Core Paladin Traits
| Primary Ability | Strength and Charisma |
|---|---|
| Hit Point Die | D10 per Paladin level |
| Saving Throw Proficiencies | Wisdom and Charisma |
| Skill Proficiencies | Choose 2: Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Persuasion, or Religion |
| Weapon Proficiencies | Simple and Martial weapons |
| Armor Training | Light, Medium, and Heavy armor and Shields |
| Starting Equipment | Choose A or B: (A) Chain Mail, Shield, Longsword, 6 Javelins, Holy Symbol, Priest’s Pack, and 9 GP; or (B) 150 GP |
Paladins are united by their oaths to stand against the forces of annihilation and corruption. Whether sworn before a god’s altar, in a sacred glade before nature spirits, or in a moment of desperation and grief with the dead as the only witnesses, a Paladin’s oath is a powerful bond. It is a source of power that turns a devout warrior into a blessed champion.
Paladins train to learn the skills of combat, mastering a variety of weapons and armor. Even so, their martial skills are secondary to the magical power they wield: power to heal the injured, smite their foes, and protect the helpless and those who fight at their side.
Almost by definition, the life of a Paladin is an adventuring life, for every Paladin lives on the front lines of the cosmic struggle against annihilation. Fighters are rare enough among the ranks of a world’s armies, but even fewer people can claim the calling of a Paladin. When they do receive the call, these blessed folk turn from their former occupations and take up arms and magic.
Becoming a Paladin…
As a Level 1 Character
- Gain all the traits in the Core Paladin Traits table.
- Gain the Paladin’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Paladin Features table.
As a Multiclass Character
- Gain the following traits from the Core Paladin Traits table: Hit Point Die, proficiency with Martial weapons, and training with Light and Medium armor and Shields.
- Gain the Paladin’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Paladin Features table. See the multiclassing rules to determine your available spell slots.
Paladin Class Features
As a Paladin, you gain the following class features when you reach the specified Paladin levels. These features are listed in the Paladin Features table.
Paladin Features
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Class Features | Channel Divinity | Prepared Spells | — Spell Slots per Spell Level — | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||||
| 1 | +2 | Lay On Hands, Spellcasting, Weapon Mastery | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | +2 | Fighting Style, Paladin’s Smite | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | +2 | Channel Divinity, Paladin Subclass | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 2 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | +3 | Extra Attack, Faithful Steed | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 6 | +3 | Aura of Protection | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 7 | +3 | Subclass feature | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 8 | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 9 | +4 | Abjure Foes | 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 10 | +4 | Aura of Courage | 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 11 | +4 | Radiant Strikes | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| 12 | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| 13 | +5 | — | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 14 | +5 | Restoring Touch | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 15 | +5 | Subclass feature | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 16 | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 17 | +6 | — | 3 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 18 | +6 | Aura Expansion | 3 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 19 | +6 | Epic Boon | 3 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 20 | +6 | Subclass feature | 3 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Level 1: Lay On Hands
Your blessed touch can heal wounds. You have a pool of healing power that replenishes when you finish a Long Rest. With that pool, you can restore a total number of Hit Points equal to five times your Paladin level.
As a Bonus Action, you can touch a creature (which could be yourself) and draw power from the pool of healing to restore a number of Hit Points to that creature, up to the maximum amount remaining in the pool.
You can also expend 5 Hit Points from the pool of healing power to remove the Poisoned condition from the creature; those points don’t also restore Hit Points to the creature.
Level 1: Spellcasting
You have learned to cast spells through prayer and meditation. See Spellcasting for the rules on spellcasting. The information below details how you use those rules with Paladin spells, which appear in the Paladin spell list later in the class’s description.
Spell Slots. The Paladin Features table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your level 1+ spells. You regain all expended slots when you finish a Long Rest.
Prepared Spells of Level 1+. You prepare the list of level 1+ spells that are available for you to cast with this feature. To start, choose two level 1 Paladin spells. Heroism and Searing Smite are recommended.
The number of spells on your list increases as you gain Paladin levels, as shown in the Prepared Spells column of the Paladin Features table. Whenever that number increases, choose additional Paladin spells until the number of spells on your list matches the number in the Paladin Features table. The chosen spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, if you’re a level 5 Paladin, your list of prepared spells can include six Paladin spells of level 1 or 2 in any combination.
If another Paladin feature gives you spells that you always have prepared, those spells don’t count against the number of spells you can prepare with this feature, but those spells otherwise count as Paladin spells for you.
