While you’re free to build your character as you like, choosing the best race, subclass, and skills for a Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3 can give you an advantage. Characters in this calss are close-combat fighters who can take hits well and provide healing. However, they can be a bit intimidating if you’re new to Dungeons & Dragons since 5e is the basis of BG3. Our guide details the best race, subclass, and skills for the Paladin in BG3.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Race, Subclass, Skills for Paladin
- Paladins are melee fighters and tanks.
- Their primary attributes are Strength, Charisma, and Constitution.
- Multiple races, subclasses, and skills are viable depending on the build you want.
This class is a versatile choice for a melee option, and you can build it in a way that has access to a couple of spells. Paladins take an oath and work to uphold it, and you become an Oathbreaker if you go against your sworn tenets. In both roleplay and gameplay, Paladins can be a fun option for a melee class that offers a measure of versatility through multiple viable builds. While I focus on builds for in-game purposes, you can freely design your paladin based on roleplay alone in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Related: How to Become an Oathbreaker (Paladin)
Best Paladin Races in BG3
- Gold Dwarf
- Half-Orc
- Half-Elf
- Tiefling
If you want to focus on melee fighting, Gold Dwarf and Half-Orc are strong race options for a Paladin. Gold Dwarves get extra health points, which is always a bonus if you’re right in the midst of combat. Meanwhile, Half-Orcs have Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks, which can keep you from being downed and increase your damage output.
If you want to get some extra ranged abilities through the Firebolt Cantrip, then you’ll want to choose Half-Elf or Tiefling. I personally went with High Half-Elf, and I’ve found Firebolt useful during the early game. I can keep my distance and avoid taking too many hits while I’m still leveling up.
Best Paladin Subclass in BG3
Paladins have three subclasses (plus Oathbreaker) to choose from. The one you want will depend on the playstyle you prefer.
- Oath of Devotion gives you Holy Rebuke, which damages enemies when they attack the character you place it on, making this the best option if you want to go with more damage as a support.
- Oath of Vengeance is the best if you want to go for straight damage. Inquisitor’s Might is a weapon buff that deals extra damage and adds a chance to daze enemies, so you also get a bit of crowd control.
- Oath of the Ancients is what I went with, and it’s a nice early-game way to get healing through Healing Radiance. You’ll get several nature-based spells like Speak with Animals and Moonbeam as you level.
- Oathbreaker would be your go-to if you want to focus purely on dealing damage. Oathbreakers aren’t bound by tenets, and you deal even more damage with the Necrotic spell Spiteful Suffering. Spiteful Suffering adds 1d4+3 Necrotic Damage each turn and gives you Advantage on attacks against the enemy inflicted by it. The spell lasts three turns.
Best Paladin Skills in BG3
For skills, Athletics is the most useful for Paladins since you already have decent Strength. Outlander and Soldier are both backgrounds that give you Athletics Proficiency, and then you’ll decide between Survival (Outlander) or Intimidation (Soldier).
While you have options when it comes to the best race, subclass, and skills for paladins in Baldur’s Gate 3, the game is forgiving if you instead choose based on roleplay preferences. As you explore the Forgotten Realms and work on getting that brain tadpole removed, check out more BG3 guides, like how to rest or how to save Shadowheart.
