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Player's Handbook

The Great Old One

Your patron is a mysterious entity whose nature is utterly foreign to the fabric of reality. It might come from the Far Realm, the space beyond reality, or it could be one of the elder gods known only in legends. Its motives are incomprehensible to mortals, and its knowledge so immense and ancient that even the greatest libraries pale in comparison to the vast secrets it holds. The Great Old One might be unaware of your existence or entirely indifferent to you, but the secrets you have learned allow you to draw your magic from it.   Entities of this type include Ghaunadar, called That Which Lurks; Tharizdun, the Chained God; Dendar, the Night Serpent; Zargon, the Returner; Great Cthulhu; and other unfathomable beings.
hit dice: 1d8 per level
hit points at 1st level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
hit points at higher levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per level after 1st
armor proficiencies: Light armor
weapon proficiencies: Simple weapons
tools: None
saving throws: Wisdom, Charisma
skills: Choose two skills from Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Investigation, Nature, and Religion
starting equipment:
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

  • (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon

  • (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus

  • (a) a scholar’s pack or (b) a dungeoneer’s pack

  • Leather armor, any simple weapon, and two daggers


spellcasting:
Your arcane research and the magic bestowed on you by your patron have given you facility with spells. See chapter 10 for the general rules of spellcasting and chapter 11 for the warlock spell list. Cantrips You know two cantrips of your choice from the warlock spell list. You learn additional warlock cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Warlock table.   Spell Slots The Warlock table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your warlock spells of 1st through 5th level. The table also shows what the level of those slots is; all of your spell slots are the same level. To cast one of your warlock spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a spell slot. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a short or long rest.   For example, when you are 5th level, you have two 3rd-level spell slots. To cast the 1st-level spell witch bolt, you must spend one of those slots, and you cast it as a 3rd-level spell.   Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher At 1st level, you know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the warlock spell list.   The Spells Known column of the Warlock table shows when you learn more warlock spells of your choice of 1st level and higher. A spell you choose must be of a level no higher than what’s shown in the table’s Slot Level column for your level. When you reach 6th level, for example, you learn a new warlock spell, which can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level.   Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the warlock spells you know and replace it with another spell from the warlock spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.   Spellcasting Ability Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your warlock spells, so you use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a warlock spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.   Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier   Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier   Spellcasting Focus You can use an arcane focus (see chapter 5, “Equip­ment”) as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells.
Expanded Spell List The Great Old One lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.
Great Old One Expanded Spells  
Spell Levelspells
1st dissonant whispers, Tasha’s hideous laughter
2nd detect thoughts, phantasmal force
3rd clairvoyance, sending
4th dominate beast, Evard’s black tentacles
5th dominate person, telekinesis
class features:
Awakened Mind   Starting at 1st level, your alien knowledge gives you the ability to touch the minds of other creatures. You can telepathically speak to any creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You don’t need to share a language with the creature for it to understand your telepathic utterances, but the creature must be able to understand at least one language.
Eldritch Invocations   In your study of occult lore, you have unearthed eldritch invocations, fragments of forbidden knowledge that imbue you with an abiding magical ability. A level prerequisite refers to your level in this class.   At 2nd level, you gain two eldritch invocations of your choice. Your invocation options are detailed at the end of the class description. When you gain certain warlock levels, you gain additional invocations of your choice, as shown in the Invocations Known column of the Warlock table.   Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the invocations you know and replace it with another invocation that you could learn at that level.   Pact Boon   At 3rd level, your otherworldly patron bestows a gift upon you for your loyal service. You gain one of the following features of your choice.   Pact of the Chain You learn the find familiar spell and can cast it as a ritual. The spell doesn’t count against your number of spells known.   