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. The goal is to make your Paladin durable enough to absorb damage while still being effective in combat and supporting your party. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you achieve this.
First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. Paladins are a hybrid class, combining martial prowess with divine magic. They are naturally durable due to their high hit points and access to heavy armor. Their key abilities include Lay on Hands for healing, Divine Smite for burst damage, and various auras that provide defensive bonuses to themselves and their allies. To make your Paladin tanky, youÔÇÖll want to focus on maximizing their survivability while maintaining their offensive capabilities.
Start with your race. Some races offer natural bonuses that complement a tanky build. For example, the Half-Orc provides Relentless Endurance, which allows you to stay standing after taking lethal damage. The Dwarf offers extra hit points and resistance to poison, which can be useful in many encounters. The Human provides an extra skill proficiency, which can be helpful for versatility. Choose a race that aligns with your playstyle and the specific strengths you want to emphasize.
Next, allocate your ability scores. Strength should be your primary stat, as it determines your melee attack and damage rolls. Constitution is crucial for increasing your hit points, making you harder to kill. Charisma is also important for your spellcasting and the effectiveness of your auras. A good starting point might be Strength 16, Constitution 14, and Charisma 14, with the remaining points distributed among Dexterity, Wisdom, and Intelligence as needed. Remember, you can increase these stats as you level up, so plan accordingly.
When choosing your background, consider options that provide useful skills for a tank. The Soldier background, for example, gives you Athletics and Intimidation, both of which can be useful in combat and dialogue. The Acolyte background provides Insight and Religion, which can be helpful for roleplay and certain story choices. Choose a background that complements your characterÔÇÖs role in the party.
At level 1, youÔÇÖll choose your Fighting Style. For a tanky Paladin, the Defense Fighting Style is ideal, as it provides a +1 bonus to AC while wearing armor. This bonus stacks with other AC bonuses, making you even harder to hit. Alternatively, the Protection Fighting Style allows you to impose disadvantage on attacks against nearby allies, which can be useful if youÔÇÖre focusing on protecting your party.
As you level up, youÔÇÖll gain access to more abilities and spells. At level 2, youÔÇÖll gain Divine Smite, which allows you to expend spell slots to deal extra radiant damage on a hit. This is a powerful offensive tool, but remember to save some spell slots for defensive spells like Shield of Faith, which increases your AC, or Cure Wounds, which can heal you or an ally. At level 3, youÔÇÖll choose your Sacred Oath. The Oath of Devotion is a good choice for a tanky Paladin, as it provides abilities like Sacred Weapon, which increases your attack rolls, and Aura of Devotion, which protects you and your allies from being charmed.
Equipment is also crucial for a tanky Paladin. Prioritize heavy armor to maximize your AC. Plate armor is the best option, but if you canÔÇÖt find it early on, splint armor or chain mail will suffice. A shield is essential, as it provides an additional +2 to AC. For weapons, consider a one-handed weapon like a longsword or warhammer, which allows you to use a shield. If you prefer two-handed weapons, a greatsword or maul can be effective, but youÔÇÖll sacrifice some AC.
In combat, your role is to draw enemy attention and absorb damage. Position yourself at the front of the party, using your high AC and hit points to protect your allies. Use your Lay on Hands ability to heal yourself or others as needed. When facing tough enemies, use Divine Smite to deal significant damage. Remember to use your spells strategically, saving some for defensive purposes.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting your Constitution, which can make you too fragile, and overusing Divine Smite, which can leave you without spell slots when you need them most. Also, donÔÇÖt forget to use your auras, as they provide significant defensive bonuses to you and your allies.
Advanced techniques include multiclassing. For example, taking a level in Fighter can give you access to the Second Wind ability, which provides additional healing. Alternatively, a level in Sorcerer can give you access to more spell slots and useful spells like Shield, which can further increase your survivability. However, multiclassing requires careful planning to ensure you donÔÇÖt weaken your core Paladin abilities.
