The holidays are here, and what better way to bring some twisted seasonal cheer to your D&D game than with an Evil Santa-themed Warlock? With chilling spells, sinister pacts, and an ironclad “naughty list,” this character concept brings a festive yet fearsome edge to your campaign. This guide will walk you through building an Evil Santa Warlock up to level 10, complete with thematic subclass options, abilities, spells, and multiclass possibilities to create a memorable and mischievous holiday villain (or anti-hero).
Tinsel, Terror, and Eldritch Invocations: Meet the Warlock Class
Warlocks are spellcasters who derive their powers from a pact with a powerful, otherworldly entity. Unlike Wizards or Sorcerers, who study magic or possess inherent arcane abilities, Warlocks gain their magical abilities through a bargain. This gives the Warlock an element of mystery, danger, and obligation. With abilities that grant them access to dark spells, eldritch invocations, and a unique playstyle focused on spellcasting and pact boons, Warlocks are a perfect fit for thematic characters like an Evil Santa.
The class is versatile enough to take on a variety of personalities, but it truly shines with concepts rooted in storytelling and flavour. The Evil Santa Warlock is an example of how you can lean into the Warlock’s magical, somewhat ominous abilities to create a character who embodies the darker side of holiday cheer. This Warlock doesn’t just bring gifts—he brings coal, curses, and a whole lot of holiday terror to those who make his naughty list.
Why Play Santa’s Dark Side? Spreading ‘Holiday Cheer’ (and Fear)
Playing an Evil Santa Warlock is a chance to combine humour and horror in a way that’s unique to holiday-themed characters. From an RP perspective, this concept brings a festive edge to roleplaying, complete with puns, props, and opportunities to monologue about the “true meaning of Christmas.” An Evil Santa Warlock allows players to get creative with spellcasting, dialog, and interactions with other party members who might be curious of Santa’s “gifts.”
Mechanically, the Warlock class fits well with this theme because of its pact magic system, which allows you to cast powerful spells that can feel like “holiday magic” with a dark twist. You’ll be choosing spells, invocations, and pact boons that fit a wintery, sinister theme, making this character both fun to play and satisfying to optimize. This Evil Santa character can serve as a humorous addition to the party or, in the hands of a DM, as a memorable holiday-themed antagonist who gives the players more than they bargained for.
Picking Your Holiday Spirit: Race Options for a Truly Twisted Santa
Selecting the right race is essential to enhance the theme of your Evil Santa Warlock. Here are a few options that fit both mechanically and thematically with the concept:
- Firbolg: Known for their affinity with nature and unique spellcasting abilities, Firbolgs can add a mystical, forest-dwelling aspect to Santa’s persona. Firbolgs are physically imposing yet can turn invisible, lending a magical presence to your character. Imagine a Firbolg Santa emerging from the woods or materialising out of nowhere as a giant furry jump scare. Also, Gizmo from Gremlins is basically a small Firbolg, right? And Gremlins is everyone’s favourite Christmas film, right?
- Goliath: If you envision Santa a burly, no-nonsense enforcer of the naughty list, a Goliath would be a strong choice. Goliaths are large, resilient, and physically powerful, perfect for a Santa who’s more focused on punishing the wicked. With their Stone’s Endurance ability, Goliaths can absorb damage, allowing Santa to take hits and keep delivering his brand of holiday justice.
- Tiefling: With their fiendish lineage, Tieflings bring an inherently devilish flair to the character. The Tiefling’s natural resistance to fire is also a thematic bonus, as it suggests that your Santa has “been through the fires of Christmas Eve” and emerged unscathed. Tiefling subraces like Feral or Levistus provide additional roleplaying options, such as a colder, frost-based Santa or one with an even darker, demonic edge.
- Half-orc: You’re a mean one, Mr Half-orc!A Half-Orc adds a little Grinch into your Warlock with their imposing, green-skinned appearance, echoing the Grinch’s iconic look. Their Relentless Endurance reflects the Grinch’s tenacity, bouncing back from defeat to continue wreaking havoc. Coupled with a fiendish or fey patron, this Warlock can manipulate, intimidate, and destroy holiday cheer, while their brute strength allows them to “steal” festive joy—both literally and metaphorically—making them the ultimate holiday villain.
Each of these races can act as a solid foundation from which you can build a unique flavour of Christmassy Warlock. They offer not just unique traits that can enhance the roleplaying aspects of the game but also combat options that allow you to contribute to your group while going about your wicked and foul business.
Naughty or Nice? Subclass Choices for a Holiday Horror
The core of your Evil Santa character lies in choosing a subclass and building abilities that reflect their festive, fearsome nature. Here’s a breakdown of two fitting subclasses for this concept: the Fiend Patron and the Archfey Patron.
Option 1: The Fiend Patron – Santa’s Bringing Coal and Fire
Choosing the Fiend Patron gives your Evil Santa Warlock the power to bring fiery retribution to those on his naughty list. The Fiend Patron grants resilience, chaotic power, and fiery abilities that fit the imagery of a dark Santa with “hot coals” and holiday punishment.
Expanded Spell List: The Fiend Patron’s spell options bring a fiery, destructive theme to your character.
- Burning Hands (Level 1): This cone of fire can be re-imagined as a flurry of hot coal or fire that punishes those within range. It’s great for clearing a room or taking out weaker foes in a holiday-themed blaze.
- Scorching Ray (Level 2): Take your fiery lumps of coal to the next level when each ray of fire strikes an enemy with holiday vengeance. This spell offers the flexibility to target multiple enemies or focus on a single foe for maximum impact.
