No. Under the 2014 rules, Pact of the Blade is optional for a Hexblade. The level-1 Hex Warrior feature can already let you use Charisma for attacks and damage with one eligible weapon; taking Pact of the Blade later extends that benefit to every pact weapon you conjure.
How the 2014 Hexblade rules work
The Hexblade is a Warlock subclass from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. Under the 2014 rules, Warlocks choose a Pact Boon at level 3. Pact of the Blade is one choice alongside Pact of the Chain and Pact of the Tome, not a prerequisite for the Hexblade subclass. See the 2014 Warlock rules.
Hex Warrior works without Pact of the Blade
At level 1, Hex Warrior grants proficiency with medium armor, shields, and martial weapons. After a long rest, you can touch one weapon with which you are proficient that lacks the two-handed property. You can then use Charisma instead of Strength or Dexterity for that weapon’s attack and damage rolls.
Pact of the Blade expands the weapon benefit
If you later choose Pact of the Blade, Hex Warrior’s Charisma benefit applies to every pact weapon you conjure with that feature, whatever its weapon type. Without the pact, the feature remains limited to the single eligible weapon you designate after a long rest.
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Hexblade features do not make the pact mandatory
Hexblade’s Curse is another level-1 feature, separate from Pact of the Blade. D&D Beyond’s Hexblade overview discusses the curse and weapon benefits separately and also identifies Pact of the Tome as a useful option for Hexblades. The subclass therefore does not require Pact of the Blade to function.
Check which edition your table is using
This answer concerns the 2014 Hexblade and 2014 Warlock rules. The 2024 Basic Rules present Pact of the Blade as an Eldritch Invocation, and Warlocks choose their subclass at level 3. The reviewed 2024 core-rules subclass list does not include Hexblade. If your table combines the 2014 Hexblade with 2024 rules, agree on which source and conversion approach apply rather than assuming every 2014 feature carries over unchanged. Consult the 2024 Warlock rules and the 2024 Player’s Handbook updates for that ruleset’s presentation.
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For the full 2014 Hexblade subclass text, consult Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, the sourcebook associated with the subclass.
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