In this post, I’m going to walk you through building character in the warlock class for your Dungeons & Dragons game. Have you ever seen The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (on Netflix)? The witches of that show are actually warlocks because they derive their magic from a pact with a deity.
Let’s start with proficiencies and starter equipment.
(Images in this post are owned by Wizards of the Coast, LLC)
First, Choose TWO of the Following Skills You Want Your Character to be Proficient in:
Remember that your proficiencies are like extra points in a set area. It simply boosts your variety of skills a bit.
Arcana
Deception
History
Intimidation
Investigation
Nature
Religion


Then, Understand Your Pre-Determined Proficiencies.
It might help you choose the most effective starter gear to know that, as a warlock, you’re automatically proficient in the following:
Equipment
- Leather Armor
Weapons
- Simple Weapons
Savings Throws
- Wisdom
- Charisma
Now, You Can Choose Your Starter Equipment!
By now you’ve finished marking down your proficiencies on your character sheet. Now it’s time to get your complimentary starter equipment ready.
Choose One:
A Light Crossbow & 20 Bolts
One Simple Weapon
+ Simple weapons include clubs, daggers, great-clubs, hand-axes, javelins, light hammers, maces, quarter staffs, sickles, spears, light crossbows, darts, short-bows, and slings. Personally I would choose a wooden shield for the extra safety.
Choose One:
A Component Pouch
An Arcane Focus
Choose One:
A Scholar's Pack
A Dungeoneer's Pack
You Also Get These Three Items:
Leather Armor
Any Simple Weapon
Two Daggers
Simple weapons include clubs, daggers, great-clubs, hand-axes, javelins, light hammers, maces, quarter staffs, sickles, spears, light crossbows, darts, short-bows, and slings.
An explorer’s pack holds the following: a backpack, 50 feet of hemp rope, 10 torches, 10 days of rations, a tinderbox, a mess kit, a bedroll, and a waterskin. If you’re into meta-gaming, you can use this printable backpack page to keep track of your items as well as their size and weight.




#FurtherReading – “How to Build a D&D 5E Character Sheet”
Level One Stats:
Your level one proficiency bonus for a warlock is +2.
You choose an Otherworldly Patron of your choice. This is where your power derives.
You have Pact Magic between your patron and your arcane research.
You know 2 Cantrips