Otherworldly patron

Warlocks, by definition, have an otherworldly patron sponsoring and teaching them various occult arts. There are many such beings, and theologians and occultists have categorized them into relatively neat groups.

Take note that some entities can qualify as multiple types of patrons. For example, the archdevil Azaphiel can easily serve as a Fiend patron, but he is also known to act as a Hexblade patron. Another example is Orcus, who could be a Fiend patron or an Undying patron.

Player's Handbook

The Archfey

Saundor, by NLN4.

Main article: Archfey

Your patron is a lord or lady of the fey, a creature of legend who holds secrets that were forgotten before the mortal races were born. This being's motivations are often inscrutable, and sometimes whimsical, and might involve a striving for greater magical power or the settling of age-old grudges. Beings of this sort include the Prince of Frost; the Queen of Air and Darkness, ruler of the Gloaming Court; Titania of the Summer Court; her consort Oberon, the Green Lord; Hyrsam, the Prince of Fools; and ancient hags.

The Archfey is a great lord or lady from the realm of dreams and twilight.

Some other archfey include:

• Relkath of the Infinite Branches
• Lurue the Unicorn Queen
• Verenestra the Oak Princess
• Sarula Iliene the Nixie Queen
• Aurilandür the Frost Sprite Queen
• A LeShay

The Fiend

The archdevil Dispater, Lord of the Second.

Main article: Archfiend

You have made a pact with a fiend from the lower planes of existence, a being whose aims are evil, even if you strive against those aims. Such beings desire the corruption or destruction of all things, ultimately including you. Fiends powerful enough to forge a pact include demon lords such as Demogorgon, Orcus, Fraz-Urb'luu, and Baphomet; archdevils such as Asmodeus, Dispater, Mephistopheles, and Belial; pit fiends and balors that are especially mighty; and ultroloths and other lords of the yugoloths.

The Fiend is a powerful dark being from one of the many hellish planes.

Examples:

• Demogorgon
• Orcus
• Fraz-Urb'luu
• Baphomet
• Asmodeus
• Dispater
• Mephistopheles
• Belial
• Pit fiends
• Balors
• Ultroloths
  
  
• Azaphiel
• Glasya
• Sertrous
• Shulla
• Obox-ob
• General of Gehenna
• Doloras
• Sugroz

The Great Old One

Main articles: Great Old Ones, Outer Gods, Elder Evils

Your patron is a mysterious entity whose nature is utterly foreign to the fabric of reality. It might come from the Far Realm, the space beyond reality, or it could be one of the elder gods known only in legends. Its motives are incomprehensible to mortals, and its knowledge so immense and ancient that even the greatest libraries pale in comparison to the vast secrets it holds. The Great Old One might be unaware of your existence or entirely indifferent to you, but the secrets you have learned allow you to draw your magic from it.

Entities of this type include Ghaunadar, called That Which Lurks; Tharizdun, the Chained God; Dendar, the Night Serpent; Zargon, the Returner; Great Cthulhu; and other unfathomable beings.

Examples:

• Ghaunadaur
• Tharizdun
• Dendar
• Zargon
• Cthulhu
  
  
• Hastur
• Nyarlathotep

Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

The Undying

Death holds no sway over your patron, who has unlocked the secrets of everlasting life, although such a prize- like all power- comes at a price. Once mortal, the Undying has seen mortal lifetimes pass like the seasons, like the flicker of endless days and nights. It has the secrets of the ages to share, secrets of life and death. Beings of this sort include Vecna, Lord of the Hand and the Eye; the dread Iuz; the lich-queen Vol; the Undying Court of Aerenal; Vlaakith, lich-queen of the githyanki; and the deathless wizard Fistandantalus.

In the Realms, Undying patrons include Larloch the Shadow King, legendary master of Warlock's Crypt, and Gilgeam, the God-King of Unther.

Examples:

• Vecna
• Iuz
• Vol
• Vlaakith
• Fistandantalus
• Larloch
• Gilgeam

Other examples:

• Orcus
• Acererak
• Kilva
• Kiaransalee

Xanathar's Guide to Everything

The Celestial

The dragon god Bahamut.

Main articles: Paragon, empyreal lord

Your patron is a powerful being of the Upper Planes. You have bound yourself to an ancient empyrean, solar, ki-rin, unicorn, or other entity that resides in the planes of everlasting bliss.

The Celestial is a being of light who has granted you power for some glorious purpose.

The Celestial is one of the few patrons who isn't outright evil or violently capricious—but don't let this fool you: the Celestial is as mighty as the Fiend and as resourceful as the Archfey.

Please don't choose a fucking unicorn.

Other examples:

• Bahamut
• Andoletta
• Ragathiel
• Arshea
• Black Butterfly
• A chelys

The Hexblade

Examples:

• The Raven Queen
• Yayahot
• Azaphiel.

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything

The Fathomless

Entities of the deep that might empower a warlock include krakens, ancient water elementals, godlike hallucinations dreamed into being by kuo-toa, mer­folk demigods, and sea hag covens.

The Genie

Main article: Jinn

You have made a pact with one of the rarest kinds of genie, a noble genie. Such entities rule vast fiefs on the Elemental Planes and have great influence over lesser genies and elemental creatures. Noble genies are varied in their motivations, but most are arrogant and wield power that rivals that of lesser deities. They delight in turning the table on mortals, who often bind genies into servitude, and readily enter into pacts that expand their reach.

The Genie is a great lord of the jinn.

Examples:

• Kabril
• The Sun King