How Strong is Paladin in 5e? A Comprehensive Guide

The Paladin in 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons is unequivocally one of the strongest and most versatile classes available. Combining potent martial prowess with divine spellcasting and unparalleled defensive capabilities, the Paladin excels in nearly every aspect of the game. They are excellent damage dealers, incredibly resilient front-line fighters, supportive healers, and charismatic leaders, making them a valuable asset to any adventuring party. The class’s strength stems from its well-rounded nature, capable of adapting to various combat situations and roleplaying scenarios.

Paladin Strengths in Detail

Exceptional Survivability

The Paladin boasts impressive survivability thanks to a combination of factors:

• High Armor Class (AC): Paladins are proficient with heavy armor, allowing them to achieve high AC early in the game, making them difficult to hit.
• Lay on Hands: This iconic ability allows the Paladin to heal themselves or allies with a touch, providing a reliable source of healing throughout their career.
• Aura of Protection: At level 6, this aura adds the Paladin’s Charisma modifier to the saving throws of themselves and nearby allies. This is arguably one of the most powerful defensive abilities in the game, significantly boosting the entire party’s resilience against spells and effects.
• Divine Health: At level 3, Paladins gain immunity to disease, further enhancing their survivability.
• Subclass-Specific Perks: Each Paladin subclass offers further defensive options, ranging from resistance to specific damage types to additional healing or protective auras.

Potent Damage Output

Paladins are not just defensive tanks; they are also capable of dealing significant damage.

• Divine Smite: This is the Paladin’s signature ability. By expending spell slots, they can add radiant damage to their melee weapon attacks. This damage scales dramatically with higher-level spell slots, allowing for burst damage against single targets, especially undead and fiends.
• Fighting Styles: Paladins can choose a Fighting Style that enhances their combat effectiveness. Options like Dueling (for one-handed weapons and a shield) or Great Weapon Fighting (for two-handed weapons) boost their damage output.
• Extra Attack: At level 5, Paladins gain Extra Attack, allowing them to attack twice on their turn, significantly increasing their damage potential.
• Improved Divine Smite: At level 11, Paladins gain Improved Divine Smite, adding an extra 1d8 radiant damage to all melee weapon attacks, even without expending a spell slot.
• Subclass-Specific Damage Boosts: Many subclasses grant additional ways to deal damage, such as the Vengeance Paladin’s Vow of Enmity or the Conquest Paladin’s Aura of Conquest.

Versatile Support Capabilities

While primarily known for their martial prowess, Paladins also offer valuable support to their party:

• Healing Spells: Paladins have access to a selection of healing spells, allowing them to supplement their Lay on Hands ability.
• Buffing Spells: They also gain access to buffing spells that can enhance their allies’ abilities, such as Bless or Protection from Evil and Good.
• Auras: Beyond the Aura of Protection, some subclasses offer additional auras that provide support benefits to allies, such as increased movement speed or resistance to specific damage types.
• Charisma-Based Skills: Paladins often have high Charisma scores, making them effective in social interactions and capable of acting as the party’s face.

Adaptability

The Paladin’s versatility allows them to fill multiple roles within a party. They can act as a front-line tank, a damage dealer, a healer, or a support character, depending on the needs of the situation. This adaptability makes them a valuable asset to any group, especially in situations where the party is lacking in a particular area.

Paladin Weaknesses

Despite their strengths, Paladins do have some weaknesses:

• Limited Ranged Options: Paladins primarily excel in melee combat. Their ranged options are limited, making them less effective against enemies that stay at a distance.
• Reliance on Spell Slots: While Lay on Hands provides a consistent source of healing, the Paladin’s damage output is heavily reliant on spell slots for Divine Smite. Running out of spell slots can significantly reduce their damage potential.
• Vulnerable to Specific Conditions: Certain conditions, such as being charmed or frightened, can significantly impair a Paladin’s effectiveness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Paladin is a remarkably strong class in 5e. Their combination of martial prowess, divine magic, and defensive capabilities makes them a formidable force on the battlefield and a valuable asset to any adventuring party. While they have some weaknesses, their strengths far outweigh them, making them a popular and effective choice for players of all skill levels. Consider the ways that game play can provide new ways of thinking, acting, and relating to one another. This makes organizations like Games Learning Society so important.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Paladins in 5e

