This guide focuses on the best Warlock build in Baldur’s Gate 3, The Great Old One Subclass, and includes all components to build a powerful character.
This build page has been updated for the patch 6 version of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Warlock Class Introduction
Within the realm of Baldur’s Gate 3, the Great Old One Warlocks emerge as a dynamic and formidable class. Their adaptability extends to both the crucible of combat and the subtleties of non-combat scenarios. In the heat of battle, they harness the formidable Eldritch Blast cantrip to dish out enduring ranged devastation. Furthermore, their array of invocations bestows upon them potent capabilities, enabling the summoning of otherworldly beings from the Far Realms or the establishment of telepathic connections with their adversaries.
| Warlock Class Pros: | Warlock Class Cons: |
|---|---|
| Short Rest recovery | Limited Spell Slots |
| Simplicity Cantrip Caster | Short Range |
| Durable Hit Die | Limited Spell Variety |
The Great Old One Warlock Class Features & Mechanics
The following list presents all the essential Warlock Class Mechanics and Features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Primary Ability: Charisma
- Armor Proficiency: Light Armour
- Weapon Proficiency: Simple Weapons
- Preferred Armor: Light Armour
- Preferred Weapon: Quarterstaff
- Spell Slots: Recharge spell slots on short rest.
- Mortal Reminder: When you land a Critical Hit against a creature, that creature and any nearby enemies are Frightened until the end of their next turn.
- Eldritch Invocations: adds effect to Eldritch Blast.
- Eldritch Blast: the most powerful Cantrip in the game and the focus of Warlock Builds.
Warlock Spell Mechanics
Presented below is a comprehensive list of the essential Warlock Spell Mechanics in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Cantrips: are like spells, but you can cast them infinitely, and they don’t take your spell slots.
- Eldritch Invocations: At level two, you will enhance and change your Eldritch Blast cantrip to add effects like a knockback or added damage.
- Spell Slots: As you level up, you will gain access to more spell usage and higher-tier spells with limited usage until you long rest.
- Replacement Spells: Upon leveling up, you can learn and unlearn spells if you make a mistake in spell selection.
- Concentration: is a spell mechanic in Baldur’s Gate 3 that some Spells require to maintain and keep their magic active.
The Great Old One Warlock Subclass Explained
The Great Old One is a good subclass for the Warlock because it’s granted the special ability Mortal Reminder which gives them a critical hit against the creature and the nearby enemies are frightened. Every class needs survivability, and the Great Old One Warlock gets this by being aggressive and doing damage. Warlocks can select their class at level 1 during character creation.
Great Old One Warlock Subclass Features
Below is a list of the The Great Old One Warlock subclass progression, features, and spells:
- Mortal Reminder (Level 1): When you land a Critical Hit against a creature, that creature and any nearby enemies must succeed a Wisdom Saving Throw or become Frightened until the end of their next turn.
- Entropic Ward Passive (Level 6): As a reaction, you can impose a Disadvantage on an Attack Roll against you. If the attack misses, you gain an Advantage on your next attack roll against your attacker for 1 turn.
- Thought Shield: Psychic Resistance (Level 10): An elder brain shields your brain. You gain Resistance to damage psychic damage.
- Thought Shield: Psychic Reflection (Level 10): Your patron doesn’t appreciate attempts to attack your mind. When you take Psychic damage, your attacker takes the same damage.
Great Old One Warlock Expanded Spells
At various levels, the Great Old One will gain access to an expanded list of spells. You will still need to select these spells during the leveling process, and they will cost a spell slot, but give you different options based on your subclass selection.
Below is a list of the Great Old Ones expanded spell list:
- Dissonant Whispers (Level 1): Deals 2d6 psychic damage and whispers a discordant melody to a creature and Frighten it.
- Tasha’s Hideous Laughter (Level 1): Inflict a creature with fits of laughter, leaving it Prone without the ability to get up. Requires concentration.
- Detect Thoughts (Level 3): Focus your mind to read the thoughts of certain creatures while talking to them.
- Phantasmal Force (Level 3): Deals 1d6 Psychic damage and Deals Damage to a creature each turn requiring concentration. The type of damage changes to the last type the creature suffered.
- Bestow Curse (Level 5): Curse a creature with your touch. The curse either bestows Disadvantage on checks and Saving Throws or Attack Rolls, lets you deal additional damage to the target, or robs it of its actions.
- Slow (Level 5): Alter time to Slow up to 6 enemies. Movement Speed is halved. Armour Class is reduced by 2. Dexterity Saving Throws is reduced by 2. Cannot take Reactions. Can only take an Action or a Bonus Action (not both). Cannot make more than one attack per turn. Spell cast might be delayed for a turn.
