Baldur’s Gate 3 – Paladin Class Guide

Discover the Paladin’s comprehensive capabilities as Baldur’s Gate 3’s premier divine warrior class that excels in multiple combat roles.

The Paladin represents one of the most strategically flexible classes in Baldur’s Gate 3, blending formidable melee prowess with supportive divine magic. This holy warrior archetype delivers exceptional battlefield control through a unique combination of heavy armor proficiency, devastating smite attacks, and team-protecting auras. Unlike pure martial classes, Paladins gain access to spellcasting that enhances both their offensive output and defensive utility, making them invaluable assets throughout your campaign journey across Faerûn.

Our comprehensive Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin guide examines every strategic dimension of this class, from optimal race selection and subclass specialization to advanced oath mechanics that evolve based on your narrative choices. This depth ensures your Paladin character remains engaging from early levels through endgame challenges.

A Tiefling Paladin demonstrates exceptional resilience with fire resistance and infernal heritage complementing divine protections.

Understanding core Paladin mechanics is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness in both combat and social encounters throughout Baldur’s Gate 3.

• Channel Oath Charges – You gain the ability to channel the power contained in your Paladin Oath, which you can use to fuel certain actions. These charges replenish after short rests, making resource management essential for sustained performance during extended dungeon crawls.
• Divine Health – The divine magic flowing within you prevents disease from affecting you. This passive protection proves invaluable when exploring plague-ridden areas or facing enemies with disease-based attacks.
• Lay on Hands Charge – Gain an additional Lay on Hands Charge to heal yourself or your allies. This out-of-combat healing doesn’t consume spell slots, providing efficient sustainability between encounters.
• Extra Attack – Can make an additional free attack after making an unarmed or weapon attack. This feature dramatically increases your damage output starting at level 5, transforming your combat effectiveness.
• Aura of Protection – You and nearby allies gain a bonus to Saving Throws. Positioning becomes critical as this aura only affects characters within a limited radius of your Paladin.
• Aura of Courage – You and any nearby allies can’t be Frightened. The aura disappears if you fall Unconscious, emphasizing the importance of maintaining your frontline position.

Strategic reaction configuration allows Paladins to maximize defensive capabilities and opportunity attacks.

Optimized spell selection balances smite preparation with utility and support spells for diverse encounter types.

Mastering advanced Paladin techniques separates competent players from truly exceptional divine warriors who dominate Baldur’s Gate 3’s most challenging content.

Avoid These Common Paladin Mistakes: Many players underestimate the importance of Charisma for their spell save DC and aura bonuses, focusing excessively on Strength alone. Another frequent error involves poor smite timing—waiting for critical hits before unleashing divine smites dramatically increases damage efficiency. Additionally, positioning your Paladin to maximize aura coverage while maintaining frontline presence requires careful battlefield awareness that develops with experience.

Advanced Optimization Strategies: For experienced players, consider multiclassing with Sorcerer or Warlock after reaching Paladin level 6 or 7. This approach provides additional spell slots for more frequent smiting while maintaining core defensive capabilities. Strategic feat selection like Great Weapon Master or Polearm Master can further enhance your damage output when combined with proper ability score allocation.

Party Composition Synergy: Paladins excel when paired with ranged damage dealers who benefit from their protective auras. Consider complementing your build with a Class Guide optimized party member that covers your weaknesses. Frontline partners like Barbarians can draw aggression while your auras protect more vulnerable backline characters.

For comprehensive character planning, reference our Complete Guide to ensure all aspects of your build work harmoniously. Weapon selection also plays a crucial role—explore our Weapons Unlock guide to identify ideal arms for your specific Paladin archetype and playstyle preferences.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Baldur’s Gate 3 – Paladin Class Guide Master the divine warrior class with comprehensive Paladin strategies, builds, and optimization tips for Baldur's Gate 3