The Warlock has received one of the most exciting overhauls of any class in D&D 5e. In the 2024 Player's Handbook, the identity of the Warlock has fundamentally shifted. You no longer choose your Otherworldly Patron at Level 1. Instead, your Pact Boons (Blade, Tome, Chain) are now Eldritch Invocations that you can pick at 1st level, meaning your playstyle is defined from the very first session.

If you are transitioning from the 2014 rules, the biggest change is the feat system. Almost every spellcasting and combat feat is now a "Half-Feat," granting a +1 to your Charisma, Dexterity, or Constitution. You no longer have to delay maxing out your Charisma to get build-defining abilities. Warlocks also receive Magical Cunning, a new feature allowing them to restore spent spell slots once per day without a Short Rest!

Here is my ranking of the best feats for the 2024 Warlock based on synergy, spell slot efficiency, and actual play experience.

Understanding the New Feat Types

Before we dive into the builds, remember that feats in 2024 are split into categories:

• Origin Feats: You can only take these at Level 1 via your Background or Species (like Human).
• General Feats: You must be Level 4 or higher to take these, and almost all of them boost an ability score.

10. Magic Initiate (Origin Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 1 | Best for: Every Warlock

Warlocks are infamous for having a devastatingly low number of spell slots. Magic Initiate allows you to choose a spell list (Cleric, Druid, or Wizard) and learn two cantrips and one 1st-level spell. You can cast that 1st-level spell once per day for free, and use your Warlock slots to cast it again.

Grabbing the Wizard list for the Shield spell or the Cleric list for Healing Word gives you massive utility without taxing your precious Pact Magic slots.

9. Tough (Origin Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 1 | Best for: Pact of the Blade Warlocks

Warlocks only have a d8 hit die. If you plan on taking the Pact of the Blade Invocation at level 1 and diving into melee combat, you will feel extremely fragile. Tough grants you 2 extra Hit Points per level. By level 10, that’s 20 extra HP—the equivalent of bumping your Constitution modifier up by a full +2.

8. Inspiring Leader (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Cha or Wis 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Cha or Wis

This is arguably the best support feat in the game, and Warlocks are the perfect class for it since you will naturally push your Charisma to 20. After a Short or Long Rest, you can give a speech that grants Temporary Hit Points (equal to your Level + Charisma modifier) to up to six allies.

If you are a Pact of the Chain Warlock, you can even grant these temp HP to your familiar, making your summoned allies significantly harder to kill.

7. Telekinetic (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Int, Wis, or Cha 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Cha

Warlocks excel at area-denial spells like Hunger of Hadar, Sickening Radiance, and Wall of Fire. Telekinetic weaponizes your Bonus Action, allowing you to shove a creature 5 feet if they fail a Strength saving throw.

The strategy is simple: blast an enemy with Eldritch Blast (pushing them with Repelling Blast), and if they somehow make it out of your spell's hazard zone, use your Bonus Action to shove them right back into the meat grinder.

6. Fey Touched (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Int, Wis, or Cha 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Cha

Free spells are a Warlock's best friend. Fey Touched gives you a free cast of Misty Step and a 1st-level Divination or Enchantment spell (like Silvery Barbs, Bless, or Command) once per day. It also boosts your Charisma by 1. Having a panic-button teleport that doesn't burn a Pact Magic slot will save your character's life constantly.

5. Resilient - Constitution (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4 | Stat Bonus: +1 Con

When you only have two or three spell slots for an entire combat encounter, having your concentration broken is a disaster. Resilient gives you a +1 to Constitution and Proficiency in Constitution saving throws. If you cast Hex or a massive summon spell, this feat ensures you won't drop concentration the moment a goblin shoots you with an arrow.

4. Defensive Duelist (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Dex 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Dex

The 2024 update made this the ultimate defensive feat for Pact of the Blade Warlocks. If you wield a Finesse weapon (like a summoned Rapier), you can use your Reaction to add your Proficiency Bonus to your AC against a melee attack. Because Warlocks generally lack the Shield spell (unless you are a Hexblade), this is an incredible, resource-free way to avoid taking massive damage on the front lines.

3. Spell Sniper (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Spellcasting | Stat Bonus: +1 Cha

If you rely on Eldritch Blast, this feat is mandatory. In the 2024 rules, Spell Sniper does three amazing things: it increases your Charisma by 1, it allows your ranged spell attacks to ignore Half and Three-Quarters cover, and crucially—it allows you to cast ranged spell attacks within 5 feet of an enemy without Disadvantage. You no longer need Crossbow Expert to blast enemies in melee range.

