What is the best subclass for a Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3?
The Paladin class in Baldur's Gate 3 is a powerful and versatile choice, offering a mix of martial prowess, divine magic, and strong roleplay potential. When it comes to choosing the best subclass, or Oath, for your Paladin, the decision largely depends on your preferred playstyle and the role you want your character to fulfill in the party. The three available Oaths in Baldur's Gate 3 are Oath of Devotion, Oath of the Ancients, and Oath of Vengeance. Each Oath provides unique abilities and spells that can significantly impact your effectiveness in combat and roleplay scenarios.
Oath of Devotion is the classic "knight in shining armor" archetype. This subclass focuses on protecting allies, dealing radiant damage, and maintaining a strong moral code. The Channel Divinity options for Oath of Devotion include Sacred Weapon, which enhances your weapon with radiant energy, and Turn the Unholy, which can frighten or turn undead and fiends. The Oath spells, such as Sanctuary and Lesser Restoration, are geared towards defense and support. This Oath is ideal for players who want to play a tanky, supportive Paladin who can hold the front line while protecting their allies.
Oath of the Ancients is more nature-oriented, with a focus on healing, crowd control, and resilience. The Channel Divinity options include Nature's Wrath, which restrains a creature, and Turn the Faithless, which can turn fey and fiends. The Oath spells, such as Ensnaring Strike and Moonbeam, are excellent for controlling the battlefield and dealing consistent damage over time. This Oath is perfect for players who want a Paladin that can blend martial combat with nature-themed magic, offering a mix of offense and defense.
Oath of Vengeance is the most aggressive of the three, designed for players who want to deal massive damage and hunt down their enemies. The Channel Divinity options include Abjure Enemy, which can frighten a target, and Vow of Enmity, which gives you advantage on attack rolls against a chosen foe. The Oath spells, such as Bane and Hunter's Mark, are geared towards debuffing enemies and increasing your damage output. This Oath is ideal for players who want to play a relentless, damage-dealing Paladin who can quickly eliminate high-priority targets.
When building your Paladin, it's important to consider your ability scores. Strength is crucial for melee attacks, while Charisma enhances your spellcasting and aura abilities. Constitution is also important for increasing your hit points and survivability. A common starting ability score distribution might be 16 Strength, 14 Constitution, and 16 Charisma, with the remaining points distributed as needed.
In terms of combat tactics, Paladins excel in melee combat, so positioning is key. Use your high AC and hit points to hold the front line, protecting your squishier allies. Smite spells, such as Divine Smite, are your primary source of burst damage, so use them strategically to take down tough enemies. Remember that you can use Divine Smite after you see that you've hit, allowing you to conserve spell slots if your attack misses.
One common mistake is neglecting your spellcasting abilities. While Paladins are primarily melee fighters, their spells can provide significant utility and damage. Don't be afraid to use spells like Shield of Faith to boost your AC or Cure Wounds to heal yourself or an ally. Another mistake is overusing Divine Smite, which can quickly deplete your spell slots. Use it judiciously, especially in longer battles where you might need your spells for other purposes.
Advanced techniques include multiclassing to enhance your Paladin's capabilities. For example, a Paladin/Warlock multiclass can be very powerful, combining the Paladin's melee strength with the Warlock's spellcasting and Eldritch Invocations. Another option is to multiclass with Sorcerer, which can give you more spell slots for smiting and access to powerful spells like Shield and Counterspell.
In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, it's important to understand how Paladin auras work. At 6th level, you gain the Aura of Protection, which adds your Charisma modifier to saving throws for you and nearby allies. This makes you a valuable asset in battles against enemies with powerful spells or abilities. Additionally, the Paladin's Lay on Hands ability allows you to heal a pool of hit points, which can be a lifesaver in tough fights.
Specific examples and scenarios can help illustrate the strengths of each Oath. For instance, in a battle against a powerful undead boss, an Oath of Devotion Paladin can use Turn the Unholy to control the battlefield and Sacred Weapon to deal radiant damage. An Oath of the Ancients Paladin might use Moonbeam to deal consistent damage over time and Nature's Wrath to restrain the boss, preventing it from reaching your allies. An Oath of Vengeance Paladin could use Vow of Enmity to gain advantage on attack rolls and quickly eliminate the boss with powerful smites.