Changing Your Prepared Spells. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace one spell on your list with another Paladin spell for which you have spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your Paladin spells.
Spellcasting Focus. You can use a Holy Symbol as a Spellcasting Focus for your Paladin spells.
Level 1: Weapon Mastery
Your training with weapons allows you to use the mastery properties of two kinds of weapons of your choice with which you have proficiency, such as Longswords and Javelins.
Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can change the kinds of weapons you chose. For example, you could switch to using the mastery properties of Halberds and Flails.
Level 2: Fighting Style
You gain a Fighting Style feat of your choice. Instead of choosing one of those feats, you can choose the option below.
Blessed Warrior. You learn two Cleric cantrips of your choice. Guidance and Sacred Flame are recommended. The chosen cantrips count as Paladin spells for you, and Charisma is your spellcasting ability for them. Whenever you gain a Paladin level, you can replace one of these cantrips with another Cleric cantrip.
Level 2: Paladin’s Smite
You always have the Divine Smite spell prepared. In addition, you can cast it without expending a spell slot, but you must finish a Long Rest before you can cast it in this way again.
Level 3: Channel Divinity
You can channel divine energy directly from the Outer Planes, using it to fuel magical effects. You start with one such effect: Divine Sense, which is described below. Other Paladin features give additional Channel Divinity effect options. Each time you use this class’s Channel Divinity, you choose which effect from this class to create.
You can use this class’s Channel Divinity twice. You regain one of its expended uses when you finish a Short Rest, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest. You gain an additional use when you reach Paladin level 11.
If a Channel Divinity effect requires a saving throw, the DC equals the spell save DC from this class’s Spellcasting feature.
Divine Sense. As a Bonus Action, you can open your awareness to detect Celestials, Fiends, and Undead. For the next 10 minutes or until you have the Incapacitated condition, you know the location of any creature of those types within 60 feet of yourself, and you know its creature type. Within the same radius, you also detect the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the Hallow spell.
Level 3: Paladin Subclass
You gain a Paladin subclass of your choice. A subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Paladin levels. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass’s features that are of your Paladin level or lower.
Breaking Your Oath
A Paladin tries to hold to the highest standards of conduct, but even the most dedicated are fallible. Sometimes a Paladin transgresses their oath.
A Paladin who has broken a vow typically seeks absolution, spending an all-night vigil as a sign of penitence or undertaking a fast. After a rite of forgiveness, the Paladin starts fresh.
If your Paladin unrepentantly violates their oath, talk to your DM. Your Paladin should probably take a more appropriate subclass or even abandon the class and adopt another one.
Level 4: Ability Score Improvement
You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Paladin levels 8, 12, and 16.
Level 5: Extra Attack
You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Level 5: Faithful Steed
You can call on the aid of an otherworldly steed. You always have the Find Steed spell prepared.
You can also cast the spell once without expending a spell slot, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a Long Rest.
Caption
A Paladin’s dedication to her cause manifests as magical might
Level 6: Aura of Protection
You radiate a protective, unseeable aura in a 10-foot Emanation that originates from you. The aura is inactive while you have the Incapacitated condition.
You and your allies in the aura gain a bonus to saving throws equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum bonus of +1).
If another Paladin is present, a creature can benefit from only one Aura of Protection at a time; the creature chooses which aura while in them.
Level 9: Abjure Foes
As a Magic action, you can expend one use of this class’s Channel Divinity to overwhelm foes with awe. As you present your Holy Symbol or weapon, you can target a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one creature) that you can see within 60 feet of yourself. Each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have the Frightened condition for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. While Frightened in this way, a target can do only one of the following on its turns: move, take an action, or take a Bonus Action.
Level 10: Aura of Courage
You and your allies have Immunity to the Frightened condition while in your Aura of Protection. If a Frightened ally enters the aura, that condition has no effect on that ally while there.
Level 11: Radiant Strikes
Your strikes now carry supernatural power. When you hit a target with an attack roll using a Melee weapon or an Unarmed Strike, the target takes an extra 1d8 Radiant damage.
Level 14: Restoring Touch
When you use Lay On Hands on a creature, you can also remove one or more of the following conditions from the creature: Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Frightened, Paralyzed, or Stunned. You must expend 5 Hit Points from the healing pool of Lay On Hands for each of these conditions you remove; those points don’t also restore Hit Points to the creature.
