Multiclass advice

Hello all I am currently in a campaign at level 9 and am a bit stuck on how to make a new warlock character after my old wizard died(RIP Nigel Fleetfoot). I was considering doing a fighter multiclass because it’s been a while since I played a martial character but was unsure of the split. Any advice on subclass / split would be welcome. My stats are an 8,a 10, a 20, a 18, a 16, and a 14. We have a Druid rogue and a paladin and 2 wizards in the party

what class? this is the warlock section so do you want a warlock?

If you want to play a martial character, you can do it as a pure warlock with pact of the blade and its dependent invocations. It'll be a very castery martial, but it's doable. (Armor class is your big hurdle. Warlock martials can't take hits like a fighter can.)

Other people are going to suggest various multiclasses, but I'm generally not a fan. (The 1-level fighter dip to get armor proficiencies has some merit, I admit.) But if you're doing things like the above suggested two levels of warlock and six levels of paladin, you're not playing a warlock.

ok, go paladin first. get 1 paladin, 2 warlock, 6 paladin, 2-3 sorcerer (the hightened spell searing smite combos are rediculous) and maybe wild magic, maybe 2 blade singer for the AC buff if you want but I wouldn't advise it. go paladin mostly though. other option is ab lock, that's always nice. but do what you want to do!

But otherwise, if you want to mostly be a warlock, id say be all warlock.

I was reading and thinking the same thing.   if you to do X, a dip into warlock may work, but if you want to be a warlock go warlock.  Starting at level 9 you have a bit more freedom to dip, but there are a lot of good features you miss out on is you do more then dip.  At 9th level, I would assume you no longer need heavy armor as there is some magical armor you might have access to?

Eldritch blast spam makes you play a lot like a archer martial. So no multiclass needed, pact of the blade can get you in melee but at level 4 spell sniper can as well. But if you want to swing a sword and be a warlock no multi is needed, 1 level in either fighter/barb/paladin for weapon masteries and armor would be a big add though. 

Quote from MyDudeicus >>

Eldritch blast spam makes you play a lot like a archer martial. So no multiclass needed, pact of the blade can get you in melee but at level 4 spell sniper can as well. But if you want to swing a sword and be a warlock no multi is needed, 1 level in either fighter/barb/paladin for weapon masteries and armor would be a big add though. 

Doesn't GOO give you a free feat? There's one feat that gives you a Weapon Mastery slot that you can change around during a long rest.

as far as i know no warlock subclass gives a free feat. And yeah you can take a mastery feat but it boosts str/dex which i probably only want to do once since i attack with chr, and it puts you a bit behind. when other martials are taking heavy weapon mastery or whatever fits their build you are catching up with a weapon mastery feat. 

Thanks all for the suggestions I think I’m going straight warlock for now maybe a couple levels fighter later for action surge and second wind

Quote from EagerestSnow207 >>

Thanks all for the suggestions I think I’m going straight warlock for now maybe a couple levels fighter later for action surge and second wind

Fighter first gives you heavy armour. Fighter later does not. If you are not planning on going plate then all good, else start as Ftr 1.