The Warlock Bound to His Ex

Written By Michael Lim

  • Character Type: Player Build

  • Build Type: Roleplay-focused

  • Build Role: Damage Dealer / Debuffer

By Tharn’s Itchy Chainmail, Lad, She’s Still Textin’ You from the Abyss!

Heard of warlocks who sell their soul for power? Well this poor sod didn’t sell his — he just left it behind after a nasty breakup.

This is Elion Vale. Good cheekbones. Bad decisions. Signed a pact with his lover — a charming, silver-tongued entity who offered him dreams, power, and affection. It was passionate. It was intense. It was terminally stupid.

Now? She’s his ex.

They broke it off — sort of. He swears he’s done. But the pact’s still active. The powers still answer. And every time he casts Eldritch Blast, he hears her voice in the back of his skull whispering, “Miss me?”

He hates it. He needs it. And somewhere deep down, he still loves her. By Trickin’s cursed coin purse, we’ve all been there.

Love’s a battlefield. This one’s got force damage.

👉 Want more emotional chaos and arcane baggage? Check out the rest of our Player Builds & NPCs — heartbreak optional, may cause psychic damage.

How to Build a Warlock Who Needs Therapy and a Restraining Order

This is a spell-slinger haunted by unresolved emotional trauma and eldritch obligations. Mechanically, you’ll focus on blasting, crowd control, and flavor over optimization — but don’t be fooled. The right mix of features makes this build hit hard and stay cursed.

Race

  • Tiefling (Feral or Variant) — gives ya Charisma, flavor, and that extra layer of “oh no, he’s hot but sad.”

Patron: The Archfey (for seductive, manipulative power)

  • Her charms never wore off. Her powers never left. You’re still her warlock whether you like it or not.

Alternative: The Fiend, for a fiery, explosive ex. Hell hath no fury and all that.

Pact Boon

  • Pact of the Chain – Flavor your familiar as a “gift” she gave you that keeps spying on you.

  • Or Pact of the Tome – Her love letters, still full of power. You can’t throw them away.

Level-Up Guide

Levels 1–5:

  • Take Eldritch Blast (of course), and Hex, because bitterness stacks.

  • Get Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast invocations.

  • Add Charm Person and Dissonant Whispers — flavor them as her manipulating your will.

  • You’re still “in love” with the powers — but you’re also building up defenses.

  • Pact comes online at Level 3: Chain gives you the imp that tattles on your late-night decisions.

Levels 6–8:

  • Misty Step and Hypnotic Pattern give you control and flair.

  • Take Beguiling Defenses at level 6 (Archfey) — you’ve learned to turn her manipulations against others.

  • Choose Book of Ancient Secrets (if Tome) and grab Comprehend Languages, Identify — flavor them as your attempts to understand what went wrong.

Levels 9–12:

  • More invocations: Grasp of Hadar (pull enemies in — like emotional regression).

  • Add Counterspell — because she’s definitely interrupting your life again.

  • By now, you're strong, conflicted, and dangerous. Still not over her though.

Levels 13–20:

  • Pick Fey Resilience features and flavor them as emotional numbness.

  • Spells like Dominate Person, Wall of Force, and Modify Memory let you rewrite reality — something you wish you could do with the relationship.

  • Capstone (Eldritch Master) lets you ask her for spells again after a short rest.
    You hate that you still call. But you do.

Ideal Gear & Linked Mayhem

If yer in the mood for cursed connections, check out The Paladin Who Can’t Lie But Carries a Shield That Does — another character walkin’ the line between power and principle.

And if yer lookin’ for a setting that fits this kind of heartbreak? Drop him in The Pale Widow’s forest — just don’t expect him to leave unscathed.

When yer patron is also yer ex, every spell is a message ya shouldn’t have sent.

👉 Want more warlocks with poor life choices and great power? Visit Mike’s Tavern or send us a scribbled love letter — we’ll help ya sort it out.

⚠️ And lad… maybe block her number. Just sayin’.

FAQ

Q: Can a warlock break up with their patron?
A: Technically? No. Narratively? Absolutely. Just flavor the pact as regret and unresolved history.

Q: Is this build viable in combat?
A: More than viable. Eldritch Blast still melts faces. The heartbreak just makes it personal.

Michael Lim
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The Rogue Who Hates Stealing