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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For a straightforward, offense-focused Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3, choose Oath of Vengeance. Its level 3 Vow of Enmity grants advantage on attack rolls against a chosen enemy, and its oath spells add Misty Step and Hold Person at Paladin level 5 and Haste at level 9. That makes it a strong default for pursuing priority targets—not a proven best choice for every party, difficulty, or play style. Ancients and the Patch 8 Oath of the Crown are better fits if your priority is party defense or protecting allies.
Which Paladin subclass should you choose?
Paladin subclasses in BG3 are oaths: they shape your Channel Oath abilities, oath spells, combat role, and the actions your character is expected to uphold. The right choice depends on whether you want to pressure a single enemy, defend the party, support allies, or play to a particular oath. There is no cited damage ranking that establishes one oath as strongest in every situation.
| Oath | Best fit | Defining distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Oath of Vengeance | Offense and single-target pressure | Vow of Enmity grants advantage on attack rolls against a chosen enemy. Its oath spell progression includes Misty Step and Hold Person at Paladin level 5 and Haste at level 9. BG3 Wiki: Oath of Vengeance |
| Oath of the Ancients | Party defense | The Paladin class page lists Aura of Warding at level 7. BG3 Wiki: Paladin |
| Oath of the Crown | Ally protection and enemy disruption | Larian describes Crown Paladins as aiding allies and disrupting foes. Divine Allegiance can absorb damage for an ally and restore health. Larian Studios: Community Update 30 |
| Oath of Devotion | Oath-themed support and weapon utility | The Paladin class page lists Sacred Weapon and Turn the Unholy among its level 3 Channel Oath abilities. BG3 Wiki: Paladin |
| Oathbreaker | A deliberate darker route after breaking an oath | It is not selectable at character creation; the game offers it after you break your oath. It replaces your previous oath abilities and spells. BG3 Wiki: Oathbreaker |
Why Vengeance is the easy default
Vow of Enmity rewards focusing your attacks on a priority target, while Misty Step helps you reach a fight and Haste later adds another powerful option. This gives the oath a clear, direct combat plan. Choose it if you want to close on a dangerous enemy and put pressure on that target.
When another oath is a better fit
Choose Ancients for the defensive role associated with Aura of Warding, or Crown if protecting allies and disrupting enemies is more appealing. Devotion offers its own support and weapon-focused tools. These are differences in role and flavor, not evidence that one option wins across every party or difficulty.
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A beginner-friendly Paladin build
Class path: Paladin 12
Stay Paladin through level 12 for a simple baseline that reaches Extra Attack at level 5, Aura of Protection at level 6, and a third feat at level 12. Vengeance also gets Haste as an oath spell at Paladin level 9. Multiclassing is an advanced alternative, but it gives up some Paladin progression and is not needed to make this build work. BG3 Wiki: Paladin BG3 Wiki: Oath of Vengeance
Ability priorities
- Strength or Dexterity: supports physical attacks. For a conventional heavy-armor, two-handed weapon setup, prioritize Strength.
- Charisma: affects Paladin spells, aura, and Channel Oath abilities. Keep it useful even in a weapon-focused build.
- Constitution: supports hit points and concentration checks.
Exact starting values depend on your equipment, party composition, and difficulty, so treat these as priorities rather than a mandatory stat array.
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Feat progression
A single-class Paladin gets feats at levels 4, 8, and 12. A practical two-handed damage route is to take Great Weapon Master early, then use later choices to improve an ability score or add another damage option such as Savage Attacker. This is a build recommendation, not a simulation-verified universal optimum. BG3 Wiki: Paladin
- Great Weapon Master: a damage-focused early pick for a two-handed weapon setup.
- Ability Improvement: can improve Strength for weapon accuracy or Charisma for spell effects and the Charisma-based Aura of Protection.
- Savage Attacker: another damage-oriented option to consider for a later feat.
The choice is a tradeoff: weapon-damage feats focus on attacks, while ability improvements can benefit accuracy, spell effects, and your aura. Choose based on what your character needs rather than assuming a single order is optimal in all cases.
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How to play the Vengeance build
- Mark the priority enemy: use Vow of Enmity to gain advantage on attack rolls against your chosen target.
- Get into range: move toward the target or use Misty Step, available as a Vengeance oath spell at Paladin level 5.
- Make your weapon attacks: Extra Attack arrives at Paladin level 5, so the build can make two attacks when taking the Attack action.
- Spend spell slots deliberately: use Divine Smite when a high-value hit justifies spending the resource, rather than treating every hit as a reason to expend a slot.
- Use your oath spells when useful: Hold Person is available at level 5, and Haste at level 9. Consider the fight and your resources before committing to a spell or concentration effect.
At level 6, Aura of Protection adds another reason to keep Charisma useful as you progress. BG3 Wiki: Paladin BG3 Wiki: Oath of Vengeance
What to know about oathbreaking
Vengeance’s stated tenets are “Fight the Greater Evil” and “No Mercy for the Wicked.” If your choices break the oath, you may temporarily lose access to Channel Oath abilities. Becoming an Oathbreaker is a separate path: it replaces your prior oath abilities and spells. If you want to make choices without that roleplay constraint, factor oath upkeep into your subclass decision. BG3 Wiki: Oath of Vengeance BG3 Wiki: Oathbreaker
Patch 8 and the Oath of the Crown
Patch 8, released April 15, 2025, added Oath of the Crown as a Paladin subclass and was described as the game’s final major patch. Larian’s Community Update 30 says Crown Paladins “You’ve been sworn to uphold the principles of law.” The official description presents the oath as one whose powers aid allies and disrupt foes, making it a clear alternative to Vengeance for players who prefer a protective role. Larian Studios: Community Update 30 BG3 Wiki: Patch 8
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