- Dominate Beast (Level 7): Make a beast fight alongside you. Every time the beast takes damage, it makes a Wisdom Saving Throw against your domination.
- Evard’s Black Tentacles (Level 7): Tentacles sprout from the ground, turning the area into difficult terrain, attacking and Smothering creatures within.
- Dominate Person (Level 9): Make a humanoid fight alongside you. Every time the creature takes damage, it makes a Wisdom Saving Throw against your domination.
- Telekinesis (Level 9): Throw a creature or object up to 18m with a thought. Once per turn, you can use Telekinesis again without expending a spell slot.
Recommended Backgrounds
Charlatan is the best background for the Warlock Great Old One build because you gain proficiency in Deception and Sleight of Hand. Deception scales from Charisma while Deception scales from Dexterity, both of which we suggest a 16 ability score. This choice mostly influences roleplaying and dialogue options aspects and allows you to create unique characters. Here’s a list of the best backgrounds for a Warlock:
- Charlatan: Proficiency in Deception (charisma) and Sleight of Hand (dexterity). You’re an expert in manipulation, prone to exaggeration, and more than happy to profit from it. A Charlatan companion is Astarion.
- Criminal: Proficiency in Deception (charisma) and Stealth (dexterity). You have a history of breaking the law and surviving by leveraging less-than-legal connections.
- Entertainer: Proficiency in Acrobatics (dexterity) and Performance (charisma). You live to sway and subvert your audience, engaging common crowds and high society alike.
Best Race Choice The Great Old One Warlock Build
High Half-Elf is the best race choice for the Great Old One Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3 because you gain an extra Cantrip, Fey Ancestry, Darkvision, and Shield Proficiency. A secondary choice is the Human because you gain increased carrying capacity, skill proficiency, and shield proficiency as well.
| High Half-Elf | Human |
|---|---|
| Darkvision | Shield Proficiency |
| Shield Proficiency | Carry Capacity |
| Fey Ancestry | Skill Proficiency |
The Warlock racial choice will not influence ability score, as race will get a +2 and +1 to spend regardless. This frees your race choice up to not completely hinder yourself based on ability score, but race features. Each of these races offers unique advantages that can enhance your combat prowess, survivability, or utility. Additionally, consider the roleplaying opportunities and character concepts that resonate with you.
Recommended Skills for The Great Old One Warlock Build
Intimidation and Arcana are the best skills for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide because they complement your class abilities and enhance your effectiveness in various situations. In Baldur’s Gate 3, skills represent the abilities and proficiencies of your character that allow them to perform various actions and interact with the game world. Skills are associated with specific attributes and are used to determine the success or effectiveness of certain actions or abilities. They can be edited during character creation or with companions, during respec or reroll screen.
Here are the best skills for Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Deception – Charisma skill that makes you more likely to deceive in conversation dialogue.
- Arcana – Intelligence-based skill that comes up in exploration and dialogue when discussing Arcana.
Best The Great Old One Warlock Ability Scores
Below is the best ability score to unlock the full potential of the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide:
| Ability Score | Points Goal |
|---|---|
| Strength | 8 |
| Dexterity | 16 |
| Constitution | 14 |
| Intelligence | 10 |
| Wisdom | 10 |
| Charisma | 16 |
The most important ability score for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 The Great Old One Warlock Build is 16 Charisma followed by 16 Dexterity and 14 Constitution. It’s important to land on even numbers and get at least 16 in Charisma for optimal spell casting. Increasing Dexterity will improve our Armour Class (AC) while wearing Light Armor and Constitution will increase our health.
During character creation, the game will automatically distribute your abilities in the character creation abilities tab. You will need to reprioritize the stats for the chart for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Fiend Warlock Build. Simply use the plus-minus in the character creator and make sure you have the suggested race, or the numbers will be off.
You can increase your ability score via a quest in Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3. Make sure to check out our Permanent bonus guide on how you can boost your ability score through quests.
The Great Old One Warlock Illithid Powers
Illithid Powers are unlocked later in the game when you learn more about the Mind Flayers and Tadpoles. You can gain jars of Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens, and consume them to gain one point. This is essentially another skill tree advancement with some very strong powers. If you decide to advance this skill line, these are the choices we suggest.
Here are the best Illithid Powers for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide:
- Luck of the Far Realms: When you make a successful Attack Roll against a foe, you can change that hit into a Critical Hit.
