Dungeons & Dragons: How To Build A Lantern Warlock

The Lantern Warlock subclass from Obojima: Tales from the Tall Grass is a captivating blend of spirit magic, supportive spellcasting, and battlefield control. These warlocks forge a pact with a potent spirit, channeling its energy through a mystical lantern—their focus and conduit.

This pact grants unique abilities: bolstering allies' saving throws, wielding the lantern as a spectral weapon, or using it for remote viewing. Whether you prefer a support-focused warlock or a versatile spellcaster with an ethereal glow, the Lantern Warlock offers a compelling and flavorful option within the Dungeons & Dragons subclasses.

Lantern Warlock Key Features

The Lantern Warlock's core is, unsurprisingly, their lantern. Its light is used to manipulate the battlefield—assisting allies, harming foes, and illuminating darkness. This is not your typical brooding warlock.

The Lantern

The lantern is as crucial to this warlock as a spellbook is to a wizard. While the rules don't specify what happens if it's lost or destroyed, ideally, it should function like other key items in Invocations or other classes: creation during a short rest, replacing any previous lantern.

Level	Feature Name	Description
1	Illuminating Aura	Grants saving throw bonuses to those within its bright light; deals radiant damage to enemies failing saves within its dim light.
1	Revealing Light	The lantern's light reveals invisible creatures and objects.
6	Dangerous Tool	The lantern transforms into a Spiritual Weapon.
6	Oracle Illumination	Casts Clairvoyance beyond a mile, targeting light sources.
10	Brilliant Illumination	Deals area radiant damage and blinds enemies.
14	Brighter Still	Enhanced Illuminating Aura; allows free casting of Find the Path.

Optimal Eldritch Invocations

With the updated 2024 rules, Pacts are now Invocations, allowing for flexible combinations. However, Pact of the Blade is less ideal, requiring enemies to remain within a specific range (20-40 feet) for optimal lantern effectiveness.

Pact of the Chain provides an extra unit for battlefield control, while Pact of the Tome supplements the subclass's limited spell selection. Repelling Blast effectively pushes close-range enemies back into the lantern's dim light.

Best Racial Choices

To enhance spellcasting (especially without Pact of the Tome), races like High Elf are beneficial. For an Obojima-themed option, the Nakudama's bonus action repositioning is key for maintaining optimal ally/enemy positioning within the lantern's light.

Best Ability Score Priorities

Prioritize Charisma, Dexterity, and Constitution for attack, defense, and survivability. Wisdom should be at least 10 for average saving throws.

Best Spells for Lantern Warlocks

Eldritch Blast isn't mandatory, especially with the 2024 Player's Handbook allowing Invocations (like Agonizing and Repelling Blast) to apply to other cantrips. Toll the Dead is excellent for triggering enemy saving throws.

Prioritize spells that enhance positioning and enemy control, such as Expeditious Retreat or Hold Person. At level 3, the Undead Spirit (particularly its putrid variant) excels at damage and battlefield control.

Best Starting Equipment

Starting as a Lantern Warlock (using either 2014 or 2024 rules) renders much starting equipment unnecessary. The lantern is your arcane focus, and the Scholar's Pack's regular lantern is redundant.

The 100 gold pieces are better spent on leather armor; harmful cantrips negate the need for melee weapons. Rations are situational, depending on the campaign.

Best Feats and Backgrounds

With the 2024 Player's Handbook, background selection significantly impacts stats. Charlatan is ideal for most warlocks, boosting Charisma, Dexterity, and/or Constitution.

For Nakudama, consider their exclusive feats, especially Nakudama's Toxin Bloodline, which synergizes perfectly with the lantern's area-of-effect saving throw mechanics.

Best Multiclassing Options

Multiclassing is generally discouraged until level 10, when the lantern's utility peaks. Consider classes like Monk or Ranger for enhanced mobility.

With 2014 rules, a single Warlock level for initial lantern features can be effectively combined with various classes. Druids are a strong choice, using Wild Shape to maintain lantern use while casting spells.

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