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At the crossroads between mortality and cosmic power stands the Warlock: a hero whose path is determined by the forces that exist outside of their control. Monsters, demons, gods, and celestial beings, each of which represents a different approach to power that either complements your character...or challenges them. 

The Warlock is a complicated class in D&D, and not just because of the variety of melee and magical abilities they possess. Experienced Warlock players know that to play the role to its fullest, one must have an understanding of the lore and mythology of the setting that they exist within. Why? Because Warlocks are the avatars of the most powerful beings in D&D. And if you don't do your due diligence, you risk upsetting them.

To help avoid that dark reality, let's explore each of the patron types of the Forgotten Realms. 

The Infernal: Fiend Patrons

Origins: Player's Handbook (3.5e, expanded in 5e)

The Fiend patron represents the infernal ladder of power in the Forgotten Realms. Forging a pact with a fiend means signing a contract with a representative of
the fiendish royal family, usually hailing from Avernus. Your patron might be Asmodeus, overlord of the Nine Hells and ruler of all devilkind, or the great and feared Demogorgon, the demonic embodiment of madness itself. Whoever your fiendish patron may be, be prepared to sell your soul to a devil.

Consider your fiend patron as a supernatural mentor with questionable ethics, offering immediate power in exchange for long-term obligations. Be aware that a contract signed with an infernal deity means your spell casting is fueled by the wrath of the Nine Hells, so don't expect a "healthy" relationship with your fiendish patron. That said, Fiends appreciate competence, reward loyalty, and maintain clear expectations about performance metrics. Meaning so long as you stay on your patrons' good side, your relationship will remain transactional but oddly professional.

Your fiendish patron could be several things. Maybe a literal "Party Devil", like the charismatic archdevil, Fierna, who compels you to throw raucous celebrations and engage in festivities or risk incurring her wrath. Or, your patron could be a demon on a "Redemption Arc". A fiend who suddenly grew a conscience and expects you to perform good deeds on their behalf, while they avoid the wrath of their fiendish colleagues and adversaries. 

The Fey: Archfey Patrons

Origins: Player's Handbook (3.5e, expanded in 5e)

Powerful nobles from another realm, being graced with the power of an Archfey, is as much a gift as it is a curse. The fey are mysterious creatures with untold motivations, meaning you might find yourself at the whim of an Archfey for reasons beyond your understanding. Powerful figures like Titania, her sister, the Queen of Air and Darkness, or even the mighty Oberon might choose Warlocks for reasons that don't make sense to mortals. Maybe they picked you because they find you cute or attractive, or because you remind them of someone from their past. 

The Feywild doesn't work like our world. It follows story rules and feelings instead of logic, meaning relationships with Archfey can be, in their own way, even more confusing than the cutthroat and utilitarian contracts of the fiendish patrons. 

The Archfey patron is likely to be highly relational. As their chosen Warlock, you'll essentially act as one of their courtiers. Providing advice, consultation, and emotional support whenever they may desire. However, be aware that your Archfey patron often distributes magical power based on their mood, rather than merit. As temperamental beings, you might gain strong abilities because you made them laugh, or you might wake up to find yourself powerless because you didn't laugh when they expected you to.

Maybe your Archfey patron is a Fey spirit of the changing seasons. As the season shifts from Spring to Summer, so does your patron's mood and thereby your powerset and appearance. Or maybe your patron is a Gardner of the Feywild, cultivating dreams and nightmares as literal plants in their court, asking mortals for "seeds" of emotion or visions.

The Cosmic: Great Old One Patrons

Origins: Player's Handbook (3.5e, expanded in 5e)

Great Old Ones are massive beings that exist beyond human understanding. Think of them like enormous libraries filled with books written in languages that were never meant to exist. Entities such as Tharizdun or Cthulhu don't make deals with mortals in search of brute force power. Instead, they seek knowledge so ancient and consuming that it changes anyone who gets too close.

While it's entirely possible that you were hand-selected by a Great Old One, it's also likely that your Great Old One patron doesn't even know you exist. Where other warlocks are chosen heroes, you're more likely someone who was accidentally exposed to knowledge so cryptic and complex that your very essence was changed upon contact. Maybe you were visited by an alien from off-world, or found yourself locked in an encounter with an extra-planar being with cursed knowledge and wisdom. For fans of The Elder Scrolls, think of Great Old One patrons as similar to Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Fate, Knowledge, and Memory.

Sponsorship from a Great Old One comes with many boons. Eldritch power fueled by knowledge only promises to make you stronger and wiser, but there is always a cost to so much power unchecked. Great Old One patrons often involuntarily infect their mortal servants with dreams and whispers, driving them closer to madness as they are overwhelmed by forbidden knowledge. The more power a Great Old One warlock absorbs, the more they drift away from their original humanity. And unlike the Archfey, this patron is unlikely to offer guidance, protection, or concern for your well-being. You must navigate the consequences of cosmic exposure alone, dealing with knowledge that was never meant for mortal minds.