In summary, creating a tanky Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3 involves careful stat allocation, strategic ability choices, and thoughtful equipment selection. Focus on maximizing your AC and hit points, use your spells and abilities wisely, and position yourself to protect your party. With the right build, your Paladin can be an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. Paladins are a hybrid class, combining martial prowess with divine magic. They are naturally durable due to their high hit points and access to heavy armor. Their key abilities include Lay on Hands for healing, Divine Smite for burst damage, and various auras that provide defensive bonuses to themselves and their allies. To make your Paladin tanky, youÔÇÖll want to focus on maximizing their survivability while maintaining their offensive capabilities.
Start with your race. Some races offer natural bonuses that complement a tanky build. For example, the Half-Orc provides Relentless Endurance, which allows you to stay standing after taking lethal damage. The Dwarf offers extra hit points and resistance to poison, which can be useful in many encounters. The Human provides an extra skill proficiency, which can be helpful for versatility. Choose a race that aligns with your playstyle and the specific strengths you want to emphasize.
Next, allocate your ability scores. Strength should be your primary stat, as it determines your melee attack and damage rolls. Constitution is crucial for increasing your hit points, making you harder to kill. Charisma is also important for your spellcasting and the effectiveness of your auras. A good starting point might be Strength 16, Constitution 14, and Charisma 14, with the remaining points distributed among Dexterity, Wisdom, and Intelligence as needed. Remember, you can increase these stats as you level up, so plan accordingly.
When choosing your background, consider options that provide useful skills for a tank. The Soldier background, for example, gives you Athletics and Intimidation, both of which can be useful in combat and dialogue. The Acolyte background provides Insight and Religion, which can be helpful for roleplay and certain story choices. Choose a background that complements your characterÔÇÖs role in the party.
At level 1, youÔÇÖll choose your Fighting Style. For a tanky Paladin, the Defense Fighting Style is ideal, as it provides a +1 bonus to AC while wearing armor. This bonus stacks with other AC bonuses, making you even harder to hit. Alternatively, the Protection Fighting Style allows you to impose disadvantage on attacks against nearby allies, which can be useful if youÔÇÖre focusing on protecting your party.
As you level up, youÔÇÖll gain access to more abilities and spells. At level 2, youÔÇÖll gain Divine Smite, which allows you to expend spell slots to deal extra radiant damage on a hit. This is a powerful offensive tool, but remember to save some spell slots for defensive spells like Shield of Faith, which increases your AC, or Cure Wounds, which can heal you or an ally. At level 3, youÔÇÖll choose your Sacred Oath. The Oath of Devotion is a good choice for a tanky Paladin, as it provides abilities like Sacred Weapon, which increases your attack rolls, and Aura of Devotion, which protects you and your allies from being charmed.
Equipment is also crucial for a tanky Paladin. Prioritize heavy armor to maximize your AC. Plate armor is the best option, but if you canÔÇÖt find it early on, splint armor or chain mail will suffice. A shield is essential, as it provides an additional +2 to AC. For weapons, consider a one-handed weapon like a longsword or warhammer, which allows you to use a shield. If you prefer two-handed weapons, a greatsword or maul can be effective, but youÔÇÖll sacrifice some AC.
In combat, your role is to draw enemy attention and absorb damage. Position yourself at the front of the party, using your high AC and hit points to protect your allies. Use your Lay on Hands ability to heal yourself or others as needed. When facing tough enemies, use Divine Smite to deal significant damage. Remember to use your spells strategically, saving some for defensive purposes.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting your Constitution, which can make you too fragile, and overusing Divine Smite, which can leave you without spell slots when you need them most. Also, donÔÇÖt forget to use your auras, as they provide significant defensive bonuses to you and your allies.
Advanced techniques include multiclassing. For example, taking a level in Fighter can give you access to the Second Wind ability, which provides additional healing. Alternatively, a level in Sorcerer can give you access to more spell slots and useful spells like Shield, which can further increase your survivability. However, multiclassing requires careful planning to ensure you donÔÇÖt weaken your core Paladin abilities.
In summary, creating a tanky Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3 involves careful stat allocation, strategic ability choices, and thoughtful equipment selection. Focus on maximizing your AC and hit points, use your spells and abilities wisely, and position yourself to protect your party. With the right build, your Paladin can be an unstoppable force on the battlefield.