Is Dual Wielding Good for a Paladin in 5e? A Comprehensive Guide

Simply put, dual wielding isn’t optimal for a Paladin in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons, but it can be viable depending on your specific build and play style. While Paladins can technically dual wield, their class features and usual combat role tend to favor other weapon configurations, particularly one-handed weapons with a shield or two-handed weapons. You sacrifice significant defensive capability by ditching a shield, and the bonus action requirement for the off-hand attack often conflicts with more powerful Paladin abilities like Divine Smite and various spells. However, with careful planning and a specific build focus, a dual wielding Paladin can be surprisingly effective, especially in earlier levels.

The Pros and Cons of Dual Wielding as a Paladin

To understand why dual wielding is a niche choice for Paladins, let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

• Extra Attack: Dual wielding allows you to make an additional attack as a bonus action. This can provide a small damage boost, especially at lower levels before other class features become dominant.
• More Chances to Crit: More attacks mean more opportunities to roll a critical hit, potentially triggering a devastating Divine Smite. This is the main appeal for certain “Crit-Fishing” builds.
• Flavor and Roleplaying: Let’s be honest, wielding two weapons looks cool! If you’re prioritizing a particular character concept or backstory, dual wielding can be a great way to express it.
• Early Game Viability: At levels 1-4, the extra attack from dual wielding can give you a slight edge, especially if you haven’t yet acquired powerful magic weapons or access to higher-level spells.

Disadvantages

• Bonus Action Conflict: This is the biggest drawback. Paladins rely heavily on their bonus action for spells like Bless, Shield of Faith, and various channel divinity options. Sacrificing your bonus action every round for an off-hand attack significantly reduces your overall effectiveness.
• Reduced AC: Giving up a shield means a significant drop in Armor Class (AC). Paladins are typically front-line fighters who need to be able to withstand enemy attacks. A lower AC makes you more vulnerable.
• No Fighting Style Support: Paladins don’t get access to the Two-Weapon Fighting Style unless they multiclass. This Fighting Style lets you add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.
• Inefficient Damage Scaling: As you level up, the damage output from the off-hand attack becomes less significant compared to the damage you can deal with Divine Smite, two-handed weapons, or spells.
• Resource Intensive: You need to invest in feats like Dual Wielder to fully optimize a dual wielding build. These feats could be used to improve your core Paladin abilities.

Alternative Paladin Builds

Considering the drawbacks, here are the more common and often more effective Paladin builds:

• Sword and Board (One-Handed Weapon + Shield): This is the most common and generally most reliable build. The shield provides excellent defensive capabilities, allowing you to tank damage and protect your allies. The Defense Fighting Style further enhances your AC.
• Great Weapon Master (Two-Handed Weapon): This build focuses on dealing massive damage with weapons like greatswords or mauls. The Great Weapon Fighting Style allows you to re-roll low damage dice, and the Great Weapon Master feat lets you trade accuracy for even more damage.
• Polearm Master (Spear/Glaive + Shield): This build combines the benefits of a shield with an extra attack from the Polearm Master feat. This provides an additional opportunity to trigger Divine Smite.
• Ranged Paladin (Javelin + Shield) Not as popular as melee builds, but if you want to play a paladin from range, there’s nothing stopping you using Javelins and benefiting from the use of a shield.
• Paladin Caster A paladin who favors spells and abilities over melee attacks can make a viable option, and in this case, dual wielding is not a viable option.

Optimizing a Dual Wielding Paladin (If You’re Determined!)

If you’re set on playing a dual wielding Paladin, here are some tips to make it work:

• Feats: Prioritize the Dual Wielder feat to use non-light weapons and gain a +1 AC bonus.
• Multiclassing: Consider multiclassing into a class that grants the Two-Weapon Fighting Style, such as Ranger or Fighter. However, this delays your Paladin progression.
• Fighting Style (If Multiclassing): Take the Two Weapon Fighting style to add damage to your second attack.
• Weapon Choice: Choose weapons with abilities that don’t use a bonus action. Weapons with Reach like a spear can give an advantage. Consider weapons that inflict status effects like poison.
• Stats: Strength or Dexterity needs to be your main attack stat, as this effects how likely you are to hit an enemy with your attacks.
• Oath: Consider the Oath of Vengeance, whose spells and channel divinities will buff damage and attack capabilities, or the Oath of Conquest, a powerful subclass that will strike fear into the hearts of your enemies.
• Crit-Fishing Build: Focus on increasing your critical hit chance through spells, feats, and class features. The idea is to maximize the damage output from Divine Smite on critical hits.

