How do I create a tanky Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3?
Creating a tanky Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3 involves a combination of careful stat allocation, strategic ability choices, and thoughtful equipment selection. Paladins are naturally durable due to their high hit points, heavy armor proficiency, and access to healing spells, but with the right build, you can maximize their survivability and make them a true frontline tank. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.
First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. Paladins are a hybrid class, combining martial prowess with divine magic. Their key features include Lay on Hands for healing, Divine Smite for burst damage, and Auras that provide defensive bonuses to nearby allies. To make a Paladin tanky, youÔÇÖll want to focus on increasing their Armor Class (AC), hit points, and saving throws. This will allow them to absorb damage and protect the party effectively.
Start by choosing a race that complements the PaladinÔÇÖs tanking role. Races like Half-Orc, Dragonborn, or Dwarf are excellent choices. Half-Orcs have Relentless Endurance, which allows them to avoid dropping to 0 HP once per long rest, while Dragonborns have resistance to certain damage types. Dwarves, particularly Shield Dwarves, gain bonuses to Constitution and proficiency with certain weapons, making them naturally durable.
When allocating ability scores, prioritize Strength and Constitution. Strength is essential for melee attacks and wearing heavy armor, while Constitution increases your hit points, making you harder to kill. Aim for at least 16 in Strength and 14-16 in Constitution. Charisma is also important for Paladins, as it affects their spellcasting and Aura of Protection, which adds your Charisma modifier to saving throws for you and nearby allies. A Charisma score of 14-16 is ideal.
For your background, choose something that complements your role as a tank. Soldier or Folk Hero are good options, as they provide useful proficiencies and roleplay opportunities. Your background will also influence your dialogue options and interactions with NPCs, so choose one that fits your characterÔÇÖs story.
Next, select your subclass at level 3. The Oath of Devotion and Oath of the Ancients are both strong choices for a tanky Paladin. Oath of Devotion provides abilities like Sacred Weapon, which increases your attack rolls, and Aura of Devotion, which protects against charm effects. Oath of the Ancients offers Aura of Warding, which grants resistance to spell damage, making you even more durable in magical combat.
In terms of combat tactics, your primary role is to draw enemy attention and protect your allies. Use your high AC and hit points to stand in the front lines, and use abilities like Compelled Duel to force enemies to focus on you. Lay on Hands can be used to heal yourself or allies in a pinch, and Divine Smite should be saved for critical moments to deal massive damage to tough enemies.
When it comes to equipment, prioritize heavy armor and a shield to maximize your AC. Plate armor is the best choice, but if you canÔÇÖt find it early on, splint or chainmail will suffice. A shield will add +2 to your AC, making you even harder to hit. For weapons, a one-handed weapon like a longsword or warhammer works well, as it allows you to use a shield. If you prefer two-handed weapons, consider a greatsword or maul, but be aware that this will lower your AC.
One common mistake to avoid is neglecting your Charisma. While it might be tempting to focus solely on Strength and Constitution, Charisma is crucial for your Aura of Protection and spellcasting. Another mistake is overusing Divine Smite. While itÔÇÖs a powerful ability, it consumes spell slots, so use it strategically rather than spamming it in every fight.
Advanced techniques include multiclassing. For example, dipping into Fighter for the Defense fighting style can give you an additional +1 to AC, and Action Surge allows you to take an extra action in combat. Alternatively, a level in Sorcerer or Warlock can give you access to additional spells and cantrips, though this comes at the cost of delaying your Paladin progression.
In terms of D&D rules, remember that Paladins rely on their Oaths, and breaking them can have consequences. Be mindful of your choices in dialogue and story decisions to avoid losing your Paladin abilities. Additionally, Paladins are proficient in Wisdom and Charisma saving throws, which makes them resistant to many control effects, but donÔÇÖt neglect Dexterity saving throws, as they can still be a weak point.
In specific scenarios, such as fighting spellcasters, use your Aura of Protection to bolster your saving throws and resistances. Against large groups of enemies, position yourself to protect your squishier allies and use area-of-effect spells like Thunderous Smite to control the battlefield.
