Mastering the Goliath Paladin: A Beginner’s Guide to Righteous Adventure

The world of Dungeons & Dragons is vast and full of incredible characters, each offering unique gameplay experiences. One such character is the Goliath Paladin—a towering, noble warrior devoted to justice and righteousness. Whether you’re a newbie to D&D or a seasoned player looking to try something new, this guide will help you bring your Goliath Paladin to life in your next campaign.

Who is the Goliath Paladin?

The Goliath race hails from the cold and isolated mountain regions, known for their immense strength and stoic nature. Standing between 7 to 8 feet tall, Goliaths are a formidable presence on the battlefield. Pair that with the divine calling of a Paladin, and you have a character that is not only physically powerful but also spiritually resolute.

Creating Your Goliath Paladin

Step 1: Choose Your Paladin’s Oath

Paladins swear oaths that define their beliefs and guide their actions. For a Goliath Paladin, consider oaths that resonate with their inherent traits of strength and justice:

• Oath of Devotion: Focuses on honesty, courage, and compassion.
• Oath of Vengeance: Centers around punishing wrongdoers and protecting the innocent.
• Oath of the Ancients: Emphasizes the protection of nature and the beauty of life.

Step 2: Allocate Your Ability Scores

Goliaths gain a +2 to Strength and a +1 to Constitution, making them natural-born warriors. As a Paladin, you’ll also want to focus on Charisma, which fuels your divine abilities. Here’s a suggested distribution for your ability scores:

• Strength: 16 (18 with racial bonus)
• Constitution: 14 (15 with racial bonus)
• Charisma: 14
• Dexterity: 10
• Intelligence: 8
• Wisdom: 12

Playing Your Goliath Paladin

Combat Tips

In combat, your Goliath Paladin is a force to be reckoned with. Here are some tips to maximize your effectiveness:

• Use your Racial Traits: Goliaths have the Stone’s Endurance trait, which allows them to reduce damage taken by 1d12 + Constitution modifier once per short rest. Use this to soak up big hits.
• Divine Smite: Don’t forget to use your spell slots to add extra radiant damage to your melee attacks. This can turn the tide of battle in your favor.
• Aura of Protection: Starting at 6th level, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet gain a bonus to saving throws equal to your Charisma modifier. Stay close to your allies to boost their defenses.

Role-Playing Tips

Role-playing a Goliath Paladin can be incredibly rewarding. Here are some tips to help you get into character:

• Embrace the Noble Warrior Archetype: Goliaths value honor and strength. Play your character as a guardian who seeks to protect the weak and uphold justice.
• Explore Your Character’s Backstory: Why did your Goliath leave the mountains? What drove them to take the Paladin’s oath? Use these questions to add depth to your character.
• Interact with Other Characters: Use your imposing presence to intimidate foes and inspire allies. Your character’s physical and moral strength can be a source of inspiration for your party.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Once you’ve got the basics down, here are some advanced tips to take your Goliath Paladin to the next level:

• Multiclassing: Consider multiclassing into Fighter for extra combat abilities or Sorcerer for more spellcasting options.
• Magic Items: Keep an eye out for magic items that enhance your strengths, such as a Holy Avenger sword or Gauntlets of Ogre Power.
• Tactical Movement: Use your large size and reach to control the battlefield. Position yourself to protect weaker allies and cut off enemy escape routes.

Playing a Goliath Paladin is an exciting and fulfilling experience. With their immense strength and unwavering sense of justice, they are a force to be reckoned with both on and off the battlefield. Whether you’re smiting evil or protecting the innocent, your Goliath Paladin will be a beacon of hope and strength in your D&D campaign.

Happy adventuring!

Written by Jessica Williams