Houserule: what if Warlocks could replace all invocations on level up?

[diplomancer]

"Warlock is a dip class, yadda yadda yadda"
How about this change:
When you gain a new level in the Warlock class, you can swap all invocations and choose new ones.

It would make invocations work more as "prepared spells" (though with a lower speed of change) and less as "known spells". It would allow for Warlock players to experiment more with all the different invocations (the limited number of invocations is a problem that's compounded every time Wizards release new invocations). It would encourage people staying as Warlocks instead of just using them as dips.

It's a definite upgrade; but is it more of a quality-of-life upgrade (less stressing about which invocation to choose when, more fun with the different invocations), or is it a munchkin upgrade?

[carrdrivesyou]

Personal opinion is that Warlocks are a great class for dipping or staying in. Some builds are stringent and do not allow much deviation to be viable, so keep take that into consideration. I really haven't seen a whole lot of people who multiclass in my groups other than myself. I think the majority (could be biased here) tend to stay single classed on everything but concept characters.

As for the invocation house rule you are suggesting, Tasha's released the Eldritch Versatility optional class feature, which allows the swap of a single cantrip, as well as the change of the pact boon feature (and any attached invocations). So this is the next logical step in terms of versatility. The precedent for this suggested mechanic also exists in the Eldritch Adept feat which allows you to swap the granted invocation each level.

In short, I can't really say this is breaking anything, and could be a fun way to boost the warlock's relevancy at the table. It's a solid idea. I say run with it and see what happens. It's a house rule, so the player(s) can't really abuse it without you altering it later on.

[heavyfuel]

I'm not really sure what your intentions are here, honestly.

The ability to swap would be nice, of course, but since you can only do that on a level up, you'd probably not change your invocations much, if at all. I mean, a Wizard/Clerc/Druid can reasonably guess what they'll face on the adventuring day, so they choose spells accordingly. But guessing your needs for an entire level is just absurd, which means you'll likely stick to the generally-good invocations instead of getting something niche.

Warlocks do need some minor quality-of-life buffs, but I don't think this is it. Giving them an extra Cantrip and making the 1/long rest invocations (like Sculptor of Flesh) work without spending a spell would be closer, as Warlocks would now have access to some Long Rest resources for when they really need to nova.

[Gale]

This change would give Warlocks slightly faster access to invocations with level requirements. But I don't think this is too much of an issue.

However, I personally feel that a player's decision making when building their character should matter. I want people to think about which options they genuinely want for their character overall, rather than what seems cool right now. Especially since these choices are often representative of your character's identity. The invocations you choose are what makes the warlock you build uniquely yours. If every Warlock can swap them around at will then it makes each one less special. It's similar to the issue of "Why does every Warlock have Eldritch Blast?" except arguably worse.

Warlocks can already change out a single invocation each level, and I think that's enough in most cases. I would prefer players plan ahead for what kind of character they want, rather than make sweeping changes every level.

[Mastikator]

If you're worried about it being overpowered why not tack it onto the Eldritch Versatility optional rule? When you get an ASI you can swap out any invocation for any that you meet the prerequisites for. Fighters get a similar thing for fighting style ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Warlush]

As a single classed warlock enthusiast, I would really love that house rule. It would allow you to truly customize your character to your current campaign. And lead to fewer EB spams.

[Zaltman]

I have not play tested it yet, but in my next campaign I will let let warlocks change one invocation if they spend an entire long rest meditating/sacrificing and practicing. They do not recover hit points or dice since they are occupied.

[diplomancer]

I'm not really sure what your intentions are here, honestly.

The ability to swap would be nice, of course, but since you can only do that on a level up, you'd probably not change your invocations much, if at all. I mean, a Wizard/Clerc/Druid can reasonably guess what they'll face on the adventuring day, so they choose spells accordingly. But guessing your needs for an entire level is just absurd, which means you'll likely stick to the generally-good invocations instead of getting something niche.

