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Few classes in Baldur's Gate 3 have the right to be called a magic tank like the Paladin. Capable of taking hits and kicking names, the Paladin is a unique class with the strength to carry any weapon or armor and the skill to cast magic. If you want a class that's literally good at everything, then look no further.
Where some classes may suffer from dipping too much into one side or the other (or, in the case of the Ranger, nowhere at all), the Paladin has very few flaws. It's a solid class for leading a charge or supporting the team. When you go with a Paladin, you can't go wrong at all. Unless, of course, you're an Oathbreaker.
Paladin Overview
"Whether sworn before a god's altar and the witness of a priest, in a sacred glade before nature spirits and fey beings, or in a moment of desperation and grief with the dead as the only witness, a paladin's oath is a powerful bond."
Although the Paladin Class is technically a melee fighting class, it has access to spells. These spells give buffs to themselves and their teammates, making them optimal team members for any adventuring party.
Their best stats are typically in Strength and Charisma, making them a unique combination compared to other mixed classes like the Ranger and Eldritch Knight Fighter.
With all their features and set-ups required, Paladins can be a little difficult for beginners to start with at times, but they're well worth the effort you put into them. Adding up the bonuses and unleashing a massive Divine Smite on your enemies has never felt so good.
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Class Features | Spells Slots per Spell Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |||
1 | 2 | Divine Sense, Lay on Hands | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
2 | 2 | Divine Smite, Fighting Style, Spellcasting | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
3 | 2 | Divine Health | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
4 | 2 | Ability Score Improvement or Choice of Feat | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
5 | 3 | Extra Attack | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Paladin Skills, Proficiencies, And Starting Equipment
Starting out, the Paladin gets blessed with one of the highest growths in Health Points. They start with 10 + your Constitution modifier (CON) and increase every level with 6 + CON.
Their skills are a bit on the limited side, but each is incredibly important to have for passive checks in Baldur's Gate 3. Therefore, you can't go wrong with your choices.
- Saving Throws: Wisdom and Charisma
- Skills: Choose two from Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Perception, and Religion
- Proficiencies: All armor, shields, and weapons
- Starting Equipment: Warhammer, Wooden Shield, and Scale Mail (of your Oath)
The starting equipment is a little lean, with an iffy Warhammer and a wooden shield for added AC. The Scale Mail is the best part of your starting gear as its high AC is one of the best in the early game, and its unique design changes based on your starting Oath.
However, once you get past the starting area and begin finding new equipment, the Paladin has proficiency in all armor and weapons. This means you can turn your Paladin into any playstyle you see fit - a huge opportunity for customization and unique playstyles.
Paladin Class Features
The Paladin's class features boast extraordinary synergy with one another, offering bonuses and boons that balance supportive gameplay with damage output. These all combine relatively nicely with the Paladin's spells.
Divine Smite is a large part of the Paladin's build, offering a well of damage to pull from where needed. Of course, this competes for spell slots, but the Paladin's other spells should primarily be used sparingly and where needed to aid teammates. A Paladin's normal position on any team is typically a damage tank first and a supporting healer second.
Unlock Level | Class Feature | Effect(s) |
|---|---|---|
1 | Divine Sense | Gain advantage on attack rolls against celestials, fiends, and undead through using this class feature as a Bonus Action. |
1 | Lay on Hands | Have a pool of healing you can use when you touch an ally. Heal a total of HP up 5 * your Paladin level. Alternatively, spend 5HP of your pool to cure a disease or poison. |
2 | Divine Smite | When you hit an enemy with a weapon attack, expend a spell slot to deal an extra 2d8 Radiant damage + another 1d8 for each spell level cast above the 1st. |
2 | Fighting Style | Choose a fighting style:
|
3 | Divine Health | Become invulnerable to disease. |
5 | Extra Attack | Make two takes in a turn instead of one. |
Illithid Features
Spoilers Are Ahead!
When activating your Illithid Powers enough times, you'll gain a special feature specific to your class.
