What is the best multiclass combination for a Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3?
Multiclassing a Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3 can create a powerful and versatile character, but it requires careful planning to maximize effectiveness. One of the best multiclass combinations for a Paladin is with the Sorcerer class, creating a Paladin/Sorcerer hybrid. This build leverages the Paladin's martial prowess and divine smites with the Sorcerer's spellcasting flexibility and metamagic options. HereÔÇÖs a detailed breakdown of how to achieve this build, including mechanics, strategies, and tips.
First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics. Paladins are strong melee fighters with access to divine smite, which allows them to expend spell slots to deal extra radiant damage on a hit. Sorcerers, on the other hand, are full spellcasters with access to metamagic, which lets them modify spells in powerful ways, such as casting them as a bonus action or increasing their range. By combining these two classes, you can create a character who can deal massive burst damage in melee combat while also having access to a wide range of spells for utility and support.
To start this build, you should begin as a Paladin. This gives you heavy armor proficiency and a strong foundation in melee combat. At level 2, you gain access to divine smite, which is a key feature of this build. You should aim to take at least 2 levels in Paladin to unlock this ability. After that, you can start taking levels in Sorcerer. The Sorcerer class will give you access to more spell slots, which you can use for both casting spells and fueling your divine smites. The Draconic Bloodline or Wild Magic Sorcerer origins are both good choices, with Draconic Bloodline offering extra durability and Wild Magic providing unpredictable but potentially powerful effects.
One important strategy for this build is to focus on Charisma as your primary ability score. Charisma affects both your Paladin spells and your Sorcerer spells, as well as your divine smite damage. You should also prioritize Strength for melee combat, but if you want to focus more on spellcasting, you can consider using a finesse weapon like a rapier and prioritizing Dexterity instead. Constitution is also important for maintaining concentration on spells and surviving in melee combat.
When it comes to spell selection, you should focus on spells that complement your melee capabilities. For example, the Shield spell is a great choice for increasing your survivability in combat. You can also take spells like Misty Step for mobility or Hold Person for crowd control. As a Sorcerer, you can use metamagic to enhance these spells, such as using Quickened Spell to cast a spell as a bonus action and still have your action available for an attack.
One common mistake to avoid is spreading your levels too thin. You want to have enough levels in Paladin to be effective in melee combat, but also enough levels in Sorcerer to have a good selection of spells and metamagic options. A common split is 6 levels in Paladin and 14 levels in Sorcerer. This gives you access to the PaladinÔÇÖs Aura of Protection, which is a powerful defensive ability, while still having plenty of spell slots and metamagic options from Sorcerer.
Advanced techniques for this build include using metamagic to maximize your damage output. For example, you can use Quickened Spell to cast a spell like Hold Person as a bonus action, then use your action to attack and apply divine smite for massive damage. You can also use Twinned Spell to target two enemies with a single-target spell, or Subtle Spell to cast spells without being noticed in social situations.
In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, itÔÇÖs important to understand how multiclassing works in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3. When you multiclass, your spell slots are determined by your combined levels in all spellcasting classes. This means that even though you have fewer levels in Sorcerer, you still have access to higher-level spell slots for divine smite. However, you can only learn spells of a level that your individual class levels would allow. For example, if you have 2 levels in Paladin and 3 levels in Sorcerer, you can only learn up to 2nd-level Sorcerer spells, even though you have 3rd-level spell slots.
Specific examples of this build in action include using Hold Person to paralyze an enemy, then attacking with divine smite for automatic critical hits. Another example is using Quickened Spell to cast a spell like Fireball as a bonus action, then using your action to attack with a weapon. This allows you to deal massive damage in a single turn, making you a formidable opponent in both melee and ranged combat.
In conclusion, the Paladin/Sorcerer multiclass is a powerful and versatile build that combines the best of both worlds. By carefully planning your ability scores, spell selection, and level progression, you can create a character who excels in both melee combat and spellcasting. With the right strategies and techniques, this build can be a dominant force in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3.
First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics. Paladins are strong melee fighters with access to divine smite, which allows them to expend spell slots to deal extra radiant damage on a hit. Sorcerers, on the other hand, are full spellcasters with access to metamagic, which lets them modify spells in powerful ways, such as casting them as a bonus action or increasing their range. By combining these two classes, you can create a character who can deal massive burst damage in melee combat while also having access to a wide range of spells for utility and support.
To start this build, you should begin as a Paladin. This gives you heavy armor proficiency and a strong foundation in melee combat. At level 2, you gain access to divine smite, which is a key feature of this build. You should aim to take at least 2 levels in Paladin to unlock this ability. After that, you can start taking levels in Sorcerer. The Sorcerer class will give you access to more spell slots, which you can use for both casting spells and fueling your divine smites. The Draconic Bloodline or Wild Magic Sorcerer origins are both good choices, with Draconic Bloodline offering extra durability and Wild Magic providing unpredictable but potentially powerful effects.
One important strategy for this build is to focus on Charisma as your primary ability score. Charisma affects both your Paladin spells and your Sorcerer spells, as well as your divine smite damage. You should also prioritize Strength for melee combat, but if you want to focus more on spellcasting, you can consider using a finesse weapon like a rapier and prioritizing Dexterity instead. Constitution is also important for maintaining concentration on spells and surviving in melee combat.
When it comes to spell selection, you should focus on spells that complement your melee capabilities. For example, the Shield spell is a great choice for increasing your survivability in combat. You can also take spells like Misty Step for mobility or Hold Person for crowd control. As a Sorcerer, you can use metamagic to enhance these spells, such as using Quickened Spell to cast a spell as a bonus action and still have your action available for an attack.
One common mistake to avoid is spreading your levels too thin. You want to have enough levels in Paladin to be effective in melee combat, but also enough levels in Sorcerer to have a good selection of spells and metamagic options. A common split is 6 levels in Paladin and 14 levels in Sorcerer. This gives you access to the PaladinÔÇÖs Aura of Protection, which is a powerful defensive ability, while still having plenty of spell slots and metamagic options from Sorcerer.
Advanced techniques for this build include using metamagic to maximize your damage output. For example, you can use Quickened Spell to cast a spell like Hold Person as a bonus action, then use your action to attack and apply divine smite for massive damage. You can also use Twinned Spell to target two enemies with a single-target spell, or Subtle Spell to cast spells without being noticed in social situations.
In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, itÔÇÖs important to understand how multiclassing works in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3. When you multiclass, your spell slots are determined by your combined levels in all spellcasting classes. This means that even though you have fewer levels in Sorcerer, you still have access to higher-level spell slots for divine smite. However, you can only learn spells of a level that your individual class levels would allow. For example, if you have 2 levels in Paladin and 3 levels in Sorcerer, you can only learn up to 2nd-level Sorcerer spells, even though you have 3rd-level spell slots.
Specific examples of this build in action include using Hold Person to paralyze an enemy, then attacking with divine smite for automatic critical hits. Another example is using Quickened Spell to cast a spell like Fireball as a bonus action, then using your action to attack with a weapon. This allows you to deal massive damage in a single turn, making you a formidable opponent in both melee and ranged combat.
In conclusion, the Paladin/Sorcerer multiclass is a powerful and versatile build that combines the best of both worlds. By carefully planning your ability scores, spell selection, and level progression, you can create a character who excels in both melee combat and spellcasting. With the right strategies and techniques, this build can be a dominant force in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3.