Warlock Versatility Warlocks are able to pick their key ability for spellcasting from Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Where class abilities state to add or use your Charisma modifier, use your chosen key ability, instead. Similarly, a Warlock’s proficient saving throws are Wisdom and either Intelligence or Charisma. If the warlock’s patron is a quasi-deity, exarch, or other deity-linked extraplanar being, they may choose the divine spell list instead of the arcane spell list, or if their patron is an archfey, primordial power, or other nature- or primordial-linked extraplanar being, they may choose the primal spell list instead of the arcane spell list. Regardless of their base spell list, the warlock still has access to the warlock spell list, however the DM may rule some spells off-limits to a warlock based on their pact source, such as a fiendish patron who forbids spells from the divination school or a celestial patron who forbids spells from the school of necromancy. Added to House Rules in 2023.
Tag: intelligence
Access to Omnipotence Clerics, druids, and paladins get their spells by communing with a being which is generally ancient and/or powerful enough to have Seen It All. Since these kinds of casters prepare their spells each day as part of this prayer or meditation, they have immediate access to all spells their deity or primordial patron knows of the highest level they can currently cast and lower, though the grantor of the spells may have preferences for certain spells (e.g. cleric domain spells). Since rangers and warlocks gain their spells through very similar connections, it makes no sense to restrict them to certain spells known. Instead, they meditate or pray each long rest to prepare spells the same way a paladin does: choose a number of spells equal to half their class level (rounded down) plus their key ability modifier and Intelligence modifier, if any. Therefore, a third-level fey-pact warlock with a key ability modifier of +3 and an Intelligence modifier of +1 would be able to prepare up to 5 spells per day from the combined primal and warlock spell lists; however the DM may rule some spells off-limits to a warlock based on their pact source, such as
Good Memory Spontaneous casters (bards and sorcerers) who have positive Intelligence modifiers have additional spells known at each level per the table Bonus Spells Known. Prepared casters gain bonus cantrips known only, but can prepare additional spells at each spell level based on having a higher Intelligence (and therefore a greater capacity for memorization). Warlocks and rangers are now prepared casters under House Rules; see Access to Omnipotence . The usual rules still apply for learning said spells, as a 5th-level sorcerer who attunes to a headband of intellect +2 which increases his Intelligence score from 14 to 16 (and therefore his modifier from +2 to +3) doesn’t “suddenly” know an additional 2nd-level spell, nor does he automatically know an additional 4th level spell, as he can’t yet cast from that level anyway; it must be a spell you have studied (from a spellbook or scroll) or which has been taught to you by another spellcaster. Typically, you must have studied and practiced the new spell(s) for at least one long rest per spell level before you can add them to your repertoire, so the aforementioned 5th-level sorcerer will need to wait two long rests before the new 2nd-level spell becomes
Applied Learning A positive Intelligence modifier grants additional non-skill proficiencies per point, such as a new language or tool. A negative Intelligence modifier removes only one additional non-skill proficiency (though never Common or the language of their heritage), regardless of the value (e.g. a -3 Intelligence modifier still removes only one non-skill proficiency). At any level where your Intelligence modifier permanently increases (e.g. through gaining a level or taking a feat), you may add another non-skill proficiency. Added to House Rules in 2023; modified 24 Aug 2024 to clarify modifier increases.