Paladin

Paladin is a character class in Baldur's Gate 3.

“

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

„

Overview

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.

Subclasses

The Paladin subclasses are:

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

Class Progression

Paladin Class Progression				Spell Slots per Spell Level
Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Lay on Hands Charges	1st	2nd	3rd
1st	+2	Divine Sense,  Lay on Hands, Channel Oath, Choose a subclass	3	-	-	-
2nd		Fighting Style, Spellcasting,  Divine Smite		2	-	-
3rd		Divine Health, Subclass Feature		3	-	-
4th		Feat	4	3	-	-
5th	+3	Extra Attack		4	2	-
6th		Aura of Protection		4	2	-
7th		Subclass Feature		4	3	-
8th		Feat		4	3	-
9th	+4	Subclass Feature		4	3	2
10th		Aura of Courage	5	4	3	2
11th		Improved Divine Smite		4	3	3
12th		Feat		4	3	3

Note: Proficiency bonus is based on character level, not class level. It is included in the table for convenience.

Class information

Attributes

Paladin's default armour

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.

Spellcasting Ability

 Charisma

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

Prepared Spells

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

Starting Proficiencies

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,  Wooden Shield,  Javelin x2,  Scale Mail of the Ancients or  Scale Mail of Devotion or  Scale Mail of Vengeance or  Scale Mail of the Crown,  Leather Boots and  Paladin Oaths and their Tenets

Multiclass Proficiencies

Equipment proficiencies

Simple weapons, Martial weapons

 Light armour,  Medium armour

 Shields

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, Oath of Vengeance, or Oath of the Crown for the full text of each Oath. The basic tenets can also be found embroidered on your starting Armour – except for  Scale Mail of the Crown; the starting armour of the Oath of the Crown has a bug where it displays the Oath of Devotion quote instead.

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 remain 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 dishonorably 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.
• Oath of the Crown: Breaking promises, siding against legitimate rulers, agreeing to (and following through on) criminal plots

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 take 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 who has the Oathbreaker subclass. Restoring their original Oath (see below) will enable the respec service again.

Restoring your Oath

If you break 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 10,000gp. It stays at 10,000gp for each subsequent oath restoration after the third one.

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 ()

Tap into your spiritual awareness 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 or cure it of all diseases and poisons.

Select a subclass

Oath of Devotion	Oath of the Ancients	Oath of the Crown	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Holy Rebuke	Healing Radiance	Righteous Clarity	Inquisitor's Might	Spiteful Suffering

Level 2

 Divine Smite ( + )

Your weapon deals an additional 2d8⁠⁠RadiantDRS damage, increased by 1d8⁠⁠Radiant damage when attacking Fiends or Undead.

Fighting Style

Choose a fighting style:

Defence

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

Duelling

When you are wielding a melee weapon that is not Two-Handed in one hand, and no weapon in the other, you deal an additional 2 damage 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 1.5 m (5 ft). You must be able to see the enemy.

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 - Channel Oath abilities

Oath of Devotion	Oath of the Ancients	Oath of the Crown	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Sacred Weapon Turn the Unholy	Nature's Wrath Turn the Faithless	Champion Challenge Turn the Tide	Abjure Enemy Vow of Enmity	Control Undead Dreadful Aspect

Oath Spells (always prepared):

Oath of Devotion	Oath of the Ancients	Oath of the Crown	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Protection from Evil and Good   Sanctuary*	Speak with Animals *  Ensnaring Strike *	Command  Compelled Duel	Bane *  Hunter's Mark *	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 make an additional free attack after making an unarmed or weapon attack.

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

Oath Spells (always prepared):

Oath of Devotion	Oath of the Ancients	Oath of the Crown	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Lesser Restoration  Silence  *	Misty Step*  Moonbeam *	Warding Bond*  Spiritual Weapon*	Hold Person *  Misty Step*	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. The aura disappears if you fall Unconscious.

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 Devotion	Oath of the Ancients	Oath of the Crown	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Aura of Devotion	Aura of Warding	Divine Allegiance	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

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

Oath Spells (always prepared):

Oath of Devotion	Oath of the Ancients	Oath of the Crown	Oath of Vengeance	Oathbreaker
Remove Curse  Beacon of Hope *	Protection from Energy *  Plant Growth*	Spirit Guardians *  Crusader's Mantle	Haste *  Protection from Energy *	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

Your attacks are suffused with divine might. 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
•  Ch'r'ai Har'rak
•  Devella Fountainhead
•  Ketheric Thorm
•  Minthara
•  Oathbreaker Knight
•  Zevlor

See also

• List of all Paladins

External links

• ⁠Paladin on the Forgotten Realms Wiki