One of the most popularDungeons & Dragonssubclasses for the sheer amount of roleplay opportunities and unique character designs, warlocks gain their power through a pact made with powerful beings. They do this as a quick path to power that often comes with caveats and demands, especially if made with a fiend.
However, not all warlock patrons are evil, and some can be good-natured and willing to offer power to any creature worthy enough to pursue just goals. Although it is difficult to justify just any good creature as a warlock’s patron, some are especially fitting to the role.
9Ancient Gold Dragon
The oldest and wisest of the metallic dragons, gold dragons value bravery, kindness, and just acts of good. Gold dragons can also take the form of humanoids and beasts, wandering the mortal world as another adventurer, spreading goodwill wherever they go.
A gold dragon might become a warlock’s patron under the promise that they don’t abuse their power or use it to achieve a specific goal, such as defeating a lich or rival chromatic dragon. Also,any metallic dragoncould serve as a warlock’s patron depending on their native environment or preferred elemental aesthetic.
Although typically neutral, crystal dragons can also make a unique warlock patron.
8Solar
An angel-like being and one of the stronger celestial creatures, solars are the result of the creation of gods or as a consequence of some divine event. As a result, solars are devoted to a specific god, or less so to ideologies that represent a specific holy entity or religion.
Solars are ideal ways to have warlocks interact with a powerful force related to a specific god without having to remove the mystique and power by having gods interact directly with mere mortals. A solar also detects lies, making it difficult to abandon a path set by one without consequences.
Lower angels such as planetars and devas can also work as a patron if you desire a more attainable or personal celestial being.
7Storm Giant
The tallest, most intelligent, and feared ofthe many giant species, storm giants control the skies, weather, and sea. Luckily, most storm giants focus on charitable acts towards smaller beings, granting them safety and sharing their deep knowledge of runes and magic.
A warlock of a storm giant might be focused on the more mystical elements of magic, flavoring Eldritch Blasts as bolts of lightning and Arms of Hadar as a swirling storm. A storm giant might also rely on a warlock as a spy, operating in areas of society a storm giant would be all-too-noticeable.
6Guardian Naga
One of many subspecies of naga, a guardian naga is an immortal, snake-like monstrosity obsessed with gathering lore and secrets. After living for many centuries, a guardian naga is beyond wise and intelligent, with access to many unique pieces of magic and powerful secrets.
Not able to scour the world alone, a guardian naga might invoke a warlock to seek out pieces of lore and magic to return to the naga in return for power. They might also place restrictions on this power, such as making sure knowledge doesn’t enter the wrong hands or is used for evil purposes.
A spirit is the evil counterpart of a guardian naga, should you want to create a balance of both in your pact dynamic.
5Ki-Rin
Seen as a blessing of good fortune if one even sees a ki-rin, these unicorn-esque celestial beings sometimes work for gods or dedicate themselves to providing sanctuary to the innocent or healing their injuries. Like a dragon, ki-rin also gather treasure, but as a source of offerings rather than mere hoarding.
Ki-rin also have unique abilities while inside their lair that allow them to craft trinkets, cure disease, and repel evil creatures. A ki-rin acting as a warlock’s patron might demand that they distribute their fortune to the needy or free those in captivity under evil forces.
4Djinni
The classic image of a floating, blue genie sprouting from an oil lamp, a djinni will temporarily serve under mortals who free them, offering them great gifts in the form of wishes. Djinni are also complicated creatures, often delighting in disrupting natural order for the benefit of mortals they have favored.
A warlock who has earned theallegiance of a djinnimight wish to be granted power, being given a portion of a djinni’s magic in return for the djinni’s freedom. The djinni might then stick around, curiously watching their adventures from afar, or even offering a helping hand once in a while.
3Hollyphant
Although not especially powerful creatures, hollyphants are celestial beings resembling small, winged elephants that act as messengers or servants of higher beings. More of a whimsical nature with a silly personality, hollyphants are often more bombastic or bumbling than your typical, noble celestial.
While maybe not the source of a warlock’s power, a hollyphant can serve as a conduit through which a warlock accesses its power from the upper planes. There could be any number of reasons a hollyphant might align itself with a simple mortal, but it will likely often ask for assistance in disposing of evil creatures.
2Empyrean
Beings of pure emotion and manifestations of beauty itself, empyreans are the children of celestial beings and even the gods themselves. Often less thoughtful than their parents, empyreans act on their emotions and charge recklessly into any situation.
To this end, a charming warlock could be convincing enough to offer their services to an empyrean, swearing loyalty to their deified parentage in return for a fraction of their power. An empyrean is a risky patron, however, as their might can easily be turned against you should you turn your back on them.
1Animal Lord
Inhabiting one of the outer planes known as the Beastlands, animal lords are god-like celestials that embody and hold dominion over the beasts they represent. This leaves a fairly open-ended interpretation of which animal lord works as your warlock’s patron and what animal matches their personality.
Perhaps they embody the spirit of wolves, demanding loyalty and pack-thinking that rely on maintaining the integrity of your adventuring party. Or even a rat lord, representing the downtrodden and forgotten while demanding that all life be treated as equal in value.
