D&D 5E Question about Shield Proficiency, because I'm dumb :)

[Gwarok]

Ok, so if you pick a class that doesn't have Shield Proficiency but wants it, how do you get it? For some reason I thought they were tied to Med Armor Prof, but when I tried to find it in the PHB I couldn't. I'm sure it's right in front of my face and I'm just missing it, but if someone can help out that would be appreciated. The reason it's come up is my brother is playing a bladelock, got the Med Armor Prof, and uses a shield. He's sorta a dark lord of the Sith Vader type warlock that does a fair amount of melee. I'm personally fine with it either way, but I'm sure it's in the rules somewhere and I am just not seeing it. Cheers.

 

[jasper]

Check the armor proficiencies for the class. Ex Cleric Light armor, Medium armor, shields.

 

[Gwarok]

I meant what if you have a class that doesn't use shields normally, like a warlock, but would like to. Is it it's own feat?

 

[Giant2005]

The Moderately Armored feat (or via multiclassing).

 

[pdegan2814]

I meant what if you have a class that doesn't use shields normally, like a warlock, but would like to. Is it it's own feat?

The Moderately Armored feat grants proficiency with both Medium Armor and Shields. So there's nothing in the rules stopping he Bladelock from carrying one. Of course, there are times when having a hand free is pretty important to a spellcaster, so that might be an issue for him at some point.