The Paladin's Illithid Power is "Fracture Psyche." This powerful ability allows you to reduce the Armor Class of one target by a single point. While that doesn't seem much at first glance, this can be huge in nerfing difficult bosses and making it more viable for spellcasters or ranged supports to deal damage.
|
Name |
Type of Action |
Effect(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Fracture Psyche |
1 Action |
Reduce the target's AC by 1. |
Paladin Spells
The Paladin spellcasting class is entirely unique (unlike other melee-magic mixed classes). It has its own spell list. Much like the Sorcerer and Warlock, Paladins are Charisma-based spellcasters. This means:
- Spell-Save DC = 8 + Proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier
- Spell Attack Modifier = Proficiency bonus + Charisma modifier
Like the Cleric, Paladins are prepared casters. However, their prepared spells mechanic is unique because the Paladin's allowance of prepared spells is based on their Charisma and not inherently or solely on their level. The equation to know how many spells you can prepare is:
Number of Prepared Spells Allowed = Charisma Modifier + 1/2 of your Paladin level (rounded down)
Full Spells List
Paladin Subclass: Oath Of The Ancients
"Sometimes called fey knights, green knights, or horned knights, paladins who swear this oath cast their lot with the side of the light in the cosmic struggle against darkness because they love the beautiful and life-giving things of the world, not necessarily because they believe in principles of honor, courage, and justice."
The Oath of the Ancients is a supporting subclass that enjoys nature and assisting others. Their tenets are:
Kindle the Light | "Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world, beating back despair." |
|---|---|
Shelter the Light | "Where there is good, beauty, love, and laughter in the world, stand against the wickedness that would swallow it. Where life flourishes, stand against the forces that would render it barren." |
Preserve Your Own Light | "Delight in song and laughter, in beauty and art. If you allow the light to die in your own heart, you can't preserve it in the world." |
Be the Light | "Be a glorious beacon for all who live in despair. Let the light of your joy and courage shine forth in all your deeds." |
Breaking these tenets will make you an Oathbreaker. Known actions that break the tenets are:
- Killing the Owlbear mother and cub.
- Killing Pandima.
- Reviving Mayrina's husband.
- Freeing Sazza at the Druid's Grove.
Upon choosing this Oath, you will receive the ability to cast "Healing Radiance." This will heal all allies nearby. Additionally, you will get a set of Oath-specific spells at certain levels.
Full Oath Spell List
Paladin Subclass: Oath Of Devotion
"Sometimes called cavaliers, white knights, or holy warriors, these paladins meet the ideal of the knight in shining armor, acting with honor in pursuit of justice and the greater good."
The Oath of Devotion subclass leans a little more toward the white knight stereotype of the paladin - the more well-known subclass. It leans more toward raw damage output and smiting the evil and wicked.
The Oath of Devotion's tenets are:
Be honest. | Don't lie or cheat. Your word is your promise. |
|---|---|
Be courageous. | Never fear to act, though caution is wise. |
Be compassionate. | Aid others, protect the weak, and punish those who threaten them. Show mercy to your foes, but temper it with wisdom. |
Be honorable. | Treat others with fairness, and let your honorable deeds be an example to them. Do as much good as possible while causing the least amount of harm. |
Be dutiful. | Be responsible for your actions and their consequences, protect those entrusted to your care, and obey those who have just authority over you. |
Deviating from these tenets will make you an Oathbreaker. Known actions that break these oaths are:
- Betraying the Tieflings after rescuing Lae'zel
- Attacking the Goblins at the Blighted Village after coming to a truce
- Siding with the Goblins at their camp after agreeing to help the Druid's Grove
- Allowing Arka to kill Sazza the Goblin in the Druid's Grove
- Torturing Liam at the Goblin's camp
As with the Oath of Ancients, the Oath of Devotion subclass is privy to its own list of unique spells at key levels as well as the unique feature "Holy Rebuke," which grants an aura of holy energy around a target. Anyone who attacks the affected target is dealt 1d4 Radiant damage.
Full Oath Spell List
Hidden Paladin Subclass: Oathbreaker (Breaking Your Oath)
"An oathbreaker is a paladin who breaks their sacred oaths to pursue some dark ambition or serve an evil power. Whatever light burned in the paladin's heart has been extinguished. Only darkness remains."
When you break an Oath, you'll be visited by the Oathbreaker Knight at your camp. Speak with him, and you'll be given a choice:
- Become an Oathbreaker
- Repent
Repenting takes a 2,000 gold investment, so if you don't have the money, you can become an Oathbreaker in the meantime and repent later.
For those creatures of the most egregious of nature, you'll be able to embrace the darkness. Oathbreakers are violent, aggressive melee fighters with twisted spells in their retinue.
Full Oathbreaker Spell List
Paladin Subclass: Oath Of Vengeance
"The Oath of Vengeance is a solemn commitment to punish those who have committed a grievous sin... To these paladins – sometimes called avengers or dark knights – their own purity is not as important as delivering justice."
The Oath of Vengeance Paladin is not available in Early Access but is very likely to be included in the official release of Baldur's Gate 3.
It is known to be, much like the Oathbreaker Paladin, a heavily melee-focused subclass. It controls the battlefield through tricky spells and class features that hinder the movement and retreat of enemies.