Dragonborn Warlock 5e D&D Guide

Imbued with the might of their draconic ancestry, the Dragonborn Warlock walks a treacherous path, wielding both the innate power of their bloodline and the dark forces granted by their otherworldly patron.

The patron, a mysterious entity from a plane beyond comprehension, whispers secrets and ancient knowledge to the Dragonborn. In return, the Warlock offers servitude, obedience, or the chance to partake in the world’s tumultuous affairs once more.

For most Dragonborn Warlocks, the boundaries of their mortal existence may blur as they tread the thin line between conqueror and pawn.

Creating a Dragonborn Warlock

Dragonborn

The Dragonborn were born of dragons, feared by many because of their frightening appearance. Long ago, Dragonborn hatched from dragon eggs, creating a unique race and combining the best attributes of dragons and humanoids.

Even with their powerful past, Dragonborn is a divided race; many serve true dragons, others fight in wars, and some merely drift through the world without a cause.

Note: These features can be slightly changed or modified if some variations don’t fit your character.

Dragonborn Subraces

Dragonborn has 6 subraces, each relating either to their dragon kin or influence through decades of relations with other races. 

You’ll also get to choose a type of dragon you relate to, determining your damage and the area of your breath weapon, as well as the resistance you gain.

Note: Choosing Chromatic, Gem, or Metallic dragon ancestry only changes your damage type.

Standard Dragonborn – These are the most common Dragonborn, having increased Strength and Charisma.

Draconblood – Draconblood Dragonborn are socially manipulative and very intelligent, even remembering the days they were fearsome conquerors.

Ravenite – Ravenite Dragonborn have no tails but possess a sturdy physique, having increased Strength and Charisma.

Many Ravenites remember the days they were enslaved to Draconbloods, retelling the time they overthrew their overlords.

Chromatic Dragonborn – Chromatic Dragonborn trace their ancestry back to beautiful chromatic dragons.

Choose your damage type from the table below:

Gem Dragonborn – Gem Dragonborn trace their ancestry back to breathtaking gem dragons.

Choose your damage type from the table below:

Metallic Dragonborn – Metallic Dragonborn trace their ancestry back to impenetrable metallic dragons.

Choose your damage type from the table below:

Warlock Class Features

Hit Points

Proficiencies

Warlock Otherworldly Bargain

As you start the game at level 1, you choose between 9 otherworldly beings to strike a deal with.

Archfey – Your patron is a lady or lord belonging to the fey, a mere legend who holds secrets that were forgotten at the birth of the mortal races.

This being is quite unpredictable, at times striving for greater magical power and at others trying to settle age-old grudges.

Celestial – Your patron is a very powerful being of the Upper Planes. You bound yourself to a ki-rin, solar, or empyrean residing in the planes of everlasting bliss, allowing you to experience a mere touch from their holy light.

Being connected to such a being is enough to change your beliefs and alter your behavior.

Fathomless – Your pact is with a being of the Elemental place of Water or some other otherworldly sea, allowing you to draw on its unending power.

The reason for their acceptance isn’t clearly understood, as these beings are very old and hold many reasons unfathomable by mere mortals.

Fiend – Your pact is with a fiend from the lower planes, whose aims are outwardly evil, desiring to corrupt and destroy all things, including you.

Genie – Your pact is with a noble genie who rules fiefs on the Elemental Planes and holds great influence over other genies. Their motivations are different, but many are arrogant and wield a power equal to that of lesser deities.

Great Old One – Your patron is an entity of complete mystery, foreign to all fabric of reality. Speculations are that it might’ve come from the Far Realm, a space lying beyond reality. Others even say it could be one of the elder gods who are only known in legends.

The motives of this creature are incomprehensible to mortals, and their knowledge is so immense that it would break the mind of those who obtained it. This entity is probably completely unaware of you, yet the small amount of power you draw from it allows you to cast your spells.

Hexblade – Your pact is with a mysterious entity residing in the Shadowfell, manifesting itself as sentient weapons forged with the shadows of its environment.

The sword Blackrazor is one of the most formidable of these weapons.