- Fireball (Level 3): If a good Santa likes snowballs, then it stands to reason that an evil Santa would be keen on fireballs. Fireball is a perfect fit for a terrifying Santa. Its range and radius are ideal for dealing with crowds of “naughty” foes.
- Wall of Fire (Level 4): Create a flaming barrier, almost like a roaring Christmas hearth, that no one can pass through. No one will be hanging stockings above this fireplace when it scorches away all of little Timmy’s Christmas presents!
On top of these spells, you also have a couple of tasty treats you can add to your arsenal.
- Dark One’s Blessing (Level 1): Every time you reduce an enemy to 0 HP, you gain temporary hit points. It’s like you’re literally that one uncle everyone has – sucking the joy out of the conversation during your Christmas dinner to sustain his own self-image (I’m definitely not bitter or angry at my own uncles).
- Dark One’s Own Luck (Level 6): With a wink, and a nod, and a ho ho how dare my dice fail me! This ability lets you add a d10 to an ability check or saving throw to ensure you get a success when you need it the most.
The Fiend Patron option enhances your damage potential while also increases your survivability (so long as you steal those last hits) making this subclass perfect for a Santa who plays by no rules other than his own!
Option 2: The Archfey Patron – Master of Holiday Mischief
The Archfey Patron brings a mystical, wintery quality to your Evil Santa Warlock, making him a capricious, otherworldly figure. If the Fiend Patron is more over the top anti-Santa, the Archfey Patron is more like a cheeky Krampus. This subclass option focuses on charm, illusions, and battlefield control, letting you play Santa as a supernatural holiday spirit.
Expanded Spell List: The Archfey Patron’s spells add enchantment and illusion, helping you capture the spirit of a holiday trickster.
- Faerie Fire (Level 1): Make an enemy an easy target by wrapping them up in Christmas lights! Players who target enemies under the effect of Faerie Fire gain advantage while also preventing the unfortunate soul from turning invisible.
- Sleep (Level 1): He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, but that won’t stop him from knocking you out cold! Put enemies to sleep like your parents did on Christmas Eve with this frustrating magical spell.
- Phantasmal Force (Level 2): This spell is just calling out for a jack-in-the-box style jump scare that only your target can see. This just adds a certain level of delicious madness, especially if this character is the antagonist of a campaign.
- Greater Invisibility (Level 4): Disappear like Santa sliding up a chimney! Leave nothing but bootprints in the snow! Remember, no crimes against Christmas have been committed if you haven’t been caught and tried in a court of law.
- Seeming (Level 5): “Gift” another player or NPC with some “festive” clothing. Surely, if you meet the real Santa, he would appreciate a deerskin jacket made from his favourite reindeer.
Much like above, it’s not just the spells that make this subclass interesting to play.
- Fey Presence (Level 1): Charm or frighten those around you, embodying the idea of a kind ol’ wintery soul who can snap at any moment. In battle, use it to put enemies (or whoever annoys you) off balance, and in social interactions, sway people to your cause.
- Misty Escape (Level 6): When you take damage, you can turn invisible and teleport, disappearing like a spectre into a winter’s mist. Make your opponents think they have finally saved Christmas before you show them how deathly wrong, they are.
The Archfey Patron will turn your Warlock Santa into a master of mind games and illusion, fitting a Santa who can charm or terrify in equal measure.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Pact Boons
As your power grows, so too does your list of those who have been naughty. The Pact of the Tome lets you add 3 cantrips of any class to your list of spells you can pull out of your bag. While this list can be exhaustive, here are 3 cantrips that would allow you to increase the horror element of your wicked Father Christmas.
- Minor Illusion: Create ghostly sounds, like jingling bells or the echo of a sinister “Ho ho ho.” This spell is ideal for holiday deception.
- Prestidigitation: Leave a mysterious mark or blow out the last remaining candle in a dark room… or literally decide to soil up to 1 cubic foot of material (it doesn’t have to be ALL doom and gloom).
- Thaumaturgy: If more noise is what you need, then this is the cantrip for you. The weather outside is frightening, and so are you.
Adding Multiclass Options for Extra Evil
If you want even more thematic flair, consider adding a multiclass to round out your Evil Santa Warlock. Here are a couple of options:
Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline or Shadow Magic)
Sorcerer levels add metamagic options and extra spell slots, enhancing your spellcasting versatility.
- Draconic Bloodline (Red Dragon): This origin gives you additional fire-based spells and resistance to fire damage, doubling down on Santa’s “coal”-based punishments and synergises well with the Fiend Patron.
- Shadow Magic: This subclass brings shadow-based abilities, dark vision, and the Hound of Ill Omen feature, allowing you to summon a spectral hound—perhaps a twisted reindeer—to stalk your enemies.
Barbarian (Path of the Berserker)
For a less conventional twist, try multiclassing into Barbarian. Barbarian levels grant physical durability, unarmoured defence, and rage.
- Rage: Imagine Santa entering a “holiday rage” as he realises someone hasn’t left him his milk and cookies.
- Frenzy: As a Berserker, you can make additional attacks with wanton disregard for the wellbeing of yourself and others around you.
Adding Barbarian makes this Santa a terrifying blend of spell and muscle—a holiday nightmare who dishes out both magic and melee punishment.
A Holly, Jolly Harbinger of Doom
Congratulations! You’ve now crafted the ultimate Evil Santa Warlock—a terrifying blend of holiday cheer and eldritch horror. Whether you’re smashing the presents of snot-nosed kids, stealing Christmas from countless innocents, or simply kissing mommy underneath the mistletoe (while daddy watches), there are tons of evil fun you can get up to with this Warlock Santa build.
If you like this guide, be sure to check out our Valentine Barbarian guide here!