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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →A pure Hexblade Warlock 12 is a strong, straightforward starting build if you want to keep the character a Warlock: invest in Charisma, fight with a bound weapon, and build around Shadow Blade when you can access its psychic-damage support. This is a defensible route, not a universal damage ranking; party, difficulty, gear and playstyle can all change what works best.
Why choose a pure Hexblade?
Baldur’s Gate 3 added its native Hexblade subclass in Patch 8, released on April 15, 2025. Its melee features make a single-class progression coherent, while Eldritch Blast provides a ranged option when closing for a weapon attack is unwise. The cited level-12 route comes from PC Gamer’s September 2026 guide; it is an editorial build recommendation, not a controlled comparison against multiclass alternatives. BG3 Wiki’s Warlock overview and PC Gamer’s Hexblade build guide provide the referenced mechanics and progression.
Starting ability scores
The guide’s example begins with this array. It prioritizes Charisma for weapon attacks and spellcasting, while Dexterity and Constitution support defense and durability.
| Ability | Starting score | Role in this example |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 8 | Low priority when using Charisma for bound-weapon attacks. |
| Dexterity | 16 | Supports initiative and defense. |
| Constitution | 14 | Supports hit points and concentration. |
| Intelligence | 8 | Low priority in this setup. |
| Wisdom | 10 | Kept at a modest baseline. |
| Charisma | 17 | Primary attack and spellcasting ability. |
This is a workable example rather than a required optimization. Adjust it if you value different defenses, skills or party roles.
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How Hex Warrior and Pact of the Blade work together
At Warlock level 1, Hex Warrior grants medium armour, shields and martial weapon proficiency, plus Bind Hexed Weapon. Binding makes a proficient weapon magical and lets its attacks use Charisma instead of Strength or Dexterity; its attacks can also apply Hexblade’s Curse. The Curse is a bonus action: attacks against the cursed target gain damage equal to your proficiency bonus, your critical-hit threshold against it is lowered by one, and killing it restores hit points equal to your Warlock level plus Charisma modifier. See the BG3 Wiki Hexblade page for the subclass features.
Pact of the Blade is a separate pact boon, chosen at Warlock level 3. Pact weapons also use Charisma, and at level 5 Deepened Pact grants an extra attack. For a Hexblade, Bind Hexed Weapon replaces Bind Pact Weapon; the wiki states that Deepened Pact’s extra attack applies to the hexed weapon. These are related features, not two separate Charisma-binding requirements.
Level-by-level progression
This progression follows the PC Gamer example. Invocation and feat choices are options in that route, not mandatory picks for every character.
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| Warlock level | Choice or feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hex Warrior and Hexblade’s Curse | Establishes the subclass’s weapon binding, armour and curse features. |
| 2 | Agonising Blast and Beast Speech | Agonising Blast supports the ranged fallback; Beast Speech is a utility choice. |
| 3 | Pact of the Blade; Shadow Blade | Starts the pact-weapon progression and the guide’s psychic-melee concept. |
| 4 | Savage Attacker | The route’s feat selection. |
| 5 | Deepened Pact; Devil’s Sight | Deepened Pact grants the pact’s extra attack; Devil’s Sight is the invocation choice. |
| 6 | Accursed Spectre | Hexblade subclass feature. |
| 8 | Charisma +2 | Raises the build’s primary ability. |
| 10 | Armour of Hexes | Hexblade defensive milestone. |
| 12 | Lifedrinker | The route’s final invocation choice. |
Other levels continue Warlock progression. The Hexblade spell list also includes options such as Shield and Wrathful Smite at spell level 1, Blur and Branding Smite at level 2, and Banishing Smite and Cone of Cold at level 5. The subclass page notes two Archfey level-4 spells at level 7; spell interactions can be version-sensitive, so check current in-game behavior rather than assuming every listed interaction works exactly as expected.
Combat plan: Shadow Blade, curse and ranged fallback
Use the weapon plan when melee is favorable
The cited build centers on Shadow Blade, described in the Patch 8 guide as a short sword dealing 2d8 psychic damage and lasting until long rest, with higher damage dice when upcast. The route pairs it with the Resonance Stone to double psychic damage. This is a gear-dependent synergy, not a guarantee that every encounter or party setup will favor psychic damage.
Apply the curse to a worthwhile target
Hexblade’s Curse costs a bonus action, so plan its use around the enemy you expect to attack repeatedly. Its damage bonus scales with proficiency, and the healing triggers if the cursed target dies. The critical-threshold benefit also applies against that target.
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Keep Eldritch Blast as a fallback
Agonising Blast gives this melee-oriented character a ranged attack option. Use it when positioning, enemy defenses or immediate danger make approaching a poor trade. This makes the build less dependent on having a suitable target within weapon reach.
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These are the PC Gamer guide’s item suggestions, not a requirement list. Availability depends on progression and choices, and the evidence does not establish that every item is optimal for every campaign.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| Act | Suggested items | Build role |
|---|---|---|
| Act I | Knife of the Undermountain King; Spidersilk Armour; Disintegrating Night Walkers; Diadem of Arcane Synergy; Bracers of Defence | Early equipment options for the melee setup. |
| Act II | Potent Robe; Cloak of Protection; Resonance Stone | The Resonance Stone supports the psychic-damage concept. |
| Act III | Belm | A later weapon option listed by the guide. |
Shadow Blade and Resonance Stone define the guide’s damage idea. If you do not obtain or want to use those items, the level-12 class route still functions as a Charisma-based weapon build, but the cited psychic-damage synergy is no longer the same.
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Pure class or multiclass?
Stay single-class if your priority is a simple progression through the Hexblade’s Warlock milestones, including its level-6 spectre and level-10 Armour of Hexes. Multiclassing can trade away or delay Warlock features in exchange for another class’s tools, but the cited guide does not provide a head-to-head ranking or establish a best split. Choose a multiclass only for a specific feature or role you want, rather than assuming it is automatically stronger.
Native Hexblade versus a mod
The build above uses BG3’s native subclass, added in Patch 8. Separate community mods have their own mechanics, requirements and compatibility concerns; do not apply this progression or its assumptions to a modded implementation. For a mod, consult the mod page’s latest requirements and version notes before installation, since compatibility can change.
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