Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Paladin Builds [Races & Spells]

Creating the Best Paladin Builds in Baldur’s Gate 3 requires strategic flexibility, combining traits, skills, and gear to create a skilled holy warrior. Discover the blueprint for the ideal Paladin as we delve into the world of heavenly fighting and heroic bravery. This warrior is prepared to slay enemies, heal allies, and uphold the holy code. This guide illuminates how to become a radiant force for good in the treacherous world of Baldur’s Gate 3 by stressing power, charm, and an established oath.

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Major Takeaways

• Strength should be prioritized while designing the finest Paladin build in Baldur’s Gate 3 to improve melee damage and maximize the use of heavy armor. Charisma greatly influences spellcasting and class qualities, although Constitution improves general durability and hit points.
• By excelling as primary attackers with considerable strategic influence and healing skills, paladins provide dimension to the game. They value any party composition due to their adaptability to different jobs and team dynamics.
• A powerful Paladin build must include essential abilities like improved melee damage, channeling holiness for critical attacks, laying on hands for healing, and intimidating enemies. Skills like Aura of Protection further improve combat prowess, Improved Divine Smite, and Extra Attack.
• Spellcasting gives the Paladin class more intricacy and allows players to alter their build to suit their desired playstyle. In contrast to Oath of Devotion, Oath of Ancients, and Oath of Vengeance, each offering separate combat-focused and spellcasting routes, the Oathbreaker Paladin subclass embraces darkness and offers special skills.
• Zariel Tieflings, in particular, offer advantageous qualities, including the powerful Searing Smite ability and improved vision. The Dancing Lights Cantrip from Drow provides practical utility. When building your Paladin character, consider race bonuses’ effect on attribute scores.

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You will see the detailed version of these stats for your Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Paladin Builds below.

Best Oaths	Oath of Devotion	Hit Dice of 1d10 for each level Proficiencies in Wisdom and Charisma for Saving Throws.
	Oath of the Ancients	It is skilled with both primary and martial weapons, armor, and shields.
	Oath of Vengeance	You are compelled to commit more of yourself to your devotion to justice.
	Oathbreaker	Employs corrosive harm, undead scheming, and flaming vengeance.
Best Paladin Races	Tieflings	Are powerful as a result of their infernal birth.
	Drow	They have improved Darkvision and the Dancing Lights Cantrip to aid allies in the dark.
	Humans	They have a racial speed boost of +9m each turn. You gain an additional skill ability, a 25% boost in carry capacity, and an additional weapon proficiency.
Best Paladin Spells	Divine Favor	Gives Paladins an additional luck-based bonus on assault and weapon penetration rolls.
	Compelled Duel	Compels an adversary to focus all their attacks solely on the Paladin, ignoring more vulnerable friends.
	Cure Wounds	Paladins can heal any touched creature using this spell, excluding constructs and undead.
	Wrathful Smite	It gives a Paladin's melee attack the potential to have a scary effect, deterring opponents from approaching.
	Divine Smite	Allows Paladins to channel spell slots into their melee attacks to deal extra radiant damage.
Best Paladin Weaponry	Helldusk Armor	With this armor, you are resistant to perilous terrain, immune to forced movement, and able to use your reaction to turn a failed saving throw into a success.
	Ketheric's Warhammer	It deals 3–15 damage and has a +1 enhancement. Its attacks also deal 1d4 mental damage.
	The Blood of Lathander	It can free you from the clutches of death by recovering 2–12 hit points. Allies within nine meters receive a boost of 1-6 hit points.
	Reaper's Embrace	Great armor class of +19 and decreases incoming magical damage by two.

Our best Paladin Builds in Baldur’s Gate 3 requires careful consideration of attribute distribution. My experience suggests that strength should be prioritized to increase melee damage output and use heavy armor. Spellcasting and numerous class attributes are influenced by charisma, which is a crucial factor. Increase Constitution for more durability and hit points overall.

Paladins add nuance to the game, excelling as primary attackers with substantial strategic influence and healing abilities. They are a valuable asset in any party setup due to their adaptability. Depending on the Oath selected, Divine Powers improve attacks and unlock particular spells, enabling them to be powerful Divine Casters.

