A Player's Guide to Feats - Eldritch Adept
Found in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, the Eldritch Adept is quite an interesting feat. Warlock invocations can be some pretty powerful additions to any character. Unfortunately, there are some significant drawbacks depending on what class you are playing, so the feat may not be for everyone. That said, let’s take a look at, in my opinion, one of the better feats we’ve come across lately.
What is the Eldritch Adept Feat
Prerequisite: Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature
Studying occult lore, you learn one Eldritch Invocation option of your choice from the warlock class. Your spellcasting ability for the invocation is Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (choose when you select this feat). If the invocation has a prerequisite of any kind, you can choose that invocation only if you’re a warlock who meets the prerequisite.
Whenever you gain a level, you can replace the invocation with another one from the warlock class.
Dissecting the Feat
Let's start with the obvious. The prerequisite requires a class that can cast spells or have pact magic. This means that the barbarian, fighter, monk, and rogue (except the arcane trickster) do not have access to the feat. It's not a big deal since that isn't their role in the game. If you're playing one of these classes and have to have this feat for some odd reason, you can always multi-class.
The other big issue is the invocations a non-warlock can take are limited to only those that do not have a prerequisite of some kind. Each of these invocations can be useful but aren't universally suitable for spellcasting classes. The available feats to non-warlock classes are as follows:
Armor of Shadows - Casting mage armor at will is incredible. An AC of 13 + Dexterity modifier is always great for sorcerers and wizards. What is often overlooked is it's an excellent spell for classes that require a high Dexterity. A bard doesn't have access to the mage armor spell, so now they can have an Armor Class better than any light armor. For the arcane trickster, it saves them from having to take the spell or use a spell slot.
Beast Speech - Casting speak with animals at will isn't so great. Unless you have a pet you need to talk to or are looking to add color to your character, it's an invocation to avoid.
Beguiling Influence - I'm only meh on this invocation. Proficiency in Deception and Persuasion isn't horrible, but it's very campaign-specific/class-specific.
Devil's Sight - Many races grant you darkvision, but even if you have it, the invocation extends the trait. If you can cast darkness as a spell, you now have an almost unfair advantage against the poor individuals inside in the area of effect.
Eldritch Sight - Detect magic is an underrated spell, especially when you can cast it at will. With a 10-minute duration and 30-foot radius, it can be helpful in many situations. Some DMs may allow spellcasters to make an Arcane check to accomplish this same thing, but why leave it to the dice roll when you can essentially have it active at all times? Added bonus: the warlock doesn't have access to this spell, making it appealing to them.
Eldritch Mind - Anything that provides an advantage to Concentration checks is something for any spellcaster to consider, especially primary spellcasters.
Eyes of the Rune Keeper - So you can read all the writing. It's basically an at-will version of comprehend languages, but weaker. I can't recommend it to anyone.
Fiendish Vigor - I'm a big fan of the false life spell at will without using a spell slot. Sure, you can only cast it as a 1st level spell, but are you going to pass up the opportunity to gain between 5 to 8 hit points? It does fall off at higher levels, but it's probably one less round of you complaining to the cleric to heal you.
Gaze of the Two Minds - You get to 'use' someone else's senses for a round. They must be humanoid and willing, and you're Blinded and Deafened while doing this. It may sound neat, but it is a complete waste of an invocation.
Mask of Many Faces - You can cast disguise self at will without expending a spell slot. It's a weak spell and very situation-specific. Also, warlocks (along with several other classes) don't have access to this spell, but I highly doubt they are upset by this.
Misty Visions - You can cast silent image at will without expending a spell slot or material components. How often you'll need to make an illusion of an object for 10 minutes is something I can say with confidence, it's not that often. Plus, it requires Concentration. Again, warlocks, along with several other classes, don't have access to this spell, but it doesn't worry them.
Thief of Five Fates - You can cast bane once using a warlock spell slot. You can only do so again after you finish a long rest. The bane spell is beneficial if you're a spellcaster targeting a creature with spells that require saving throws. Bards can make excellent use of this spell. Unfortunately, the drawbacks of both the spell and the feat (requires Concentration, use of a spell slot, and can only be cast once a day) dramatically reduce the effectiveness of this invocation.
Now, if you're a warlock, the world is your oyster. Choosing just two invocations can lead to some hard choices at 2nd level. Sure, you can switch one up every level, but that's different from having three at your disposal. It's also one of the few times taking a feat at higher levels is a realistic option. Casting polymorph with a spell slot once a day at the 7th level is good. Casting invisibility at will without using a spell slot, even at the 15th level, is really good.
The Eldritch Adept Feat Useability by Class
Artificer: There are so many other feats that are more useful for the artificer, rendering it not worth taking.
Barbarian: The feat is unavailable to the class.
Bard: The bard can utilize, quite effectively, many of the innovations they have access to. Armor of Shadows we spoke about above. Beguiling Influence pairs nicely with College of Eloquence bards. Mask of Many Faces can save you a spell slot. Thief of Five Fates can come in useful, even with its limitations.
Cleric: Not worth taking
Druid: Not worth taking
Fighter: The feat is unavailable to the class.
Monk: The feat is unavailable to the class.
Paladin: Not worth taking.
Ranger: Another class that can put a number of invocations to good use. Armor of Shadows could possibly be better than wearing armor for some rangers, especially if they don't want disadvantage when sneaking around in the trees. It does lose a bit of its shine after the 10th level when you gain Hide in Plain Sight. Since the Beast Master can't talk to their companion without casting the speak with animals spell, Beast Speech gives them the ability to do so pretty much all the time. It's more fun than functional, but the game is about having fun, right? Thief of Five Fates may make some sense, given that many of the ranger's main spells require saving throws, and they don't have access to the spell.
Rogue: It's only available to the arcane trickster, but they may give the feat some serious thought. Armor of Shadows is good. The two skills in Beguiling Influence are important to any rogue. Eldritch Sight, Fiendish Vigor, and Mask of Many Faces all provide things any good rogue can use throughout a campaign.
Sorcerer: The primary reason to take the feat is to grab Armor of Shadows. Devil's Sight, combined with the darkness spell, can be powerful, as stated above. Sorcerers can't go wrong with Eldritch Mind, either.
Warlock: With every invocation available to the warlock, you must decide on your own if your character wants a third one. Personally, I can find at least three I'd love to have. If I'm multiclassing, the feat is even more valuable since the ability to switch one up is reduced.
Wizard: The feat is an excellent option for the wizard. Armor of Shadow saves you a precious spell slot, even if it is a 1st level one. Devil's Sight, Eldritch Sight, Fiendish Vigor, and even Thief of Five Fates all bring something valuable to the table.
Conclusion
The Eldritch Adept feat may not be the best, but it provides some valuable options to specific classes. Armor of Shadows and Eldritch Minds are excellent choices for all spellcasters. If nothing else, the wizard gets to rub it in the face of barbarians everywhere that they can't even consider taking it. Who needs Great Weapon Fighting when you can read every language in the known universe?
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