Baldurs Gate 3 Warlock Sucks

Okay, let's be honest. We're all thinking it. Maybe we're too afraid to say it out loud. But here goes: the Warlock in Baldur's Gate 3 kinda...sucks. I said it!

Hear Me Out!

Before you Eldritch Blast me into the Shadowfell, let me explain. I wanted to love the Warlock. I really did. The idea of making a pact with some powerful, otherworldly being? Super cool. Having a mysterious patron whispering sweet (or terrifying) nothings in my ear? Sign me up!

But then reality hit. And by reality, I mean turn-based combat. And by turn-based combat, I mean resource management nightmares.

Look, I get it. Every class has its quirks. Wizards hoard spells like squirrels hoard nuts. Fighters are always looking for a good scrap. But the Warlock? They're just... limited. Like, really limited.

The Spell Slot Struggle is Real

It all boils down to those precious spell slots. You get, what, two? Maybe three later on? And you're supposed to make those last through an entire goblin encampment? Good luck with that! You end up relying on Eldritch Blast for, like, 90% of combat. Which, yes, it's decent. But is it exciting? Is it strategic? Is it...fun?

Spoiler alert: no.

It's like playing a one-trick pony. Or, more accurately, a one-trick pony that’s perpetually tired and needs a nap. "Oh, another fight? Guess I'll just... Eldritch Blast again." My companions are out there summoning elementals and teleporting around the battlefield, and I'm just... pew pewing from the back.

“But the Warlock has Invocations!” you cry. “They can do all sorts of cool things!”

And yes, Invocations are neat. But a lot of them are just... situational. See in the dark? Okay, cool. Telepathy? Useful, sometimes. But they don’t exactly set the world on fire (unless you take the Agonizing Blast invocation, which, let's face it, you kind of have to).

The Patron Problem

And don't even get me started on the patrons! You've got the Fiend, the Great Old One, and the Archfey. They all sound so epic and mysterious... until you realize they don't really do all that much for you in-game. Sure, you get a few extra spells and abilities. But do you really feel like you're in a deep, meaningful relationship with a being of unimaginable power? Nah. It's more like a casual acquaintance who occasionally throws you a bone.

I mean, come on, Larian! Give us some juicy patron interactions! Let us negotiate favors and deals! Let us actually feel like we're serving a higher power (besides our own desire to loot every chest in the Forgotten Realms).

Maybe I'm Just Bad?

Look, I know, I know. Maybe I'm just playing the Warlock wrong. Maybe I'm not min-maxing hard enough. Maybe I need to multiclass with a Paladin or something equally ridiculous. But shouldn't a class be fun and effective right out of the box? Shouldn't it feel powerful and engaging without requiring a PhD in Dungeons & Dragons mechanics?

I think so.

So, yeah. I said it. The Warlock in Baldur's Gate 3 is... underwhelming. It’s a class with so much potential, but it feels like it's constantly being held back. Maybe future patches will make it better. Maybe I'll eventually figure out the "right" way to play it. But for now, I'm sticking with my Sorcerer. At least I can cast more than two spells before needing a long rest.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some goblins to incinerate. With actual fire this time, not just disappointing Eldritch Blasts.