A Dark and Powerful Spell

Arms of Hadar is a conjuration spell that can be cast by warlocks who have made a pact with a Great Old One, such as Hadar, the Dark Hunger. This spell allows the caster to summon tendrils of dark energy that erupt from their body and batter all creatures within 10 feet of them. The spell deals necrotic damage to the affected creatures, and also prevents them from taking reactions until their next turn, making them vulnerable to further attacks.

The spell is named after Hadar, one of the ancient and mysterious entities that dwell in the farthest reaches of the cosmos. Hadar is a star of black light that consumes all life and matter that comes near it. Some warlocks seek to tap into the power of Hadar, hoping to gain a glimpse of the secrets of the universe, or to unleash its destructive force upon their enemies.

Arms of Hadar is a relatively simple spell to cast, requiring only verbal and somatic components. The caster utters a word of power and extends their arms, causing the dark tendrils to emerge from their skin. The spell can be cast using a first-level spell slot, and can be made more potent by using higher-level slots. The damage of the spell increases by 1d6 for each slot level above first.

Arms of Hadar is a useful spell for warlocks who find themselves surrounded by enemies, or who want to create some space between them and their foes. The spell can also be combined with other abilities or spells that benefit from the lack of reactions, such as the warlock’s eldritch blast cantrip, or the dissonant whispers spell. However, the spell also has some drawbacks, such as the risk of harming allies who are too close to the caster, or the possibility of being resisted by creatures with high strength or immunity to necrotic damage.