Paladin

Paladin — summary

Game version: 4.1.1 (Patch 8) · Last updated: 3 August 2026

• Hit die — d10
• Main ability — Strength and Charisma together
• Saving throws — Wisdom, Charisma
• Armour — Light, medium and heavy armour + shields
• Weapons — All simple and martial weapons
• Resource — Spell slots, which fuel Divine Smite, plus Channel Oath
• Feat levels — 4, 8, 12
• Ability scores — Strength 17, Dexterity 10, Constitution 14, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 8, Charisma 16
• Party role — In a party this class covers: Frontline, Melee damage, Face, Healing.

Two ready-made builds

• Easy path: Devotion — Holy Warrior with a Shield — One class. Stand at the front, burst with Divine Smite and keep the party alive with your aura.
• Strong path: Vengeance Paladin + Warlock — Warlock slots come back on a SHORT rest, so you get far more Divine Smites. It mixes two classes.

Subclasses

• Oath of Devotion — Unlocks at level 1. Blesses your weapon for better accuracy: the simplest oath, as long as you keep its rules.
• Oath of Vengeance — Unlocks at level 1. Mark one enemy for permanent advantage against it: king of boss fights.
• Oath of the Ancients — Unlocks at level 1. Protects the party from spell damage: the oath that trades damage for durability.
• Oath of the Crown — Unlocks at level 1. Pulls enemies onto you and takes damage meant for your allies: a true protector.
• Oathbreaker — Unlocks at level 1. Unlocked by breaking your oath: you do not choose it, you fall into it. Dark, but powerful.

Recommended races

• Dragonborn — +2 Strength, +1 Charisma: exactly the pair a Paladin wants, plus a free area attack from the breath weapon.
• Half-Orc — Savage Attacks adds a die on critical hits, which makes critical Divine Smites enormous.
• Shield Dwarf — +2 Strength and +2 Constitution make this the Paladin that stands longest on the frontline.

Recommended backgrounds

• Noble (History, Persuasion) — Persuasion runs off Charisma — the same ability that fuels the Paladin's smites also makes it the party's mouthpiece.
• Soldier (Athletics, Intimidation) — Athletics from Strength, Intimidation from Charisma — the Paladin is one of the few classes that keeps both high.

Companions who play this class

• Minthara — Oath of Vengeance

Resource rhythm

• Spell slots return on a LONG rest and Divine Smite eats them. Dump them all in the day's first fight and you reach the boss empty-handed.
• Channel Oath returns on a short rest: spend that freely and ration your slots. Not mixing up the two resources is the core of playing a Paladin.

In Honour Mode

• Auras raise the whole party's saving throws, and since most Legendary Actions hinge on a save, their value goes up in Honour Mode.
• Do not dump every slot into Divine Smite; on a single save you want healing left in reserve until the next long rest.

Level by level: Devotion — Holy Warrior with a Shield

• Level 1 — Oath: Devotion · Skills: Persuasion, Intimidation · Gain: Lay on Hands Tip: The Paladin picks its oath at level 1, not level 3.
• Level 2 — Fighting Style: Defence · Spells: Bless, Cure Wounds · Gain: Divine Smite
  • Defence — A lasting armour bonus while you wear armour, keeping you alive up front.
  Tip: Smite after the hit lands, not before, so a miss never wastes the slot.
• Level 3 — No permanent pick: refresh what you prepare · Gain: Divine Health
• Level 4 — Ability Improvement: Strength +2 (17 → 19) · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Strength +2)
• Level 5 — No permanent pick: refresh what you prepare · Gain: Extra Attack Tip: The biggest power jump in the game: your attacks per turn double. If you plan to multiclass, do not branch before you have this.
• Level 6 — No permanent pick: refresh what you prepare · Gain: Aura of Protection Tip: This is the strongest passive in the game, so do not stray from the party.
• Level 7 — No permanent pick: refresh what you prepare · Gain: Aura of Devotion
• Level 8 — Feat: Great Weapon Master · Gain: Great Weapon Master
  • Great Weapon Master
  Tip: Unlocks a toggle that trades accuracy for damage. Switch it on against lightly armoured enemies and off against high-armour bosses: a miss is zero damage.
• Level 9 — No permanent pick: refresh what you prepare · Gain: Spell Slots
• Level 10 — No permanent pick: refresh what you prepare · Gain: Aura of Courage
• Level 11 — No permanent pick: refresh what you prepare · Gain: Improved Divine Smite
• Level 12 — Ability Improvement: Strength +1, Charisma +1 · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Strength +1, Charisma +1)

