Halfling Warlock 5e D&D Guide

Picture, if you will, a diminutive figure with an impish grin, standing no taller than a stack of spellbooks and weighing less than a dragon’s sneeze, the Halfling Warlock.

This Halfling forged a pact with a powerful otherworldly being, a patron from the boundless planes of existence, becoming one of the few Halfling Warlocks.

Harnessing the forces of the arcane, the Halfling Warlock can conjure ethereal blasts that streak across the battlefield like comets.

Driven by a fiery curiosity and a desire to unravel the mysteries held by the cosmos, they are willing to risk everything in order to achieve their goals.

They are the embodiment of a whimsical fusion between the mundane and the arcane, a reminder that even the smallest of beings can wield the mightiest of powers.

Creating a Halfling Warlock

Halflings

Halflings love nothing more than the comfort of their own homes, a place of peace, far from those who would do them harm. Some Halflings do the opposite of staying home, forming bands of nomadic travelers lured by the open road.

Even though they like their peace and quiet, Halflings work well with others, treating their friends exceptionally well, even if they aren’t a Halfling. They can become unexpectedly fierce when their family, friends, or community becomes threatened.

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

Halfling Subraces

Halflings have 6 subraces, some being only slightly different and others being completely different from common Halflings.

Lightfoot Halfling – Lightfoot Halflings are the most common Halflings filled with wanderlust and often found living among other races, always getting along with everyone they meet. 

Stout Halfling – Stout Halflings are hardier than your average Halfling, even having resistance to poison. There are rumors of Stout Halflings having dwarven blood, but that’s never been proven.

Ghostwise Halfling – Ghostwise Halflings are some of the rarest Halflings, existing only in the Chondalwood and a handful of other forests.

They are usually clannish and very mistrustful of outsiders, making Ghostwise Halfling adventurers rare but not unheard of.

Lotusden Halfling – Lotusden Halflings are found in the Lotusden Greenwood and have adapted to their chaotic wilds, often becoming druids or at least learning about druidic magic.

Mark of Hospitality Halfling – Mark of Hospitality Halflings are gifted with unrivaled hospitality, evident by the spells they learn and the Charisma-orientated skill focuses.

Mark of Healing Halfling – Mark of Hospitality Halflings are some of the best healers you can get. 

Their inherited Wisdom, focus, and spell list make them exceptional druids, and their size makes it easy for them to accomplish these healing tasks without being hit (or just hiding behind their Paladin).

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 eternal power.

The reason for their acceptance isn’t clearly understood, as these beings are ancient 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. It might’ve come from the Far Realm, a space beyond reality. Others even say it could be one of the elder gods 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 Halfling

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 Halfling Subrace

Normal Halflings get a bonus to their Dexterity (2) score, which isn’t too bad because if you choose to become a melee Warlock, it can really help you.

There are a lot of subraces to choose from, especially as a Warlock, which is such a customizable class. 

As a Warlock, Charisma is what you’ll use for your spells, so that means the Mark of Hospitality Halfling and Lightfoot Halfling will be great choices because of their Charisma bonus. On the other hand, Constitution is good for HP (which you lack), and Stout Halflings have that.

The Mark of Hospitality Halfling and Mark of Healing Halfing both have the Spells of the Mark feature, which gives them more spells they can unlock. 

Since you’re a Warlock, you’ll be able to permanently unlock the spells you choose, and some (like Hallow from the Hospitality Halfling) spells are incredibly powerful.

Picking your ideal Halfling subrace all depends on your subclass and what you want to focus on as a Warlock!

Your Halfling Warlock Background

Your Halfling 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 Halfling 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

(Short outline of characteristics; are they proud, violent, or angry, and how does their class affect their personality).

Halfling Warlock Examples:

• If someone is in trouble, I am always willing to help.

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

Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws

Ideal – Express one ideal that is a driving force in a Halfling Warlock’s life – their conviction, ethical principle, and moral standing.

I’m determined to make something of myself.

Bonds – Think of a single bond that your Halfling 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 Halfling 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.

I will never stop hunting those who wronged me, even if it affects my party members.

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 Halfling 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
• (a) Component pouch or (b) Arcane focus
• (a) Scholar’s pack or (b) Dungeoneer’s pack
• Leather armor, two daggers, and any simple weapon

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

Halfling Warlocks are quite rare, even though Halflings have the potential to make great Warlocks.

Because there are so many different subraces of Halfings, it’s quite easy to say that they can become traditional Warlocks, Hexblade Warlocks, or any other subclass they really want.

I don’t know, but there’s something oddly satisfying when picturing a Halfling turning into an all-powerful Warlock. There’s no doubt it’ll be awesome, but there’s also no doubt that it’ll be funny!

You might also be interested in the following:

• Human Barbarian
• Human Monk
• Human Paladin
• Human Sorcerer
• Human Warlock
• Halfling Bard
• Halfling Monk