Warlock Ability Scores: The Short-Rest Caster Spread
Charisma takes the 15 and reads twice into every Eldritch Blast once Agonizing Blast is taken. Constitution 14 is the second purchase, and the reason is the short rest: two slots at a time means the Warlock is in every fight of the day, and Hex only pays across a whole one.
The Warlock array, point by point
| Ability | Score | Point cost |
|---|---|---|
| STR | 8 | 0 |
| DEX | 14 | 7 |
| CON | 14 | 7 |
| INT | 10 | 2 |
| WIS | 10 | 2 |
| CHA | 15 | 9 |
| Total spent | 27 | |
Holding concentration at each Constitution
Hex is concentration, and a Warlock that loses it loses most of its damage for the rest of the fight rather than one spell out of a prepared list. Constitution 14 is what that protection costs, at +2 with no Constitution save proficiency to add to it.
| CON | Modifier | Save bonus | DC 10 check | 22 damage (DC 11) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | -1 | -1 | 50% | 45% |
| 10 | +0 | +0 | 55% | 50% |
| 12 | +1 | +1 | 60% | 55% |
| 13 | +1 | +1 | 60% | 55% |
| 14 ← | +2 | +2 | 65% | 60% |
| 15 | +2 | +2 | 65% | 60% |
| 16 | +3 | +3 | 70% | 65% |
| 18 | +4 | +4 | 75% | 70% |
Trading the primary score for Constitution
No trade is available on this array, for the same reason the numbers look so tidy. Charisma 14 casts at the DC 12 that Charisma 15 does, Constitution 15 concentrates at the +2 that Constitution 14 does, and two points can cross the table without the sheet reading any differently afterwards.
Scores where the next point stops paying
- Charisma 15
- Eldritch Blast reads Charisma twice once Agonizing Blast is taken, and the pact DC starts at 12.
- Constitution 14
- Two slots per short rest means the Warlock is in every fight all day, and Hex only pays across a whole one.
- Dexterity 14
- AC 14 in light armour — the Warlock is a d8 caster standing inside 120 feet by design.
What this array gives up to afford that
- Strength at 8
- Eldritch Blast is the whole attack routine; a Warlock has no Strength save proficiency and no reason to close.
- Intelligence at 10
- Pact Magic reads Charisma end to end, and the Book of Ancient Secrets rituals do not roll Intelligence to cast.
Subclasses that change the array
- The Hexblade — STR 8 · DEX 14 · CON 14 · INT 8 · WIS 12 · CHA 15
- Hex Warrior attacks with Charisma, so a melee Warlock still needs no Strength — the points go to Wisdom saves instead.
- The Great Old One — STR 8 · DEX 14 · CON 13 · INT 12 · WIS 10 · CHA 15
- Awakened Mind and the telepathy theme lean on Intelligence skills, and this pact rarely holds concentration in melee.
- The Fiend — STR 8 · DEX 14 · CON 15 · INT 8 · WIS 10 · CHA 15
- Dark One's Blessing pays temporary hit points on every kill, which rewards standing closer and funding Constitution.
Races that fit this spread
| Race | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aasimar (Scourge) | 8 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 17 |
| Tiefling | 8 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 17 |
| Elf (Drow) | 8 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 16 |
- Aasimar (Scourge). Charisma +2 and Constitution +1, with radiant damage that stacks on a short-rest damage class.
- Tiefling. Charisma +2 and innate spells that do not consume the Warlock's two precious pact slots.
- Elf (Drow). Dexterity +2 and Charisma +1, plus Faerie Fire — the one racial spell that improves every Eldritch Blast in the party.
The mistake this array is built to avoid
Buying Charisma 15 and stopping there. The Warlock gets two slots per short rest, so the gap between Constitution 12 and 14 decides whether Hex survives into the second encounter of the day.
Two slots on a short rest means each one has to survive to be worth casting. Charisma 15 is what lands Hex on the target and Constitution 14 is what keeps it there long enough to pay the slot back.
Warlock ability score questions
What is the best Warlock point buy array?
Charisma 15, Dexterity 14, Constitution 14 spends all 27. Charisma sets the pact save DC at 12, Dexterity gives AC 14 in light armour, and Constitution 14 holds Hex through the second and third encounters after a short rest.
Does a Hexblade need Strength or Dexterity?
Neither. Hex Warrior lets the Warlock attack with Charisma, so the melee build still runs Strength 8 and spends the points on Wisdom 12 for saves instead. That array keeps Charisma 15, Dexterity 14 and Constitution 14.
Why is Constitution 14 the line for a Warlock?
Because slots return on a short rest, the Warlock casts in every encounter rather than rationing across the day. Constitution 14 puts concentration at +2, which is the difference between Hex surviving into the second fight and being recast from scratch.
Should a Warlock buy Wisdom for the save proficiency?
The proficiency applies regardless of the score, so Wisdom 10 already benefits. The base array leaves it at 10 and spends the points on Dexterity 14 instead, since AC applies every round while a Wisdom save comes up occasionally.
Where to go next
- Sorcerer — The other Charisma caster, funding survival with Constitution rather than short rests.
- Paladin — The Hexblade dip runs both ways, and both classes need Charisma 13 to do it.
- Every array on this page is a plain 27-point spread, so you can work out your own budget and see each step priced as you go.