Maybe your Great Old One is Tharizdun, the Chained God, who speaks to you through tortured whispers and nightmarish visions, charging you with the quest of releasing it from its bounds. Or Dendar, the Night Serpent, who collects nightmares as sustenance, forcing you to act as a dream broker on its behalf. 

The Weaponsmiths: Hexblade Patrons

Origins: Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Hexblade patrons are supernatural weapon makers who create cursed items that contain pieces of their own spirit. These entities often connect to the Raven Queen (we'll get back to her later) and spend significant time in the dark realm known as the Shadowfell. 

A Warlock under a hexblade patron is likely one who has a profound relationship with their weapon. Evoking legendary heroes of fantasy, like Elric of Melnibone, the hexblade Warlock battles with the profound gift and curse that is their chosen weapon. To this extent, the hexblade patron seeks great warriors, willing to study under the tutelage of a master craftsperson. The hexblade's goal is to create their ultimate weapon. Something both beautiful and horrifingly dangerous - you. 

A relationship with a Hexblade patron is more akin to a mentorship than servitude. Your patron sees you as both a warrior and a living weapon, and is likely to invest time in training you, viewing your victories as proof of their skill as a creator. Unlike other warlock patrons, hexblades are more likely to offer genuine mentorship. This creates a partnership where both sides benefit from your growth as a fighter and magic user.

Your Hexblade may manifest as a weapon itself. A symbiotic blade that fuses directly with the Warlock's body, rooting inside their mind and possessing them to do its bidding. Or your Hexblade patron might be a powerful deity who crafts weapons for several mortals, and expects you to beat out the rest, as a way to prove which of their weapons is genuinely the best.

The Shadow: The Raven Queen

Origins: Shadowfell boxed set (4e)

A bit of a departure from the other patrons on this list, The Raven Queen is a singular individual of great acclaim. Operating as an overseer of fate and death itself, the Raven Queen is less interested in worship than she is in hiring competent contractors to help her achieve her goals. Warlocks who work for the Raven Queen have a straightforward job arrangement. 

Reigning from her dark fortress within the Shadowfell, the Raven Queen watches over every soul's departure from life, ensuring that death comes at its appointed time and place. Unlike traditional gods, she does not have a physical form; instead, she manifests through symbols, ravens, and whispers.

Her story is that of a former mortal, possibly an elven queen or sorcerer, who sought to gain godly status at a great cost. Today, many sages across the Forgotten Realms consider the Raven Queen to be insane, seeing her as a creature at the whim of her aimless curiosity. The Raven Queen is a powerful being with her own aims and ambitions, often making maneuvers behind the scenes unbeknownst to many. As a warlock of The Raven Queen, expect to be charged with morally complex tasks that inch your patron closer to great power.

The Heavenly: Celestial Patrons

Origins: Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Celestial patrons in Dungeons & Dragons are powerful beings from the Upper Planes, realms known for their purity, goodness, and light. These patrons can be angels, empyreans, unicorns, kirins, or other benevolent creatures that embody virtue and protection. Warlocks who form pacts with celestial patrons gain access to radiant energy, healing powers, and spells that help protect the innocent and fight evil.

The bond with a celestial patron often inspires Warlocks to act as agents of good, battling fiends, undead, and darkness wherever they find it. This relationship can cause changes in the Warlock's behavior and beliefs, leading them to feel a deep longing for the celestial realms while remaining committed to their mission in the mortal world. Unlike darker patrons, celestial patrons promote hope, light, and renewal, offering a path for Warlocks dedicated to healing and defending others.

In gameplay, celestial Warlocks excel as both healers and damage dealers, often blending offensive radiant spells with supportive magic, making them versatile and uplifting characters in any party.

The Deathless: Undying Patrons

Origins: Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide (5e, Forgotten Realms)

Undying patrons in Dungeons & Dragons are beings who have conquered or escaped death, granting Warlocks access to the secrets of everlasting life and powerful magic related to life, death, and undeath. These patrons are often ancient and immortal entities, such as liches, deathless wizards, or powerful undead rulers, who have unlocked the mysteries of life beyond death.

Warlocks who make pacts with Undying patrons gain abilities focused on resisting death, healing, necromancy, and maintaining their own vitality even in the face of deadly harm. Notable Undying patrons include figures like the lich Vecna, the dread Iuz, the lich-queen Vol, Vlaakith, the lich-queen of the githyanki, and others, such as Larloch the Shadow King from the Forgotten Realms.

These patrons offer Warlocks spells and powers themed around defying mortality, speaking with the dead, and protecting or manipulating life forces. The relationship is often marked by complex bargains and dark secrets about the actual cost of immortality and the balance between life and undeath.

This patron archetype provides rich role-playing opportunities, focusing on struggles with mortality, the desire for eternal life, and navigating the thin line between life and undeath.

There you have it! The major players of the Forgotten Realms explained in detail. Maybe none of these speaks to you? No problem. This is D&D after all. So long as you work it out with your DM, you can always create an entirely unique patron of your own.