By following these steps and strategies, you can create a tanky Paladin that excels at protecting your party and surviving the toughest battles in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3.
First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. Paladins are a hybrid class, combining martial prowess with divine magic. Their key features include Lay on Hands for healing, Divine Smite for burst damage, and Auras that provide defensive bonuses to nearby allies. To make a Paladin tanky, youÔÇÖll want to focus on increasing their Armor Class (AC), hit points, and saving throws. This will allow them to absorb damage and protect the party effectively.
Start by choosing a race that complements the PaladinÔÇÖs tanking role. Races like Half-Orc, Dragonborn, or Dwarf are excellent choices. Half-Orcs have Relentless Endurance, which allows them to avoid dropping to 0 HP once per long rest, while Dragonborns have resistance to certain damage types. Dwarves, particularly Shield Dwarves, gain bonuses to Constitution and proficiency with certain weapons, making them naturally durable.
When allocating ability scores, prioritize Strength and Constitution. Strength is essential for melee attacks and wearing heavy armor, while Constitution increases your hit points, making you harder to kill. Aim for at least 16 in Strength and 14-16 in Constitution. Charisma is also important for Paladins, as it affects their spellcasting and Aura of Protection, which adds your Charisma modifier to saving throws for you and nearby allies. A Charisma score of 14-16 is ideal.
For your background, choose something that complements your role as a tank. Soldier or Folk Hero are good options, as they provide useful proficiencies and roleplay opportunities. Your background will also influence your dialogue options and interactions with NPCs, so choose one that fits your characterÔÇÖs story.
Next, select your subclass at level 3. The Oath of Devotion and Oath of the Ancients are both strong choices for a tanky Paladin. Oath of Devotion provides abilities like Sacred Weapon, which increases your attack rolls, and Aura of Devotion, which protects against charm effects. Oath of the Ancients offers Aura of Warding, which grants resistance to spell damage, making you even more durable in magical combat.
In terms of combat tactics, your primary role is to draw enemy attention and protect your allies. Use your high AC and hit points to stand in the front lines, and use abilities like Compelled Duel to force enemies to focus on you. Lay on Hands can be used to heal yourself or allies in a pinch, and Divine Smite should be saved for critical moments to deal massive damage to tough enemies.
When it comes to equipment, prioritize heavy armor and a shield to maximize your AC. Plate armor is the best choice, but if you canÔÇÖt find it early on, splint or chainmail will suffice. A shield will add +2 to your AC, making you even harder to hit. For weapons, a one-handed weapon like a longsword or warhammer works well, as it allows you to use a shield. If you prefer two-handed weapons, consider a greatsword or maul, but be aware that this will lower your AC.
One common mistake to avoid is neglecting your Charisma. While it might be tempting to focus solely on Strength and Constitution, Charisma is crucial for your Aura of Protection and spellcasting. Another mistake is overusing Divine Smite. While itÔÇÖs a powerful ability, it consumes spell slots, so use it strategically rather than spamming it in every fight.
Advanced techniques include multiclassing. For example, dipping into Fighter for the Defense fighting style can give you an additional +1 to AC, and Action Surge allows you to take an extra action in combat. Alternatively, a level in Sorcerer or Warlock can give you access to additional spells and cantrips, though this comes at the cost of delaying your Paladin progression.
In terms of D&D rules, remember that Paladins rely on their Oaths, and breaking them can have consequences. Be mindful of your choices in dialogue and story decisions to avoid losing your Paladin abilities. Additionally, Paladins are proficient in Wisdom and Charisma saving throws, which makes them resistant to many control effects, but donÔÇÖt neglect Dexterity saving throws, as they can still be a weak point.
In specific scenarios, such as fighting spellcasters, use your Aura of Protection to bolster your saving throws and resistances. Against large groups of enemies, position yourself to protect your squishier allies and use area-of-effect spells like Thunderous Smite to control the battlefield.
By following these steps and strategies, you can create a tanky Paladin that excels at protecting your party and surviving the toughest battles in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3.