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, resulting in a character capable of dealing massive burst damage while maintaining strong utility and survivability.
To start, you should begin as a Paladin. This ensures you gain proficiency in heavy armor and martial weapons, which are crucial for frontline combat. At level 1, Paladins also gain Lay on Hands, a useful healing ability. By level 2, you gain Divine Smite, which allows you to expend spell slots to deal extra radiant damage on a melee attack. This ability is the cornerstone of the Paladin/Sorcerer build, as it synergizes well with the Sorcerer's spell slots.
At level 3, you can choose a Paladin Oath. The Oath of Devotion is a solid choice for its defensive abilities and Channel Divinity options, but the Oath of Vengeance offers more offensive potential, which pairs well with the Sorcerer's damage-focused spells. Once you reach Paladin level 5, you gain Extra Attack, allowing you to make two attacks per turn, significantly increasing your damage output.
After reaching Paladin level 6, you should start multiclassing into Sorcerer. The Sorcerer class provides access to a wide range of spells, including powerful options like Shield, Misty Step, and Counterspell. The Sorcerer's Metamagic feature is particularly valuable, allowing you to twin spells like Haste or quicken spells to cast them as a bonus action. This flexibility can turn the tide of battle, giving you the ability to cast a spell and still make melee attacks in the same turn.
When multiclassing, it's important to manage your ability scores carefully. Paladins rely on Strength for melee attacks and Charisma for their spellcasting and aura abilities. Sorcerers also use Charisma for their spellcasting, so focusing on Charisma is essential. Aim for a high Charisma score to boost your spell save DC, aura bonuses, and social interactions. Strength should be your secondary focus, followed by Constitution for hit points and concentration saves.
One common mistake is neglecting Constitution. A low Constitution score can make you vulnerable in combat, especially since you'll be on the frontlines. Additionally, failing concentration saves can disrupt your spells, so consider taking the War Caster feat to improve your chances of maintaining concentration.
Advanced techniques for this build include using Sorcerer spell slots to fuel Divine Smite. Since Sorcerers gain more spell slots than Paladins, you can use these extra slots to deal massive burst damage with smites. Combining this with Metamagic options like Quickened Spell allows you to cast a spell like Hold Person and then follow up with a smite on a paralyzed target, dealing critical hit damage.
Another optimization is to use the Sorcerer's Font of Magic feature to convert sorcery points into additional spell slots. This can give you more resources for smites and spells, ensuring you have the flexibility to adapt to different combat situations. For example, you can convert lower-level spell slots into sorcery points and then into higher-level slots for more powerful smites.
In terms of related D&D rules, multiclassing spellcasters can be complex. Paladins and Sorcerers both use the same spellcasting ability (Charisma), which simplifies the multiclassing process. However, you need to track your spell slots separately for each class. Baldur's Gate 3 handles this automatically, but it's good to understand the underlying mechanics.
Specific examples of this build in action include using Haste to gain an additional attack per turn, combined with Divine Smite for devastating damage. Another scenario is using Misty Step to teleport into melee range, followed by a smite-enhanced attack. These tactics make the Paladin/Sorcerer a formidable opponent in both single-target and crowd control situations.
In conclusion, the Paladin/Sorcerer multiclass is a powerful and versatile build in Baldur's Gate 3. By combining the Paladin's martial abilities with the Sorcerer's spellcasting and metamagic, you can create a character capable of dealing massive damage, supporting allies, and adapting to various combat scenarios. Careful management of ability scores, spell slots, and feats is essential to maximize the potential of this build. With the right strategy, the Paladin/Sorcerer can become one of the most effective characters in your party.
To start, you should begin as a Paladin. This ensures you gain proficiency in heavy armor and martial weapons, which are crucial for frontline combat. At level 1, Paladins also gain Lay on Hands, a useful healing ability. By level 2, you gain Divine Smite, which allows you to expend spell slots to deal extra radiant damage on a melee attack. This ability is the cornerstone of the Paladin/Sorcerer build, as it synergizes well with the Sorcerer's spell slots.
At level 3, you can choose a Paladin Oath. The Oath of Devotion is a solid choice for its defensive abilities and Channel Divinity options, but the Oath of Vengeance offers more offensive potential, which pairs well with the Sorcerer's damage-focused spells. Once you reach Paladin level 5, you gain Extra Attack, allowing you to make two attacks per turn, significantly increasing your damage output.
After reaching Paladin level 6, you should start multiclassing into Sorcerer. The Sorcerer class provides access to a wide range of spells, including powerful options like Shield, Misty Step, and Counterspell. The Sorcerer's Metamagic feature is particularly valuable, allowing you to twin spells like Haste or quicken spells to cast them as a bonus action. This flexibility can turn the tide of battle, giving you the ability to cast a spell and still make melee attacks in the same turn.
When multiclassing, it's important to manage your ability scores carefully. Paladins rely on Strength for melee attacks and Charisma for their spellcasting and aura abilities. Sorcerers also use Charisma for their spellcasting, so focusing on Charisma is essential. Aim for a high Charisma score to boost your spell save DC, aura bonuses, and social interactions. Strength should be your secondary focus, followed by Constitution for hit points and concentration saves.
One common mistake is neglecting Constitution. A low Constitution score can make you vulnerable in combat, especially since you'll be on the frontlines. Additionally, failing concentration saves can disrupt your spells, so consider taking the War Caster feat to improve your chances of maintaining concentration.
Advanced techniques for this build include using Sorcerer spell slots to fuel Divine Smite. Since Sorcerers gain more spell slots than Paladins, you can use these extra slots to deal massive burst damage with smites. Combining this with Metamagic options like Quickened Spell allows you to cast a spell like Hold Person and then follow up with a smite on a paralyzed target, dealing critical hit damage.
Another optimization is to use the Sorcerer's Font of Magic feature to convert sorcery points into additional spell slots. This can give you more resources for smites and spells, ensuring you have the flexibility to adapt to different combat situations. For example, you can convert lower-level spell slots into sorcery points and then into higher-level slots for more powerful smites.
In terms of related D&D rules, multiclassing spellcasters can be complex. Paladins and Sorcerers both use the same spellcasting ability (Charisma), which simplifies the multiclassing process. However, you need to track your spell slots separately for each class. Baldur's Gate 3 handles this automatically, but it's good to understand the underlying mechanics.
Specific examples of this build in action include using Haste to gain an additional attack per turn, combined with Divine Smite for devastating damage. Another scenario is using Misty Step to teleport into melee range, followed by a smite-enhanced attack. These tactics make the Paladin/Sorcerer a formidable opponent in both single-target and crowd control situations.
In conclusion, the Paladin/Sorcerer multiclass is a powerful and versatile build in Baldur's Gate 3. By combining the Paladin's martial abilities with the Sorcerer's spellcasting and metamagic, you can create a character capable of dealing massive damage, supporting allies, and adapting to various combat scenarios. Careful management of ability scores, spell slots, and feats is essential to maximize the potential of this build. With the right strategy, the Paladin/Sorcerer can become one of the most effective characters in your party.