- Cull of the Weak: When you bring a creature down to fewer hit points than your number of evolved Illithid powers, it dies and all nearby creatures take 1-4 Psychic damage.
- Psionic Backlash: When an enemy within 9m casts a spell, you can use your reaction to inflict ld4 Psychic damage to the caster per the spell’s level.
- Blackhole: Area-based suck-in that slows targets.
- Repulsor: Massive area knockback that can hit friendlies.
- Charm: Channel the dark allure of the tadpole to Charm an enemy that attacks you, preventing them from attacking you until their next turn. This is the priority power you want to obtain because you can force enemies to attack something else.
The Great Old One Warlock Level Progression
Level 1
At level one the Warlock can select their subclass, pick two cantrips, and two spells, along with Background, Skills, and Ability Score. You want to select The Great Old One subclass, pickup light armor, a Quarterstaff, and a shield. Use this if you intend to play the build with Human or Half-Elf which gives a big advantage in survivability via a shield. Below are all the unlocks and recommended spells for the Great Old One Warlock:
- Mortal Reminder (subclass feature): When you land a Critical Hit against a creature, that creature and any nearby enemies must succeed a Wisdom Saving Throw or become Frightened until the end of their next turn.
- Frightened (status effect): Target cannot move and also has Disadvantage on Ability Checks and Attack Roll.
- Mage Hand (Mephistopheles Race Cantrip): Hurl a mote of fire for 1~10 Damage
- Civil Militia (High Elf Race): You have weapon proficiency with Spears, Pikes, Halberds, and Glaives, and Armour Proficiency with Light Armour and Shield
Cantrip Selections
- Eldritch Blast: 1d10 force damage via an 18-meter beam. This is the best cantrip in the game and what we use primarily for damage. Remember Cantrips do not use spell slots, and Warlocks in particular have very few, so Cantrips and free spells are mostly what we will use for damage this being number one.
- Blade Ward: Take only half of the damage from Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing attacks. This is a decent cantrip when expecting incoming melee damage.
Spell Selections
- Hellish Rebuke: Take this if you do not have a race like Asmodeus Tiefling that provides this for you. This is a reaction base spell meaning, you can use it when someone attacks you without using an action. Make sure to hit the passives tab on your character’s menu and request “ask.” The reason is, you don’t want to use this spell on a target with 1 health since spell slots are low.
- Hex: Curse a creature so it takes additional damage whenever you attack it and inflict Disadvantage on Ability Checks with an Ability of your choosing. This spell helps do damage and it can be used as a bonus action. So you can combo this spell with Eldritch Blast and that’s the main offensive gameplay loop of the class.
Great Old One Warlock Gameplay and Priorities
The premise of the Best Warlock Fiend Build is simple, Hex and Eldritch Blast repeatedly. You leave your spell slots for Hellish Rebuke, which will provide a reaction. Further levels will optimize this and enhance the damage or add special effects. Further notes on Warlock From here out, you will have very limited spell slots and aren’t meant to use them like Wizards or Sorcerers. Rather, you want to use a couple, one for Hex usually, and then cantrips. You can also fill up your Spell Slots via short rest, so after every fight make sure to short rest to keep this build having the spell slot fuel it needs.
Your overall priority with this build is the following:
- Complete Prologue
- Recruit Companions
- Reached Hollowed City/Druid Grove
- Sell, Stock up, complete quest
- Unlock Withers, respec to proper ability score
- Progress to level 5
- Reach Underdark and Grymforged
Following these steps ensures a strong foundation, especially if you plan on playing solo or on Honour Mode difficulty.
Level 1 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke
Level 2
The Level 2 Great Old One Warlock will unlock one new spell and select two Eldritch Invocations. Eldritch Invocations are passive features unlocked by your Warlock at various levels. Initially, they help augment the power of your primary cantrip Eldritch Blast. As you progress, they can be powerful spells that do not consume spell slots or other passives and active features. At this level, we suggest taking Tasha’s Hideous Laughter spell, Agonizing Blast, and Repelling Blast Eldritch Invocations.
Spell Selections
- Tasha’s Hideous Laughter (Spell): Inflict a creature with fits of laughter, leaving it Prone without the ability to get up and requires concentration. This spell acts as a great single-target crowd control spell. You want crowd control early on especially when you face tough opponents in the Underdark during Act 1. This spell will fade in effectiveness beyond level 5, but early it’s helpful on a single target.
- Replace Spell (class feature): Grants the ability to change out spells in your spellbook. Unlike other classes, you will not be able to swap spells in and our outside of the leveling process. It’s recommended you experiment with spells and use the leveling process to change based on what you find most effective.
