So you’re thinking about playing a paladin 5e in Dungeons & Dragons 5e? Excellent choice, noble adventurer. Paladins are powerful frontline warriors, protectors of the weak, and divine agents of justice. Whether you envision yourself as a holy knight, a divine avenger, or a shield for your allies, the Paladin class has the tools—and the flair—to bring that fantasy to life.
In this ultimate guide to paladin 5e we’ll break down everything you need to know: mechanics, oaths, builds, spells, and how to roleplay one like a pro. Ready your sword and polish that armor—we’re going in.
What Is a Paladin in 5e?
In 5th Edition D&D, paladin 5e are martial warriors who draw divine power from their sacred oaths. They combine strong melee combat with healing, defensive buffs, and powerful smite abilities that can obliterate enemies. Think of them as the perfect balance between a cleric and a fighter—with a heavy dose of divine flavor.
Their central mechanic is their oath: a code they swear to uphold, which grants them unique magical and combat abilities starting at 3rd level.
Why Choose a Paladin? Pros and Cons
Before committing, here’s a quick overview of what makes Paladins shine—and where they can struggle.
👍 Pros:
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Divine Smite delivers massive burst damage
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Excellent durability (heavy armor + shields + healing)
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Aura buffs help the whole party
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Tons of versatility: tank, support, or damage-dealer
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Built-in healing via Lay on Hands
👎 Cons:
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Limited spell slots
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Need high stats in multiple abilities (STR, CHA, CON)
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Roleplaying restrictions depending on DM (honor your oath or face consequences)
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Suboptimal at ranged combat
Paladin Class Features Overview
Hit Points and Proficiencies
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Hit Die: d10 (solid survivability)
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Armor: All armor, shields
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Weapons: Simple and martial
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Saves: Wisdom & Charisma (nice for resisting magic!)
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Skills: Choose 2 from Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Persuasion, and Religion
Divine Sense and Lay on Hands
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Divine Sense lets you detect celestials, fiends, and undead within 60 feet (awesome for dungeon crawling).
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Lay on Hands is a personal healing pool that scales with your level—a literal lifesaver in and out of battle.
Divine Smite: Your Signature Move
This is what makes Paladins a nightmare for evil creatures. When you hit with a melee attack, you can burn a spell slot to deal radiant damage—extra if the target is undead or fiendish. It’s a burst of holy fury that makes enemies evaporate.
Aura Abilities and Their Impact
Starting at 6th level, you emit an aura that boosts your allies. For example:
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Aura of Protection: Adds your CHA mod to all saving throws for you and nearby allies. Seriously, this is one of the best features in the game.
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Aura of Courage: No fear! Literally. You and nearby allies are immune to the frightened condition.
Paladin Oaths: The Heart of Your Identity
Your Sacred Oath at level 3 defines your style, flavor, and abilities. Here are the most popular ones:
Oath of Devotion
The “classic” paladin—lawful good, knightly, and pure-hearted.
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Features: Turn the Unholy, Sacred Weapon
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Spells: Protection from Evil and Good, Lesser Restoration, Aura of Vitality
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Great for: Protectors and roleplay-heavy campaigns
Oath of the Ancients
Paladin meets druid, focusing on nature and protecting life.
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Features: Channel Divinity that restrains enemies, resist magic
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Spells: Ensnaring Strike, Misty Step, Aura of Warding
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Great for: Support-focused and nature-themed builds
Oath of Vengeance
The Batman paladin 5e. Justice, not mercy.
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Features: Vow of Enmity (advantage on attacks), Relentless Avenger
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Spells: Hunter’s Mark, Hold Person, Haste
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Great for: Single-target damage, edgy characters, smite-heavy builds
Other Official Oaths in 5e
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Oathbreaker (DMG): For fallen Paladins—evil and powerful.
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Oath of Redemption: Pacifist vibe, strong crowd control.
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Oath of Conquest: Control and domination; great for fear effects.
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Oath of Glory & Oath of Heroism (Tasha’s): Thematic and fun.
Each Oath adds unique flavor and mechanics, so choose based on both roleplay and gameplay preferences.