1. Is Paladin the most powerful class in 5e?

While Paladins are incredibly strong, the “best” class is subjective and depends on playstyle and party composition. Some argue that Wizards or Clerics, with their diverse spellcasting options, are more powerful in certain situations. However, the Paladin’s blend of martial and magical abilities makes them a consistently powerful choice.

2. What is the strongest Paladin subclass?

The Oath of Vengeance is often considered the strongest subclass due to its focus on damage output and single-target burst potential. However, other subclasses, such as the Oath of Devotion or Oath of Ancients, excel in different areas, such as defense and support.

3. What is the best race for Paladin?

Races that grant bonuses to Strength, Charisma, or Constitution are ideal for Paladins. Half-Elves are a popular choice due to their +2 to Charisma and +1 to two other ability scores. Dwarves, particularly Mountain Dwarves, are also excellent due to their Strength and Constitution bonuses.

4. What weapon should a Paladin use?

The best weapon for a Paladin depends on their Fighting Style and subclass. Paladins with the Dueling Fighting Style often prefer a longsword or warhammer with a shield. Those with the Great Weapon Fighting Style typically use a greatsword or greataxe.

5. What fighting style is best for a Paladin?

Defense, Dueling, and Great Weapon Fighting are the best options for Paladins. Defense provides a +1 bonus to AC, Dueling grants a +2 damage bonus when wielding a one-handed weapon, and Great Weapon Fighting allows you to reroll damage dice rolls of 1 or 2 when wielding a two-handed weapon.

6. What are the key abilities for a Paladin?

Strength (for melee attacks and armor), Charisma (for spellcasting and Aura of Protection), and Constitution (for hit points and concentration saves) are the most important abilities for a Paladin.

7. How much damage can a Paladin do with Divine Smite?

Divine Smite adds 2d8 radiant damage to a melee weapon attack, plus an additional 1d8 if the target is undead or a fiend. The damage increases by 1d8 for each spell slot level above 1st, up to a maximum of 5d8.

8. Can a Paladin heal themselves?

Yes, Paladins can heal themselves and others using their Lay on Hands ability. They also have access to healing spells.

9. What is a Paladin’s weakness in D&D?

Paladins often struggle with ranged combat and can be vulnerable to conditions like being charmed or frightened.

10. Are Paladins immortal in D&D?

No, Paladins are not naturally immortal. However, the Oath of the Ancients grants the Paladin immunity to the effects of aging, but they can still be killed.

11. Can Paladins dual wield in D&D?

Yes, Paladins can dual wield, but they do not have access to the Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style, making it less optimal than other options.

12. How does the Aura of Protection work?

At 6th level, the Paladin gains the Aura of Protection, which adds their Charisma modifier to the saving throws of themselves and any friendly creatures within 10 feet (increasing to 30 feet at 18th level).

13. What are some common Paladin roleplaying themes?

Paladins often embody themes of justice, righteousness, and devotion. They can be zealous crusaders, noble protectors, or compassionate healers.

14. How does a Paladin break their oath?

Breaking a Paladin’s oath depends on the specific oath sworn. Common examples include violating the tenets of the oath, acting in a way that is contrary to its principles, or deliberately betraying its ideals. A paladin who breaks their oath may become an Oathbreaker Paladin.

15. Can a Paladin beat a wizard?

The outcome of a Paladin versus Wizard fight depends on various factors, including character level, build, equipment, and tactics. Under ideal circumstances, the Paladin would mush the Wizard, but under any other circumstances, the Wizard would probably still beat them.