The Verdict

While a dual wielding Paladin isn’t the most optimal choice, it’s certainly not unplayable. If you’re willing to invest in the necessary feats, consider multiclassing, and carefully manage your bonus actions, you can create a fun and effective character. However, be aware that you’ll likely be less tanky and have less consistent damage output compared to a more traditional Paladin build. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your personal preferences and the specific challenges of your campaign. You can learn more about the nuances of character creation and game mechanics at the Games Learning Society website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can a Paladin use Two-Weapon Fighting?

Yes, Paladins can use Two-Weapon Fighting. However, they do not get access to the Two-Weapon Fighting Style natively, which means they don’t add their ability modifier to the damage of the off-hand attack. They need to acquire it through multiclassing or feats.

2. Is Dual Wielding Style worth it for a Paladin?

Only if you multiclass into Fighter or Ranger, who can select the style as a free feature. It is not worth it via the fighting initiate feat, as this will delay your Paladin level progression, and you can likely find something more worthwhile to do with a bonus action.

3. What Fighting Style is best for a Paladin?

Generally, Defense is the best all-around choice, as it provides a consistent +1 bonus to AC. Dueling is a good option if you’re using a one-handed weapon without a shield, and Great Weapon Fighting is ideal for two-handed weapon builds.

4. Does Divine Smite work with dual wielding?

Yes, Divine Smite can be used on any weapon attack, including those made with an off-hand weapon. This is one of the main reasons why dual wielding can be appealing to Paladins.

5. What are the best weapons for a dual wielding Paladin?

Look for weapons that offer utility beyond just damage. Weapons with status effects, like poison or paralysis, can be particularly effective. Short swords are normally used for dual wielding because they are light.

6. How important is Strength for a dual wielding Paladin?

Strength is still important if you want to hit things! Dexterity Paladins are possible.

7. Does the Dual Wielder feat make dual wielding viable for a Paladin?

The Dual Wielder feat certainly helps, as it allows you to use non-light weapons and provides a +1 bonus to AC. However, it doesn’t solve the bonus action conflict or the lack of Fighting Style support.

8. Is it better to dual wield or use a shield as a Paladin?

In most cases, using a shield is the better option for a Paladin. The increased AC significantly improves your survivability and allows you to better fulfill your role as a front-line fighter.

9. What level is dual wielding most effective for a Paladin?

Dual wielding is generally most effective at lower levels (1-4) before other class features and higher-level spells become available. As you level up, other builds tend to become more powerful.

10. Can I use a Greatsword and a Longsword for dual wielding with the Dual Wielder feat?

No. The dual wielder feat allows you to use two one handed weapons, not two two-handed weapons. You could dual wield two longswords, as these are one handed versatile weapons.

11. Does Polearm Master work with dual wielding?

No. The Polearm Master feat requires using one polearm, like a spear.

12. What are some good multiclass options for a dual wielding Paladin?

Fighter (for the Two-Weapon Fighting Style and Action Surge), Ranger (for the Two-Weapon Fighting Style and Hunter’s Mark), or Rogue (for Sneak Attack damage) are all viable options, but be mindful of delaying your Paladin progression.

13. How does Divine Favor interact with dual wielding?

Divine Favor adds 1d4 radiant damage to one weapon attack each turn. With dual wielding, you have two opportunities to apply this extra damage, making it slightly more effective.

14. Can I use a shield and dual wield?

No, as both hands would be occupied.

15. Where can I learn more about D&D character optimization?

There are many online resources available, including forums, wikis, and YouTube channels. Also, be sure to check out GamesLearningSociety.org for insights on game-based learning and design principles that can be applied to D&D.