Paladins are the closest thing D&D 5e has to a power fantasy with receipts. You swear an oath, you channel divine wrath through a longsword, and you get to dump every spell slot you have into a single attack roll that deletes a boss monster from the table. Smite-nova builds are real, they work, and yes, the rest of the party will hate you a little when you crit on a Greatsword wielding a 4th-level Divine Smite. That’s the appeal: you hit like a freight train, you heal with Lay on Hands, you save the squishies with Aura of Protection, and you do it all while wearing heavy armor.

The catch nobody mentions at session zero? Paladins are MAD as hell. You want Strength for your weapon, Charisma for your spells and auras, and Constitution because you’re standing in the front rank. Point buy hurts. Multiclassing is a minefield, half-casters scale spell slots weird, and choosing between Sacred Oaths means weighing Channel Divinity options that range from “build-defining” (Vengeance’s Vow of Enmity) to “situational at best” (looking at you, Turn the Unholy). Then there’s the roleplay layer, the oath itself, which your DM may or may not enforce like a contract lawyer.

This is the hub. Every Paladin article we’ve written, sorted and linked below, covers builds, subclass rankings, smite math, multiclass dips worth taking, and the oath-breaking rules nobody reads until it’s too late. Start wherever you need.

We encounter many table top gamers who love the Paladin class. There are several reasons we hear during conversation at the Crit Hit Ceramics booth at conventions about why people select Paladin as their preferred class. Probably the number one reason is one word: SMITE! But in all seriousness, Paladins are a popular class to play because they are durable, deal great damage, and can act as a secondary healer for the party. People love playing with a good Paladin in the party. They know damage and heals are going to be seen in combat from their ally. Also, they can be truly fun to role play as many campaigns face great evil, the true enemy of a good Paladin! People who are playing a Paladin like strong-willed personas who are carving their way in the world, righting injustices and helping the downtrodden.

When talking with Paladin players about dice, often solid color sets are the ones that appeal. They are straightforward and solid, just like a Paladin. We have a variety of dice that match with these ideals. Players don’t have trouble selecting a set of dice that fit their Paladin perfectly. Often people will choose our Skeleton Ceramic Dice Set because it is a white porcelain die set with contrasting black numbers, or a Pharaoh’s Sandstorm set because of the gold numbers.

Paladin Core Mechanics

The Paladin is D&D 5e’s premier hybrid warrior, blending martial prowess with divine magic. With a d10 Hit Die, heavy armor proficiency, and Strength as a primary stat, paladins fight on the front line. But Charisma drives their magic, smites, and class features—making it equally essential.

New players should focus on these foundational mechanics:

• Divine Smite: After hitting with a melee weapon attack, you can expend a spell slot to deal an extra 2d8 radiant damage (3d8 vs. undead/fiends), plus 1d8 per slot level above 1st. This is your signature move—burst damage on demand.
• Lay on Hands: A pool of hit points (5 × paladin level) you can distribute to heal allies or cure diseases and poisons. It’s not a spell, so it never runs out of slot economy.
• Spellcasting: You’re a half-caster (spells start at 2nd level) and a prepared caster, meaning you can swap your prepared list on a long rest. Smart smiting trumps casting bonus-action spells in most rounds.
• Channel Divinity: Subclass-specific abilities (gained at 3rd level) that recharge on a short rest.

What surprises experienced players is just how transformative Aura of Protection is at 6th level. Every creature within 10 feet of you (including yourself) adds your Charisma modifier to all saving throws. With a +4 or +5 Charisma, this single feature can swing entire encounters—negating Hold Person, fireballs, dragon breath, and save-or-die effects across the whole party. Few features in the game match its impact.

Mechanically, paladins distinguish themselves clearly: unlike Fighters, they trade extra attacks and martial versatility for nova damage and spellcasting; unlike Clerics, they’re durable melee combatants whose magic empowers weapons rather than replacing them. The paladin is the party’s protector, healer, and finisher rolled into one.

Choosing Your Sacred Oath

Your Sacred Oath defines your paladin’s soul, granting unique spells, Channel Divinity options, and a moral compass that shapes every decision at the table. Picking the right one matters as much as your ability scores—and pairs powerfully with your smite strategy, as discussed in our Divine Smite and Oath Selection guide.

Oath of Devotion is the archetypal holy warrior, wielding Sacred Weapon to boost attack rolls and Turn the Unholy to scatter undead and fiends. It’s the gold standard for new players who want a clear “lawful good knight” fantasy.

Oath of the Ancients channels primal light against the darkness, befriending fey and gaining resistance to spell damage at 7th level via Aura of Warding—arguably the best defensive aura in the game.

Oath of Vengeance hunts a single quarry with relentless precision. Vow of Enmity grants advantage on attacks against one creature, making this oath the king of nova-round single-target damage when combined with smites.

Oath of Conquest rules through fear. Conquering Presence frightens enemies, while Aura of Conquest paralyzes frightened foes and deals psychic damage—a brutal lockdown combo for tyrannical or dread-knight builds.

Oath of Redemption plays the pacifist tank, using Rebuke the Violent to punish attackers and Aura of the Guardian to absorb damage allies take. It’s mechanically demanding but roleplay-rich.

Oath of the Crown serves civilization and law. Champion Challenge forces enemies to stay near you, making it an exceptional sticky tank for protecting squishy party members.

Oath of Glory embodies the mythic hero from Theros. Inspiring Smite shares temp HP with allies, and Peerless Athlete boosts athletic feats—great for cinematic, Olympic-style heroes.

Oath of Treachery (Unearthed Arcana) is the villain oath, granting Conjure Duplicate and poison-based smites. Unofficial but flavorful for antiheroes and morally gray campaigns.

