D&D 5E Hunger of Hadar: How to make good use of this spell?

[JackOfAllTirades]

OK, so I just added this spell to my list.

I'm playing a 6th level Warlock, I've got the Devil's Sight invocation so I can see into the darkness it creates.

I'm getting the Repelling Blast invocation next level so I can push people into the "danger zone" for extra damage.

Are there any other good ways to add utility to this one?

And does anyone have suggestions for how to best use it in combat?

Many thanks.

 

[Riley37]

There's been a lot of discussion, across the last decade or two, about the tactics of zone damage and area denial in general.

And then there's discussion about the exact specifics of this particular spell in 5E.

Do any of the PC's allies have any abilities which synergize, such as Shove, Thunderwave, Fear, etc.?

 

[bganon]

I think you've got the gist of it. One of HoH's main benefits is that the damage at start of turn is automatic, there's no save at all. One of the main disadvantages is that it's not very party-friendly. Creatures can avoid damage by ducking in and out during their turn, so you could call out locations to your allies and try to have them essentially spring attack enemies just inside the sphere (blind attacker vs blind defender cancels out advantage-wise) or just aim wildly with ranged weapons.

Because of this it's probably a bit annoying to use against a single powerful creature, but it sure does clean up mooks. And the "avoid damage by in-and-out" makes it not the absolute best at creating choke points, but if there's already some kind of trap or hazardous terrain (e.g. a narrow path over a pit), casting this on top of it is a nasty thing to do.

 

[Vymair]

Corridor Chokepoints

Depending on your DMs design, it's also a really handy spell to cover a dungeon area with multiple entry points. For example, you end up in the Orc Chieftain's throne room and guards are coming from an adjoining chamber. Drop Hunger of Hadar on that door way and voila, instant road block. The rest of the part can focus on the enemies already in the room or coming from other locations, but you've locked down that source of danger.

Both the Devil's Sight and Repelling Blast really leverage this spell well. That said, you should consider replacing this spell with Evard's Black Tentacles at 7th or 8th level if you are a Great Old One Pact Warlock. Similar benefit, but allows party member to ranged attack enemies stuck in the zone more easily.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Hunger of Hodor would be much better.

I devised a spell for Dragon Warriors called Hunger Strike which you could adapt into Hunger of Hodor - range: touch. Target must save v Con or be stricken with the munchies for 1d6 minutes. They must immediately eat or seek food for the duration, and cannot attack, cast spells, or if no source of food is forthcoming, do anything other than point at their bellies and plaintively say "hodor".

However. That would be off topic. As you were.

 

[JackOfAllTirades]

There's been a lot of discussion, across the last decade or two, about the tactics of zone damage and area denial in general.

And then there's discussion about the exact specifics of this particular spell in 5E.

Do any of the PC's allies have any abilities which synergize, such as Shove, Thunderwave, Fear, etc.?

One of our two Wizards just got the Fear spell; excellent suggestion!