The improved pact weapon invocation gives your pact weapon a magical +1 if it doesnt already have it. If your DM is ok with it, you could do that for your shield (making it +1 to AC). A Shield is not classified as a weapon. It is, instead, classified as a Shield.
Can a Hexblade Warlock use a shield?
If a Hexblade takes Pact of the Blade as their Pact Boon at L3, they become eligible for the Improved Pact Weapon invocation and can swap out one of the invocations selected at L2. From that point, they can keep their weapon and shield in hand at all times, using the weapon as a spellcasting focus.
Can Hexblades use a shield?
Do you have to have a pact weapon?
The prerequisite on it is that you have to have pact weapon in order to have it but does mean its a second boon or do you have to switch your boon form the weapon pact the improved one Improved pact weapon is not a pact boon, it is an eldritch invocation. You still have the pact of blade when you take this.
What can you use Pact of the blade for?
You can use any weapon you summon with your Pact of the Blade feature as a spellcasting focus for your warlock spells. In addition, the weapon gains a +1 bonus to its attack and damage rolls, unless it is a magic weapon that already has a bonus to those rolls.
Can you use a hand crossbow in Pact of the blade?
You can use a hand crossbow in this manor, it’s just a little strangely setup. Pact of the Blade can’t conjure a hand crossbow, but you can make any magical weapon your Pact weapon even without that invocation: You can transform one magic weapon into your pact weapon by performing a special ritual while you hold the weapon.
Do you need a feat to use a sword and shield?
If a spell requires a somatic component, the caster must have free use of at least one hand to perform these gestures. However, you don’t necessarily need to take the feat in order to use a two-handed sword or a sword and shield and cast spells. (I realise the previous sentence seems to contradict the first one, but I’m getting there.)