When you cast the spell, you can choose one of the normal forms for your familiar or one of the following special forms: imp, pseudodragon, quasit, or sprite.   Additionally, when you take the Attack action, you can forgo one of your own attacks to allow your familiar to make one attack with its reaction.   Pact of the Blade You can use your action to create a pact weapon in your empty hand. You can choose the form that this melee weapon takes each time you create it (see chapter 5 for weapon options). You are proficient with it while you wield it. This weapon counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.   Your pact weapon disappears if it is more than 5 feet away from you for 1 minute or more. It also disappears if you use this feature again, if you dismiss the weapon (no action required), or if you die.   You can transform one magic weapon into your pact weapon by performing a special ritual while you hold the weapon. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest. You can then dismiss the weapon, shunting it into an extradimensional space, and it appears whenever you create your pact weapon thereafter. You can’t affect an artifact or a sentient weapon in this way. The weapon ceases being your pact weapon if you die, if you perform the 1-hour ritual on a different weapon, or if you use a 1-hour ritual to break your bond to it. The weapon appears at your feet if it is in the extradimensional space when the bond breaks.   Pact of the Tome Your patron gives you a grimoire called a Book of Shadows. When you gain this feature, choose three cantrips from any class’s spell list (the three needn’t be from the same list). While the book is on your person, you can cast those cantrips at will. They don’t count against your number of cantrips known. If they don’t appear on the warlock spell list, they are nonetheless warlock spells for you.   If you lose your Book of Shadows, you can perform a 1-hour ceremony to receive a replacement from your patron. This ceremony can be performed during a short or long rest, and it destroys the previous book. The book turns to ash when you die.   Ability Score Improvement   When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Entropic Ward   At 6th level, you learn to magically ward yourself against attack and to turn an enemy’s failed strike into good luck for yourself. When a creature makes an attack roll against you, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on that roll. If the attack misses you, your next attack roll against the creature has advantage if you make it before the end of your next turn.   Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.   Thought Shield   Starting at 10th level, your thoughts can’t be read by telepathy or other means unless you allow it. You also have resistance to psychic damage, and whenever a creature deals psychic damage to you, that creature takes the same amount of damage that you do.   Mystic Arcanum   At 11th level, your patron bestows upon you a magical secret called an arcanum. Choose one 6th-level spell from the warlock spell list as this arcanum.   You can cast your arcanum spell once without expending a spell slot. You must finish a long rest before you can do so again.   At higher levels, you gain more warlock spells of your choice that can be cast in this way: one 7th-level spell at 13th level, one 8th-level spell at 15th level, and one 9th-level spell at 17th level. You regain all uses of your Mystic Arcanum when you finish a long rest.
Create Thrall   At 14th level, you gain the ability to infect a humanoid’s mind with the alien magic of your patron. You can use your action to touch an incapacitated humanoid. That creature is then charmed by you until a remove curse spell is cast on it, the charmed condition is removed from it, or you use this feature again.   You can communicate telepathically with the charmed creature as long as the two of you are on the same plane of existence.
Eldritch Master   At 20th level, you can draw on your inner reserve of mystical power while entreating your patron to regain expended spell slots. You can spend 1 minute entreating your patron for aid to regain all your expended spell slots from your Pact Magic feature. Once you regain spell slots with this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can do so again.   Eldritch Invocations If an eldritch invocation has prerequisites, you must meet them to learn it. You can learn the invocation at the same time that you meet its prerequisites. A level prerequisite refers to your level in this class.   Agonizing Blast Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip When you cast eldritch blast, add your Charisma modifier to the damage it deals on a hit.   Armor of Shadows You can cast mage armor on yourself at will, without expending a spell slot or material components.   Ascendant Step Prerequisite: 9th level You can cast levitate on yourself at will, without expending a spell slot or material components.   Beast Speech You can cast speak with animals at will, without expending a spell slot.   Beguiling Influence You gain proficiency in the Deception and Persuasion skills.   Bewitching Whispers Prerequisite: 7th level You can cast compulsion once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.   