Skip to Content

Hex 5e D&D Guide [2023]

Hex 5e D&D Guide [2023]

The Hex spell is a personal damage booster to a single target. Anytime a character has the opportunity to increase their damage per attack, it is a good thing.

The rules for Hex can be found in the Players Handbook on page 251.

Hex 5e

Enchantment 1st level

Casting Time: 1 bonus action

Range: 90 feet

Components: V, S, M (The petrified eye of a newt)

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour

You place a curse on a creature that you can see within range. Until the spell ends, you deal an extra 1d6 necrotic damage to the target whenever you hit it with an attack.

Also, choose one ability when you cast the spell. The target has a disadvantage on ability checks made with the chosen ability.

If the target drops to 0 hit points before this spell ends, you can use a bonus action on a subsequent turn of yours to curse a new creature.

A Remove Curse cast on the target ends this spell early.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd or 4th level, you can maintain your concentration on the spell for up to 8 hours. When you use a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you can maintain your concentration on the spell for up to 24 hours.

The rules for Hex reveal the real benefit of the spell; it’s a bonus action to cast. This means you can cast and attack in the same turn.

An added benefit to the spell, it can be moved between targets when the first target drops to 0 hit points.

This means it is not necessarily just a one-time cast,as the damage boost can be carried over to multiple targets.

The target gains disadvantage on ability checks made with a chosen ability, which can be huge against enemies with special attacks such as grapple.

Is Hex Good?

Hex provides a damage boost to each attack on the target and penalizes the target on an ability saving throw. Also, you can move the Hex to another target when the initial target drops to 0 hit points.

This makes Hex a highly valuable spell and one that should be maintained in the arsenal well into the middle levels at a minimum.

The trade-off for concentration could be a negative, and the limited benefit from up-casting could also be a potential issue.

These should be outweighed in most circumstances by the benefits mentioned above.

Not to mention, the duration is up to an hour at the base level. This is a long time for an enemy or an opponent (if out of combat) to suffer the penalties.

Hot Tip
Hex is a bonus action to cast. This means you can cast Hex on a target and then take the attack action or cast a spell that is a cantrip in the same turn.

Can Hex Crit?

Damage from attacks is affected by a critical hit. This means that Hex damage is included in critical hit damage.

It is a spell that grants a damage bonus, not a modifier or natural ability, so it should do damage on a critical hit accordingly.

Hot Tip
Hex doesn’t have a save DC, making it a great spell to pick up with the magic initiate feat.

How does Hex Stack with Hex Blades Curse and Bestow Curse?

Hex is a concentration spell. Bestow Curse, until cast at 9th level, is also a concentration spell.

Therefore, they cannot stack. Hexblade’s curse is an ability, not a spell, and does not require concentration, so they can be stacked. Hexblade’s Curse does not benefit from a critical hit and is added as a modifier.

Using Hex Outside of Combat

Hex, like many spells, is geared towards combat, but the increased time allowed by up-casting the spell indicates there are uses for it outside of combat as well. Some non-combat uses for Hex are as follows:

  • Casting it on an opponent in a contest such as archery or drinking.
  • Casting it on a caster to increase the difficulty for them to maintain a spell.
  • Casting it on someone who you would want to fail insight or intimidation, or someone you want to be easier to manipulate.

If the creature you cast Hex on falls to 0 hit points, you can choose a new creature to curse. This means you can choose a new ability for them to receive disadvantage on.

Bottom Line
Hex is a versatile spell that gives low-level characters a damage bump against a target. It has a great duration for a concentration spell and gives disadvantage to an ability check for the target. There is not a save required, so the effects are practically guaranteed.

Final Thoughts

For a 1st level spell, Hex is a solid choice. It grants a damage boost, penalizes specific ability-related checks, and doesn’t have a save.

The duration per cast is about as good as you can get, plus you have the opportunity to change targets, which is like getting a recast.

There are opportunities to use it outside of combat as well. These features make this a high-quality spell to choose at low levels and a reasonable choice at higher levels.

Top 15 Best Enchantment Spells in D&D 5e [Ranked]

Thursday 30th of March 2023

[…] Hex can make a specific creature take extra damage if they’re a more significant threat than the rest. […]

Armor of Agathys 5e D&D Guide [2023]

Tuesday 21st of March 2023

[…] It lasts for an hour when cast. This allows the warlock to utilize other spells (like Hex) while the AoA is up. The duration is long enough for the spell to be cast in advance of real […]

Eldritch Blast 5e D&D Guide [2023]

Saturday 18th of March 2023

[…] cantrip can be optimized further, but that will have to wait for the article on the hex spell, and finally in the Sorlock (Sorcerer + Warlock) multiclass build […]

Bestow Curse 5e D&D Guide [2023]

Saturday 21st of January 2023

[…] spells, such as Hex and Contagion, also focus on inflicting disadvantages on […]

Top 20 Best Warlock Spells 5e [2022]

Tuesday 20th of December 2022

[…] 1st level enchantment spell Hex is a great option for a warlock who wants to go on the offensive. The warlock puts a curse on the […]