One D&D Undead Warlock Build Guide – 2025 Version
Learn the best build for the Undead Warlock with full leveling guides, full spell list, and easy to navigate sections to only read what you need!

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Article Disclaimers
For all D&D guides on Nat1gaming, they only use the main sourcebooks (2024 Player’s Handbook, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything) as well as Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos (mostly for Silvery Barbs) as those tend to be the most commonly used books at tables. Always be sure that if you’re following a guide that you’re adhering to your tables rules about what sourcebooks you are allowed to follow. Furthermore, be sure that you’re using the most current edition of the rules, especially as some 2024 Player’s Handbook rules are updates on Tasha’s or Xanathar’s rulings.
Any spell, class, feature, or other game item that is linkable on this website is covered by the 5th edition Open Games License and will be in the Player’s Handbook, but not everything in the Player’s Handbook will be linked to. All other materials that aren’t linked to are from other sourcebooks or aren’t allowed to be linked to per the 5th Edition Open Games License, so please refer to the appropriate sourcebooks for that information.
For the purposes of this guide, it will be assumed that you would not be multiclassing. While multiclassing can be excellent for many of these, this is for those who want to play the build all the way through in the same class. Guides that use multiclassing will be separate from these.
For spellcasters, you may notice substantial overlap between the spell lists of builds with the same base class. This is due to each guide utilizing a generically good spell list and not considering extenuating factors that will influence how you particularly sculpt your spell list. When creating your own spell list, you should take into account the campaign setting, what spells any other party members are capable of casting, potential overlap (ritual spells tend to overlap so it’s rare you need multiple people capable of casting them), or potential shortcomings in the parties total spell list. While this guide can definitely help point you in the right direction for crafting a spell list, you should use your judgement and preferences to figure out what spells make the most sense for your character.
To that end, please refer to the Spell List and Spell Tier list for any substitutions you’d want to make to the build.
Warlock Spell List and Spell Tier List
Why Pact of the Undead Warlock?
Pact of the Undead Warlock is a neat and pretty middle of the road Warlock subclass. Personally, I don’t see many features that jump out as super interesting to me, and for the most part, the abiltiies here are all within the realm of fine. If you like the flavor of learning magic from a lich (which is definitely some pretty sick backstory), then this is a solid choice.
Undead Abilities Ranked
Form of Dread (Level 3) – B+ Tier – A solid ability all around giving you some temporary health, a really good and consistent stream of CC in the form of frightened, and immunity to frightened. Considering you can use this multiple times per day, this is pretty strong.
1st and 2nd Level Spells (Level 3) – B- Tier – Your 1st level options aren’t terrible, but definitely not excited about either. False Life in particular can be alright, but Bane is not going to hold up in just a level or two. Your 2nd level spells are more exciting as you get two reasonable CC options which Warlock didn’t naturally have access to. Phantasmal Force in particular can be really good, as cutting off an enemies sight can stop them from spellcasting and give them disadvantage on attacks.
3rd Level Spells (Level 5) – B+ Tier – A bit of a mixed bag as Speak with Dead is pretty bad while Phantom Steed is absolutely excellent, and outside of Wizard, this is the only class that can get this (not including Bard technically).
Grave Touched (Level 6) – C Tier – A sometimes relevant ribbon feature and an alright buff (mainly to Form of Dread) is fine, nothing super exciting.
4th Level Spells (Level 7) –