Warlock Spell List 5e

The signature Warlock cantrip. Fires a beam of crackling energy at a creature within 120 feet. Make a ranged spell attack, dealing 1d10 force damage on a hit. At higher levels, the spell creates additional beams: 2 beams at 5th level, 3 at 11th, and 4 at 17th. Each beam can target the same or different creatures. Force damage is the least-resisted damage type in the game.

Create a sound or an image of an object within 30 feet for 1 minute. The illusion cannot produce light, sound, or any sensory effect beyond visual for objects. Incredibly versatile for roleplay, distraction, and creative problem-solving.

Summon a spectral, floating hand within 30 feet for 1 minute. The hand can manipulate objects, open unlocked doors, retrieve items, and pour potions. Essential utility that every Warlock should consider.

The ultimate utility cantrip. Create minor sensory effects, light/snuff candles, clean/soil objects, chill/warm/flavor items, or create small trinkets. Perfect for roleplay and creative solutions.

Create a ghostly skeletal hand to assail a target within 120 feet. Deals 1d8 necrotic damage. The target cannot regain hit points until the start of your next turn. Undead targets also have disadvantage on attack rolls against you. Excellent anti-healing and anti-undead tool.

Target must make a Wisdom save or take 1d8 necrotic damage — or 1d12 if they're already missing any hit points. One of the highest-damage cantrips, especially against wounded enemies.

Gain advantage on Charisma checks against one non-hostile creature for 1 minute. After the spell ends, the target becomes hostile. Use carefully — this is not a "free charm" but a tactical tool for brief social encounters.

Gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from weapon attacks until the end of your next turn. Useful for Hexblade Warlocks in melee, but takes your entire action.

Point at a target and gain advantage on your first attack roll against it on your next turn. Generally considered weak — you're usually better off attacking twice.

Make a melee weapon attack. On hit, the target is sheathed in booming energy and takes 1d8 thunder damage if it willingly moves before your next turn. Scales at 5th, 11th, and 17th levels. Essential for Hexblade Warlocks.

Make a melee weapon attack. On hit, green fire leaps to a second creature within 5 feet, dealing fire damage equal to your spellcasting modifier. Excellent for melee Warlocks facing clustered enemies.

Create a lash of lightning that pulls a target within 15 feet up to 10 feet toward you, then deals 1d8 lightning damage if it ends within 5 feet. Great for pulling enemies into melee range or off ledges.

Target makes an Intelligence save or takes 1d6 psychic damage and subtracts 1d4 from its next saving throw before the end of your next turn. Devastating combo setup for your party's heavy-hitting save spells.

Create a bonfire in a 5-foot cube within 60 feet. Creatures in the space must make a Dexterity save or take 1d8 fire damage, and continue taking damage if they remain in the area. Great for area denial.

Target makes a Constitution save or takes 1d6 cold damage and has disadvantage on its next weapon attack roll before the end of its next turn. Situational but effective against heavy-hitting melee enemies.

Summon a swarm of parasitic insects on a target within 30 feet. Target makes a Constitution save or takes 1d6 poison damage and moves 5 feet in a random direction. Chaotic but flavorful.

Enchant up to 3 pebbles. You or anyone you give them to can throw them as a ranged spell attack dealing 1d6 + Charisma modifier bludgeoning damage. Unique for enabling allies without good ranged options.

Create a momentary circle of spectral blades that sweep around you. All creatures within 5 feet must make a Dexterity save or take 1d6 force damage. Good for melee Warlocks when surrounded.

Create a burst of thunderous sound audible up to 100 feet away. Creatures within 5 feet must make a Constitution save or take 1d6 thunder damage. Loud — not stealthy at all.

The quintessential Warlock spell. Place a curse on a creature within 90 feet as a bonus action. The target takes an extra 1d6 necrotic damage whenever you hit it with an attack, and it has disadvantage on ability checks of one chosen ability. If the target drops to 0 HP, you can move the curse to a new creature on a subsequent turn as a bonus action. Duration scales with slot level: 1 hour at 1st, 8 hours at 3rd+, 24 hours at 5th+. Combined with Eldritch Blast and Agonizing Blast, this is your bread-and-butter damage combo.

