Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin build

What is the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin build? Our guide discusses the various subclass options, as well as the ideal race, background, and spell options for the Paladin class.

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin is one of the best BG3 classes for multiplayer. With two subclasses that you can choose from during character creation: Oath of Devotion and Oath of the Ancients, we’ve narrowed down the best options, from the Oath of the Ancients subclass and the best race to complement it. Here’s the best BG3 Paladin build.

Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin build

The best Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin build is:

Subclass – Oath of the Ancients
Race – Zariel Tiefling
Background – Soldier
Skills – Athletics and Intimidation
Weapon – Everburn Blade

Best Paladin subclass

The best subclass for Paladin is Oath of the Ancients.

Our Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin build guide chooses Oath of the Ancients, which we consider the ideal pick for the campaign. This is primarily due to Healing Radiance and its restorative properties, which are further bolstered as you level up. Since it’s a bonus action, you can cast it, and then attack on the same turn, too.

Here are the Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin spells:

Healing Radiance (Level 1) – Heals the entire party upon casting, and once more at the start of the next turn; uses an Oath Charge.
Nature’s Wrath (Level 3) – Restrains an enemy, preventing it from moving.
Turn the Faithless (Level 3) – Turns an enemy fey or fiend, preventing it from taking any action except for dash.
Speak with Animals (Level 3) – This allows you to talk to beasts.
Ensnaring Strike (Level 3) – Prevents an enemy from moving and causes piercing damage per turn.
Misty Step (Level 5) – Allows you to teleport to a space that you can see.
Moonbeam (Level 5) – Creates a beam of light that damages creatures within its area of effect.

Best Paladin abilities

Here are the best stats for the Paladin:

16-17 Strength
10 Dexterity
14-16 Constitution
8 Intelligence
10 Wisdom
14-16 Charisma

These values may change depending on the race you select. The Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin primarily uses strength to determine the effectiveness of melee weapons. Charisma is also important for spellcasting. Lastly, the constitution determines your character’s health. You’ll need a lot of health in the long run since you’ll often find yourself in the thick of the fray.

Best Paladin race

The Zariel Tiefling is the best race for the Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin. It has +1 strength and +2 charisma, which means you’ve got two attributes covered already. It also has Darkvision to see in dimly lit areas, as well as Hellish Resistance against fire damage.

The sub-race even has the Thaumaturgy cantrip, which gives an advantage on intimidation and performance checks. Lastly, another key factor that makes this sub-race ideal is that it gains Legacy of Avernus: Searing Smite and Branding Smite. These free up your spell slots so you can take other options.

Best Paladin background and skills

The best background and skills for the Paladin are:

Background: Soldier – Grants skill proficiencies in athletics and intimidation.
Skills – Athletics and intimidation (from Soldier background); persuasion; one more point allocated to either insight or medicine.

As noted earlier, the Paladin has to focus on strength, charisma, and constitution. That means the best backgrounds and skills for the Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3 make use of related actions.

Best Paladin spells and leveling

Now, let’s discuss Baldur’s Gate 3 best Paladin spells. Bear in mind that you may only prepare a small selection of spells as you level up. As such, you’ll want to consider the Oath of the Ancients subclass, since its features and spells don’t need to be prepared at all. Moreover, make sure that your picks are complemented by the capabilities of your companions.

Level 2

Defense

Level 3

Durable

Level 8

Tough

Level 12

Shield Master

Best Paladin equipment

Here is the best equipment for paladin in BG3:

Reaper’s Embrace

All incoming damage is reduced by 2. Cannot be moved against your will by any spell or action.

The Blood of Lathander

Once per long rest, when your hit points are reduced to zero, you regain 2-12 hit points. Allies within nine meters also regain 1-6 hit points.

Ketheric’s Shield

Gain a plus one bonus to spell save DC and spell attack rolls.

Helldusk Boots

You cannot be forcibly moved by a foe’s spells or actions, and you ignore the effects of difficult terrain. When you fail a saving throw, you may use your reaction to succeed instead. Gain the Hellcrawler class action.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin character creation overview

Paladins use holy powers to lay waste to their foes. They also have healing capabilities, as well as proficiencies that make them viable as frontline tanks. Here’s what you can expect when choosing this type of character, such as proficiencies, key features, and subclasses.

