LogFAQs > #975315692

They really did Warlock dirty I feel. In 5E warlock has the dishonorable reputation of basically having all its best features at level 2, making it a really efficient splash but not something you'd actually play. Instead of addressing these problems they arbitrarily nerf one of the Pacts, tweak another without actually fixing its core problems, and otherwise do nothing at all.

Hexblade Curse (Bonus Action, 1 Target. Recharges on Short Rest)

• Deal Bonus Damage = Proficiency Bonus (similar to Barbarian Rage)
• Improved Critical (Crit on 19-20)
• On Kill Regain HP = Warlock Lv + Charisma Mod (min 1)

Hex Warrior

• Medium Armor, Shields, Martial Weapons
• Can use Charisma for Attack / Damage for all non two-handed weapons (Pact of Blade enables 2H)

That's more features than most Warlock patrons get, but that's the kind of boost to survivability that a Warlock needs to be viable in the front line, and even then you're still not great because they never gave you Extra Attack, making Hexblade into a really juicy dip for Paladins more than anything else. Meanwhile poor Wyll, over here advertising the sword-swinging epic adventurer type of Warlock when there's no Hexblade for him to use. The only survivability he gets is Dark One's Blessing but that's really not enough to justify wading into melee combat, and Pact of the Blade doesn't give you damage to surpass Eldritch Blast. (You get Extra Attack at the same time EB gets 2 shots, and never get a 3rd attack to compensate EB going up to 3 at level 11)

Pact of the Chain didn't really get nerfed too bad. It gets extra attack at 5 too but familiars aren't known for their attack power. Still, it manages to further outperform swordlock so...lol, and Pact of Tomes got nerfed the hardest. Goodbye unique niche as a super flexible ritual caster, you get...cantrips. And later, 1/long rest spells probably better covered by your other party members. Why? The ability to record spells into a book is already a thing, as are Ritual Spells.

Oh and apparently only Wyll actually gets to interact with his patron. Sorry Tavs.