OPTIMIZING D&D 2024 WARLOCKS I - Making Deals with Devils... and also with Gabe Greenspan

A warlock, a podcaster, and a spider walk into a subclass draft. Guess which one survives?

Tired of forgetting what Tyler said about multiclassing back in 2021? Want to relive the glory days of your favorite hot takes, Warlock rants, and deeply cursed jokes? Good news! RPGBOT.net is proud to announce that archived episodes of the RPGBOT.Podcast are now available on YouTube. That's right—every mispronounced spell, every wizard tangent, every moment of Tyler realizing he's said something horrible is now visually accessible. Search "RPGBOT Podcast" on YouTube and hit that play button like it owes you an Eldritch Invocation.

A huge thanks to our guest, Gabe Greenspan — actor, writer, professional chaos gremlin, and the only person brave enough to optimize Warlocks and still talk about MySpace unironically.

Gabe's insight runs as deep as his playlist is unhinged, and if you enjoyed this episode, you need to check out his other work:

• Total Party Skill – where razor-sharp theorycraft collides with chaotic actual play

• Tabletop Tunes – the ultimate soundtrack for your bard, your boss fights, or your brooding warlock vibes

Because let's be honest—every optimized Warlock deserves a killer theme song and a guest appearance from someone cooler than their DM.

Episode Notes

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew dives headfirst into the infernal depths of Warlock optimization using the 2024 D&D rules—and they bring backup. Special guest Gabe Greenspan, co-host of Total Party Skill, joins Tyler, Randall, and Ash for a warlock subclass draft with high stakes, dark bargains, and more tactical wizardry than your average infernal patron would allow.

The team begins with an inside look at their podcast dynamics (spoiler: there's a countdown and Tyler's fear of spiders) before summoning Gabe to the virtual table. What follows is a strategic subclass showdown where each host selects Warlock builds using the updated 2024 rules.

Along the way, they explore new features like Magical Cunning, enhanced invocations like Agonizing Blast (yes, you can double dip), and freshly buffed staples like Fiendish Vigor. They highlight the tactical benefits of spells like Bane, Fairy Fire, and Protection from Evil and Good, while also emphasizing the narrative fun of backgrounds, species, and Awakened Mind-fueled party banter.

If you've ever wanted to optimize a Warlock who can hide in plain sight, strike fear into the hearts of fiends, and psychically text their party mid-fight, this episode's for you.

• Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt
• Sublime (the band)

Key Takeaways

• Gabe Greenspan brings big optimizer energy and podcast finesse to the table.
• Tyler really hates spiders. Like, a lot.
• You can take Agonizing Blast more than once in the 2024 rules, and yes, it's worth it.
• Fiendish Vigor got a glow-up and now comes preloaded with better survivability.
• Bane is lowkey busted now—enemy saves are easier to tank in the new rules.
• Invisibility-on-demand is real, thanks to improved invocations.
• Warlocks can now customize their playstyle far more than in previous editions.
• Party synergy matters, especially when everyone is making dark deals for spell slots.
• Spell selection is more important than ever, with crowd control and tactical choices front and center.
• The team shares character backstories that range from whimsical to unhinged (looking at you, TORTAL).
• Character drafts are a great way to explore subclass features in a fun and collaborative format.

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How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• BlueSky: @GravenAshes
• YouTube: @ashravenmedia

Randall James

• BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
• Amateurjack.com
• Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati