In Baldur’s Gate 3, the warlock class offers a thrilling and dynamic experience. While not abundant in spells, warlocks possess versatile abilities making them adept in combat situations. Wyll, the resident warlock in the game, serves as an excellent introduction to the class’s nuances.
A significant advancement for warlocks occurs at level three when they gain a pact boon, enhancing their capabilities. With three distinct pacts to choose from, selecting one aligned with your playstyle becomes crucial for achieving success.
All Warlock Pacts
Pact of the Chain
- Description: Gain a familiar with a larger variety than most sources. When upgraded, your pact familiar gains the Extra Attack feature.
- Use Cases: Familiars prove useful in both battles and exploration, providing additional bodies on the field to distract enemies.
Pact of the Blade
- Description: Summon a pact weapon or transform a regular weapon into a pact weapon. The weapon scales with Charisma, and when upgraded, allows two attacks in one turn.
- Use Cases: Ideal for warlocks wanting melee options, offering versatility and thematic alignment with characters like Wyll.
Pact of the Tome
- Description: Gain free spells, including Guidance, Vicious Mockery, and Thorn Whip. Upgraded pact adds Haste, Animate Dead, and Call Lightning to your spellbook.
- Use Cases: Expands the warlock’s limited spell list significantly, providing powerful spells upon upgrading the pact.
Choosing the Right Pact
- Pact of the Chain: While considered weaker by some, it offers advantages in action economy. Familiars provide additional actions and attacks per round, making it a strategic choice. Notably, it allows access to more powerful familiars like the Imp or Quasit.
- Pact of the Blade: Ideal for warlocks desiring melee combat options. It enhances versatility and damage output, especially when accustomed to reapplying the pact boon after each long rest.
- Pact of the Tome: Suited for warlocks emphasizing long-range combat. The pact significantly boosts the spell list, with Haste and Call Lightning as standout additions. Guidance proves valuable for various scenarios.
Each pact offers unique strengths, catering to different playstyles. Choose based on your preferences and intended strategy. Pact of the Chain, often underestimated, can be powerful in enhancing action economy. Ultimately, the effectiveness of each pact depends on your playstyle and how well you leverage its specific strengths.
