Paladin 5e Class Guide (2024 Rules)

What does a paladin do in D&D 5e?

A paladin is a frontline fighter who swore an oath and got magic for it. You wear the heaviest armor in the party, heal with a touch, protect the people standing next to you, and turn spell slots into burst damage when a critical enemy is in reach.

At the table, the paladin is the character the rest of the group stands behind. Your Aura of Protection is the reason the wizard passes the save against the dragon's fear, and your smite is the reason the boss doesn't get a second round.

• Hit die: d10. A level 1 paladin has 10 + Constitution modifier hit points; each later level adds 6 + Con (fixed) or 1d10 + Con (rolled).
• Primary abilities: Strength and Charisma. Charisma powers your spells, aura and spell save DC.
• Saving throws: Wisdom and Charisma.
• Armor and weapons: all armor, shields, simple and martial weapons.
• Skills: choose 2 from Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Persuasion and Religion.

A level 5 paladin with 14 Constitution averages 44 hit points. Try other builds in the HP calculator.

What are the paladin's features by level?

From the 2024 Player's Handbook. Paladins are half-casters: spell slots arrive slowly and top out at 5th level.

Subclass features come at 3, 7, 15 and 20. Feats come at 4, 8, 12 and 16, plus an Epic Boon at 19. The full spell list by level is on the paladin spell list page.

How does Divine Smite work in 2024?

In the 2024 rules Divine Smite is a level 1 spell, not a class feature. You cast it as a bonus action right after you hit with a melee weapon or unarmed strike, so you always know the attack landed before you spend the slot. On a critical hit, the smite dice are doubled too.

Paladin's Smite (level 2) means you always have it prepared and can cast it once per long rest without a slot. Because the spell uses your bonus action, it's one smite per turn, and the 2024 rule that you can spend only one spell slot per turn also applies.

2014 difference: smiting was a class feature that cost no action, scaled to a maximum of 5d8, and could be used on every hit. That's why old-edition paladins could dump three slots into one boss turn.

A practical rule from my table: don't smite goblins. Save slots for crits, for the enemy that would otherwise get one more turn, and for undead. A level 5 paladin who hits twice with a longsword (1d8 + 3) and smites with a 2nd-level slot averages 28.5 damage that turn.

What are the paladin's other key features?

• Lay on Hands (1): a pool of 5 hit points per paladin level, spent as a bonus action. 5 points also cures the Poisoned condition. At level 5 that's 25 hit points of healing a day.
• Channel Divinity (3): 2 uses (3 from level 11), one back on a short rest. Divine Sense finds celestials, fiends and undead; your oath adds its own option.
• Faithful Steed (5): Find Steed always prepared and castable once a day without a slot.
• Aura of Protection (6): you and allies within 10 feet add your Charisma modifier (minimum +1) to every saving throw. 30 feet from level 18. This is the best feature in the class.
• Abjure Foes (9): spend Channel Divinity to frighten a number of enemies equal to your Charisma modifier.
• Aura of Courage (10): you and allies in your aura can't be Frightened.
• Radiant Strikes (11): every melee weapon or unarmed hit deals an extra 1d8 radiant. No slot needed.
• Restoring Touch (14): Lay on Hands can also end Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Frightened, Paralyzed or Stunned for 5 points each.

What changed for the paladin in 2024?

Which paladin oath should you pick?

You swear your oath at level 3. Each one adds always-prepared spells and a Channel Divinity option.

• Oath of Devotion: the classic knight. Sacred Weapon adds your Charisma to attack rolls. Solid at everything.
• Oath of Vengeance: the damage oath. Vow of Enmity gives advantage against one target, and its spells help you chase it down.
• Oath of the Ancients: nature-themed and strong against spellcasters thanks to its level 7 aura, which gives you and nearby allies resistance to damage from spells.
• Oath of Glory: athletic champion who boosts the party's speed and physical checks.

Is the paladin good for beginners?

Yes, and it's one of my favorite first characters to recommend. High AC and hit points keep you alive, you can heal yourself and others, and the spell list is short. The one habit to build: track your slots and don't spend them all on the first fight. Keep the class features on the free character sheet so you don't forget Lay on Hands mid-combat.

What is a good paladin build?

Standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) plus a 2024 background bonus of +2/+1:

• Scores: Str 17, Cha 15, Con 13, Wis 12, Dex 10, Int 8. Your aura gives +2 to saves at level 6.
• Gear: chain mail and shield (AC 18), longsword (Sap) and javelins. Swap to plate (AC 20 with shield) when you can afford it.
• Fighting style: Defense for a sword-and-board tank, Great Weapon Fighting for a greatsword striker, or Blessed Warrior for two cleric cantrips.
• Level 1 spells: Bless for the party, Shield of Faith for yourself, Cure Wounds for emergencies.
• Feats: raise Charisma to 18 or 20 before anything fancy. It boosts your aura, spell DC and Channel Divinity at once.

Roll up a paladin concept in seconds with the D&D character generator. If you'd rather swap the spells for more attacks, read the fighter guide; for a nature-flavored half-caster, see the ranger.

FAQ

How does Divine Smite work in 5e 2024?

In the 2024 rules Divine Smite is a level 1 spell you cast as a bonus action right after hitting with a melee weapon or unarmed strike. It deals 2d8 radiant damage, plus 1d8 per slot level above 1 and 1d8 more against fiends and undead. You can cast it once per long rest without a slot.

Is the paladin good for beginners?

Yes. The paladin has heavy armor, healing, a short spell list and one obvious big move in Divine Smite. The main skill to learn is saving spell slots instead of smiting on every hit.

What is the best paladin oath?

Oath of Vengeance is the strongest pure damage pick, Oath of Devotion is a sturdy all-rounder, Oath of the Ancients is great against spellcasters, and Oath of Glory adds speed and athletic boosts for the party.

Can a paladin smite more than once per turn?

Not in the 2024 rules: Divine Smite takes your bonus action, so you get one per turn. In the 2014 rules smiting was a class feature with no action cost, so you could smite every hit if you had the slots.

What spells can a paladin cast?

Paladins prepare spells from the paladin list, up to 5th-level spells at level 17. Favorites include Bless, Shield of Faith, Find Steed, Aid and Revivify.

Related

• DnD Character Generator
• Paladin Spell List 5e
• Divine Smite 5e
• HP Calculator 5e