Level by level: Vengeance Paladin + Warlock

• Level 1 — Oath: Vengeance · Skills: Persuasion, Intimidation · Gain: Lay on Hands
• Level 2 — Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting · Spells: Bless, Cure Wounds · Gain: Divine Smite
  • Defence — A lasting armour bonus while you wear armour, keeping you alive up front.
• Level 3 — No choice · Gain: Vow of Enmity Tip: Advantage against one enemy as a bonus action. Open a boss fight with it: landing your Divine Smite matters more than its damage.
• Level 4 — Ability Improvement: Strength +2 (17 → 19) · Gain: Ability Improvement
  • Ability Improvement (Strength +2)
• Level 5 — No choice · Gain: Extra Attack Tip: The biggest power jump in the game: your attacks per turn double. If you plan to multiclass, do not branch before you have this.
• Level 6 — No choice · Gain: Aura of Protection Tip: Every nearby ally adds your Charisma modifier to their saving throws. Keep the party close: this aura is the single most valuable feature in it.
• Level 7 — No choice: the Paladin half ends here · Gain: Relentless Avenger Tip: Hit an enemy with an opportunity attack and you get free movement. The cheapest way to chase down a caster that is trying to run.
• Level 8 — SWITCH CLASS NOW: choose Warlock · Patron: The Fiend · Gain: Eldritch Blast Tip: When levelling up, click the Warlock card instead of continuing as Paladin.
• Level 9 — Eldritch Invocations: Agonising Blast, Devil's Sight · Gain: Agonising Blast Tip: Adds your Charisma modifier to Eldritch Blast (the game's own wording). This is the invocation that turns the Warlock's endless damage into real damage: take it first.
• Level 10 — Pact: Pact of the Blade · Gain: Pact of the Blade Tip: Summons a pact weapon that attacks with Charisma. It brings the Warlock into melee, but your slots are still few: do not abandon ranged attacks entirely.
• Level 11 — Feat: Great Weapon Master · Gain: Great Weapon Master
  • Great Weapon Master
  Tip: Unlocks a toggle that trades accuracy for damage. Switch it on against lightly armoured enemies and off against high-armour bosses: a miss is zero damage.
• Level 12 — No choice · Gain: Pact Magic Tip: Take a short rest after every fight: your Smites recharge for free.

Key equipment

• Everburn Blade (Act 1) — The strongest two-handed weapon in the early game. Where: In the opening scene, aboard the Nautiloid — carried by Commander Zhalk.
• Adamantine Splint Armour (Act 1) — Turns critical hits against you into ordinary hits. Where: Forged at the Adamantine Forge in Grymforge (needs a Mithral Ore and a mould).
• Helldusk Armour (Act 3) — The best heavy armour in the game, at 21 Armour Class. Where: Act 3, House of Hope — worn by Raphael at all times.
• Balduran's Giantslayer (Act 3) — One of the strongest late-game greatswords, devastating together with Smite. Where: Act 3, the Dragon's Sanctum — on Ansur's corpse.

Combat tips

• Use Divine Smite only after the hit lands, so a miss never burns a slot.
• Aura of Protection only reaches those close to you, so do not stray from the party.
• Smiting on a critical hit doubles the damage dice, so wait for your crits.
• Your Charisma is high, so let your Paladin lead every conversation.

Common mistakes

• Do not Smite on every hit: you will run out of slots and end the fight empty-handed.
• Do not neglect Charisma: both your aura and your dialogue depend on it.
• If you took the Oath of Devotion, do not kill innocents: you will break it and become an Oathbreaker.

All twelve classes and the party picker