Oath of the Watchers guards reality against aberrations and extraplanar threats, boosting initiative and counterspelling enemy casters. Read our full Oath of the Watchers build guide for tactics.

For broader subclass comparisons, check our Sacred Oath Selection Guide, and don’t forget that your background can reinforce your oath in meaningful narrative ways.

Best Race Combinations for Paladin

Paladins thrive on the dual-stat dance between Strength (for smashing) and Charisma (for spells, auras, and saves). The right race pushes both stats higher while layering in defensive or utility perks that complement Lay on Hands and Divine Smite. Here are the standout pairings:

• Aasimar: The quintessential Paladin race—Charisma boost, radiant damage, and healing hands echo your divine kit perfectly. Read the Aasimar Paladin guide.
• Tiefling: Charisma-forward with innate spellcasting and fire resistance, Tieflings make charismatic oathbreakers and vengeful crusaders alike. See the full Tiefling Paladin guide or the quick build.
• Goliath: Massive Strength, Stone’s Endurance damage reduction, and Powerful Build turn you into an unkillable frontliner. Dive into the Goliath Paladin build, the beginner’s guide, or the Stone’s Endurance survival guide.
• White Dragonborn: Strength-leaning with a cold breath weapon for AoE pressure when smites aren’t enough. Check the White Dragonborn Paladin guide.
• Silver Dragonborn: Cold breath plus a noble flavor that suits Devotion or Crown oaths beautifully. Read the Silver Dragonborn guide.
• Gem Dragonborn: Psychic breath, flight, and telepathy give your Paladin unique battlefield mobility and utility. Explore the Gem Dragonborn Paladin.
• Centaur: A built-in mount means you never dismount your aura—mounted Smites at 40 ft. of movement are brutal. See the Centaur Paladin build and mounted combat tactics.
• Warforged: +1 AC and resistance to poison make this construct the tankiest smite platform in the game. Read the Warforged Paladin guide.
• Orc: Powerful Build plus Adrenaline Rush fuels relentless charges into the front line. See the Orc Paladin guide.
• Kobold: Draconic Cry grants pack-tactics-style advantage, supercharging Smite crit fishing. Build a Kobold Paladin.
• Goblin: Fury of the Small adds free damage to your biggest Smite of the turn—small package, huge payoff. Read the Goblin Paladin guide.

Whether you’re stacking Charisma for godly auras or piling on Strength for nova damage, there’s a race here that turns your Paladin into a complete frontline force.

Paladin Build Archetypes

Paladins are remarkably flexible, capable of filling nearly any party role depending on how you allocate ability scores, choose subclasses, and pick spells. Below are four proven archetypes to guide your character creation, each with distinct strengths at the table. For a deeper dive into mechanics, check out How to Build a Paladin in D&D 5e.

1) The Tank (Aura-Focused Defender): This build maximizes Constitution and Charisma to weaponize Aura of Protection, keeping allies alive through saving throw bonuses. Pair heavy armor, a shield, and Oath of the Ancients or Devotion for unmatched durability. Key features: Aura of Protection, Sentinel feat, Shield Master, defensive fighting style.

2) The Smite Nuker (Divine Burst Damage): Built around explosive Divine Smite damage, this archetype dumps spell slots into critical hits and boss takedowns. Oath of Vengeance or Conquest with a Great Weapon Master feat turns your Paladin into a single-target deletion machine. Key features: Improved Divine Smite, Great Weapon Fighting, Polearm Master, Vow of Enmity.

3) The Support (Healer and Buffer): Leveraging Lay on Hands, Bless, Aura of Vitality, and cleansing spells, this Paladin keeps the party operational through long adventuring days. Oath of Devotion or Redemption synergizes with diplomatic play—see How Paladin Backgrounds Shape Your Character’s Role for narrative hooks. Key features: Lay on Hands pool, Bless, Aura of Courage, healing spells.

4) The Versatile (Sword & Board Generalist): The classic balanced build wields a one-handed weapon and shield, splitting attention between damage, support, and durability. It excels in unpredictable campaigns and pairs beautifully with multiclassing options outlined in the Paladin Multiclass Guide. Key features: Dueling fighting style, Shield Master, balanced ability scores, broad spell selection.

For roleplay-driven variants, explore How to Play a Paladin in D&D 5e.

Combat Tactics & Action Economy

Divine Smite is a reactive tool, not a default. Hold smites until you confirm a hit, then escalate damage based on context: burn a 1st-level slot on standard mooks, dump 3rd-4th level slots into crits or BBEGs near death. Against undead or fiends, the bonus d8 makes lower-level smites worthwhile. Never smite on your first hit of a turn if you have a second attack pending—wait to see if you crit.

Reserve at least one slot per short rest for Lay on Hands-style emergencies via Find Steed or upcast healing. Save 2nd-level slots for Branding Smite against invisible foes, or Misty Step if you took Sorcerer/Warlock dips.

Aura of Protection is your tax on positioning. Stay within 10 feet of casters and squishy martials during save-or-suck moments (dragon breath, mind flayer blasts). Move before the enemy turn, not after.

Your bonus action is contested real estate. Bless (concentration) usually beats Sacred Weapon for party value, but Sacred Weapon wins solo or when allies already have advantage. Smite spells like Searing Smite compete with Lay on Hands—pre-cast smite spells before initiative when possible. Shield of Faith rarely beats Bless unless you’re tanking a boss alone.

For out-of-combat prep and resource planning, see Paladin Travel and Exploration Tips and How to Build a Paladin for Travel and Exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions About Paladins

Browse All Paladin Content

Related D&D 5e Guides

• Cleric Guide
• Fighter Guide
• Race Guide
• DM Resources