Oath of the Ancients

You fight on the side of light in the cosmic struggle against darkness to preserve the sanctity of life and the beauty of nature.

You fight on the side of light in the cosmic struggle against darkness to preserve the sanctity of life and the beauty of nature.

Oath of the Ancients is one of the Subclasses of Paladin. These Paladins have a deep connection with the natural world and the light within it.

Oath

Here is the full text of the Oath of the Ancients. For more details, see Oaths and Oathbreaking.

Kindle the Light. Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world, beating back despair.

Shelter the Light. Where there is good, beauty, love, and laughter in the world, stand against the wickedness that would swallow it. Where life flourishes, stand against the forces that would render it barren.

Preserve Your Own Light. Delight in song and laughter, in beauty and art. If you allow the light to die in your own heart, you can’t preserve it in the world.

Be the Light. Be a glorious beacon for all who live in despair. Let the light of your joy and courage shine forth in all your deeds.

Subclass Features

This subclass obtains all the features from its base class, Paladin, in addition to its unique features outlined below.

Level 1

 Healing Radiance

Channel Oath

Heal yourself and all nearby allies for Proficiency Bonus + Paladin Level + Charisma Modifierhit points hit points. Regain another Proficiency Bonus + Paladin Level + Charisma Modifierhit points hit points next turn.

Level 3

 Nature's Wrath

Channel Oath

Invoke primeval forces to restrain an enemy. Attacks on restrained enemies have Advantage

 Turn the Faithless

Channel Oath

Channel your Oath using ancient words to  Turn nearby Fey and Fiends.

Oath Spells

You gain additional spells from your oath. They are Always Prepared.

•  Speak with Animals 
•  Ensnaring Strike 

Level 5

Oath Spells

You gain additional spells from your oath. They are Always Prepared.

•  Misty Step
•  Moonbeam 

Level 7

 Aura of Warding

You and any nearby allies have Resistance to damage from spells. The aura disappears if you fall Unconscious.

Level 9

Oath Spells

You gain additional spells from your oath. They are Always Prepared.

•  Protection from Energy 
•  Plant Growth

Oathbreaking Actions

This section details actions which will cause the player to break the Oath of the Ancients

Global

• Killing someone non-hostile, even by "accident" (e.g., an NPC steps into an area-of-effect spell, such as Moonbeam or Spike Growth, and dies). This includes the petrified drow in the underdark
• Actions that guards do not like, or add the "Witness" status, appear to cause a broken Oath; even attacking Duergar after telling the Deep Gnomes you'll free them in Grymforge has caused this.
  • Note that starting combat via conversational choices rather than attacking directly does seem to mitigate this most of the time.
• Shoving someone to their death also counts as breaking the oath. This sometimes also includes evil characters such as Assassins of Bhaal in the arena where you fight Orin.

Act 1

Spoiler warning! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

• Torturing the prisoner in the goblin camp, even if you want to free him
• Attacking the Tieflings guarding Lae'zel's cage by any means, including through dialogue, even if you knock them out
• Prodding the wing of the Exhausted Bird
• Using Bitter Divorce to raise Mayrina's Husband from the dead after defeating Auntie Ethel
• Taking Auntie Ethel's deal once she surrenders will break your Oath regardless of if you convince her to free Mayrina or not
• Siding with Sovereign Glut to defeat Sovereign Spaw
• Killing the Owlbear Cub after killing his mother
• Choosing to attack Halsin/ leaving him to the mercy of the goblins when in his bear form

Spoiler warning! This section reveals interactions with The Dark Urge.

• As Dark Urge, choosing to break Pandirna's legs
• As Dark Urge, choosing to consider chopping off Gale's hand when first meeting him

Act 2

Spoiler warning! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

• Turning the mechanism of the Moonlantern when first talking to Dolly Dolly Dolly, causing her pain
• Calling Madeline a coward for the Punish the Wicked quest
• Force the Zhent smuggler to jump off the docks in Moonrise Towers

Spoiler warning! This section reveals interactions with The Dark Urge.

• Giving in to the Urge to step on and kill Steelclaw in Moonrise Towers

Act 3

Spoiler warning! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

• Forming an alliance with Gortash before his coronation.
• Freeing the vampire spawns in Cazador's Dungeon is seen as an act against nature, breaking the oath
• Ascending Astarion in Cazador's Dungeon.
• Feeding the Mind Flayer in the Rivington Abandoned Windmill during Feed the Mind Flayer
• Killing the Archivist in the House of Hope
• Killing the Strange Ox
• Giving Wulbren's head to the guard during Deal with the Gnomes
• Letting Viconia go after defeating her in House of Grief (Shadowheart in party)

External Links

Oath of the Ancients on the Forgotten Realms Wiki