The ability to do more melee damage, channel holiness for more vital assaults, lay on hands for healing, and terrify adversaries are all essential skills. Aura of Protection to increase the effectiveness of saving throws, Improved Divine Smite to damage undead and demonic enemies more, and Extra Attack to launch several assaults.

Spellcasting gives the class additional complexity and lets players customize their Paladin to fit their preferred playing approach. With its emphasis on aggression, strong melee damage, and distinctive mechanics like Dreadful Aspect and Hellish Rebuke, plus some others, the Oathbreaker Paladin is a rugged option.

This subclass accepts evil and darkness and can house a vigilante or a redeemed fallen paladin looking for reconciliation. This class is an excellent choice for those that want to deal harm. Players can choose between the three Paladin subclasses at character creation in Baldur’s Gate 3.

It is advised to choose the Oath of Devotion, which provides useful combat-focused and always ready-to-go spells. Sticking to your selected Oath stops you from becoming an Oathbreaker, an underrated fourth subtype, so good strategies, and precise decision-making are advised.

Oaths For Paladin Build

These are the best options for selecting oaths if you want optimal Paladin builds!

Oath of Devotion

In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Oath of Devotion Paladin subclass represents chivalry and defends the helpless with honor. They have a Hit Dice of 1d10 per level, a primary Ability of Strength, and Proficiencies in Wisdom and Charisma for Saving Throws. Simple and martial weapons, armor, and shields are their strong suits.

Oath of Devotion is durable, deals high single-target damage, is a frontline healer, and can fit into any team. Its limitations, however, are that it has limited AoE skills, fewer spells than other oaths, and is bound to good alignment, and there is no other way out of it other than breaking your oath.

Oath of the Ancients

In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Paladin subclass Oath of Ancients emphasizes Strength while excelling at Charisma and Wisdom saving throws. They are proficient with simple and martial weapons, armor, and shields and are armed with 1d10 Hit Dice at each level. Their first level HP is 10 + Constitution modifier, dropping to 6 + modifier at future levels.

They are committed to protecting life and light. They carry Leather Boots, Scale Mail, Wooden Shield, Warhammer, 2 Javelins, 2 Health Potions, and a Scroll of Revivify while proficiently in Shields, Armor, Weapons, and other chosen abilities. They have a special ability called Channel Oath Charges that fuels skills like Lay on Hands and Divine Sense.

Oath of Vengeance

Taking the Oath of Vengeance forces you to devote more of yourself to your commitment to justice. The Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin Build means concentrating on the Paladin class and combining spellcasting proficiency with melee support excellence. Select the subcategory Oath of Vengeance for intimidating, formidable stamina, ferocious attacks, and Darkvision.

Compelled Duel, Shield of Faith, Cure Wounds, Searing Smite, and Bless are among this Oath subclass’s best spells.

Oathbreaker

An Oath that was once honored can be abandoned in Baldur’s Gate 3 due to the attraction of power. The route of the oathbreaker varies, taking intentional and unexpected turns. The decision to support goblins can cause the oaths to be broken up, giving up essential debuff abilities in favor of a more sinister armory that includes Dreadful Aspect, Control Undead, and Spiteful Suffering.

The Oathbreaker identity, which uses corrosive damage, undead manipulation, and fiery vengeance, can be unlocked at level 5. They can adopt Wyll’s melee and magic techniques by altering their battle strategies. While in transformation, the paladin asks for assistance in dialogues explicitly tailored to the class, with the possibility of untapped Oathbreaker exchanges.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, this growth creates exciting roleplaying and narrative possibilities that depict a realistic picture of broken promises and the embrace of sinister power. Bold players who crave nothing but challenges are the ones who opt for Oathbreaker. It is an excellent choice for that.

While all those Oaths are excellent and worth having choices for Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Paladin Builds, Oath of Devotion is my favorite choice and arguably the better one for the following reasons.

