Warlock NPCs and How to Use Them for EVERY Tier of Play
If this is your first time reading this series, we’re going through each of the official classes in D&D Fifth Edition and making NPC statblocks inspired by them. They are not intended to be carbon copies, but rather to simplify your NPCs while maintaining the same flavor and familiarity as a full character. I go into more detail about this philosophy in the first article of the series.
But simply, for each of the tiers of play we’ll make an NPC stat block based on the relevant class. These tiers are a loose way of comparing your NPC’s power level to that of your party. Of course this is far from perfect, but you’ll be able to give the general feel of whether an NPC is over, under, or near the power level of a comparable player character. For reference, those tiers of play are:
Local Heroes (Levels 1-4)
Heroes of the Realm (Levels 5-10)
Masters of the Realm (Level 11-16)
Masters of the World (Levels 17-20)
In addition to creating the statblocks, for each tier of play I will give a few examples of how that NPC can be used in your game. Hopefully that will help get some ideas churning! And of course, feel free to use and modify these suggestions as encounters or adventures for your own party.
With the table set, let’s move into our next round of NPCs: warlocks.
How to Use NPC Warlocks
Warlocks gain their magical abilities by making pacts with other powerful beings. They get magic, and in return the patron also gains something of value. The classic example is a devil bargaining for the warlock's soul after death, but this is far from the only option. A warlock patron may require a servant, the completion of some task (whose purpose may not be apparent to the warlock), or the collection of some form of lost knowledge. The warlock agrees to such terms because they believe the power they gain will help them accomplish some personal goal, whether it be wealth, political power, revenge, or something else.
This makes warlocks some of the most versatile and useful NPCs to use in your campaigns. A warlock could be an antagonist in their own right, perhaps they are using their powers to subjugate a small town. Or, they can be excellent “mini bosses” that work for the big bad of your campaign. If the primary villain of your campaign is a powerful undead or planar creature, odds are they utilize warlocks to carry out their dirty work on the Material Plane. These warlocks may be in charge of marshaling the troops, acting as a spy in an important government or organization, or hunting down potential threats (including your party).
Of course warlocks can also be used as friendly NPCs, whether they be quest givers or informational contacts the party gains during their travels. A warlock may act as a spokesperson for a powerful celestial, or may delight in giving the party inscrutable riddles at the behest of their archfey patron.
Tier 1 Warlocks
Tier 1 warlocks are mostly likely to be encountered by player characters between levels 1 and 4, although they may be used as allies or henchpeople of more powerful beings at later levels. Tier 1 warlocks are typically newer recruits to their patron’s ranks. They are likely trying to prove themselves as worthy to their patron by completing smaller tasks.
Customizing an NPC. For most situations, the following statblocks will be more than sufficient. However, for important NPCs you may want to customize them a bit to make them stand out. Just remember that with each ability you add, you sacrifice some of the simplicity and approachability of the statblock. Some abilities may also significantly increase the Challenge Rating of the NPC, so keep that in mind if you add more combat-centric abilities. To customize a warlock of this tier, you can do one or more of the following:
Swap out one or more of their spells with a different warlock spell of the same level.
Swap out one or more of the selected Eldritch Invocations. A Tier 1 warlock has the following invocations selected:
Agonizing Blast
Devil’s Sight
Add a Pact Boon of your choosing.
Add the 1st level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Plot Hooks/Use in Your Game. Unlike many of these NPC guides, I do actually recommend that you pick a specific pact for your warlock NPCs. These characters are defined by their patrons, who influence the NPC’s goals and motivations. As always, you can give these NPCs the specific pact features based on their patron (as detailed in the “Customizing an NPC” sections) but that is far from necessary. The way you describe the character, how they are found in your game, and the motivations they have will do far more to establish the tone and the nature of their patron than a class ability or two. With that in mind, here are some examples of how you might use Tier 1 warlocks in your game:
The party’s quest for an obscure bit of knowledge leads them deep into a strange forest. Here the colors seem more vibrant, the smells more potent, and everything seems a bit.. off. That sense only increases when they meet their contact, an eccentric elven man who only speaks in riddles. He insists the party solve his three riddles and complete their associated (minor) quests in exchange for the knowledge they seek. (Pact of the Archfey).
The party’s search for a lost relic or magic item leads them to an ancient tomb. However, they arrive a bit late. A small horde of undead shuffle about the crypt, protecting their master who is deeper within the crypt, seeking the same relic. (Pact of the Undead).
