Paladin

Paladin is a character Class in Baldur's Gate 3. Paladins are masters of a variety of weapons and armour. They channel the power of their sacred oath to heal the sick and injured and to smite their foes. Important Ability Scores for Paladins include Strength (or Dexterity), Charisma, and Constitution.

“

A promise made so deeply that it becomes divine in itself flows through a paladin, burning bright enough to inspire allies and smite foes.

„

The Paladin subclasses are:

•  Oath of the Ancients
•  Oath of Devotion
•  Oath of Vengeance
•  Oathbreaker

Class information

Hit points

At level 1: 10 +  Constitution modifier

On level up: 6 +  Constitution modifier

Key abilities

 Strength or  Dexterity for physical attacks

 Charisma for Spells, Aura and Channel Oath Abilities

 Constitution for Hit Points and Concentration Checks.

Saving throw proficiencies

 Wisdom,  Charisma

Equipment proficiencies

Simple weapons, Martial weapons

Light armour, Medium armour, Heavy armour

Shields

Skills with proficiency (Choose 2)

 Athletics,  Insight,  Intimidation,  Medicine,  Persuasion,  Religion

You receive a bonus to every Skill that you are Proficient in. At character level 1 the Proficiency Bonus is +2.

Starting Equipment

Warhammer, Javelin x2, Scale Mail of the Ancients or Scale Mail of Devotion or Scale Mail of Vengeance, Leather Boots, a book called Paladin Oaths and their Tenets

Spellcasting

For a list of spells available to the Paladin, see: List of Paladin spells.

Spellcasting Ability

 Charisma

Paladins are primarily martial fighters; they gain Spell Slots at 1/2 the rate of a full spellcaster.

Prepared Spells

You may swap your Prepared Spells at any time while out of combat, but can only have a certain number of Spells prepared at a time. The Spells must be of a level for which you have Spell Slots.

Number of Prepared Spells = Paladin Level +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell).

Oaths and Oathbreaking

Keeping Your Oath

Your choice of subclass during Character Creation determines the Oath you have taken. See Oath of the Ancients, Oath of Devotion or Oath of Vengeance for the full text of each Oath. The basic tenets can also be found embroidered on your starting Armour.

As a Paladin, you must constantly adhere to the tenets of your Oath or you will lose the power it grants you. Taking any action that breaks your Oath will summon the Oathbreaker Knight and temporarily prevent you from using your Channel Oath abilities. (Other Paladin class features and always-prepared Oath spells will still be available.)

Each subclass has different actions that will cause its oath to be broken. Here are some examples (see each subclass's individual wiki page for a more complete list):

• Oath of the Ancients: Killing a non-aggressive animal, raising the dead, or (in some cases) choosing an "Attack" dialogue option when more peaceful options are available.
• Oath of Devotion: Attacking a non-hostile creature, refusing to defend someone who is obviously in need of aid, or deceiving your enemies (e.g. negotiating a peaceful resolution and then attacking anyway).
• Oath of Vengeance: Convincing someone not to take revenge on their transgressor, letting the guilty go without punishment, betraying those who were in need of vengeance and siding with their oppressor.

Becoming an Oathbreaker

*A spasm grips your chest. Your strength falters. An emptiness grows within you, Paladin. Something has been lost.*

Unlike the other Paladin subclasses, the Oathbreaker subclass is not available during Character Creation. Once you have taken an action that breaks your Oath, the Oathbreaker Knight will appear before you and let you know he will be waiting in your Camp. Speak with him to learn about Oathbreaking and, if you so desire, unlock the Oathbreaker subclass. This replaces the Channel Oath abilities and Spells from your previous Oath with new abilities and Spells available only to Oathbreaker.

Withers will not respec a Paladin with the Oathbreaker subclass. Restoring the original Oath (see below) will enable the respec service again.

Restoring your Oath

If you broke your Oath by accident or otherwise wish to re-dedicate yourself to your Oath, speak to the Oathbreaker Knight in your Camp. He will offer to restore your Oath for a fee of 1000gp. This will allow you to once again use your Channel Oath abilities. However, should you break your oath again, the cost to restore your oath will increase to 2000gp. If you break your oath a third time, the price will increase to 10000gp. There is no apparent limit to this increase.

Level progression

Through experience, you acquire new power. You gain the following traits.

Level 1

Lay on Hands Charges: 3

Recharge: Long rest

Channel Oath Charges: 1

Recharge: Short rest

 Divine Sense

Expend a Bonus action to gain Advantage on Attack Rolls against celestials, fiends, and undead. ( Recharge: Short rest )

 Lay on Hands

Use your blessed touch to heal a creature (2 x level for one charge or 4 x level for two charges) or cure it of all diseases and poisons.

Select a subclass

Oath of the Ancients	Oath of Devotion	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Channel Oath Abilities:  Healing Radiance	Channel Oath Abilities:  Holy Rebuke	Channel Oath Abilities:  Inquisitor's Might	Channel Oath Abilities:  Spiteful Suffering

Level 2

 Divine Smite

Your weapon emanates divine might as you strike. When you hit with a Melee Weapon Attack, you may choose to expend a Spell Slot to inflict additional Radiant damage. Divine Smite reaction settings can be configured in the Reactions menu (default hotkey: L).

