Top 3 Paladin builds for Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 offers an unprecedented level of depth to its gameplay and world-building. As such, players have many variations with regard to builds which are bound to result in unique combat approaches. For this guide, we will take a look at the Paladin class. Paladins are powerful shield-bearers sworn to protect what is right and just by their oaths.

Furthermore, they can use Radiant magic to unleash their might onto evildoers. Let’s take a look at some of the best Paladin builds in Baldur's Gate 3 that players can use to protect Faerun from harm.

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Top 3 Paladin builds for Baldur's Gate 3

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3) Endless Crits Vengeance build

Stats:

• Strength: 17
• Dexterity: 10
• Constitution: 14
• Intelligence: 8
• Wisdom: 10
• Charisma: 15

Race: Half-Orc, Tiefling

Background: Noble, Soldier

Subclass: Oath of the Vengeance

As it should be clear from the build’s name, it is all about dishing out heavy damage. This is why we use the Oath of the Vengeance as a baseline. In short, this Baldur's Gate 3 build allows dishing out as much extra damage and critical hits as possible. Two-handed weapons such as Greatswords are preferred for this Paladin build.

To top it all off, using the Half-Orc or Tiefling classes bolsters the Strength/Constitution/Charisma focus. The picked backgrounds also help supplement the core stats makeup.

Level progression:

• Lv 2 - Actions: Divine Smite and reactions. Fighting Style: great Weapon Fighting for two-handed. Spells: Wrathful Smite, Sering Smite, Thunderous Smite, Heroism, Protection from Evil and Good

Here, Divine Smite will be useful in dealing even more Radiant Damage. The chosen spells help in debuffing foes (like a chance for them to prone due to Thunderous Smite’s knockback) and buffing the Paladin with Heroism.

• Lv 3 - Actions: Vow of Enmity, Abjure Enemy.

Vow of Enmity is great for gaining an Advantage against the target, allowing more successful rolls and higher damage dealt. Abjure Enemy, on the other hand, Frightens enemies like Wrathful Smite.

• Lv 4 - Feat: Great Weapon Master

At level 4, the Paladin will gain extra spells to use, but it is the Feat that is important. Among the list of handy perks, the Great Weapon Master grants a Bonus melee attack Action on proccing a Critical hit or killing a foe with a melee In short, this allows performing multiple hits in one turn, allowing players to potentially one-shot foes. This also works on reactions like Opportunist.

• Lv 5 - Class Features: Extra Attack, Spells: Branding Smite

Extra Turn grants an additional turn when performing a melee attack. Branding Smite, on the other hand, marks targets and prevents them from turning Invisible.

• Lv 8 - Feat: Ability Improvement

Add extra points into Strength and Charisma for the Paladin.

• Lv 9 - Spells: Blinding Smite, Elemental Weapon, Warden of Vitality

Blinding Smite grants a chance to Blind foes, while Elemental Weapon adds an Element to the user’s weapon. Warden of Vitality is a great support spell for the Paladin as it allows using Restore Vitality as a Bonus Action to heal oneself or allies

Ilithid Powers:

• Luck of the Far Realms: Allows turning a successful Attack hit into a Critical Hit

Ilithid Powers are gained by absorbing Mind Flayer parasite specimens in Baldur's Gate 3. However, there are consequences for using these powers in this game, so players can skip them, as the build is still pretty effective. The key, however, is to always have an advantage against enemies, including help from allies.

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2) Necrotic Oathbreaker build

Stats:

• Strength: 17
• Dexterity: 8
• Constitution: 15
• Intelligence: 8
• Wisdom: 8
• Charisma: 16

Race: Drow, Half-Orc

Background: Noble, Soldier

Subclass: Oathbreaker (Pick any Oath in character creation, then break it during the story campaign).

The Oathbreaker is a secret fourth subclass for the Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3. From a narrative perspective, this sees players break their sworn Oath as a Paladin to become the chaotic Oathbreaker and use forbidden magic to command the undead.

The Half-Orc is once again an ideal pick due to the Relentless Endurance perk that improves survivability. Drow, on the other hand, helps with improved night vision over Half-Orc and Fey Ancestry, which resists being charmed and offers immunity against being slept by foes.

Level progression:

• Lv 2 - Actions: Spiteful Suffering. Spells: Shield of Faith, Bless, Wrathful Smite, Heroism

This is the first foray into being an Oathbreaker as players gain this Necrotic spell in Baldur's Gate 3 that doesn’t just do Necrotic damage to foes but also grants Advantage against them. As for Spells, players can pick any they desire, but the ones mentioned are great.

• Lv 3 - Actions: Control Undead, Dreadful Aspect. Spells: Hellish Rebuke, Inflict Wounds

Paladins will be able to raise zombies and control them as a level 3 Oathbrekaer using Control Undead. The Dreadful Aspect allows Frightening foes, so it is a good alternative to Wrathful Smite. Hellish Rebuke is a reaction spell that allows countering attacks with flames, while Inflict Wounds deals Necrotic damage.

• Lv 4 - Feat: Ability Improvement

Add extra points into Strength and Constitution for the Oathbreaker Paladin.

• Lv 5 - Spells: Branding Smite, Magic Weapon

Branding Smite marks targets to prevent them from turning Invisible while Magic Weapon imbues the user’s weapon with arcane magic to deal extra damage.

• Lv 6 - Actions: Aura of Protection

This grants bonus saving throws to allies which should help buff the Paladin’s zombie army.

• Lv 7 - Actions: Aura of Hate

Grants bonus damage to allied fiends and undead.

• Lv 8 - Feat: War Caster

This Feta grants additional Saving throws to maintain Concentration on spells in Baldur's Gate 3.

• Lv 9 - Spells: Elemental Weapon, Crusader’s Mantle, Revivify

Elemental Weapon adds an element to the weapon while granting additional Attack Throws. Crusader’s Mantle strengthens nearby allies by imbuing their attacks with Radiant magic. Revivify is one of the strongest spells in Baldur's Gate 3, allowing players to revive dead allies.

• Lv 10 - Actions: Aura of Courage

The user and their allies cannot be Frightened.

• Lv 12 - Feat: Ability Improvement

Players can resurrect corpses into either zombies for melee attacks and skeletons for ranged. The crux of the build is killing foes fast, and fallen corpses will be instantly reanimated into the undead. While they do die fast from enemy attacks, this is a good way to use fodder to supplement the Oathbreaker’s powerful melee and spellcasting repertoire.

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1) Divine Paladin build

The Oath of the Ancients is one of the more powerful Paladin subclasses in the game. This grants the Paladin access to various healing spells and Radiant magic. Check out our full guide here for details.

As for gear, the following set should work for all three Paladin builds in Baldur's Gate 3:

• Head: Haste Helmet (Gain Momentum for 3 turns)/Grymskull Helm (Opponents cannot land Critical Hits on user)
• Cloak: Vivacious Cloak (Grants 7 temporary health when using spells while in melee)
• Body: Adamantine Splint Armor (Reduces incoming damage and sends attackers Reeling on being hit)
• Gloves: Glows of the Growling Underdog (Gain melee attack Advantage when surrounded by two or more foes)
• Boots: Linebreaker Boots (Once per turn, gain Wrath for two turns on using Dash, which further boosts melee damage)
• Amulet: Absolute’s Talisman (grants Advantage on Death Saving Throws)
• Rings: Crusher’s Ring (Movement Speed +3)

Overall, this gear set helps buff the player’s movement, actions, and survivability while granting damage reduction and disadvantage rolls to enemies in Baldur's Gate 3.

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Baldur's Gate 3 is out right now for PC via Steam and GOG platforms