More often than not, spellcasters in Dungeons & Dragons that aren't able to consistently reach the highest level spells don't always draw the most interest from players looking to jump into combat with the most powerful magic. However, the Warlock stands out among other spellcasters, like D&D's Sorcerer class, thanks in-part to the way that its class features are able to make magic unique between players.
With Dungeons & Dragons moving forward with development on the Sixth Edition, the question becomes how Wizards of the Coast could possibly improve the Warlock class. Rather than trying to open up the list of available spells, the best path forward might be to keep leaning into the ways that Warlocks can customize their magic and improving Cantrips for this class.
Warlocks and the Eldritch Blast in D&D 6E
In the current edition of D&D, the Cantrip Eldritch Blast is one of the most powerful spells in a Warlocks arsenal. This is due in small part to the way that Cantrips improve based on a character's level, rather than spending higher-leveled skill slots to boost them. However, the biggest boon to Eldritch Blast for Warlocks in D&D comes from the way certain class features and Eldritch Invocations are able to enhance the spell. These upgrades run the gambit from easier targeting, pushing and pulling enemies, and enhancing the damage of the Eldritch Blast.
When looking at how to improve this customization from D&D 5E to 6E, diving into the Warlock's Patrons and some schools of magic they specialize in might help make each character of this class unique from player to player. One example could be to change the damage type of Eldritch Blast by infusing it with the power of the Warlock's Patron, expanding damage potential beyond the simple Force effect it currently has. This could mean a Celestial Patron would make give the spell Radiant damage, or a Fiend would create a Fire-based Eldritch Blast.
Beyond letting a Patron influence the type of damage the Eldritch Blast delivers, additional features similar to invocations like Agonizing Blast could further improve the Cantrip. These could be tied directly to a Patron, or other Eldritch Invocations, offering the ability to let this specific attack stun, knock prone, or induce fear in an enemy. It could grant the class a level of flexibility that goes beyond simply spamming a single spell, with occasionally more powerful spells thrown into the mix. Similarly, this could also help to better separate D&D's Warlock Class from other spellcasters.
A Warlock's Utility with Other Cantrips
While it might be easy to assume that most fights will eventually devolve into simply hurling Eldritch Blasts for most Warlocks, there are plenty of more options for Cantrips in D&D 5E. However, considering how limited a Warlock's spell slots are, these Cantrips are more likely to be the spells being cast more often. So, beyond focusing on only the Warlock's signature spell, this specific class could use a unique reworking of how Cantrips improve at different levels.
In the cases where a Cantrip can improve, this happens whenever a player hits a specific level milestone, such as 5th, 11th, and 17th Levels. While this can normally be key to keeping mages in a fight after depleting all of their available spell slots, the lack of availability to spam some of D&D's best spells makes these improvements feel less balanced for Warlocks. One possible alternative could then be to start Warlocks at an extra power level beyond other spellcasters. Alternatively, the improvements could come more frequently, with one extra one gained by 17th Level.
To keep the class from becoming too powerful by adding entirely additional die rolls to their attacks, this could also be implemented in the form of another class feature or Eldritch Invocation. This way, the ability to use a super powered Cantrip could be limited to a number of uses between rests, either tied to proficiency bonus or spellcasting bonuses. Altogether, these changes could make the Warlock a little more impressive for players, which could incentivize the sacrifice of D&D's more powerful magic for consistently powerful Cantrips.
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