What Armor Should a Warlock Wear? A Comprehensive Guide
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The eternal question for any aspiring Warlock: what armor should grace your form as you bargain with otherworldly entities and unleash eldritch blasts? The short answer is: it depends. Warlocks are proficient in light armor, and can bypass arcane spell failure in light armor. Whether you stick with light armor, embrace the unarmored look, or multiclass for heavier protection depends on your build, playstyle, and the specific rules of your campaign.
Here’s a deeper dive to help you make the right choice:
Understanding Warlock Armor Options
A Warlock’s defensive options are threefold:
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Light Armor: Your base proficiency. This offers a moderate AC boost early on, scaling with your Dexterity.
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No Armor (and Mage Armor): Relying on Dexterity and magical protection. Some invocations, like the classic “Armor of Shadows,” allow you to cast Mage Armor at will, giving you a reliable AC boost without actually wearing armor.
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Multiclassing/Feats for Medium or Heavy Armor: A more significant investment, but potentially offering the highest AC. This usually involves taking levels in classes like Fighter or Cleric, or selecting a feat like Moderately Armored.
Light Armor: A Solid Starting Point
For most Warlocks, light armor is a reliable choice, especially in the early levels. It’s readily available, relatively inexpensive, and doesn’t require a significant stat investment beyond a decent Dexterity score. The trade-off is that it doesn’t offer the highest possible AC, and as you level, the relative advantage of light armor can diminish.
The Allure of Unarmored Defense (and Mage Armor)
Many Warlocks, particularly those focusing on charisma and casting, opt for the no-armor approach. The main advantage is that you don’t need to invest heavily in Strength or deal with armor penalties. Instead, you maximize your Dexterity for AC and other skills.
The “Armor of Shadows” invocation is the key to making this work. Casting Mage Armor at will effectively gives you a permanent AC boost equivalent to studded leather armor, freeing up spell slots for other purposes. This is especially valuable for Warlocks, who have a limited number of spell slots compared to other casters.
The Road to Heavier Armor: Multiclassing and Feats
If you crave the security of medium or heavy armor, you’ll need to invest in multiclassing or feats.
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Multiclassing: Taking one or two levels in a class like Fighter or Cleric can grant you the desired armor proficiency. The Nature Cleric domain is a popular choice, as it grants Heavy Armor proficiency immediately. Starting as a Fighter for one level also give CON saving throw proficiency.
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Feats: The “Moderately Armored” feat grants proficiency with medium armor and shields, along with a +1 bonus to either Strength or Dexterity. For heavy armor, you’d need the “Heavily Armored” feat, which has Strength 15 as a prerequisite, making it less appealing for most Warlocks.
Keep in mind that multiclassing and feats come at a cost. Multiclassing delays your Warlock spell progression and features, while feats take up valuable feat slots that could be used for other enhancements. Carefully weigh the benefits against the drawbacks before making this commitment.
Considerations for Choosing Armor
- Stats: How high is your Dexterity? Are you willing to invest in Strength for heavier armor?
- Invocations: Do you want to use “Armor of Shadows,” or do you have other invocations you’d prefer?
- Party Role: Are you a front-line fighter, or do you prefer to stay in the back and cast spells?
- Personal Preference: Do you like the aesthetic of armor, or do you prefer a more roguish look?
Armor in Different Game Systems
The specific mechanics of armor for Warlocks can vary slightly depending on the game system. Here’s a quick overview:
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Dungeons & Dragons (5e): The primary focus of this guide. Warlocks are proficient with light armor and can gain proficiency with medium or heavy armor through multiclassing or feats.
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World of Warcraft: Warlocks can only wear cloth armor.
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Destiny 2: Warlocks wear specialized armor pieces with unique stats and perks. The focus is less on traditional armor types and more on optimizing stats like Recovery, Resilience, and Discipline.
Final Verdict
There is no single “best” armor choice for Warlocks. It all comes down to your individual character build, playstyle, and the specific challenges of your campaign. Experiment with different options and find what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to deviate from the norm and create a truly unique Warlock.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Warlocks wear heavy armor?
Not by default. Warlocks are only proficient with light armor. To wear heavy armor, you need to gain proficiency through multiclassing (e.g., taking a level in Cleric or Fighter) or the “Heavily Armored” feat.
2. Is it better for Warlocks to have light armor or no armor?
It depends. If you have high Dexterity, no armor with the “Armor of Shadows” invocation is a viable option. If your Dexterity is low, light armor will provide better protection.
3. Can Warlocks cast spells in armor?
Yes, as long as you are proficient in the armor you’re wearing. Lack of proficiency imposes penalties on spellcasting.
4. Can Warlocks use shields?
Not by default. To use shields without penalty, you need to gain proficiency through multiclassing (e.g., taking a level in Cleric or Fighter) or the “Moderately Armored” feat.
5. Is Mage Armor a good spell for Warlocks?
Absolutely. The “Armor of Shadows” invocation allows you to cast Mage Armor at will, providing a significant AC boost without expending spell slots.
6. What are the best stats for Warlocks in Destiny 2?
The best stats to focus on are Recovery, Resilience, and Discipline. Recovery affects your class ability cooldown, Resilience influences damage resistance, and Discipline reduces grenade cooldown.
7. What weapons can Warlocks use?
Warlocks are typically able to equip staves, one-handed swords, daggers, and wands.
8. What is the most powerful Warlock subclass?
This is subjective and depends on your playstyle. In Dungeons & Dragons, the Genie and Hexblade subclasses are often considered among the most powerful.
9. Can Warlocks fly?
Yes, Warlocks can learn the Fly spell. Some Warlock subclasses also gain access to flight-related abilities.
10. Do Warlocks need Strength?
Not typically. Strength is less important for Warlocks compared to other classes like Fighters or Barbarians. Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma are usually higher priorities.
11. Are Warlocks stronger than Wizards?
They have different strengths. Wizards have a wider range of spells, while Warlocks often excel in combat with offensive spells and martial abilities.
12. Can Warlocks use sleep spells?
Yes, Warlocks can learn and cast the Sleep spell.
13. What do Warlocks worship?
Warlocks often have a complex relationship with the beings they draw power from (their Patrons) they are often evil patrons, such as Asmodeus and Cyric, and good deities such as Corellon or Selûne.
14. What is Arcane Spell Failure?
Arcane Spell Failure is not a part of Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition. It was a core feature of older editions of D&D, where arcane spellcasters wearing armor had a percentage chance for spells to fail.
15. What armor should I transmog on my Warlock in Destiny 2?
This is entirely up to your personal preference! Transmog allows you to change the appearance of your armor without affecting its stats. Find armor pieces that you find visually appealing and create a unique look for your Warlock.
Hopefully, this guide has shed some light on the eternal question of Warlock armor. Remember to consider your individual character build, playstyle, and the specific rules of your campaign when making your decision. Good luck, and may your eldritch blasts always hit their mark!
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