2. War Caster (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Spellcasting | Stat Bonus: +1 Cha

War Caster received a massive buff in 2024: it is now a Half-Feat! You get +1 to your Charisma, Advantage on Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration, and the ability to cast a spell (like Eldritch Blast or Hold Person) as an Opportunity Attack.

For a Bladelock with their hands full, or a standard caster terrified of dropping concentration on Summon Greater Demon, this is the gold standard.

1. Moderately Armored (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Light Armor training | Stat Bonus: +1 Str or Dex

In 2014, if you wanted good AC as a Warlock, you were basically forced to pick the Hexblade patron. In 2024, that "Hexblade tax" is finally gone. Because all Warlocks start with Light Armor training, every single one of them qualifies for this feat—and it is a game-changer.

Moderately Armored gives you Medium Armor and Shield proficiency, alongside a +1 to Dexterity. You can immediately jump from wearing flimsy Studded Leather (AC 14) to rocking Half-Plate and a Shield (AC 19). For a class that relies entirely on maintaining Concentration on a single massive spell for the whole fight, not getting hit in the first place is infinitely better than any concentration check bonus. This single feat completely transforms a squishy caster into an untouchable tank.

Warlock Build Paths (Level 1-20)

With Patrons moving to level 3 and Pacts moving to level 1, your progression order is incredibly important. Here are three optimized paths for the 2024 Warlock.

Path 1: The Eldritch Artillery (Pact of the Tome)

This build focuses on staying out of reach, dropping massive area-of-effect spells, and blasting enemies with Agonizing Blast.

• Level 1 (Origin): Alert. Swap initiative with your tank so they can run in, or go first to drop Hunger of Hadar before enemies scatter. Take Pact of the Tome Invocation.
• Level 4: Spell Sniper (+1 Cha). Ignore cover and blast safely even if enemies rush you.
• Level 8: Telekinetic (+1 Cha). Push enemies back into your spell hazards.
• Level 12: Resilient (+1 Con). Solidify your concentration saving throws.
• Level 16: Fey Touched (+1 Cha). Grab extra mobility and top off your Charisma or mental stats.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Spell Recall. A 25% chance to completely retain a spell slot when you cast a spell!

Path 2: The Blade Dancer (Pact of the Blade)

In 2024, you don't even need the Hexblade patron to be a melee menace; Pact of the Blade natively lets you use Charisma for your weapon attacks!

• Level 1 (Origin): Tough. You need the HP to survive melee combat. Take Pact of the Blade Invocation.
• Level 4: War Caster (+1 Cha). Cast Booming Blade or Eldritch Blast as an opportunity attack, and get advantage on Concentration saves.
• Level 8: Defensive Duelist (+1 Dex). Scale your AC perfectly into the late game using your Reaction.
• Level 12: Resilient (+1 Con). Your concentration checks are now mathematically unbeatable.
• Level 16: Mage Slayer (+1 Dex). Automatically succeed on a failed mental saving throw to avoid being crowd-controlled.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Combat Prowess. Turn a missed critical attack into a guaranteed hit.

Path 3: The Chain Master (Pact of the Chain)

A battlefield controller build focusing on summons, buffs, and manipulating the action economy.

• Level 1 (Origin): Magic Initiate (Wizard). Grab Find Familiar for double the pets, or Shield for survival. Take Pact of the Chain Invocation.
• Level 4: Inspiring Leader (+1 Cha). Buff your entire party and your chain familiar with massive Temp HP.
• Level 8: War Caster (+1 Cha). Ensure your concentration on summoning spells (like Summon Fey or Summon Undead) never drops.
• Level 12: Telekinetic (+1 Cha). Control enemy positioning to keep them away from your summons.
• Level 16: Shadow Touched (+1 Cha). Gain free casts of Invisibility and a necromancy spell to round out your kit.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Fate. Add or subtract 2d4 to any d20 roll made by a creature you can see, ensuring your summons land their most critical attacks.

Expand Your Table with Custom Homebrew

Whether you are adopting the new 2024 core rules or sticking with classic 2014 5E, you don't have to limit your builds. If you want to surprise your DM with insane new feats, unique player options, and custom campaign supplements, explore our homebrew PDF collection here!