eldritch blast and meta-spell feats

[limejuicepowder]

Empower and quicken spell-like ability feats are often listed as good things for a warlock to take if they want to be able to go nova. However, the feats can only be used on spell-like abilities of 1/2 caster level minus 2 and 4, respectively. Since an eldritch blast always counts as a spell of 1/2 caster level, it seems to me that at no point would eldritch blast be a legal use of empower or quicken. What gives?

[Golden Ladybug]

Yeah, WotC realised this as well, which is why the Complete Arcana Errata changed Eldritch Blast to have a static caster spell level of 1, which is modified by Eldritch Blast Shapes and Essences (for example, Eldritch Spear raises EB to Caster Level 2).


Page 7: Eldritch Blast
Second paragraph of the Eldritch Blast ability
description:
Change “An eldritch blast is the equivalent of a spell
whose level is equal to one-half the warlock’s class
level (round down), with a minimum spell level of 1st
and a maximum of 9th when the warlock reaches 18th
level or higher” to “An eldritch blast is the equivalent
of a 1st-level spell. If you apply a blast shape or eldritch
essence invocation to your eldritch blast (see page 130),
your eldritch blast uses the level equivalent of the shape
or essence.”
Any other references to eldritch blast being something
other than the equivalent of a 1st-level spell should be
disregarded.
Any other references claiming that eldritch blast is not
an invocation should be disregarded.
A warlock can use eldritch blast at will.

[Douglas]

Yeah, WotC realised this as well, which is why the Complete Arcana Errata changed Eldritch Blast to have a static caster level of 1, which is modified by Eldritch Blast Shapes and Essences (for example, Eldritch Spear raises EB to Caster Level 2).
You mean spell level, not caster level. They are very different things, and the difference is critical for this point.

[Golden Ladybug]

Herp, I know how to terminology, I swear

Let me fix that :smallbiggrin:

[Duke of URL]

Right, so based on the errata, with the appropriate feat, you can empower or quicken your eldritch blast up to 3 times a day, as long as you only apply shapes and essences that keep the ESL low enough to qualify for the feat according to your caster level.

The flip side of this is that the only way to increase the ESL is to apply a shape and/or essence -- normally this wouldn't matter as the only reason you'd want a higher ESL is because of the DC of saves offered by the shape or essence in the first place, but it can be a problem against things like globe of invulnerability.

[nedz]

Right, so based on the errata, with the appropriate feat, you can empower or quicken your eldritch blast up to 3 times a day, as long as you only apply shapes and essences that keep the ESL low enough to qualify for the feat according to your caster level.

Yes


The flip side of this is that the only way to increase the ESL is to apply a shape and/or essence -- normally this wouldn't matter as the only reason you'd want a higher ESL is because of the DC of saves offered by the shape or essence in the first place, but it can be a problem against things like globe of invulnerability.

Yes
Which is why you must choose your essences carefully.

[Particle_Man]

Right, so based on the errata, with the appropriate feat, you can empower or quicken your eldritch blast up to 3 times a day.

You can empower and quicken the same blast too, if you like.

[Tokiko Mima]

Don't forget Maximize Spell-like ability, from Complete Arcane. It specifically stacks with Empower SLA.