5e Lesser Gorgon Archer (Archfey Yuan-Ti Warlock Pact of Blade)

Okay, I made a gorgon archer as soon as I had access to the Player's Handbook but I hadn't written it down for posting anywhere that I remember. Now with the yuan-ti and the very recent Unearthed Arcana articles, especially those that were focused on Warlock, I've decided to re-approach this using entirely official material (though some of the Warlock bits I am using are from the Unearthed Arcana playtest materials).

As with the rebuild of my Disciple of Medusa character from a 3.X campaign, I am going with Archfey as the patron given the idea that Medusa often result as a deal with fey, wizards and the like. I am using yuan-ti pureblood as a base race, but the concept is the idea of someone whose mother or father fell to the Medusa curse before they were conceived, thus afflicting them with a lesser form of the pact made by their parent. If I were doing any sort of home-brewing, I would switch out the Magic Resistance for Petrification Resistance or Immunity, less powerful but more thematic.

Contrary to Medora (the aforementioned Disciple) this will be an archer primarily. Originally this would be a Ranger/Warlock mix, but now I'm looking at some of the new invocations in Unearthed Arcana.

For background, I'm going with an Urchin, the idea being that she lived in a sort of monster-ghetto where the unusually aligned members of different monster types were kept to "protect" them from other people. So her medusa parent was thwarted (possibly killed, but would be cooler later in a campaign for said parent to be alive) and some adventurers dropped her off at some city that dumped her in this part of town. In any case, she doesn't exactly have a Pact where she owes anyone service, but her fey-twisted heritage might still attract problems.

A lot of her spells are going to based on the idea of minor shape-shifts and gazes. For example, her Expeditious Retreat would be shifting into a legless, snake-from-waist-down form.

Using the normal array I use of 15,14,13,12,11,10

1st Level Yuan-Ti Archfey Pact Blade Warlock Urchin

Str:10

Dex:14

Con:13

Int: 12

Wis:12

Cha:17

HP: 9

AC: 12

Save DC: 13

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Speed 30 ft

Darkvision 60 ft

Innate Spellcasting: Poison Spray Cantrip, Animal Friendship (snakes only) at will

Magic Resistance

Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Disguise Tools, Thieves Tools

Saving Throws: Wisdom and Charisma

Proficient Skills

Arcana (Warlock) +3

Intimidation (Warlock) +5

Sleight of Hand (Urchin) +4
Stealth (Urchin) +4

Background: Urchin

Pact Magic

Otherwordly Pact: Archfey 

Fey Presence

Spell Slots: 1 (1st Level)

Innate Spellcasting at Will: Poison Spray, Animal Friendship (snakes only)

Cantrips: Minor Illusion, Eldritch Blast

Spells: Expeditious Retreat, Hex

It may seem odd to take both Eldritch Blast and go down the Archer route, however, given the fact that it has more attacks as it gets higher in level, Eldritch Blast has some uses in terms of minion clearing and in forcing multiple concentration checks. It should be noted that the fully upgraded Pact Bow is more reliable in terms of both average damage and ability to hit high ACs than a full upgraded Eldritch Blast.

2nd to 5th Level

2nd Level - Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Sea Twins Gift, +6 HP (15)

Spell: Protection from Evil and Good

3rd Level - Suggestion 1/Long Rest, Pact Boon: Pact of the Blade, +6 HP (21)

Spell: Hold Person

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement, +1 Cha, +1 Con, +10 HP (31)

Cantrip: True Strike

Spell: Spider Climb

5th Level - Proficiency Bonus +3, Invocation: Moon Bow, +7 HP (38)

Spell: Blink

Reasoning: Armor of Shadows represents getting a bit more scaly, Sea Twins Gift just seems neat, giving her a Swimming Speed and ability to breathe underwater. Pact of the Blade leads to Moon Bow which allows a long bow to become a pact weapon. Hold Person is flavored as a gaze attack, though it would have the same game requirements as Hold Person normally does and not actually be limited by the limits of gaze attacks. Spider Climb, like Expeditious Retreat and Sea Twins Gift increases her mobility and get to odd places. She had two good characteristics at odd levels so +1 to each made sense. Blink is something I assume makes use of the fey nature of the Medusa curse she partially inherited and is a bit of defenses.