Tier 2 Warlocks
Tier 2 warlocks are most likely to be encountered by PCs from levels 5 to 10, although you can find use for them at all levels. Tier 2 warlocks are trusted servants of their patrons, who reward them with more power and responsibility. A tier 2 warlock may be tasked with unearthing hidden lore, destabilizing a government, or protecting an important person or place.
Customizing an NPC. To customize a warlock of this tier, you can do one or more of the following:
Swap out one or more of their spells with a different warlock spell of the same level.
Swap out one or more of the selected Eldritch Invocations. A Tier 2 warlock has the following invocations selected:
Agonizing Blast
Armor of Shadows
Devil’s Sight
Eldritch Mind
Repelling Blast
Add a Pact Boon of your choosing.
Add the 1st level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Add the 6th level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Plot Hooks/Use in Your Game.
The party’s mage ally magically calls for their assistance, her tower is under attack! The tower is being assaulted by a group of spined and bearded devils led by a humanoid riding a nightmare. The mage has summoned and trapped a well-connected chain devil, whom the attackers are attempting to free. Can the party stop the incursion before the devil is released? (Pact of the Fiend).
A team of miners are on strike for better working conditions. The unfortunate twist is that this mine is owned by a greedy (and stubborn) Dao genie. He has sent his enforcer along with a few earth elementals to get the mine running again, by any means necessary. (Pact of the Genie).
Tier 3 Warlocks
Tier 3 warlocks are most likely to be encountered by PCs from levels 11 to 16, although you may insert them earlier as a potential patron or mentor figure. Tier 3 warlocks are powerful beings in their own right, capable of subjugating small towns or engaging in espionage. They may be gifted with a crucial task from their patron or they could be currently focused on expanding their own power (which their patron will no doubt find a way to exploit).
Customizing an NPC. To customize a warlock of this tier, you can do one or more of the following:
Swap out one or more of their spells with a different warlock spell of the same level.
Swap out one or more of the selected Eldritch Invocations. A Tier 3 warlock has the following invocations selected:
Agonizing Blast
Armor of Shadows
Devil’s Sight
Eldritch Mind
Mask of Many Faces
Repelling Blast
Add a Pact Boon of your choosing.
Add the 1st level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Add the 6th level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Add the 10th level feature from the warlock pact of your choice
Plot Hooks/Use in Your Game.
A massive storm has been raging in the sea a few dozen miles off the coastline for the last several days. It does not seem to be a natural storm and people are starting to get nervous. Deep beneath the surface of the ocean a warlock is attempting a ritual that would bring his patron, an ancient and terrifying water elemental, onto the Material Plane. If no one stops him, havoc and chaos will befall the region. (Pact of the Fathomless).
The party is seeking a dangerous, potentially evil, magical sword. The sword is currently in possession of the ruler of a reclusive and secretive settlement. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, the city is ruled with an iron grip- citizens are constantly under surveillance and people go missing with no explanation or effort to find them by the local rulers. (Pact of the Hexblade).
Tier 4 Warlocks
Tier 4 warlocks are most likely to be encountered by PCs from levels 17 to 20, although you may use them earlier as a potential patron or mentor figure. A tier 4 warlock is comparable in many respects to a level 20 adventurer, there may only be one or two such figures in your entire setting. These warlocks serve as the right hand of their patrons. Some warlocks may secretly scheme to usurp their patron, while others are devoted to ensuring the success of whatever scheme their master has currently cooked up.
Customizing an NPC. To customize a warlock of this tier, you can do one or more of the following:
Swap out one or more of their spells with a different warlock spell of the same level.
Swap out one or more of the selected Eldritch Invocations. A Tier 4 warlock has the following invocations selected:
Agonizing Blast
Armor of Shadows
Devil’s Sight
Eldritch Mind
Eldritch Spear
Mask of Many Faces
Repelling Blast
Shroud of Shadow
Add a Pact Boon of your choosing.
Add the 1st level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Add the 6th level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Add the 10th level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Add the 14th level feature from the warlock pact of your choice.
Plot Hooks/Use in Your Game.
The party seeks the wisdom and guidance of a mystical figure who lives atop a mountain while she seeks enlightenment. She once spent her days battling on the front lines against evil, but now in her later years she sits in meditation, contemplating how best to bring light to a dark world. (Pact of the Celestial).
A local swamp has been expanding rapidly and now threatens to overtake a large city. In the center of the swamp, a bullywog has gathered an army of oozes and horrid abominations to his side. He and his followers conduct a ritual daily that expands the swamp further and calls more creatures to their side. Before long, the swamp will cover the continent and provide a gateway for the Lord of Slime himself, Ghaunadaur. (Pact of the Great Old One).
Up next week: NPC monks to fill your monasteries, ponder life’s mysteries, and punch people really good.