Eldritch Invocations
- Agonizing Blast (Eldritch Invocation): When you cast Eldritch Blast, add your Charisma modifier to the damage it deals, unless it is negative. This helps deal more damage with your main attack Eldritch Blast.
- Repelling Blast (Eldritch Invocation): When you hit a creature with Eldritch Blast, you can push the creature up to 4.5 m away from you. This gives you the option to make Eldritch Blast a knockback. The force damage combined with the knockback makes the cantrip even more powerful. Try to position yourself to knock enemies of ledges, bridges, or into environmental hazards for extra damage or kills.
Gameplay remains the same at level two with the addition of a great single-target crowd control and a single-target knockback with Eldritch Blast. For this build, I recommend Light Armour, so we are not going to take Armour of Shadows because of that. This gives us Mages Armour for free, allowing us to use Cloth and reach 13 AC. With Light Armor we should be able to reach that and save an Eldritch Invocation for more damage.
Level 2 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter
Level 3
At Level 3 the Great Old One Warlock unlocks Improved Warlock Spells, picks an additional spell, selects a Pact Boon, and Replace Spell. We suggest taking the Misty Spell spell, Pact of the Chain boon, and forgoing a replacement spell.
- Misty Step (spell selection): Enveloped in a shimmering silver mist, you can instantly teleport to an unoccupied space within an 18m range that you can see. This spell stands out as one of the most effective defensive options, especially in the early stages of the game. It provides a reliable teleportation ability precisely when you need it the most. Additionally, casting Misty Step only demands a bonus action, leaving your main action free to cast a high-powered spell, granting you the tactical advantage of swift mobility while conserving valuable spell slots.
- Pact of the Chain (Pact Boon): Gain the service of a familiar, fey spirit that takes a form you choose. This can be an animal, imp, or quasit. Anytime you can have an extra combatant on the battlefield it is helpful, and this early the Imp can do some big damage and handle pressure for you.
At this stage, you get access to helpful ally via Pact of the Chain and Misty Step for mobility. We still need Tasha’s Hideous Laughter for a helpful crowd control effect, but add more damage and utility at this level.
Level 3 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step.
Level 4
At level four you get to pick one new spell, and one new cantrip, replace the spell, and pick a feat. We recommend taking Poison Spray cantrip, Mirror Image spell, and Spell Sniper feat. Below is the explanation for the Great Old One Warlock at Level 4:
Cantrip and Spell Selections
- Poison Spray (cantrip): Project a puff of noxious gas. This is up to you, not that impactful since we have Eldritch Blast as our cantrip and action of choice per turn.
- Fire Bolt (free cantrip): Fires a 1-10 fire damage mote of fire. This can be useful for lighting things on fire, especially barrels and grease early in the game.
- Mirror Image (spell): Create 3 illusory duplicates of yourself that distract attackers. Each duplicate increases your Armour Class by 3. Whenever you successfully evade an attack, one of the duplicates disappears. This boosts your overall AC to 21 and you avoid attacks like crazy making you super survivable until 3 attacks have consumed this spell. You can select something more offensive if you feel you don’t need this spell for survival, but it’s very good at the start of the game when you expect or anticipate pressure. Even late game, this spell is a spellcasters defensive priority.
Feat Selection
Spell Sniper (feat): You learn a cantrip, and the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking with a spell is reduced by 1. This effect can stack. You also get a free cantrip, which we suggest Fire Bolt unless you choose an Elf.
Level 4 is an important level because of the feat selection. What’s unique about the Great Old One is the level 1 subclass feature Mortal Reminder which frightens targets if they fail a Wisdom saving throw. We want to build into critical chance, or lower the amount needed to land this and Spell Sniper is perfect early on. You will also get two cantrips that won’t be that useful, but Mirror Image will help keep your survivability very high.
Level 4 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image.
Level 5
At level five you will unlock a class feature Deepened Pact, one new spell, and one new Eldritch Invocation. Below is a list of the recommended the Great Old One Warlock progression selections at level 5:
- Counterspell (spell selection): Nullify another creature’s spell as a reaction. The spell must be 3rd level or lower. If it is higher, you must succeed in a Check to nullify it, the difficulty of which is based on the spell’s Level.
- One with Shadows (Eldritch Invocation): A Warlock only learned action. Can only be performed in a semi-obscured or heavily obscured location.
- One with Shadows (learned action): Vanish into the darkness and become Invisible.
- Flame Blade (Mephistopheles Tiefling Race): Once per long rest, use a bonus action and conjure a flaming scimitar in your hands deals 3-18 fire damage and sheds bright light in a 3m radius.