5th Level Statistics

5th Level Yuan-Ti Archfey Pact Blade Warlock Urchin

Str:10

Dex:14

Con:14

Int: 12

Wis:12

Cha:18

HP: 38

AC: 12 (15 with Mage Armor)

Save DC: 15

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Speed 30 ft

Darkvision 60 ft

Innate Spellcasting: Poison Spray Cantrip, Animal Friendship (snakes only) at will, Suggestion 1/Long Rest

Magic Resistance

Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Disguise Tools, Thieves Tools

Saving Throws: Wisdom and Charisma

Proficient Skills

Arcana (Warlock) +4

Intimidation (Warlock) +7

Sleight of Hand (Urchin) +5
Stealth (Urchin) +5

Background: Urchin

Pact Magic

Otherwordly Pact: Archfey 

Fey Presence

Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Moon Bow, Sea Twin's Gift

Pact of the Bow: Long Bow (+5 Attack, 1d8+2 Piercing)

Spell Slots: 2 (3rd Level)

Innate Spellcasting at Will: Poison Spray, Animal Friendship (snakes only)

Innate Spellcasting 1/Long Rest: Suggestion

Cantrips: Minor Illusion, Eldritch Blast, True Strike

Spells: Blink, Expeditious Retreat, Hex, Hold Person, Protection from Good and Evil, Spider Climb

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Misty Escape +7 HP (45)

Spell: Counterspell

7th Level - Invocation: Thirsting Weapon, +7 HP (52)

Spell: Banishment

8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Dex, +7 (59)

Spell: Hunger of Hadar

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus +4, Invocation: Superior Pact Weapon, +7 HP (66)

Spell: Hold Monster

10th Level - Beguiling Defenses, +7 HP (73)

Cantrip: Prestidigitation

Reasoning: I almost took Improved Pact Weapon but decided Thirsting Blade was better. Then I added Superior Pact Weapon. This means that if she just creates a Pact Bow or other weapon, it works as a +2 weapon of course, if she were to get a better bow this invocation would likely be replaced. For this, I assume her Hunger of Hadar is more snake themed than tentacle themed. Banishment, Coutnerspell, and Hold Monster are all variations of her gazes and her tapping into her Fey nature. This makes her a lot more versatile than the average medusa, I know, but given the mythical Medusa had lots of powers attributed to her that don't often get into modern interpretations it's not that horrible. Because she needs her Dex to use with her bow, it felt a good idea to add to that.

10th Level Statistics

10th Level Yuan-Ti Archfey Pact Blade Warlock Urchin

Str:10

Dex:16

Con:14

Int: 12

Wis: 12

Cha: 18

HP: 73

AC: 13 (16 with Mage Armor)

Save DC: 16

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Speed 30 ft

Darkvision 60 ft

Innate Spellcasting: Poison Spray Cantrip, Animal Friendship (snakes only) at will, Suggestion 1/Long Rest

Magic Resistance

Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Disguise Tools, Thieves Tools

Saving Throws: Wisdom and Charisma

Proficient Skills

Arcana (Warlock) +5

Intimidation (Warlock) +8

Sleight of Hand (Urchin) +7
Stealth (Urchin) +7

Background: Urchin

Pact Magic

Otherwordly Pact: Archfey 

Fey Presence

Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Moon Bow, Sea Twin's Gift, Superior Pact Weapon, Thirsting Blade

Pact of the Bow: Long Bow +2 (two attacks, +9 Attack, 1d8+5 Piercing Damage)

Beguiling Defense

Spell Slots: 2 (3rd Level)

Innate Spellcasting at Will: Poison Spray, Animal Friendship (snakes only)

Innate Spellcasting 1/Long Rest: Suggestion

Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, True Strike

Spells: Banishment, Blink, Counterspell, Expeditious Retreat, Hex, Hold Monster, Hold Person, Hunger of Hadar, Protection from Good and Evil, Spider Climb

 

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - Mystic Arcanum: Flesh to Stone, +7 HP (80)

Spell: Blight

12th Level - Invocation: Life Drinker, Ability Score Improvement: +2 Cha, +7 HP (87)

13th Level - Proficiency Bonus +5, Mystic Arcanum: Etherealness, +7 HP (94)

Spell: Earthbind

14th Level - Dark Delirium, +7 HP (101)

15th Level - Mystic Arcanum: Feeblemind, Replace Invocation: Ultimate Pact Weapon, Invocation: Aspect of the Moon, +7 HP (108)

Spell: Hellish Rebuke

Reasoning: This might be one of the few characters that I don't take a Feat on, the Invocations and spells are giving me a lot of versatility and the build I'm taking is a little bit MAD. Her Pact Weapon is now +3, the first Mystic Arcanum was obviously going to be Flesh to Stone, though to be honest, I was tempted by Eyebite. Blight, Earthbind and Hellish Rebuke represent more variations of her gaze attacks. Her second arcanum is again taking advantage of the fact her touch to the medusa curse is of fey origin and Feeblemind is another gaze effect. Again, these gazes don't have the limits of actual in-game gazes, so she can afflict people even that aren't looking at her, but the idea that the magic is in her eyes is pretty good. I like the idea that she no longer needs sleep.

