Hex

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• Level: 1
• School: Enchantment
• Class: Warlock
• Casting Time: 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 roll. Also, choose one ability when you cast the spell. The target has Disadvantage on ability checks made with the chosen ability.

If the target drops to 0 Hit Points before this spell ends, you can take a Bonus Action on a later turn to curse a new creature.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. Your Concentration can last longer with a spell slot of level 2 (up to 4 hours), 3-4 (up to 8 hours), or 5+ (24 hours).

Tactical Usage

Opening Combat Setup: Cast Hex as your first bonus action in combat to establish long-term damage enhancement. The concentration duration means one casting can affect multiple encounters, making it exceptionally efficient for spell slot economy.

Target Selection Strategy: Choose targets likely to survive multiple attacks to maximize the 1d6 damage bonus value. High-HP enemies or those you plan to focus fire provide the best return on your spell slot investment.

Ability Score Targeting: The disadvantage on ability checks feature becomes a powerful tactical tool when you understand enemy capabilities. Target Strength against grapplers, Dexterity against stealthy foes, or Intelligence against spellcasters trying to identify magic.

Spell Combinations

Eldritch Blast Synergy: Hex synergizes perfectly with Eldritch Blast's multiple beams. Each beam that hits adds 1d6 necrotic damage, potentially adding 4d6 damage per turn at high levels when combined with multiple invocations.

Hunter's Mark Comparison: Similar to Hunter's Mark but with different damage types and ability score targeting. Multiclass characters can potentially stack these effects, though both require concentration from the same caster.

Darkness Combo: Combine Hex's Dexterity disadvantage with Darkness spell to create severe penalties for enemies trying to move or act effectively while you attack with advantage through Devil's Sight.

Material Component Details

Petrified Newt Eye: The petrified eye of a newt provides thematic connection to curse magic and dark pacts. This component is relatively affordable and commonly available from alchemical suppliers or magical component dealers.

Component Acquisition: Most settlements with magical services will stock newt eyes, but petrified versions require special preparation. Consider harvesting and preparing components during downtime or commissioning them from alchemists.

Focus Alternatives: Component pouches or arcane focuses can replace the material component, but having actual petrified newt eyes adds atmospheric weight to your curse casting and reinforces your warlock's otherworldly connections.

Creator Notes

Encounter Duration Impact: Hex's ability to transfer to new targets when the original dies makes it particularly effective in encounters with multiple weaker enemies. Balance encounters considering the spell's potential duration and damage output.

Ability Check Disruption: The ability score disadvantage can significantly impact skill challenges and environmental interactions. Consider how this affects puzzles, social encounters, or exploration challenges involving the hexed target.

NPC Usage: Hexing important NPCs can create interesting roleplay opportunities. Cursed nobles, hindered craftsmen, or disadvantaged rivals provide ongoing narrative consequences that extend beyond combat encounters.

Environmental Interactions

Curse Manifestation: The hex creates a visible supernatural mark on the target - flickering shadows, an ominous aura, or other signs of supernatural affliction. This visual component can affect social interactions and creature reactions.

Duration Scaling: Higher-level spell slots extend the duration dramatically, from 1 hour to potentially 24 hours. This transforms Hex from a combat spell into a persistent curse that can affect entire storylines.

Transfer Mechanics: When the target dies, you can immediately transfer the hex to a new creature within range. This creates tactical opportunities for positioning and target selection during complex encounters.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

Attack Roll Requirement: The extra damage only applies to attacks that hit with attack rolls. Spells that require saving throws, area effects, or automatic hits don't trigger the bonus damage.

Concentration Mechanics: Like all concentration spells, Hex can be lost if you fail concentration saves or cast another concentration spell. Protect your concentration through positioning and defensive measures.

Ability Check Specificity: You choose one specific ability when casting Hex. The disadvantage applies only to checks using that ability, not saves or attack rolls using the same ability score.

Alternative Applications

Social Manipulation: Hex can be used outside combat to hinder rivals in social situations. A hexed Charisma creates disadvantage on Persuasion and Deception checks, potentially swaying important negotiations or social conflicts.

Skill Challenge Disruption: Target specific abilities to disrupt enemy skill usage. Hex Intelligence to hinder Investigation checks, Wisdom to reduce Perception effectiveness, or Dexterity to limit Stealth capabilities.

Long-term Consequences: High-level Hex durations create opportunities for extended curses that affect NPCs across multiple scenes or even story arcs, adding supernatural consequences to enemy actions.

Related Spells

Hunter's Mark: The ranger equivalent with similar mechanics but different damage type and tracking benefits. Multiclass characters might access both, though both require concentration.

Bestow Curse: Higher-level curse magic with more severe effects but shorter base duration and higher spell slot cost. Hex provides efficient long-term cursing while Bestow Curse offers powerful short-term debilitation.

Eldritch Blast: The primary synergy spell for warlocks. Hex transforms Eldritch Blast from a reliable attack into a devastating damage source that scales excellently into high levels.

Scaling Analysis

Early Levels (1-4): Hex provides excellent damage enhancement when you have limited spell slots and attacks. The long duration means one casting affects multiple encounters, providing outstanding value.

Mid Levels (5-10): Remains highly effective as you gain multiple Eldritch Blast beams and additional attacks. The damage scaling through multiple hits maintains relevance throughout these levels.

High Levels (11+): With extended durations and multiple daily castings, Hex becomes a persistent battlefield presence. The ability to affect multiple encounters with single castings makes resource management more flexible.

Narrative Flavor

Curse Manifestation: As you speak the ancient words, a spectral eye appears briefly above your target before sinking into their flesh. Dark veins of energy pulse beneath their skin, and an aura of misfortune settles around them like a shroud.

Damage Description: When your attacks connect, the curse flares with malevolent energy. Necrotic power surges through the target, causing visible pain and weakening as the hex drains their vitality with each successful strike.

Ability Score Impact: The chosen ability becomes sluggish and unreliable under the hex's influence. Cursed muscles strain against invisible weight, minds fog with supernatural confusion, or senses dull under the weight of otherworldly malice, making even simple tasks frustratingly difficult.