Building a paladin 5e: Race, Stats, and Background
Best Races for Paladins
Pick races that boost Strength and Charisma:
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Half-Elf: +2 CHA, +1 STR/CON, great for versatility
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Dragonborn: +2 STR, +1 CHA; plus breath weapon!
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Aasimar: Thematic synergy and radiant damage bonuses
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Variant Human: Feat at level 1? Yes please.
Stat Priorities
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STR or DEX: For melee attacks (usually STR)
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CHA: Buffs saves, spells, and auras
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CON: For hit points and concentration
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WIS: Helps with Insight and Perception but not vital
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DEX/INT: Usually dump stats
Ideal stat spread at level 1: STR > CHA > CON > WIS > DEX > INT
Backgrounds That Make Sense
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Acolyte: Obvious fit; gives Religion and Insight
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Soldier: Martial vibe, Athletics and Intimidation
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Noble: Adds flavor and Persuasion
Playing a Paladin: Combat and Roleplaying Tips
Smite Wisely, Friend
Don’t burn your spell slots too fast. Divine Smite is great, but save some slots for healing, buffing, or defensive spells.
🗡️ Pro tip: You can choose to Smite after seeing if your attack hits.
Tanking and Party Support
Use heavy armor + shield for max AC. Position yourself near squishier party members to share aura benefits. Use Lay on Hands to revive allies in a pinch.
Roleplaying a Holy Warrior
You don’t have to be a goody two-shoes. But your Oath should guide your behavior.
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Devotion: Truth and justice
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Vengeance: Hunt down the guilty
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Ancients: Protect life and the natural world
Talk to your DM about how flexible your Oath’s interpretation is.
Spellcasting as a Paladin
Spell Slots and Prepared Spells
Paladins are half-casters, meaning slower spell progression than clerics or wizards. You don’t learn specific spells—you prepare a list each day based on CHA modifier + level.
Must-Have Spells
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Shield of Faith: +2 AC, concentration
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Bless: Boost attack and save rolls
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Wrathful Smite: Extra psychic damage + fear
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Cure Wounds: Reliable healing
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Aid: Buffs HP for multiple allies
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Find Steed: Summon a magical horse? Heck yeah.
Multi-Classing as a Paladin
Want to spice things up?
Paladin + Sorcerer (Sorcadin)
CHA synergy, quickened spells, and divine smite make this combo deadly. Take Sorcerer levels for Metamagic and spells like Shield or Booming Blade.
Paladin + Warlock (Hexadin)
CHA-based melee with Eldritch Blast and Hexblade’s Curse. Tons of damage, flexibility, and roleplay potential.
Note: Multiclassing slows down aura and spell progression, so weigh pros and cons.
Tips for New Paladin Players
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Keep a close eye on spell slots—don’t burn them all on smites
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Your aura abilities are passive—don’t forget them!
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Communicate your oath and motivations with your DM
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Don’t be afraid to lead the charge—your team will benefit from your presence
Final Thoughts
Playing a paladin 5e is a rewarding, dynamic experience that blends martial might with divine purpose. Whether you’re smiting evil, protecting your friends, or exploring moral gray areas, the Paladin class offers depth, strength, and storytelling gold.
Just remember: your Oath is your identity. Uphold it—or face the consequences. Either way, adventure awaits.
FAQs
❓ Can Paladins cast spells in armor?
Yes! Paladins are proficient in armor and can cast spells without penalties in any armor they are trained in.
❓ When should I use Divine Smite?
Use it for big hits—especially on crits—or against undead and fiends. Save slots for healing or utility when needed.
❓ Can a Paladin break their Oath?
Yes, and it can be a compelling roleplay arc. In some campaigns, this leads to becoming an Oathbreaker.
❓ Do Paladin auras stack with other Paladins?
Absolutely. If multiple Paladins are nearby, their aura effects (like Aura of Protection) stack as long as they don’t overlap the same bonus.
❓ What’s the best subclass for a damage-focused Paladin?
Oath of Vengeance is your best bet. Its Channel Divinity and spell list are tailor-made for hunting down and destroying enemies.