15th Level Statistics

15th Level Yuan-Ti Archfey Pact Blade Warlock Urchin

Str:10

Dex:16

Con:14

Int: 12

Wis: 12

Cha: 20

HP: 108

AC: 13 (16 with Mage Armor)

Save DC: 18

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Speed 30 ft

Darkvision 60 ft

Innate Spellcasting: Poison Spray Cantrip, Animal Friendship (snakes only) at will, Suggestion 1/Long Rest

Magic Resistance

Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Disguise Tools, Thieves Tools

Saving Throws: Wisdom and Charisma

Proficient Skills

Arcana (Warlock) +6

Intimidation (Warlock) +10

Sleight of Hand (Urchin) +8
Stealth (Urchin) +8

Background: Urchin

Pact Magic

Otherwordly Pact: Archfey 

Fey Presence

Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Aspect of the Moon, Life Drinker, Moon Bow, Sea Twin's Gift, Thirsting Blade, Ultimate Pact Weapon

Pact of the Bow: Long Bow +3 (two attacks, +11 Attack, 1d8+6 Piercing Damage +5 Necrotic Damage)

Beguiling Defense

Mystic Arcanum: Flesh to Stone, Etherealness, Feeblemind

Dark Delirium

Spell Slots: 3 (5th Level)

Innate Spellcasting at Will: Poison Spray, Animal Friendship (snakes only)

Innate Spellcasting 1/Long Rest: Suggestion

Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, True Strike

Spells: Banishment, Blink, Blight, Counterspell, Earthbind, Expeditious Retreat, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, Hold Monster, Hold Person, Hunger of Hadar, Protection from Good and Evil, Spider Climb

 

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Dex, +7 HP (115)

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus +6, Mystic Arcanum: Foresight, +7 HP (122)

Spell: Faerie Fire

18th Level - Invocation: One With Shadows, +7 HP (129)

19th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Dex, +7 HP (136)
Spell: Fly

20th Level - Eldritch Master, +7 HP (143)

Reasoning: Well, a lot of this stuff is things that are fairly fill in the blanks a bit here. There wasn't anything particularly useful. Ideally, I would have found something better to theme, but still I increased her stealthy, swift archery abilities and gave her the ability to fly. The Foresight represents again some of the lesser known variations of the older real-world Medusa myth where she had some level of prophetic ability.

20th Level Statistics

20th Level Yuan-Ti Archfey Pact Blade Warlock Urchin

Str:10

Dex: 20

Con:14

Int: 12

Wis: 12

Cha: 20

HP: 143

AC: 15 (18 with Mage Armor)

Save DC: 19

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Speed 30 ft

Darkvision 60 ft

Innate Spellcasting: Poison Spray Cantrip, Animal Friendship (snakes only) at will, Suggestion 1/Long Rest

Magic Resistance

Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Disguise Tools, Thieves Tools

Saving Throws: Wisdom and Charisma

Proficient Skills

Arcana (Warlock) +7

Intimidation (Warlock) +11

Sleight of Hand (Urchin) +11
Stealth (Urchin) +11

Background: Urchin

Pact Magic

Otherwordly Pact: Archfey 

Fey Presence

Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Aspect of the Moon, Life Drinker, Moon Bow, One With Shadows, Sea Twin's Gift, Thirsting Blade, Ultimate Pact Weapon

Pact of the Bow: Long Bow +3 (two attacks, +14 Attack, 1d8+8 Piercing Damage +5 Necrotic Damage)

Beguiling Defense

Mystic Arcanum: Flesh to Stone, Etherealness, Feeblemind, Foresight

Dark Delirium

Eldritch Master

Spell Slots: 4 (5th Level)

Innate Spellcasting at Will: Poison Spray, Animal Friendship (snakes only)

Innate Spellcasting 1/Long Rest: Suggestion

Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, True Strike

Spells: Banishment, Blink, Blight, Counterspell, Earthbind, Expeditious Retreat, Faerie Fire, Fly, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, Hold Monster, Hold Person, Hunger of Hadar, Protection from Good and Evil, Spider Climb

 

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