Hexblade Warlock Returns: D&D Brings Back the Blade After Fan Outcry
Big news for Dungeons & Dragons fans! The designers at Wizards of the Coast are giving the Hexblade Warlock subclass another makeover after players voiced strong opinions about its recent changes. If you love wielding magical swords and dealing damage up close, you’ll want to know what’s in store for this iconic D&D option.
- Hexblade Warlock subclass is getting a new revision
- Wizards of the Coast reacts to player feedback
- New rules aim to bring back melee combat focus
- Key changes to armor, spellcasting, and class features
- Links to official Unearthed Arcana playtest documents
Hexblade Warlock: Back to the Blade
If you’ve been following D&D’s Unearthed Arcana playtest series, you know it’s where designers float new ideas and see what sticks. Sometimes these changes are minor tweaks, but the Hexblade’s recent rework was so controversial that the team decided to try again. In May, Wizards of the Coast released a new version of the Hexblade subclass (see the original playtest PDF here). The feedback? Not great. Players missed the feeling of actually swinging a magic sword in battle.
Why Was Hexblade So Popular?
The original Hexblade from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (and yes, it’s in Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 too!) let Warlocks fight in melee with a summoned blade, using their Charisma instead of Strength or Dexterity. This made them both stylish and super effective. Before this, Warlocks were mostly blasting from the backline. But suddenly, with Hexblade, you could wear heavier armor and mix it up on the front lines. No wonder it became a favorite!
What Changed in the 2024 Rules?
Fast forward to the new 2024 Player’s Handbook: Hexblade is gone, replaced by the Celestial patron. But don’t worry, Warlocks got a big buff to their melee options anyway. Now, Pact of the Blade lets you summon your weapon as a bonus action, deal three types of damage, and—most importantly—attack with Charisma. The Eldritch Mind invocation helps you keep your concentration in the heat of battle. Sounds great, right? Well, this made the old Hexblade kind of redundant, even for people mixing the new and old rules.
Wizards’ first attempt to update Hexblade for the new rules (see the May playtest above) made some interesting flavor changes—like making your pact with a sentient weapon instead of a vague Shadowfell entity. But, the new features turned the blade into just a magical hex, not something you swing around in melee. Fans weren’t happy.
The June Update: More Sword, More Fun?
In June’s Arcane Subclasses Unearthed Arcana, the team is trying to win players back. New features like Hungering Hex (heal when your cursed target drops), Unyielding Will (auto-succeed on a failed concentration check once per day), and Harrowing Hex (make a bonus weapon attack after casting a spell) put the focus back on melee combat. But there’s a catch—Hexblade still doesn’t get medium armor proficiency, and the new Accursed Shield ability isn’t quite enough to keep you safe in the thick of things.
Is the New Hexblade Worth It?
It’s clear the original Hexblade was a bit overpowered and had some odd abilities (summoning a specter at level 6, anyone?). The new direction is about balance and fun, and the devs are clearly listening to the community. There’s still work to do, but if you love mixing magic with swordplay, keep an eye on future updates. Maybe the next version will finally get it right!