- Eldritch Blast Beam: Gain an additional beam of Eldritch blast. You can select multiple targets with Eldritch Blast or the same target for even more damage.
Level 5 gives us access to higher-level spell. The Counterspell spell isn’t an offensive one but a hard counter as a reaction. Just like Magic the Gathering, you can nullify a spell at level 3 or lower and this can save your team from eating a fireball at lower levels. The Fiend gets access to Fireball at this level which is nice, but the Great Old One can help counter and shut down the opposition and should lean into it’s strength.
Level 5 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Counterspell.
Level 6
At level 6, the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide unlocks the Entropic Ward subclass feature and picks another spell.
- Entropic Ward (subclass feature): As a reaction, you can impose Disadvantage on an Attack Roll against you. If the attack misses, you gain Advantage on your next attack roll against your attacker for 1 turn. This is helpful to avoid damage and possibly follow-up with advantage or two D20 taking the highest. If you can, prioritize the target that attacked you if they miss.
- Hunger of Hadar (spell selection): Create a sphere of cold blackness, teeming with unknown horrors. The creatures starting their turn in the take 2d6 Cold damage. Creatures ending their turn in the area possibly take 2d6 Acid damage. The area is Difficult Terrain and creatures within are Blinded.
At this level, you get a nice subclass feature that helps you defend and go more offensive against attackers. Entropic Ward pairs very will with Hellish Rebuke and Counterspell giving attackers massive disincentive for attacking you. If they do, you can return fire in multiple ways. Hunger of Hadar does require concentration so keep that in mind as you can only have one concentration spell active at a time.
Ending Act 1 as a Great Old One Warlock
By Level 6 you should be close to completing Act 1. Be sure to check traders and stock up on camp and alchemy supplies. Additionally, make sure to find the best Act 1 items. Furthermore, there are also permanent bonuses to find in Act 1. Finally, the Grymforge has powerful armor and weapons (Adamantine) that can be used well into Act 3. Consider taking the time to collect the crafting items before moving on to Act 2, where you won’t be able to return.
Level 6 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Counterspell, Hunger of Hadar.
Level 7
At level seven the Great Old One Warlock unlocks one new spell, and one new Eldritch Invocation. Below is our recommendations at level 7:
- Blight (spell selection): Plants are more susceptible to this spell: they roll with Disadvantage, and still take half of all the damage if they succeed the roll. On Save: Targets still take half damage.
- Book of Ancient Secrets (Eldritch Invocations): Learn Ray of Sickness, Chromatic Orb, and Silence. You can cast these spells once per long rest without expending spell slots.
- Ray of Sickness (free spell): Possibly Poisons the target.
- Chromatic Orb (free spell): Hurl a sphere of energy. It deals 3d8 Thunder damage, or deals 2d8 Acid, Cold; Fire, Lightning, or Poison damage and creates a surface.
- Silence (free spell): Create a sound-proof sphere. All within are Silenced and Immune to Thunder damage.
Level seven gives us a massive amount of spells. Blight is great for burst damage single target with our spell slot. The Book of Ancient Secrets unlocks three spells that do not require a very important spell slot. The obvious choice for damage is Chromatic Orb, in which you can choose an element type depending on the enemy. You can right-click and Examine enemies to see resistances and vulnerabilities. The Silence spell gives us some utility and Ray of Sickness is decent if you need a poison attack.
Level 7 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Counterspell, Hunger of Hadar, Blight.
Level 8
At level eight you can select one new spell and learn a new feat.
- Evard’s Black Tentacles (spell selection): Tentacles sprout from the ground, turning the area into difficult terrain, attacking and Smothering creatures within. This spell provides damage and limited mobility in a massive radius.
- Ability Improvement (feat selection): +2 to Charisma the Warlock’s main ability score. You are trying to push this to 20 Charisma for a special hat/helmet in Act 3 Birthright which will increase your overall Charisma to 22. This combined with the Spell Sniper feat makes for a great end-game build.
Gameplay with the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide remains the same with the addition of more Charisma and another powerful area-based spell.
Level 8 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Counterspell, Hunger of Hadar, Blight, Evard’s Black Tentacles.
Level 9
At level 9 the Great Old One Warlock gains another spell and Eldritch Invocation.
- Minions of Chaos (Eldritch Invocation): Learn Conjure Elemental with Warlock Spell slot.
- Conjure Elemental (Invocation spell): Bend the barrier between the Planes until they disgorge an elemental ally to follow and fight for you.
