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Quick Builds for Every Paladin Subclass in D&D 5e

Original Video:



*This article is an edited version of the script for this video


Oath of the Ancients:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Fey Touched: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Command, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object

3rd: Aura of Vitality, Dispel Magic, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity, Find Greater Steed

5th: Circle of Power, Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell and then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed and using divine smite when you need extra damage. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras.


Oath of Conquest:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Fey Touched: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Detect Magic, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object

3rd: Aura of Vitality, Dispel Magic, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity, Find Greater Steed

5th: Circle of Power, Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell and then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed, using divine smite and guided strike when you need extra damage. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras.


Oath of the Crown:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Telekinetic: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Detect Magic, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object, Lesser Restoration

3rd: Dispel Magic, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity, Find Greater Steed, Death Ward

5th: Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell, spirit guardians is a great option that’s only available to this subclass. Then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed and using divine smite when you need extra damage. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras.


Oath of Devotion:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Fey Touched: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Command, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object

3rd: Aura of Vitality, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity, Find Greater Steed, Death Ward

5th: Circle of Power, Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell and then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed, using divine smite and sacred weapon when you need extra damage. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras.


Oath of Glory:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Fey Touched: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Command, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object

3rd: Aura of Vitality, Dispel Magic, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity, Find Greater Steed

5th: Circle of Power, Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell and then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed and using divine smite when you need extra damage. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras.


Oath of Redemption:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Fey Touched: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Command, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object

3rd: Aura of Vitality, Dispel Magic, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity, Find Greater Steed

5th: Circle of Power, Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell and then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed and using divine smite when you need extra damage. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras.


Oath of Vengeance:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Fey Touched: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Command, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object

3rd: Aura of Vitality, Dispel Magic, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity, Find Greater Steed

5th: Circle of Power, Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell and then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed, using divine smite and vow of enmity when you need extra damage, relentless avenger is also nice if you need to reposition yourself after you make an opportunity attack. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras.


Oath of the Watchers:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Fey Touched: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Command, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object

3rd: Aura of Vitality, Dispel Magic, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Find Greater Steed, Death Ward

5th: Circle of Power, Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell and then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed and using divine smite when you need extra damage. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras.


Oathbreaker:

Race:

Custom Lineage or Variant Human. Getting the feat early on will be very helpful on a Paladin.

Ability Scores:

1: Str

2: Cha

3: Con

Equipment:

-Quarterstaff or Spear

-Plate Armor

-Shield

-Holy Symbol

Feats:

1st: Polearm Master

4th: Resilient: Con

8th: Fey Touched: +1 Cha

12th: Crusher: +1 Con

16th: War Caster

19th: +2 to Str or Cha

Spells/Tactics:

1st: Bless, Command, Cure Wounds, Wrathful Smite

2nd: Aid, Find Steed, Locate Object

3rd: Aura of Vitality, Dispel Magic, Revivify

4th: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity, Find Greater Steed

5th: Circle of Power, Destructive Wave, Holy Weapon

You’ll usually want to start off combat with a good concentration spell and then just attack as much as you can with your polearm throwing in other spells when needed and using divine smite when you need extra damage. Also, make sure to stay close to your party to keep them inside your auras but be careful with what enemies you let inside your aura as it increases the damage of all fiends and undead.


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