Warlock Gameplay at Gamescom 2026: Wizards of the Coast Reveals 8 Signature Spells

Wizards of the Coast has finally started pulling back the curtain on Warlock, the new action-RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. During gamescom 2026’s Opening Night Live, developers shared the first gameplay footage—enough to confirm the combat style and spotlight several spells that will feel instantly familiar to D&D players, all centered around the warlock protagonist Kaatri.

Release window, platforms, and editions

First gameplay confirms an action RPG with spell-heavy combat

Warlock is positioned as an action-RPG with an active combat system, and the footage makes it clear that Kaatri’s gameplay revolves around casting—often in ways that echo tabletop mechanics. Early moments show her using classic warlock tricks to set up fights, move through the battlefield, and dispatch enemies with showpiece spells.

From the revealed sequences, multiple abilities were identified or strongly suspected:

• Taschenspielerei (sleight of hand) used to ignite an opening fire effect
• Evards schwarze Tentakel to summon tentacles along a wall to attach rubble
• Telekinese to reposition the rubble pieces
• Springen to cross a gap/abyss
• Nebelschritt used in combat while fighting a “beholder”
• Schockgriff used to burn down zombie-like enemies

Eldritch Blast is back—powered by invocations

As expected for a warlock, Kaatri also uses the iconic Eldritch Blast—but the gameplay suggests it’s enhanced. In D&D terms, the spell is commonly boosted through invocations, and the footage indicates Warlock will lean into that same upgrade concept rather than treating the cantrip as a static attack.

Another gameplay detail points to how the game may present spellcasting requirements: a longer scene includes Kaatri casting with reagents. In tabletop rules, reagents are usually required unless you can bypass them with a component bag or a spell focus—so the presentation may be aiming for tabletop flavor, while still allowing equipment-based convenience.

Possible spellcasting beyond the obvious warlock list

Some of what Kaatri does in the footage doesn’t neatly match what players would expect from a standard warlock spell list. After casting, it begins to rain, leading to speculation that she may be using Create or Destroy Water—or possibly something else that produces a similar effect. There’s also a possibility of Storm of Vengeance (a level 9 spell), though that is not typically associated with warlocks.

The key takeaway from the footage is that the spell choices could be “for flair,” or they could hint at different spell selection rules than a strict tabletop mapping. Even several of the other revealed abilities appear to be outside the typical warlock options, reinforcing that the game may be adapting D&D rules in a way that prioritizes readability and spectacle.

Kaatri’s patron: Tasha as the power behind the kit

While it’s not yet clear how prominently players will manage Kaatri’s powers (for example, whether spells are chosen like a traditional warlock setup), the gameplay strongly supports that her magic is tied to a specific patron relationship—because in D&D, warlocks can cast thanks to their pact with a powerful entity.

In Kaatri’s case, that patron is Tasha, presented here as the source of her warlock abilities. Tasha is widely known within the D&D world as a creator of many spells and an author of in-universe books, and the fact that she appears as a patron highlights how significant her power is. The article framing also places her among the sort of patrons players would associate with other high-tier beings—along the lines of liches, archfey, or ancient gods.

Based on what’s shown in the gameplay, Kaatri also appears to align with a “pact of the blade” style—summoning a sword (or other weapons) and using it as a spell focus. Other warlock subclasses are typically associated with different pact materials, but this visual direction suggests her build will be weapon-forward.

Warlock is slated for 2027, launching on Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. More details are expected in the weeks and months ahead, including additional gameplay and likely clarification on exactly how Kaatri’s spells, casting requirements, and pact-related loadout work in practice.