- Telekinesis (Level 9): Throw a creature or object up to 18m with a thought. Once per turn, you can use Telekinesis again without expending a spell slot. Heavier items deal more damage.
At level 9 we get a major boon to our offensive power with Minions of Chaos. You can then summon another ally to fight on your side. The picture above shows an Earth Elemental, our Fey Imp alongside a Planar Ally Cambion. The Cambion can be summoned per long rest via the Infernal Rapier weapon. This is part of Wyll’s side quest conclusion in Act 2 and with all three on the battlefield, you are a force! The best part is that these can all be summoned outside of combat and last until a long rest.
Level 9 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Counterspell, Hunger of Hadar, Blight, Evard’s Black Tentacles, Telekinesis
Level 10
At level 10 the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide unlocks one additional cantrip and spell, with two subclass features. Below are our suggestions at level 10:
- Minor Illusion (cantrip selection): create an illusion that compels nearby creatures to investigate. This is mainly a utility cantrip outside of combat.
- Banishment (spell selection): Temporarily Banish your target to another plane of existence for two turns. This is an incredible single-target crowd control for two turns. Ideally, you use this when you have a high chance of success (60% or greater) and need to remove a target from the battlefield. Select the highest damage-producing target and eliminate the supporting enemies for two turns.
- Thought Shield: Psychic Resistance (Level 10): An elder brain shields your brain. You gain Resistance to damage psychic damage.
- Thought Shield: Psychic Reflection (Level 10): Your patron doesn’t appreciate attempts to attack your mind. When you take Psychic damage, your attacker takes the same damage.
- Eldritch Blast Beam: gain an additional beam of Eldritch blast. You can select multiple targets with Eldritch Blast or the same target for even more damage and at level 10 should have three beams.
At level 10 you get an additional crowd control and two helpful passives against Psychic damage. This damage is usefully produced by powerful spell casters and or Githyanki which you will encounter a lot of during the main story.
Level 10 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Counterspell, Hunger of Hadar, Blight, Evard’s Black Tentacles, Telekinesis, Banishment
Level 11
The level 11 Great Old One Warlock unlocks one new spell and Mystic Arcanum.
- Mystic Arcanum (class feature): Select one of your Level 6 spells. Once per Long Rest you can cast that spell without expanding a spell slot.
- Circle of Death (free spell): Sculpt a massive sphere of entropic energy around a creature. Devastate the target and all surrounding creatures. On Save: Targets still take half damage.
- Hold Monster (spell selection): Paralyse a creature. It can’t move, act, or react. Attacks from within 3m are always Critical Hits.
At level 11 we get a once-per-long rest level 6 spell Circle of Death. This spell causes massive area damage and solves a lot of our issues with multiple target damage. With Circle of Death, you need to select a specific target first and hit it for the area damage to proc, but it can be a lot. Plus, you get the spell cast once free per long rest so use it wisely. You can also pick a utility skill, but the build is rounding out nicely with free spells and allies to fight next to you.
Level 11 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Counterspell, Hunger of Hadar, Blight, Evard’s Black Tentacles, Telekinesis, Banishment, Hold Monster.
Level 12
At level 12 you get a final feat and spell to select. Below is our list for a level 12 Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide:
- Ability Improvement (feat selection): +2 to Charisma to reach 20.
- Invisibility (spell selection): This spell turns the spellcaster or another invisible. Invisibility gives Advantage on attacks and attacks against it have Disadvantage. This is a utility skill and can be exchanged for something else.
You’ve reached the final level in our leveling process. We get to choose a last feat, which we use to increase our main ability to 20 helping us with the Birthright headpiece in Act 3, which can take us to 22 Charisma. Depending on your racial selections, you may have additional spells at this point as well.
Rely on your allies via summoning for extra damage, and three beams of Eldritch Blast for the primary source of damage. At this level, you will have three spell slots so use them wisely. Typically, crowd control is the best option for high-area damage and crowd control spells. Look below for recommended gear sets and thanks for reading.
Level 12 The Great Old One Warlock Spell Loadout: Hex, Hellish Rebuke, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Counterspell, Hunger of Hadar, Blight, Evard’s Black Tentacles, Telekinesis, Banishment, Hold Monster, Invisibility.
The Great Old One Warlock Companions
A Warlock wants a melee aggressive Fighter or Barbarian making Lae’zeal or Karlach the best choice. Shadowheart the Cleric, can provide crowd control and healing. Astarion is the best at playing as a Rogue Thief with huge sneak attack damage. This will allow you to sit back at range firing off damage abilities.
