way. If a Warlock spell has the ritual tag, you can also cast it as a ritual.
During your adventures, other ritual spells can be added to your Book of Shadows. If you come across such a spell, you can add it to the book if its level is equal to or less than half your Warlock level (rounded up) and you have the time to transcribe it. The transcription takes 2 hours for each level of the spell and costs 50 gp for the rare inks required to inscribe it.
Notably, you can add any spell with the ritual tag, even if it isn’t on the Warlock spell list.
Investment of the Chain Master
Prerequisite: Pact of the Chain
Pact of the Chain gives you the spell find familiar, but if you’re going with that Pact, you absolutely need this Eldritch Invocation. It modifies the spell so that your summoned familiar has a few characteristics you wouldn’t usually get with it.
For one thing, your familiar gains a flying or swimming speed of 40 feet. Funnily enough, we recommend giving them the swimming speed since most familiar options already have a flying speed. Additionally, you can use your bonus action to command your familiar to attack during combat. Under normal circumstances, the Find Familiar spell doesn’t let your familiar attack.
Your familiar’s weapon attacks are considered magical. Even better, if your familiar does anything to force a foe to make a saving throw, they use your spell save DC. Considering how low the CR of familiars is, that is a huge bonus. Finally, if your familiar takes damage, you have a way to help keep them alive. You can use your reaction to give it resistance against that instance of damage. Remember, resistance only halves the damage.
Rebuke of the Talisman
Prerequisite: Pact of the Talisman
When an attacker within 30 feet of you hits the wearer of your talisman, you can use your reaction to give psychic damage to the assailant equal to your proficiency bonus and move it up to 10 feet away from the talisman’s wearer. If you or your friend doesn’t do well in melee combat, this is a good Eldritch Invocation to avoid getting cornered during a fight.
Voice of the Chain Master
Prerequisite: Pact of the Chain
As long as you are on the same plane of existence, you can converse telepathically with your familiar and see through their senses. Furthermore, while perceiving through your familiar’s senses, you can talk in your voice through your familiar, even if your familiar is ordinarily incapable of speech.
Multiple familiar options already have the gift of gab and being able to speak through your pseudodragon is only situationally beneficial. Familiars already can let you see through their eyes, so it’s not clear what this Eldritch Invocation adds in terms of value.
Level 5 Eldritch Invocations
At level 5, you gain another Eldritch Invocation, bringing your total to three. You can select one from the list below or one already available.
Far Scribe
Prerequisite: Pact of the Tome
A new page has been added to your Book of Shadows. A creature can use its action with your permission to write its name on that page, which can have a number of names equal to your proficiency bonus. You can use the sending spell to target a creature whose name appears on the page without using a spell slot or material components.
You must write the message on the page to accomplish this. The message is heard in the target’s mind, and if the target responds, their message appears on the page rather than in your mind. After 1 minute, the writing is gone. By touching a name on the page, you can magically erase it.
This is a really cool Eldritch Invocation which means that it’s a shame that it isn’t more useful. It’s thematic for Pact of the Tome, but sending isn’t a broadly useful spell in the grand scheme of things, and you get so few Eldritch Invocations that spending one on Far Scribe is rarely worth it.
Fiendish Vigor
False Life can be cast on yourself at will as a 1st-level spell without using a spell slot or material components.
Gaze of Two Minds
Until the end of your next turn, you can use your action to touch a willing humanoid and perceive through its senses. You can use your action on later turns to sustain this connection as long as the creature is on the same plane of existence as you, prolonging the duration until the end of your next turn.
You benefit from any special senses owned by the other creature while perceiving through its senses, and you are blinded and deafened to your own surroundings.
Mire the Mind
Slow can be cast once with a Warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
One with Shadows
When you are in a dimly lit or dark area, you can use your action to make yourself invisible until you move or take an action or reaction. This is one of the better Eldritch Invocations if you often scout ahead or are in a generally stealthy party. Just remember that you have to hold completely still for this to work.
Sign of Ill Omen
You can use a Warlock spell slot to cast bestow curse once. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Thirsting Blade
Prerequisite: Pact of the Blade
When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can attack with your pact weapon twice instead of once. This Eldritch Invocation is a must-have for Pact of the Blade Warlocks. It comes at level 5 so that you can keep pace with your weapon-wielding companions. Having two attacks lets you stay abreast of the damage you’d see with other martial classes.
Undying Servitude
You can use Animate Dead without having to use a spell slot. You can’t cast it in this manner again until you finish a long rest.
Level 7 Eldritch Invocations
At level 7, you gain another Eldritch Invocation, bringing your total to four. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you.
Bewitching Whispers
Compulsion can be cast once with a Warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Dreadful Word
Confusion can be cast once with a Warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Protection of the Talisman
Prerequisite: Pact of the Talisman
When the holder of your talisman fails a saving throw, they can add a d4 to the roll, potentially making the save successful. This benefit can be used a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and all expended uses are restored when you finish a long rest. This is a good way to buff the talisman, especially if you save the uses for saving throws that you’re generally bad at.
Sculptor of Flesh
Polymorph can be cast once with a Warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest. Polymorph is one of the best spells in D&D, so it’s never a bad thing to have access to it. You can use it to transform an enemy into something harmless or to turn yourself (or a friend) into an enormous bag of hit points. You might even save someone’s life this way.
Level 9 Eldritch Invocations
At level 9, you gain another Eldritch Invocation, bringing your total to five. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you.