Fighting Style

Choose 1 Fighting Style:

 Defence

You gain a +1 bonus to Armour Class while wearing armour.

 Duelling

When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no weapon in the other hand, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.

 Great Weapon Fighting

When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack with a Two-Handed melee weapon, that die is rerolled once.

 Protection

When you have a shield, impose Disadvantage on an enemy who attacks one of your allies when you are within 5ft. You must be able to see the enemy. (This is a Reaction. Toggle a reaction during your turn. It will automatically execute when needed.)

Level 1 Spell Slots Unlocked: 2

You gain two Level 1 Spell Slots.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 2 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

New 1st Level Spells

•  Bless 
•  Command
•  Compelled Duel 
•  Cure Wounds
•  Divine Favour 
•  Heroism 
•  Protection from Evil and Good 
•  Shield of Faith 
•  Searing Smite 
•  Thunderous Smite
•  Wrathful Smite 

Level 3

 Divine Health

The divine magic flowing within you prevents disease from affecting you.

Level 1 Spell Slots Unlocked: 3

You gain an additional Level 1 Spell Slot.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 3 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

Subclass features

Oath of the Ancients	Oath of Devotion	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Channel Oath Abilities:  Nature's Wrath  Turn the Faithless Spells (Always Prepared):  Speak with Animals *  Ensnaring Strike *	Channel Oath Abilities:  Sacred Weapon  Turn the Unholy Spells (Always Prepared):  Protection from Evil and Good   Sanctuary*	Channel Oath Abilities:  Abjure Enemy  Vow of Enmity Spells (Always Prepared):  Bane *  Hunter's Mark *	Channel Oath Abilities:  Control Undead  Dreadful Aspect Spells (Always Prepared):  Hellish Rebuke*  Inflict Wounds*

*Denotes a spell not otherwise part of the Paladin spell list.

Level 4

Lay on Hands Charges: 4

You gain +1 Lay on Hands Charge.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 4 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

• Choose a Feat.

Level 5

 Extra Attack

You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Level 1 Spell Slots Unlocked: 4

You gain an additional Level 1 Spell Slot.

Level 2 Spell Slots Unlocked: 2

You gain two Level 2 Spell Slots.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 5 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

New 2nd Level Spells

•  Aid
•  Lesser Restoration
•  Magic Weapon 
•  Protection from Poison
•  Branding Smite 

Subclass features

Oath of the Ancients	Oath of Devotion	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Spells (Always Prepared):  Misty Step*  Moonbeam *	Spells (Always Prepared):  Lesser Restoration  Silence  *	Spells (Always Prepared):  Hold Person *  Misty Step*	Spells (Always Prepared):  Crown of Madness *  Darkness *

*Denotes a spell not otherwise part of the Paladin spell list.

Level 6

 Aura of Protection

You and nearby allies gain a bonus to Saving Throws equal to your  Charisma modifier.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 6 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

Level 7

Level 2 Spell Slots Unlocked: 3

You gain an additional Level 2 Spell Slot.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 7 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

Subclass features

Oath of the Ancients	Oath of Devotion	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Aura of Warding	Aura of Devotion	Relentless Avenger	Aura of Hate

Level 8

• Choose a Feat.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 8 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

Level 9

Level 3 Spell Slots Unlocked: 2

You gain two Level 3 Spell Slots.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 9 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

New 3rd Level Spells

•  Warden of Vitality
•  Blinding Smite
•  Crusader's Mantle 
•  Daylight
•  Elemental Weapon 
•  Remove Curse
•  Revivify

Subclass features

Oath of the Ancients	Oath of Devotion	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Spells (Always Prepared):  Protection from Energy *  Plant Growth*	Spells (Always Prepared):  Remove Curse  Beacon of Hope *	Spells (Always Prepared):  Haste *  Protection from Energy *	Spells (Always Prepared):  Bestow Curse *  Animate Dead*

*Denotes a spell not otherwise part of the Paladin spell list.

Level 10

Lay on Hands Charges: 5

You gain +1 Lay on Hands Charge.

 Aura of Courage

You and any nearby allies can't be  Frightened. The aura disappears if you fall Unconscious.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 10 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

Level 11

 Improved Divine Smite

Melee weapon attacks deal an additional 1d8Radiant damage.

Level 3 Spell Slots Unlocked: 3

You gain one Level 3 Spell Slot.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 11 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

Level 12

• Choose a Feat.

Prepared Spells

Choose a number of Spells = 12 (Paladin Level) +  Charisma Modifier (Minimum of 1 spell.)

Notable paladins

• Anders
• Aylin
• Devella Fountainhead
• Ketheric Thorm
• Minthara
• Oathbreaker Knight
• Zevlor

See also

• List of all Paladins

External links

• Paladin on the Forgotten Realms Wiki