Here’s a list of the best companions for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide:
- Lae’zeal (Fighter): damage, crowd control, and in-your-face aggression which takes the pressure off you.
- Shadowheart (Cleric): buffs, healing, crowd control, and useful to help heal and cc enemies.
- Astarion (Rogue): stealth, lockpicking, critical damage, and an asset in and out of combat.
It’s important to note that party composition and synergy play a significant role in determining the effectiveness of your companions. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each companion and how they align with your main character’s abilities and playstyle.
The Great Old One Warlock Recommended Gear
In Games like Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll explore the world, loot chests and your enemies’ dead bodies, and complete quests and all those activities can reward you with useful items, potions, armor, weapons, scrolls, and much more. Progression and finding new gear are part of the game, and you will organically get more powerful weapons during your journeys.
Beginner: Act 1
Here’s a list of some of the Best Beginner gear for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide:
| Gear Slot | Best Gear Item | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Circlet of Blasting | Free Scorching Ray |
| Cape | – | |
| Chest | Drow Studded Leather Armour | +1 Spell Saves |
| Gloves | Gloves of Cinder and Sizzle | Free Scorching Ray |
| Boots | Disintegrating Night Walkers | Mobility & Misty Step |
| Necklace | Amulet of Misty Step | Free Misty Step |
| Ring | Ring of Absolute Force | Free Thunderwave |
| Ring | The Sparkswall | Lighting Resistance |
| Weapon 1 Main Hand | Melf’s First Staff | Free Acid Arrow |
| Weapon 1 Off-Hand | Adamantine Shield | +2 AC (Half-Elf or Human) |
| Weapon 2 Ranged | Bow of Awareness | +1 Initiative |
Below is a list of the best Act 1 Gear, Weapons, and Clothing for the Great Old One Warlock Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Circlet of Blasting: Sold by Blurg in the Myconid Colony (Alternative Haste Helm).
- Drow Studded Leather Armour: Inside a Heavy Chest near the entrance to The Festering Cove (alternative Light Armour with 12 AC).
- Gloves of Cinder and Sizzle: Sold by Lady Esther at Rosymorn Monastery Trail (Alternative Gloves of Missile Snaring, or Bracers of Defence if cloth and no shield)
- Disintegrating Night Walkers: Found in Underdark from Ne’re NPC (Alternative Cinder Shoes).
- Amulet of Misty Step: Found in a Gilded Chest (X386 Y8) in Defiled Temple (Alternative Moondrop Pendant).
- Ring of Absolute Force: Dropped by Sergeant Thrinn in Grymforge (Alternative Ring of Colour Spray, or Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands).
- The Sparkswall: Found in the Arcane Tower, Act 1, Underdark (Alternative Sunwalker’s Gift if human race).
- Melf’s First Staff: Sold by Blurg in the Myconid Colony (Alternative Spellsparkler, or Staff of Crones).
- Adamantine Shield (optional if Half-Elf or Human Race – drop Bracers of Defence): crafted in Gyrmforge.
- Bow of Awareness: Sold by Vendor Roah Moonglow in the Shattered Sanctum. You can use it even without proficiency for extra initiative!
Advanced: Act 2 & 3
The following table presents the best advanced and end-game gear for Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide:
| Gear Slot | Best Gear Item | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Birthright | +2 Charisma |
| Cape | Cloak of the Weave | +1 Spell Save & Roll |
| Chest | Elegant Studded Leather | +2 Initiative, Free Shield |
| Gloves | Quickspell Gloves | Cantrips Bonus Action |
| Boots | Disintegrating Night Walkers | Mobility and Misty Step |
| Necklace | Amulet of Greater Health | 23 Constitution |
| Ring | Killer’s Sweetheart | Auto Critical |
| Ring | Crypt Lord Ring | Free Create Undead |
| Weapon 1 Main Hand | Markoheshkir | Free Spells, +1 Roll |
| Weapon 1 Off-Hand | Viconia’s Walking Fortress | 3 AC, Reflect Spell |
| Weapon 2 Ranged | Darkfire Shortbow | Free Haste Spell |
Below is a list of the best Act 3 Gear for the Great Old One Warlock Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Birthright: Sorcerer’s Sundries store in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate (Alternatives Helldusk Helmet, or Hood of the Weave).
- Cloak of the Weave: Sold by Helsik at the Devil’s Fee (Alternative Cloak of Protection).
- Elegant Studded Leather: Reward for completing Return Rakath’s Gold quest (Alternative Helldusk Armour).
- Quickspell Gloves: Purchased at Sorcerors’s Sundries (Alternatives Helldusk Gloves, or Gemini Gloves).
