Warlocks are one of the most interesting classes in all of Dungeons & Dragons, having access to unique mechanics in the form of Pact Magic, Pact Boons, and Eldritch Invocations. Although other characters can gain a single Eldritch Invocation with the Eldritch Adept feat, D&D Warlocks gain access to a total 8 by 18th Level, meaning the mechanic has a major impact on their playstyle. Although some Eldritch Invocations are only useful to Warlocks that choose a certain subclass or boon, others are a strong choice no matter the Warlock's build.
One of a Warlock's greatest strengths in Dungeons & Dragons is their access to powerful cantrips, the most notable being Eldritch Blast. Even for more melee-oriented Warlocks such as a Hexblade, Eldritch Blast is an important tool that allows them to deal consistent ranged damage whenever necessary. Agonizing Blast is arguably the first Eldritch Invocation that any Dungeons & Dragons Warlock should take, since it drastically increases the damage output of Eldritch Blast. Agonizing Blast allows the Warlock to add their Charisma modifier, often their highest Ability Score, to the damage roll of each beam of Eldritch Blast. Since a single use of Eldritch Blast creates multiple beams at higher levels, the increased damage from this invocation scales very well. Taking Agonizing Blast allows D&D Warlocks to comfortably deal damage without having to use up any spell slots in the process.
While Agonizing Blast helps a Warlock excel during Dungeons & Dragons encounters, there are also Eldritch Invocations to assist players outside of combat. Mask of Many Faces allows a Warlock to cast Disguise Self at will, without expending a spell slot. Disguise Self is a powerful spell in D&D which allows a character to completely change their appearance, including their size and clothing, and the ability to do so at will can be incredibly useful. If a Warlock needs to infiltrate a certain area, or they need to speak with an NPC they don't have access too, Mask of Many Faces can single-handedly make it possible to do so.
Darkness & Devil's Sight in Dungeons & Dragons
Since Warlocks in Dungeons & Dragons have very few spell slots at their disposal per Short Rest, they have to make the most out it when they actually choose to use one. Darkness allows the Warlock to create a sphere of lingering magical darkness within a certain range, and pairing it with the Eldritch Invocation Devil's Sight makes it even more potent. Devil's Sight is one of the very few ways to gain vision in magical darkness in D&D, and allows a Warlock to operate as normal in situations where no other creature can see. When Devil's Sight and Darkness are paired together, it can allow a Warlock to dominate certain D&D encounters without the enemies even knowing what hit them.
Warlocks are a class with nearly endless customization in D&D, and the many options for Eldritch Invocations are just one way that players can create a unique character with this class. Although these specific invocations aren't necessarily the strongest for any given build, they are accessible at early levels and will provide characters with a good baseline to help their party in Dungeons & Dragons.
