this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2023
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OneDnD - 5e UA Material/Discussion
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Looking at it more, I don't actually think agonizing blast is an oversight - warlocks don't get enough slots or spells known to always be slinging spells in combats like true full casters. Agonizing blast puts their default attack option, which they should be relying on a lot of the time if they're not a bladelock which would also add CHA modifier, on par with martial weaponry. Is it powerful? Yes, but it still costs an invocation.
The problem isn’t the power level, it’s that they’re adding a choice about which cantrip to use, and then at 5th level effectively taking away that choice by making Eldritch Blast the obviously best option.
If Agonizing Blast added your Cha mod to all your Warlock cantrips, it’d still have some marginal flexibility in cantrip choice, like if there’s a weakness to exploit or if your target is one on the like 5 creatures that resists or is immune to Force damage, but because you lock in your choice on level-up, it’s just a “choice” where you always choose Eldritch Blast.
I figure that AB and EB should just be things Warlocks get via progression at 1 and 6-8 respectively, free up a cantrip and evocation slot and line up the +MOD to cantrip damage with Clerics getting the same or Evocation Wizards getting half damage on save cantrips and make Warlocks have to work to be Magical Ranged Fighters™. Not that I entirely think Warlocks need more invocations at this point, WotC has been pretty good about fixing them up for value so you can take sub-par ones for value, but more wiggle room by providing something for free that everyone in the universe takes anyway would lead to a bit more build diversity.