Default class features

Wisdom Saving Throw Proficiency
Charisma Saving Throw Proficiency
Light Armor Proficiency
Medium Armor Proficiency
Heavy Armor Proficiency
Shield Proficiency
Simple Weapon Proficiency
Martial Weapon Proficiency
Channel Oath Charges: 1

Class Actions:

Lay on Hands – +4 healing; cures diseases and poisons; action.
Divine Sense – Gain advantage on attack rolls against celestials, fiends, and undead; bonus action.

Unique Mechanics: Divine Smite, Oath Charges, and Lay on Hands Charges

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin has some unique mechanics, too:

The resource used by some class abilities is called Oath Charges. Once cast, you’ll need to replenish an Oath Charge via a short rest.
Lay on Hands is used to heal allies or cure diseases/poisons. Charges are spent whenever the spell is used.
Divine Smite is unlocked upon reaching level 2. This is your bread-and-butter ability. With it, your strikes deal additional radiant damage against fiends and undead.

Oath of the Ancients Subclass

Similar to Oath of Devotion, the Oath of the Ancients subclass can also be selected during character creation. It has the following quirks:

Healing Radiance (Level 1)
Nature’s Wrath (Level 3)
Turn the Faithless (Level 3)
Speak with Animals (Level 3)
Ensnaring Strike (Level 3)
Misty Step (Level 5)
Moonbeam (Level 5)

Oath of Devotion Subclass

Oath of Devotion can be selected during character creation. It’s mostly used to protect your allies:

Holy Rebuke (Level 1) – Grants an ally an aura that causes radiant damage to an enemy that hits them with a melee attack; lasts two turns; uses an Oath Charge.
Sacred Weapon (Level 3) – Imbues your armament to make it a Sacred Weapon (your Charisma modifier is added to attack rolls).
Turn the Unholy (Level 3) – Turns an enemy fiend or undead, preventing it from taking any action except for Dash.
Protection From Evil and Good (Level 3) – Prevents an ally from being charmed, frightened, or possessed; creatures attacking them will be at a disadvantage.
Sanctuary (Level 3) – Create a ward on yourself or an ally, preventing them from being directly targeted until they attack someone else; can still get damaged by AoE spells.
Lesser Restoration (Level 5) – Remove one disease or condition that affects a target.
Silence (Level 5) – Create a sound-proof sphere; those within it are silenced and immune to thunder damage.

Oathbreaker Subclass

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Oathbreaker Paladin subclass isn’t available by default. Instead, you’ll need to do specific actions that make your character go against their oath. Here are a couple of examples:

Oath of Devotion – From the beach crash site, go north until you see Lae’zel, who’s been captured by two Tieflings. Attack and kill the Tieflings.
Oath of the Ancients – From the Druid Grove’s entrance, keep going west and enter the Owlbear Cave. Kill the Owlbear and its cub.

Committing these acts leads to a cutscene, as well as the appearance of the Oathbreaker Knight. You’ll then want to do a long rest to visit your camp. Talk to the Oathbreaker Knight and say that you’re ready to unlock the Baldur’s Gate 3 Oathbreaker subclass. Do note that you can revert back to your previously chosen subclass by paying 2,000 gold to the Oathbreaker Knight.

These actions are only available to the Oathbreaker subclass:

Spiteful Suffering (default) – The target takes necrotic damage each turn and all attack rolls have an advantage against it.
Control Undead (Level 3) – The undead target will follow you around and attack your enemies.
Dreadful Aspect (Level 3) – Frightens nearby enemies.
Hellish Rebuke (Level 3) – The next time you take damage, your attacker will be surrounded in flames.
Inflict Wounds (Level 3) – Putrefies a creature with necrotic energy.
Crown of Madness (Level 5) – Instills madness in a target, making them attack the closest creature, even if it’s an ally; lasts three turns.
Darkness (Level 5) – Shrouds a small area that obscures and blinds creatures within.

The best Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin build is perfect to add to one of the best BG3 team comps to play the DnD game with friends. If you are thinking of getting your friends involved, perhaps your existing DnD party, then make sure you get to know how Baldur’s Gate 3 multiplayer works.