Undead – The pact you’ve formed is with an immortal being, defying the cycle of life and death to pursue its inscrutable ambitions.

Most of these beings were once mortal, knowing firsthand the ambitions of all mortals. They are eager to share knowledge and secrets if you work their will among mortals.

Undying – Your patron doesn’t fear death, possessing the secrets to everlasting life. They were once mortal, and they are eager to share their secrets of the ages if you do their bidding.

Combining Warlock With Dragonborn

Determining Your Warlock Subclass

Choosing your ideal subclass is subjective, but if your objective is optimization, try understanding what your character wants to do and what stats fit best with their subclass.

Optimal Dragonborn Subrace

Dragonborn have various subraces to choose from. It’s because of this that Dragonborn don’t really have a clearcut subrace to choose from; they actually have three.

You can choose between the Chromatic Dragonborn, Gem Dragonborn, and Metallic Dragonborn subrace. When you choose one of these subraces, you’ll be able to allocate your ability score bonuses, meaning you can allocate them to fit what a Warlock needs.

Your Dragonborn Warlock Background

Your Dragonborn Warlock needs a unique background that will affect its choices, as well as the way it sees the world and what it wants to achieve.

Start by asking yourself some basic questions: Where were they born, and where did they come from? Do they have any goals, bonds, or ideals, and what are their flaws? Where do they belong in social circles and society as a whole? What inspires them?

Place of Birth

Think of the environment a Dragonborn Warlock grew up in and how it affected them physically and emotionally and eventually shaped their view of the world.

Try to make their place of birth and upbringing correspond with their personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws – this will truly bring their character alive.

Note: The birthplaces of races are usually mentioned in the Player’s Handbook or some of its expansion books.

Characteristics and Personality Traits 

Dragonborn Warlocks are innately terrifying beings, but they can turn out to be powerful teammates if you choose to accept them, becoming your friend for life.

Dragonborn Warlock Examples:

• When I’ve got my mind set on something, I follow through no matter what tries to get in my way.

• Thinking is for other people. I prefer action.

Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws

Ideal – Express one ideal that is a driving force in a Dragonborn Warlock’s life – their conviction, ethical principle, and moral standing (probably something about nature).

If I can attain more power, no one will tell me what to do.

Bonds – Think of a single bond that your Dragonborn Warlock has to an event, person, or place. Bonds will tie them to their background and can inspire bravery or stimulate memories driving them against their ideals.

A powerful person killed someone I love. Some day soon, I’ll have my revenge.

Flaws – Choose a single flaw for a Dragonborn Warlock – their unhealthy compulsion, greatest fear/weakness, or most vile vice.

I am inflexible in my thinking.

Inspiration

Inspiration can be used by the DM to reward you for playing according to your bond, personality traits, ideals, and flaw.

As a Dragonborn Warlock, I understand my appearance may frighten others, so I do whatever I can to appear different or hide my features.

Note: If you’re struggling to create your background or just don’t want to think, the Player’s Handbook has well-thought-through backgrounds that you can use for your character or use as a mold.

Supplies and Gear For Dragonborn Warlocks

Warlocks start with the following equipment, together with the equipment from their background. Choosing equipment based on your situation and your character’s proficiencies is the easiest way to go about things.

• (a) One light crossbow with 20 bolts or (b) Any simple weapon you choose
• (a) Component pouch or (b) An arcane focus
• Scholar’s pack or (b) Dungeoneer’s pack
• Leather armor, any simple weapons, and two daggers

You can decide how your character came about these goods – whether they stole, inherited, or purchased them some time back – adding to your character’s background.

Note: By using your starting wealth, you can buy your own equipment (4d4 x 10 GP for Warlocks).

Final Thoughts

Dragonborn Warlocks are haunted by their physical appearance and their magical abilities, as both are seen as innately evil.

Luckily, most Dragonborn Warlocks you meet in the wild aren’t evil at all; most just want to be left alone. So if you’re able to recruit one, you should definitely do it.

You might also be interested in:

• Changeling Bard
• Changeling Rogue
• Dragonborn Druid
• Firbolg Cleric
• Firbolg Druid
• Kobold Ranger