In conclusion, the best subclass for a Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3 depends on your preferred playstyle and the role you want to fulfill in your party. Oath of Devotion is great for a tanky, supportive Paladin, Oath of the Ancients offers a mix of offense and defense with nature-themed magic, and Oath of Vengeance is ideal for a relentless damage dealer. Consider your ability scores, combat tactics, and potential multiclass options to optimize your Paladin build and make the most of your chosen Oath.
Oath of Devotion is the classic "knight in shining armor" archetype. This subclass focuses on protecting allies, dealing radiant damage, and maintaining a strong moral code. The Channel Divinity options for Oath of Devotion include Sacred Weapon, which enhances your weapon with radiant energy, and Turn the Unholy, which can frighten or turn undead and fiends. The Oath spells, such as Sanctuary and Lesser Restoration, are geared towards defense and support. This Oath is ideal for players who want to play a tanky, supportive Paladin who can hold the front line while protecting their allies.
Oath of the Ancients is more nature-oriented, with a focus on healing, crowd control, and resilience. The Channel Divinity options include Nature's Wrath, which restrains a creature, and Turn the Faithless, which can turn fey and fiends. The Oath spells, such as Ensnaring Strike and Moonbeam, are excellent for controlling the battlefield and dealing consistent damage over time. This Oath is perfect for players who want a Paladin that can blend martial combat with nature-themed magic, offering a mix of offense and defense.
Oath of Vengeance is the most aggressive of the three, designed for players who want to deal massive damage and hunt down their enemies. The Channel Divinity options include Abjure Enemy, which can frighten a target, and Vow of Enmity, which gives you advantage on attack rolls against a chosen foe. The Oath spells, such as Bane and Hunter's Mark, are geared towards debuffing enemies and increasing your damage output. This Oath is ideal for players who want to play a relentless, damage-dealing Paladin who can quickly eliminate high-priority targets.
When building your Paladin, it's important to consider your ability scores. Strength is crucial for melee attacks, while Charisma enhances your spellcasting and aura abilities. Constitution is also important for increasing your hit points and survivability. A common starting ability score distribution might be 16 Strength, 14 Constitution, and 16 Charisma, with the remaining points distributed as needed.
In terms of combat tactics, Paladins excel in melee combat, so positioning is key. Use your high AC and hit points to hold the front line, protecting your squishier allies. Smite spells, such as Divine Smite, are your primary source of burst damage, so use them strategically to take down tough enemies. Remember that you can use Divine Smite after you see that you've hit, allowing you to conserve spell slots if your attack misses.
One common mistake is neglecting your spellcasting abilities. While Paladins are primarily melee fighters, their spells can provide significant utility and damage. Don't be afraid to use spells like Shield of Faith to boost your AC or Cure Wounds to heal yourself or an ally. Another mistake is overusing Divine Smite, which can quickly deplete your spell slots. Use it judiciously, especially in longer battles where you might need your spells for other purposes.
Advanced techniques include multiclassing to enhance your Paladin's capabilities. For example, a Paladin/Warlock multiclass can be very powerful, combining the Paladin's melee strength with the Warlock's spellcasting and Eldritch Invocations. Another option is to multiclass with Sorcerer, which can give you more spell slots for smiting and access to powerful spells like Shield and Counterspell.
In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, it's important to understand how Paladin auras work. At 6th level, you gain the Aura of Protection, which adds your Charisma modifier to saving throws for you and nearby allies. This makes you a valuable asset in battles against enemies with powerful spells or abilities. Additionally, the Paladin's Lay on Hands ability allows you to heal a pool of hit points, which can be a lifesaver in tough fights.
Specific examples and scenarios can help illustrate the strengths of each Oath. For instance, in a battle against a powerful undead boss, an Oath of Devotion Paladin can use Turn the Unholy to control the battlefield and Sacred Weapon to deal radiant damage. An Oath of the Ancients Paladin might use Moonbeam to deal consistent damage over time and Nature's Wrath to restrain the boss, preventing it from reaching your allies. An Oath of Vengeance Paladin could use Vow of Enmity to gain advantage on attack rolls and quickly eliminate the boss with powerful smites.
In conclusion, the best subclass for a Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3 depends on your preferred playstyle and the role you want to fulfill in your party. Oath of Devotion is great for a tanky, supportive Paladin, Oath of the Ancients offers a mix of offense and defense with nature-themed magic, and Oath of Vengeance is ideal for a relentless damage dealer. Consider your ability scores, combat tactics, and potential multiclass options to optimize your Paladin build and make the most of your chosen Oath.