Book of Ancient Secrets Prerequisite: Pact of the Tome feature You can now inscribe magical rituals in your Book of Shadows. Choose two 1st-level spells that have the ritual tag from any class’s spell list (the two needn’t be from the same list). The spells appear in the book and don’t count against the number of spells you know. With your Book of Shadows in hand, you can cast the chosen spells as rituals. You can’t cast the spells except as rituals, unless you’ve learned them by some other means. You can also cast a warlock spell you know as a ritual if it has the ritual tag. On your adventures, you can add other ritual spells to your Book of Shadows. When you find such a spell, you can add it to the book if the spell’s level is equal to or less than half your warlock level (rounded up) and if you can spare the time to transcribe the spell. For each level of the spell, the transcription process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp for the rare inks needed to inscribe it.   Chains of Carceri Prerequisite: 15th level, Pact of the Chain feature You can cast hold monster at will — targeting a celestial, fiend, or elemental — without expending a spell slot or material components. You must finish a long rest before you can use this invocation on the same creature again.   Devil’s Sight You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet.   Dreadful Word Prerequisite: 7th level You can cast confusion once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.   Eldritch Sight You can cast detect magic at will, without expending a spell slot.   Eldritch Spear Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip When you cast eldritch blast, its range is 300 feet.   Eyes of the Rune Keeper You can read all writing.   Fiendish Vigor You can cast false life on yourself at will as a 1st-level spell, without expending a spell slot or material components.   Gaze of Two Minds You can use your action to touch a willing humanoid and perceive through its senses until the end of your next turn. As long as the creature is on the same plane of existence as you, you can use your action on subsequent turns to maintain this connection, extending the duration until the end of your next turn. While perceiving through the other creature’s senses, you benefit from any special senses possessed by that creature, and you are blinded and deafened to your own surroundings.   Lifedrinker Prerequisite: 12th level, Pact of the Blade feature When you hit a creature with your pact weapon, the creature takes extra necrotic damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).   Mask of Many Faces You can cast disguise self at will, without expending a spell slot.   Master of Myriad Forms Prerequisite: 15th level You can cast alter self at will, without expending a spell slot.   Minions of Chaos Prerequisite: 9th level You can cast conjure elemental once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.   Mire the Mind Prerequisite: 5th level You can cast slow once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.   Misty Visions You can cast silent image at will, without expending a spell slot or material components.   One with Shadows Prerequisite: 5th level When you are in an area of dim light or darkness, you can use your action to become invisible until you move or take an action or a reaction.   Otherworldly Leap Prerequisite: 9th level You can cast jump on yourself at will, without expending a spell slot or material components.   Repelling Blast Prerequisite: eldritch blast cantrip When you hit a creature with eldritch blast, you can push the creature up to 10 feet away from you in a straight line.   Sculptor of Flesh Prerequisite: 7th level You can cast polymorph once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.   Sign of Ill Omen Prerequisite: 5th level You can cast bestow curse once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.   Thief of Five Fates You can cast bane once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.   Thirsting Blade Prerequisite: 5th level, Pact of the Blade feature You can attack with your pact weapon twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.   Visions of Distant Realms Prerequisite: 15th level You can cast arcane eye at will, without expending a spell slot.   Voice of the Chain Master Prerequisite: Pact of the Chain feature You can communicate telepathically with your familiar and perceive through your familiar’s senses as long as you are on the same plane of existence. Additionally, while perceiving through your familiar’s senses, you can also speak through your familiar in your own voice, even if your familiar is normally incapable of speech.   Whispers of the Grave Prerequisite: 9th level You can cast speak with dead at will, without expending a spell slot.   Witch Sight Prerequisite: 15th level You can see the true form of any shapechanger or creature concealed by illusion or transmutation magic while the creature is within 30 feet of you and within line of sight.
subclass options:
LevelProficiency BonusFeaturesCantrips KnownSpells KnownSpell SlotsSlot LevelInvocations Known
1st+2Awakened Mind, Pact Magic2211st-
2nd+2Eldritch Invocations2321st2
3rd+2Pact Boon2422nd2
4th+2Ability Score Improvement3522nd2
5th+3-3623rd3
6th+3Entropic Ward3723rd3
7th+3-3824th4
8th+3Ability Score Improvement3924th4
9th+4-31025th5
10th+4Thought Shield41025th5
11th+4Mystic Arcanum (6th level)41135th5
12th+4Ability Score Improvement41135th6
13th+5Mystic Arcanum (7th level)41235th6
14th+5Create Thrall41235th6
15th+5Mystic Arcanum (8th level)41335th7
16th+5Ability Score Improvement41335th7
17th+6Mystic Arcanum (9th level)41445th7
18th+6-41445th8
19th+6Ability Score Improvement41545th8
20th+6Eldritch Master41545th8

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