Ascendant Step
You can levitate yourself anytime without using a spell slot or material components. Considering how useless Levitate is, the fact that this comes at 9th level and wastes one of your Eldritch Invocation slots is just shameful. We would never recommend this one.
Gift of the Protectors
Prerequisite: Pact of the Tome
A new page has been added to your Book of Shadows. A creature can use its action with your permission to write its name on that page, which can hold a number of names equal to your proficiency bonus. When a creature with a name on the page is lowered to 0 hit points but not killed, the creature magically drops to 1 hit point instead.
No creature can benefit from this magic once it is activated until you finish a long rest. By touching a name on the page, you can magically erase it. We highly recommend this Eldritch Invocation. By the time it’s available, your proficiency bonus is +4, which means that it is the equivalent of constantly casting death ward (a 4th level spell!) on four different party members every day. You can be one of those names.
In just a few levels, you’ll likely be able to have your entire party listed in your Book of Shadows, saving someone the spell slots of casting death ward.
Minions of Chaos
Conjure Elemental can be cast once with a Warlock spell slot. You won’t be able to do so again until you finish your long rest.
Otherworldly Leap
You can use jump on yourself whenever you want without using a spell slot or material components. Like Levitate, Jump is a pretty useless spell. At least Levitate is a 2nd level spell; Jump is a 1st level. Wasting a 9th level Eldritch Invocation on a level 1 spell? What was Wizards of the Coast thinking?
Whispers of the Grave
You can cast Speak with Dead at will, without expending a spell slot. Although this might seem situational, if you’re in a party with some murder hobos, it’s not a bad idea to be able to talk to the people they just killed to see if they have any helpful information.
Level 12 Eldritch Invocations
At level 12, you gain another Eldritch Invocation, bringing your total to six. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you.
Bond of the Talisman
Prerequisite: Pact of the Talisman
You can use your action to teleport to the nearest unoccupied space while someone else is wearing your talisman. The wearer of your talisman can perform the same action, teleporting to you. The teleportation can be used a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and all spent uses are regained when you finish a long rest.
Lifedrinker
Prerequisite: Pact of the Blade
When you strike a creature with your pact weapon, it takes additional necrotic damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1). At this level, Fighters will have a third weapon attack. Warlocks may not get that, but by this point, your Charisma modifier should be +5. If you took the Thirsting Blade Invocation, that’s an extra 10 necrotic damage per turn.
Level 15 Eldritch Invocations
At level 15, you gain another Eldritch Invocation, bringing your total to seven. At level 18, you receive your final Eldritch Invocation, bringing your total to eight. You can select one from the list below or one that is already available to you.
Chains of Carceri
Prerequisite: Pact of the Chain
You can use Hold Monster to target a celestial, fiend, or elemental at any time without using a spell slot or material components. While there are some constraints on the type of creature this works with, it’s still a fantastic Invocation because so many common creatures fall into those categories. Before you can use this Invocation on the same creature again, you must first complete a long rest.
Master of Myriad Forms
You can use Alter Self whenever you want without using a spell slot. Alter Self is a 2nd level spell that most spellcasters don’t even want, so using a 15th level Eldritch Invocation to get it is one of the worst decisions you could possibly make. For goodness’ sake, just get Sculptor of Flesh if you need to change yourself.
Visions of Distant Realms
You can cast Arcane Eye at will without expending a spell slot. We recommend this Eldritch Invocation because Arcane Eye is such a good spell. It lets you see (with darkvision) relatively far ahead so that you and your party can prepare for encounters without risking someone scouting ahead and getting separated from the party.
Witch Sight
While the creature is within 30 feet of you and in line of sight, you can see the true form of any shapechanger or creature hidden by illusion or transmutation magic.
Complete List of Eldritch Invocations 5e
Here is a list of Eldritch Invocations 5e. Check out some of other guides including Warforged 5e and Dual Wielder 5e.
- Agonizing Blast
- Armor of Shadows
- Ascendant Step
- Aspect of the Moon
- Beast Speech
- Beguiling Influence
- Bewitching Whispers
- Bond of the Talisman
- Book of Ancient Secrets
- Chains of Carceri
- Cloak of Flies
- Devil’s Sight
- Dreadful Word
- Eldritch Mind
- Eldritch Sight
- Eldritch Smite
- Eldritch Spear
- Eyes of the Rune Keeper
- Far Scribe
- Fiendish Vigor
- Gaze of Two Minds
- Ghostly Gaze
- Gift of the Depths
- Gift of the Ever-living Ones
- Gift of the Protectors
- Grasp of Hadar
- Improved Pact Weapon
- Investment of the Chain Master
- Lance of Lethargy
- Lifedrinker
- Maddening Hex
- Mask of Many Faces
- Master of Myriad Forms
- Minions of Chaos
- Mire the Mind
- Misty Visions
- One with Shadows
- Otherworldly Leap
- Protection of the Talisman
- Rebuke of the Talisman
- Relentless Hex
- Repelling Blast
- Sculptor of Flesh
- Shroud of Shadow
- Sign of Ill Omen
- Thief of Five Fates
- Thirsting Blade
- Tomb of Levistus
- Trickster’s Escape
- Undying Servitude
- Visions of Distant Realms
- Voice of the Chain Master
- Whispers of the Grave
- Witch Sight
Alexa spends the majority of her days explaining the ins and outs of DnD to her two cats, much to their dismay.