Paladin Subclass

Pros	Cons
The Oath of Devotion Paladin offers a number of benefits.	Unless the oath is broken, their options are limited by alignment restrictions.
They are a formidable opponent on the front lines of combat due to their exceptional durability and potent single-target damage.	Compared to other casters, they have fewer spells and restricted area-of-effect powers.
They stand out for their smooth duty switching, enabling them to meet the party's demands as either a tough frontline warrior or a tough healer.	Despite the fact that paladins may adapt to various roles and are strong with significant damage potential, the alignment constraints and absence of area-of-effect skills pose difficulties for the class.
Because of their adaptability to different team dynamics, they increase the group's overall effectiveness.	When a paladin pledges to be of good alignment, they run the risk of becoming an Oathbreaker, a special subclass, which could limit their ability to play.
The Oath of Devotion Paladin also provides players with substantial roleplaying options, enabling them to make significant choices that affect their character's affiliation and path.	Due to their reliance on single-target smites and absence of area-of-effect damaging skills in early access, paladins have difficulty taking on enemies who are grouped together.

The classic paladin, a dedicated warrior with a higher goal, is personified by the Oath of Devotion Paladin. This oath makes useful assisting spells available, making the paladin the party’s pivotal member. The absence of an Oath of Devotion Paladin may hamper harmony.

At Level 1, this oath’s Paladins acquire their initial Channel Oath ability, Holy Rebuke, dealing damage to nearby foes. They stand out for their potent single-target damage in Baldur’s Gate 3, maintaining a harmonious blend of utility and offensive capability.

However, it’s crucial to remember that due to their emphasis on single-target attacks and the lack of area-of-effect destructive skills, paladins in the game struggle to deal with hordes of opponents. Additionally, there is the potential risk of becoming an Oathbreaker, an exclusive subclass, when a paladin pledges to be of good alignment. This change could limit their gameplay possibilities and adaptability.

Paladin Character Races

When creating a Paladin character in Baldur’s Gate 3, you have several excellent options to consider for optimal bonuses and ability scores:

Tieflings

Pros	Cons
Tieflings of Zariel offer a powerful Searing Smite and advantageous natural traits that reflect their infernal origin.	The strong Searing Smite ability of Zariel Tiefling has limited application, limiting its full effectiveness.
Drow offers enhanced vision and a utility-focused Dancing Lights Cantrip, helping in various situations.	The benefits of Drow are more prominent in specific situations, which may restrict their general applicability.
Due to their versatility in armor and weaponry, paladins can engage in various combat methods.	The Flame Blade spell is shared by both subraces, which could limit the diversity of spell options slightly.

The 11 selectable races in the Baldur’s Gate 3 world include Tieflings, who significantly impact your character’s look and natural skills. Your choice of race, class, and background significantly influences the potential of your character. The first race that should be considered is the Zariel Tiefling, which earns the formidable Legacy of Avernus.

Searing Smite at Level 3, surpassing the Searing Smite Spell of the Paladin, and delivering +2-12 Fire hurt while requiring no spell slot but only being used once every long rest. Being a Zariel Tiefling, your skills are improved by Darkvision, and Hellish Resistance, which reduces fire damage by half.

Asmodeus and Mephistopheles are two examples of Tiefling subraces other than Zariel Tiefling. Asmodeus Tieflings acquire Hellish Rebuke and Flame Blade, while Mephistopheles Tieflings use arcane magic to wield Burning Hands and Flame Blade.

Drow

Another choice is the Drow, who have the enhanced Darkvision and Dancing Lights Cantrip to support allies in the dark. An edge against charm and sleep spells is also provided by fey ancestry.

Humans

In Baldur’s Gate 3, humans have an added racial speed of +9m every turn. You acquire an extra skill ability, a 25% increase in carry capacity, and an extra weapon proficiency as a Human Paladin. In Faerun, humans are highly respected for their fortitude, inventiveness, and limitless capacity for growth.

They are skilled with Spears, Glaives, Halberds, Pikes, Light Armor, and Shield in terms of armor.

High Elf

High Elf, an elf subrace from Baldur’s Gate 3, has Fey Ancestry, Dark Vision, and elven weapon training. It provides an additional Mage Pool Cantrip, such as “Blade Ward.” High Elves, descended from the fabled Feywild, value magic and are naturally talented magicians.

They start with one High Elf Cantrip but have similar racial characteristics to regular Elves. Baldur’s Gate 3 has 11 races available to choose from, each with its unique abilities.