Gain 5 temporary hit points + 5 per spell slot level above 1st. While you have these temporary hit points, any creature that hits you with a melee attack takes 5 cold damage (also scaling with slot level). Extraordinary for melee Warlocks — at 5th level, this is 25 temp HP and 25 cold damage retaliation per hit.

When you take damage from a creature within 60 feet, use your reaction to envelop it in hellish flames. It must make a Dexterity save or take 2d10 fire damage (increasing by 1d10 per slot level above 1st). Half damage on a successful save. Excellent action economy — damage on enemy turns.

Invoke spectral tendrils of dark energy from your body. All creatures within 10 feet must make a Strength save or take 2d6 necrotic damage and be unable to take reactions until their next turn. Great escape tool when surrounded.

Charm a humanoid target for 1 hour. The charmed creature regards you as a friendly acquaintance. When the spell ends, the target knows it was charmed. Scales to target additional creatures with higher slots. High risk, high reward social spell.

Understand the literal meaning of any spoken or written language for 1 hour. Does not let you speak or write the language. Warlocks can cast this as a ritual via the Book of Ancient Secrets invocation.

Use a bonus action to Dash for up to 10 minutes. Incredible mobility boost. Combined with the Dash action, you can triple your movement speed every turn.

Protect a creature from aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead. They have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target, and the target can't be charmed, frightened, or possessed by them. Situationally game-changing.

Make a ranged spell attack against a creature. On hit, deal 1d12 lightning damage. On each of your turns, use your action to deal 1d12 automatically. If the target leaves the 30-foot range, the spell ends. Looks good on paper but the range limitation makes it awkward.

Summon an invisible, mindless, shapeless force that performs simple tasks at your command for 1 hour. Excellent for triggering traps, fetching items, or menial labor.

Target makes a Wisdom save or becomes frightened of you for 1 minute. It can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns. Upcasting targets additional creatures. Simple but effective control.

Create a 15-foot-radius sphere of magical darkness that even darkvision can't penetrate. Combined with the Devil's Sight Eldritch Invocation, you can see through it while enemies are blinded — giving you advantage on all attacks and enemies disadvantage against you. One of the most infamous Warlock combos in 5e.

Bonus action teleport up to 30 feet. One of the best escape and repositioning tools in the game. No concentration, low cost, incredibly versatile. A must-have for any Warlock who values mobility.

Create a sudden loud ringing noise in a 10-foot radius sphere within 60 feet. Creatures take 3d8 thunder damage (Constitution save for half) and constructs/objects have disadvantage. Scales by +1d8 per level. Reliable AoE damage.

Paralyze a humanoid target. They make a Wisdom save at the end of each turn. While paralyzed, attacks from within 5 feet are automatic critical hits. Upcasting targets additional humanoids. Devastating against humanoid bosses.

Create 3 illusory duplicates. When targeted by an attack, roll a d20 — on a 6+, the attack hits a duplicate instead. No concentration required, making it an excellent defensive layer that doesn't compete with Hex.

Suggest a reasonable-sounding course of activity (1-2 sentences) to a target within 30 feet. On a failed Wisdom save, they pursue the course for up to 8 hours. Incredibly powerful social spell limited only by your creativity.

Turn a creature invisible for 1 hour. The spell ends if the target attacks or casts a spell. Upcasting targets additional creatures. Fantastic for scouting and infiltration.

Grant a creature the ability to walk on walls and ceilings for 1 hour. No Concentration at higher levels with the right invocation. Transform battlefield positioning.

Fill a 5-foot cube with spinning daggers. Creatures in the area or entering it take 4d4 slashing damage — no save. Upcasting adds +2d4 per level. Guaranteed damage is excellent for blocking doorways or punishing grappled enemies.

Captivate creatures within 60 feet. Targets have disadvantage on Perception checks to notice anyone other than you. Great for creating distractions while your party sneaks past.