Hex

Hex is a level 1 enchantment spell. This spell allows spellcasters to put a curse on a creature and deal additional Necrotic damage to the targeted creature. The curse also imposes Disadvantage on a chosen ability check.

Description

Make your attacks deal an additional 1d6Necrotic damage to the target and give it Disadvantage on an Ability of your choosing.

If the target dies before the spell ends, you can Reapply Hex to a new creature without expending a Spell Slot.

Properties

Cost: Bonus action + Level 1 Spell Slot
Damage: 1d6 (1~6) Necrotic (conditional)
Details: Range: 18 m / 60 ft; Concentration

At higher levels

Casting this spell at a higher level grants no additional benefit.

Reapply Hex

Can cast Hex without expending a new spell slot.

Classes:

Class Level 1: Warlock

Class Level 6: College of Lore (via Magical Secrets)

Class Level 10: Bard (via Magical Secrets)

Feats:

Magic Initiate: Warlock

If the target dies before spell's duration ends, gain Reapply Hex. While in this state, a glowing shattered crystal will appear above the caster's head.
Unlike the tabletop version, this spell lasts until the caster's concentration is broken.
Hex damage is applied multiple times for multiple successful Attack rolls. Example scenarios:
- Warlock hits the target with a melee or ranged weapon attack: additional 1d6Necrotic.
- Level 1 Warlock casts Eldritch Blast and hits the target: additional 1d6Necrotic.
- Level 5 Warlock casts Eldritch Blast and hits the target with both rays: additional 2d6Necrotic, for hitting twice.
- Level 3 Warlock casts Scorching Ray and hits the target with all three rays: additional 3d6Necrotic, for hitting three times.
- Level 5 Warlock casts Scorching Ray and hits the target with all four rays: additional 4d6Necrotic, for hitting four times.
Hex is only triggered by hitting the target with a successful Attack Roll, and not by other sources of damage. Example scenarios:
- Warlock casts Magic Missile (which does not require Attack Rolls): no additional damage from Hex.
- Warlock casts Fireball (which is a Saving Throw, not an Attack Roll): no additional damage from Hex.
Clarification: The in-game description says it grants 'Disadvantage on an Ability of your choosing', but it only applies to Checks, not all rolls utilising that Ability: the target still rolls normally on Saving Throws and Attack rolls.
In Early Access Patch 9, there was a bugged interaction between Hex and the Eldritch Invocation Agonising Blast, which caused Agonising Blast bonus damage to be applied an extra time for each instance of Hex damage.
- In the case of a level 5 Warlock with two Eldritch Blast beams, this means Agonising Blast damage would be applied a total of 4 times, if both beams hit: once for each beam, and once for each instance of Hex damage.
Hex has two incantations: Te Exsecro, Latin for "I curse you", and Maledictus, Latin for "speak ill of/abuse".
Contrarily to the description, the target doesn't necessarily need to die to allow the spell to be recast - knocking someone out with nonlethal damage also works.