Warlocks do need some minor quality-of-life buffs, but I don't think this is it. Giving them an extra Cantrip and making the 1/long rest invocations (like Sculptor of Flesh) work without spending a spell would be closer, as Warlocks would now have access to some Long Rest resources for when they really need to nova.

I had this idea reading some published adventures; it's quite common to have a 1 level=1 chapter, and many times players can have some vague idea of what challenges the next chapter will have, whether it will be more combat-focused, socially-focused, or exploration-focused. So they could customize their invocations accordingly. Sure, things like Agonizing Blast would remain, but maybe it's better to have Mask of Many Faces than Repelling Blast for some Chapters, for instance.


This change would give Warlocks slightly faster access to invocations with level requirements. But I don't think this is too much of an issue.

However, I personally feel that a player's decision making when building their character should matter. I want people to think about which options they genuinely want for their character overall, rather than what seems cool right now. Especially since these choices are often representative of your character's identity. The invocations you choose are what makes the warlock you build uniquely yours. If every Warlock can swap them around at will then it makes each one less special. It's similar to the issue of "Why does every Warlock have Eldritch Blast?" except arguably worse.

Warlocks can already change out a single invocation each level, and I think that's enough in most cases. I would prefer players plan ahead for what kind of character they want, rather than make sweeping changes every level.

This I disagree; it may be because I tend to play long campaigns, and being able to better customize my character to different challenges is a very good thing. Furthermore, as I've mentioned, it's still more restrictive than spell prepared casters.


As a single classed warlock enthusiast, I would really love that house rule. It would allow you to truly customize your character to your current campaign. And lead to fewer EB spams.

Exactly! That's the main reason I thought of it too.Check the example I gave of giving up Repelling Blast for Mask of Many Faces for a socially-focused "chapter". You'd be more reluctant to do it if it's difficult to switch it back later, and so you'd stick to the "true-and-tried" invocations, which lead to EB spam.


If you're worried about it being overpowered why not tack it onto the Eldritch Versatility optional rule? When you get an ASI you can swap out any invocation for any that you meet the prerequisites for. Fighters get a similar thing for fighting style ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

While an interesting suggestion, I think once every 4 levels is too slow to accomplish the greater variety of play I'm aiming for.


I have not play tested it yet, but in my next campaign I will let let warlocks change one invocation if they spend an entire long rest meditating/sacrificing and practicing. They do not recover hit points or dice since they are occupied.

I like this too, it's basically "you can switch your invocations during downtime"; how useful it will be will depend on how frequent downtime is, I suppose.

[Zaltman]

I like this too, it's basically "you can switch your invocations during downtime"; how useful it will be will depend on how frequent downtime is, I suppose.

Still at a cost (potentially needed healing) and only 1 x per rest. Gradual evolution not instant change. Like you I wanted to give a little more flexibility without breaking the class.

[KorvinStarmast]

Still at a cost (potentially needed healing) and only 1 x per rest. Gradual evolution not instant change. Like you I wanted to give a little more flexibility without breaking the class. I like this. Making invocations more flexible strikes me as value added, since clerics and wizards can change their spells overnight as well ...

[diplomancer]

I like this. Making invocations more flexible strikes me as value added, since clerics and wizards can change their spells overnight as well ...

Exactly; having at most 8 invocations was alright with just the PHB options; but as more and more invocations get published, the thought of having them mostly unused bothers me enormously; a faster switching rate would see more use of the more niche invocations.

[Chaosmancer]

I feel this is a quality of life boost. There are so many invocations that are fairly niche, or that you think you would use but you haven't. I took Misty Visionsa while back on my Feylock, and never used it once. So, when we hit level 9 and I had more access to things, I decided to drop it for something we have been needing every single session instead.

Am I more powerful? Yes, but only because I no longer have a dead ability. It doesn't really raise the overall power of the class at all, just lets you evolve your character faster into their new concepts.

[Joe the Rat]

This is a definite QoL shift. Normally you can change 1 (2, if you count the new invocs on those levels) on a level up; this gives you the full sweep.

I'd be willing to test this or the Long Rest changeover, if I can get another Warlock playing.