I have an opportunity to play a 5th level warlock, and I like the idea of a Blade Pact warlock with a "mostly" melee focus. But only getting light armor proficiency means my warlock can't use shields to boost AC, so I need to pump all my attribute points into just CHA and DEX, or dump a feat into armor proficiency?
I'm not sure what is the smart way to build my butt-kicking Bladelock.
Easiest way is pick Hexblade as your Pact, gives you Martial Weapon, Medium Armor, and Shield proficiency.
You could also multi-class, starting with a class that gives you those proficiencies and then putting most, if not all other, levels in Warlock. Paladin is a decent choice for this, also being a Charisma class, but not that useful with just one level. Fighter is a basic option, but is generally useful regardless of the specific end build: fighting style for the weapon and a short rest cool down self-heal; no need for an additional level if you want to focus on Warlock, the one level as a starter is good enough.
Yes, an Armor Proficiency feat is an easy way to do it while making any build. Other than replacing an ASI, you could pick Variant Human, or Custom Lineage in order to pick up the feat. You can also select the Mountain Dwarf or Githyanki race to instantly have medium armor proficiency.
Finally, you can choose to play a Tortle, and instantly have a 17 AC where Dexterity is irrelevant.
Yeah, the short and simple answer is to just play as a Hexblade. It's the Subclass built for being a Melee-focused Warlock. However, it is a bit, uh... overplayed. It's kind of so good at it that it overshadows other options.
Another Subclass that I would recommend would be Undead Warlock... it has a Transformation that boosts you with TempHP and allows you to inflict the Frightened condition on enemies by attacking them. It gives additional bonuses to your attacks at higher levels while Transformed. It's got some good gimmicks that pair well with being a melee focused fighter, but it's still not as obviously keyed up for it as Hexblade is.
After that, you just need to pick Invocations that feed into this concept, and there are some good ones...
Armor of Shadows is great if you're not going Hexblade, since you basically just have Mage Armor on at all times. If you focus on DEX this can give you an AC of 18... better than you could get even with Medium Armor.
Eldritch Smite lets you just pump a ton of extra damage into your melee attacks... the additional damage you deal isn't based on your CHA score, so if you prioritize DEX over CHA you can still use your spell slots to rain down damage.
Fiendish Vigor gives you a much needed boost in Temp HP... works well if you go Hexblade, but Undead won't get much use out of it since it lets you either just learn False Life as a spell or gain Temp HP from your transformation.
Improved Pact Weapon gives you a straight +1 to damage with your pact weapon, although it's not of much value if you just get an actual +1 magic weapon.
Lifedrinker is an absolute must... it just gives you a straight +CHA modifier of necrotic damage with every single attack you land with your pact weapon.
Maddening Hex is potentially useful, but not a major game changer... but you don't have a lot of uses for your Bonus Action each round, but if you're using Hex or have a Hexblade's Curse, it's a very easy way to tack on extra damage round after round.
Relentless Hex is similar to Maddening Hex... it relies on already cursing a target, but since you're relying on Melee for this build it lets you close to gap in case your target gets out of range in some way. It's not something you're going to use in every fight, but it will definitely be a game changer in some very key moments.
Thirsting Blade is not optional... you need this Invocation because it's what allows you to attack twice per round. Even the Hexblade, which focuses so much on Melee combat, doesn't actually grant Extra Attack on its own.
Tomb of Levistus is a good emergency survival option... If you build the class right you'll be good at melee combat, but you still don't get a lot of HP as a Warlock. In case things go wrong at the front line, you can give yourself a single turn protected by ice to hopefully get some assistance from your allies or at least survive until your next turn when you can do something to get out of there. This is one of those Invocations you might never use, depending on how smart you play, but it's always there just in case.
I have an opportunity to play a 5th level warlock, and I like the idea of a Blade Pact warlock with a "mostly" melee focus. But only getting light armor proficiency means my warlock can't use shields to boost AC, so I need to pump all my attribute points into just CHA and DEX, or dump a feat into armor proficiency?
I'm not sure what is the smart way to build my butt-kicking Bladelock.
Thoughts?
And thanks!
Easiest way is pick Hexblade as your Pact, gives you Martial Weapon, Medium Armor, and Shield proficiency.
You could also multi-class, starting with a class that gives you those proficiencies and then putting most, if not all other, levels in Warlock. Paladin is a decent choice for this, also being a Charisma class, but not that useful with just one level. Fighter is a basic option, but is generally useful regardless of the specific end build: fighting style for the weapon and a short rest cool down self-heal; no need for an additional level if you want to focus on Warlock, the one level as a starter is good enough.
Yes, an Armor Proficiency feat is an easy way to do it while making any build. Other than replacing an ASI, you could pick Variant Human, or Custom Lineage in order to pick up the feat. You can also select the Mountain Dwarf or Githyanki race to instantly have medium armor proficiency.
Finally, you can choose to play a Tortle, and instantly have a 17 AC where Dexterity is irrelevant.
Yeah, the short and simple answer is to just play as a Hexblade. It's the Subclass built for being a Melee-focused Warlock. However, it is a bit, uh... overplayed. It's kind of so good at it that it overshadows other options.
Another Subclass that I would recommend would be Undead Warlock... it has a Transformation that boosts you with TempHP and allows you to inflict the Frightened condition on enemies by attacking them. It gives additional bonuses to your attacks at higher levels while Transformed. It's got some good gimmicks that pair well with being a melee focused fighter, but it's still not as obviously keyed up for it as Hexblade is.
After that, you just need to pick Invocations that feed into this concept, and there are some good ones...
Armor of Shadows is great if you're not going Hexblade, since you basically just have Mage Armor on at all times. If you focus on DEX this can give you an AC of 18... better than you could get even with Medium Armor.
Eldritch Smite lets you just pump a ton of extra damage into your melee attacks... the additional damage you deal isn't based on your CHA score, so if you prioritize DEX over CHA you can still use your spell slots to rain down damage.
Fiendish Vigor gives you a much needed boost in Temp HP... works well if you go Hexblade, but Undead won't get much use out of it since it lets you either just learn False Life as a spell or gain Temp HP from your transformation.
Improved Pact Weapon gives you a straight +1 to damage with your pact weapon, although it's not of much value if you just get an actual +1 magic weapon.
Lifedrinker is an absolute must... it just gives you a straight +CHA modifier of necrotic damage with every single attack you land with your pact weapon.
Maddening Hex is potentially useful, but not a major game changer... but you don't have a lot of uses for your Bonus Action each round, but if you're using Hex or have a Hexblade's Curse, it's a very easy way to tack on extra damage round after round.
Relentless Hex is similar to Maddening Hex... it relies on already cursing a target, but since you're relying on Melee for this build it lets you close to gap in case your target gets out of range in some way. It's not something you're going to use in every fight, but it will definitely be a game changer in some very key moments.
Thirsting Blade is not optional... you need this Invocation because it's what allows you to attack twice per round. Even the Hexblade, which focuses so much on Melee combat, doesn't actually grant Extra Attack on its own.
Tomb of Levistus is a good emergency survival option... If you build the class right you'll be good at melee combat, but you still don't get a lot of HP as a Warlock. In case things go wrong at the front line, you can give yourself a single turn protected by ice to hopefully get some assistance from your allies or at least survive until your next turn when you can do something to get out of there. This is one of those Invocations you might never use, depending on how smart you play, but it's always there just in case.
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Hexblade was literaly made for this.
Why do you want to play a warlock? Can a fighter or paladin suit what you want the character to do?