Dragonborn

Dragonborns value clan and independence after being previously held as slaves by dragons and highlight Strength as their main attribute. In Baldur’s Gate 3, being a Dragonborn grants you a +9m base speed boost and access to a formidable Breath Weapon in Green or Gold versions.

When you have a Draconic heritage, any destructive energy you exhale will cause area damage depending on your heritage. A saving throw is required from nearby creatures (DC 8 + Constitution bonus + competence bonus). Failure to save causes 2d6 damage, which rises to 3d6 at level 6, 4d6 at level 11, and 5d6 at level 16, respectively. Before reactivation following use, a brief or extended rest is necessary.

Paladin Spells

These are the best-recommended spells for your quest for Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Paladin Builds.

1. Divine Favor

The Level 1 Evocation School spell Divine Favor provides Paladins with an additional luck-based bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. Depending on the caster level, This perk adds radiant damage to attacks and ranges from +1 to +3. It can be cast as a Bonus Action, but no particular range is necessary, and to keep the effect going, concentration is needed just like the rest of the spells.

2. Compelled Duel

A Level 1 Enchantment School spell that forces an enemy to direct all their assaults completely at the Paladin, ignoring more susceptible allies, is available to Paladins. Cast as a Bonus Action within a 9-meter range, the target must succeed on a Wisdom (WIS) saving throw to fend off the compulsion. To maintain the effect, focus is necessary.

3. Cure Wounds

The Level 1 Evocation School spell Cure Wounds enables Paladins to heal any touched creature, except for constructs and undead. Cast as a standard Action for melee range, no saving throw is necessary, and concentration is unnecessary. Its adaptability is increased because it is a Bonus Action, allowing the Paladin to participate actively in battle.

4. Wrathful Smite

The Wrathful Smite spell, part of the Level 1 Evocation School, provides a Paladin’s melee assault with a possible terrifying effect, preventing opponents from approaching. Focus is necessary, and the victim must succeed on a Wisdom (WIS) saving throw to avoid being afflicted by the fear when used as a Bonus Action for melee range.

5. Divine Smite

The Divine Smite ability, which allows Paladins to channel spell slots into their melee strikes to deliver extra radiant damage, is unlocked at the second level. The additional damage increases with the level of the used spell slot and can reach a maximum of 5d8 for a first-level slot. The damage is increased by an additional 1d8 if the target is an undead or a fiend. The spell slot is not used if the attack misses, increasing tactical flexibility.

These spells are especially crucial for your Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Paladin Builds because you must use them frequently throughout your playthrough.

Paladin Weaponry

Here are the optimal equipment choices for a Paladin in BG3:

Helldusk Armor

This armor makes you immune to forced movement and resistant to treacherous terrain, and it allows you can use your reaction to change a failed saving throw into a success. It introduces the Hellcrawler class action, offers fire resistance, and deals Burning to spellcasters upon successful saving throws. The ability Prime Aegis of Fire decreases all damage received by 3. It also provides immunity to burning and fire damage.

Ketheric’s Warhammer

This powerful weapon has a +1 improvement and deals 3–15 harm. Its attacks include 1d4 psychic harm, making it exceptionally potent against foes.

The Blood of Lathander

This potent mace can deliver you from the grip of death once each long rest, regenerating 2–12 hit points when depleted to zero. A boost of 1-6 hit points is given to allies within nine meters. This mace can only be obtained by solving numerous difficult puzzles.

Reaper’s Embrace

This armor reduces incoming magical harm by two and boasts an excellent armor class +19. While it provides resistance to spells that affect movement, it disadvantages stealth checks and Dexterity saving throws. The Howl of the Dead cantrip is also available.

Ketheric’s Shield

This shield increases your armor class by +2, and your spell save DC and spell strike rolls, which are increased by 1. Shield Bash can also be used in response to knocking foes to the ground.

Speaking of Paladin spells, you can check out more interesting builds in Baldur’s Gate 3. 

• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Assassin Build.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Cleric Build.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Sorcerer Build.
• Baldurs Gate 3 Best Druid Build.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Builds.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Fighter Build.

Hopefully, all of this helped you in your search for Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Paladin Builds. Down below are some more Baldur’s Gate 3 articles for your help.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Companions.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Race,
• Baldurs Gate 3 Best Eldritch Invocations.