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Can All Paladins Heal? The Definitive Guide

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Yes, all Paladins have the potential to heal, but their healing capabilities and effectiveness vary significantly depending on their class features, chosen oaths, and character build. While healing is a core part of the Paladin class identity, not every Paladin will prioritize or excel at it.

Understanding the Paladin’s Healing Toolkit

Paladins are divine warriors fueled by faith and sworn to uphold an oath. Their connection to the divine grants them access to both combat prowess and the ability to mend wounds. However, the extent to which a Paladin focuses on healing is a choice left to the player.

Lay on Hands: The Paladin’s Signature Healing Ability

The most fundamental healing ability for Paladins is Lay on Hands. This feature, available to all Paladins from level 1, allows them to expend a pool of healing points (5 x Paladin level) to restore hit points to a creature.

Versatility: Lay on Hands is exceptionally versatile. It can be used to heal allies, cure diseases, and neutralize poisons.
Action Economy: Using Lay on Hands is an action, so Paladins must balance healing with their other actions in combat.
Limited Resource: The healing pool is a limited resource, requiring careful management.

Spells: Expanding the Healing Repertoire

Beyond Lay on Hands, Paladins also gain access to a selection of healing spells as they level up. These spells offer more diverse and powerful healing options.

Cure Wounds: A simple and effective single-target healing spell.
Lesser Restoration: Removes conditions like blindness, deafness, paralysis, and poison.
Greater Restoration: Cures more severe conditions such as petrification and curses.
Revivify: Brings a recently deceased creature back to life.
Aura of Vitality: Continually heals creatures within the Paladin’s aura over a minute.

Oaths: Shaping Healing Priorities

A Paladin’s chosen oath further defines their role and abilities, including their healing prowess. Certain oaths emphasize healing and support more than others.

Oath of Devotion: While not directly focused on healing, the Oath of Devotion emphasizes protecting the weak, which often involves mending injuries. Their Channel Divinity option, Sacred Weapon, can indirectly aid in combat to lessen the need for healing.
Oath of the Ancients: This oath celebrates life and nature, often leading Ancients Paladins to prioritize healing and restoration. They have access to spells like Ensnaring Strike and Moonbeam that can control the battlefield and reduce the need for healing.
Oath of Vengeance: Vengeance Paladins are driven by a desire for retribution and may prioritize defeating enemies over healing. They might only heal allies when absolutely necessary.
Oath of Redemption: Redemption Paladins attempt to avoid violence whenever possible, preferring diplomacy and compassion. They are more likely to focus on healing and protecting others. Their Emissary of Peace channel divinity option promotes a non-violent environment, reducing the need for healing in the first place.
Oath of the Crown: Crown Paladins are sworn to uphold the law and order of their kingdom or government. While not inherently healing-focused, they often prioritize the well-being of their subjects, which can lead them to develop healing skills.

Feats and Multiclassing: Customizing the Healing Role

Players can further customize their Paladin’s healing capabilities through feats and multiclassing.

Healer Feat: This feat allows a Paladin to use a healer’s kit to restore hit points and stabilize dying creatures.
Magic Initiate Feat: This feat allows a Paladin to learn two cantrips and one 1st-level spell from another class, potentially adding more healing options.
Multiclassing: Dipping into classes like Cleric or Druid can grant access to a wider range of healing spells and abilities. However, multiclassing can delay the Paladin’s progression in their core class features.

Factors Affecting Healing Effectiveness

Several factors determine how effective a Paladin is at healing.

Charisma: Paladin spellcasting, including healing spells, relies on Charisma. A higher Charisma score means more potent spells and better overall healing.
Spell Selection: Choosing the right healing spells for the situation is crucial.
Resource Management: Effectively managing Lay on Hands points and spell slots is essential for sustained healing.
Party Composition: The presence of other healers in the party can influence the Paladin’s need to focus on healing.
Play Style: A Paladin who prioritizes support and protection will naturally be a more effective healer than one who focuses solely on damage.

FAQs: Paladin Healing Explained

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Paladin healing, offering further clarity and insights:

Can a Paladin heal themselves? Yes, Paladins can use Lay on Hands and healing spells to heal themselves.
How many hit points can a Paladin heal with Lay on Hands at level 5? At level 5, a Paladin has 25 (5 x 5) healing points to expend with Lay on Hands.
Does Lay on Hands require a spell slot? No, Lay on Hands is a class feature and does not consume spell slots.
What’s the range of Lay on Hands? Lay on Hands requires touch. The Paladin must be within physical contact of the target.
Can Lay on Hands cure more than one disease or poison at a time? No, Lay on Hands can only cure one disease or neutralize one poison with each use.
Are there any restrictions on who a Paladin can heal with Lay on Hands? A Paladin can heal any creature, regardless of alignment or race, as long as they are conscious. (Unconscious creatures can be healed too).
Does the Oath of Devotion grant any unique healing spells? No, the Oath of Devotion doesn’t grant any unique healing spells, but it encourages protecting the weak which often leads to prioritizing healing.
Is it better to play a Paladin as a dedicated healer or a damage dealer? The best approach depends on the party’s needs and the player’s preferences. Paladins can be effective in both roles.
Can a Paladin heal through temporary hit points? No, healing restores lost hit points. Temporary hit points are added on top of existing hit points and are depleted before regular hit points are lost.
What is the best healing spell for a Paladin to learn? The “best” spell depends on the situation, but Cure Wounds and Lesser Restoration are consistently useful.
Can Paladins use healing potions? Yes, Paladins can use healing potions like any other character.
Does armor affect a Paladin’s ability to heal? No, armor does not directly affect a Paladin’s ability to cast healing spells or use Lay on Hands.
Can a Paladin use Lay on Hands on a creature that is already at full hit points? No, Lay on Hands can only be used to restore hit points to a creature that has taken damage. It cannot provide temporary hit points or over-heal.
How does multiclassing into Cleric affect a Paladin’s Lay on Hands? Multiclassing into Cleric does not increase the Paladin’s Lay on Hands pool. The pool is determined solely by the Paladin’s levels in the Paladin class. However, it does grant access to more healing spells.
Are there any magical items that enhance a Paladin’s healing abilities? Yes, there are several magical items that can enhance a Paladin’s healing, such as:
- Amulet of the Devout: Increases spell save DC and attack bonus for cleric and paladin spells.
- Staff of Healing: Allows the wielder to cast healing spells without expending spell slots.
- Periapt of Wound Closure: Automatically stabilizes a dying creature and doubles healing received.

Conclusion: Embracing the Paladin’s Healing Potential

While not every Paladin is built to be a dedicated healer, the potential is always there. Through Lay on Hands, healing spells, and thoughtful character development, Paladins can become invaluable sources of healing and support for their allies. The key is to understand the available resources, prioritize the party’s needs, and embrace the role that best suits the character’s oath and play style. Ultimately, a Paladin’s healing ability is another tool in their arsenal to fight injustice and protect the innocent.