- Helldusk Boots: Chest on the top floor of Wyrm’s Rock Fortress (Alternative Disintegrating Night Walkers).
- Amulet of Greater Health: Archive in the House of Hope (Alternative Spellcrux Amulet).
- Killer’s Sweetheart: Found inside the Self-Same Trial in Gauntlet of Shar ( X: -833 Y: -729)(Alternative Ring of Free Action).
- Crypt Lord Ring: The Mystic Carrion’s Servant quest (Alternative Shifting Corpus Ring).
- Markoheshkir: At Ramazith’s Tower (Alternatives Staff of Cherished Necromancy, Staff of Spellpower, or Incandescent Staff).
- Viconia’s Walking Fortress: Looted from Viconia DeVir during Shadowheart’s companion quest in Act 3 (Alternative Shield of Devotion).
- Darkfire Shortbow: Sold by Dammon Last Light Inn Act 2.
Best Consumable Items and Potions
Consumables are items that can be used once and then destroyed. They are typically used to restore health or other resources. Some common types of consumables include potions, scrolls, food, drinks, and arrows.
The following list represents the best individual use consumable items that will aid in the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock The Great Old One Build Guide:
- Elixir of Bloodlust: Once per turn when you kill a foe, you gain HP 5 temporary hit points and an additional action.
- Potion of Greater Healing: 8d4 + 8 healing and removes burning.
- Potion of Invisibility: Become invisible for 1 minute. Attacking or casting spells ends the status.
- Potion of Flying: 10 turns of flying.
- Potion of Speed: 3 turns of an increased action via the Haste condition.
- Potion of Angelic Slumber: fall asleep for two turns, then restore all spell slots, hit points, and abilities.
- Elixir of Peerless Focus: gain advantage on concentration saves (ingredients Sublimate of Belladona, and any ashes).
- Elixir of Vigilance: gain +5 bonus initiative and you cannot be surprised (ingredients sublimate of bloodstained hook, any ashes).
- Superior Elixir of Arcane Cultivation: gain a level 3 spell slot (ingredients Solution of Night Orchid, any Vitriol).
- Elixir of Viciousness: increase your critical hit chance (ingredients Vitriol of Shadowroot Sac, any Ashes).
- Elixir of Universal Resistance: gain resistance to all damage (ingredients Vitriol of Divine Miasma, any Sublimate).
The Great Old One Warlock Gameplay Tips and Tricks
Here are 10 gameplay tips specifically for playing a Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Eldritch Blast: Eldritch Blast is your bread-and-butter cantrip and should be cast in conjunction with Hex which is a bonus action for optimal damage.
- Short Rests: Utilize short rests to recover spell slots and replenish your resources, as Warlocks regain their spell slots on short rest.
- Ranged Advantage: As a ranged spellcaster, maintain distance from enemies to reduce the likelihood of taking damage.
- High Ground: When you attack from above, you gain a +2 bonus to the Attack Roll so always look to go up!
- Crowd Control: Use spells like “Hold Person” and “Hypnotic Pattern” to control groups of enemies and turn the tide of battles or have companions cast similar spells.
- Avoiding Friendly Fire: Be cautious with area-of-effect spells to avoid hitting your own party members.
- Use Consumables: Potion of Speed gives you an additional action and can be found during the tutorial.
- Misty Step: save a level 2 spell in case you need to retreat via Misty Step.
- Spell Slots: Save spell slots for Hellish Rebuke which reacts when taking damage without costing an action.
- Mirror Image: Cast this immediately when taking melee pressure for survivability.
Remember, this build guide serves as a foundation, and you can always adapt it to suit your preferences and the needs of your campaign. Enjoy playing as a formidable Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock the The Great Old One Build Guide!
Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock Build Summary Guide
Subclass: The Great Old One
Armor: Light Armour
Weapons: Quarterstaff
Background – Charlatan
- Strength – 8
- Dexterity – 16
- Constitution – 14
- Intelligence – 10
- Wisdom – 10
- Charisma – 16
Level Progression
- Level 1 – Eldritch Blast
- Level 2 – Invocation: Repelling Blast
- Level 3 – Pact of Chain
- Level 4 – Spell Sniper feat
- Level 5 – Counterspell
- Level 6 – Hunger of Hadar
- Level 7 – Invocation: Book of Ancient Secrets
- Level 8 – Feat +2 Charisma
- Level 9 – Invocation: Minions of Chaos
- Level 10 – Banishment Spell
- Level 11 – Mystic Arcanum
- Level 12 – Feat +2 Charisma
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