Level 18: Aura Expansion
Your Aura of Protection is now a 30-foot Emanation.
Level 19: Epic Boon
You gain an Epic Boon feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. Boon of Truesight is recommended.
Paladin Spell List
This section presents the Paladin spell list. The spells are organized by spell level and then alphabetized, and each spell’s school of magic is listed. In the Special column, C means the spell requires Concentration, R means it’s a Ritual, and M means it requires a specific Material component. For unofficial spells, see Third Party Paladin Spells.
Level 1 Paladin Spells
| Name | School | Special | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bless | Enchantment | C, M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Ceremony | Abjuration | R, M | Xanathar’s Guide to Everything |
| Command | Enchantment | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Compelled Duel | Enchantment | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Cure Wounds | Abjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Detect Evil and Good | Divination | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Detect Magic | Divination | C, R | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Detect Poison and Disease | Divination | C, R | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Divine Favor | Transmutation | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Divine Smite | Evocation | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Heroism | Enchantment | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Protection from Evil and Good | Abjuration | C, M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Purify Food and Drink | Transmutation | R | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Searing Smite | Evocation | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Shield of Faith | Abjuration | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Thunderous Smite | Evocation | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Wardaway | Abjuration | — | Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn |
| Wrathful Smite | Necromancy | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
Level 2 Paladin Spells
| Name | School | Special | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aid | Abjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Dueling Ground | Abjuration | R, M | Arcana Unleashed |
| Find Steed | Conjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Gentle Repose | Necromancy | R, M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Lesser Restoration | Abjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Locate Object | Divination | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Magic Weapon | Transmutation | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Pinky Swear | Abjuration | — | D&D Beyond Drops |
| Prayer of Healing | Abjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Protection from Poison | Abjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Searing Orb | Evocation | — | D&D Beyond Drops |
| Shining Smite | Transmutation | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Warding Bond | Abjuration | M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Zone of Truth | Enchantment | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
Level 3 Paladin Spells
| Name | School | Special | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aura of Vitality | Abjuration | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Blinding Smite | Evocation | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Create Food and Water | Conjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Crusader’s Mantle | Evocation | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Daylight | Evocation | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Dispel Magic | Abjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Elemental Weapon | Transmutation | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Magic Circle | Abjuration | M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Remove Curse | Abjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Revivify | Necromancy | M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Spirit Shroud | Necromancy | C | Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything |
Level 4 Paladin Spells
| Name | School | Special | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aura of Life | Abjuration | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Aura of Purity | Abjuration | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Banishment | Abjuration | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Death Ward | Abjuration | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Find Greater Steed | Conjuration | — | Xanathar’s Guide to Everything |
| Locate Creature | Divination | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Staggering Smite | Enchantment | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
Level 5 Paladin Spells
| Name | School | Special | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banishing Smite | Conjuration | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Circle of Power | Abjuration | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Destructive Wave | Evocation | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Dispel Evil and Good | Abjuration | C | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Geas | Enchantment | — | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Greater Restoration | Abjuration | M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Holy Weapon | Evocation | C | Xanathar’s Guide to Everything |
| Raise Dead | Necromancy | M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
| Summon Celestial | Conjuration | C, M | Player’s Handbook 5.5e |
Paladin Subclasses
A Paladin subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Paladin levels, as specified in the subclass.
Each of these subclasses represents a body of oaths that a Paladin begins taking upon joining the class. The final oath, taken at level 3, is the culmination of a Paladin’s training. Some characters with this class don’t consider themselves true Paladins until they’ve reached level 3 and made this oath. For others, the swearing of the oath is a formality, an official stamp on what was already in their hearts.
Official Paladin Subclasses
| Name | Source | Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Oath of Conquest | Xanathar’s Guide to Everything | 5e |
| Oath of Devotion | Player’s Handbook 5.5e | 5.5e |
| Oath of Glory | Player’s Handbook 5.5e | 5.5e |
| Oath of Redemption | Xanathar’s Guide to Everything | 5e |
| Oath of the Ancients | Player’s Handbook 5.5e | 5.5e |
| Oath of the Crown | Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide | 5e |
| Oath of the Noble Genies | Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn | 5.5e |
| Oath of the Watchers | Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything | 5e |
| Oath of Vengeance | Player’s Handbook 5.5e | 5.5e |
| Oathbreaker | Dungeon Master’s Guide 5e | 5e |
Third Party Paladin Subclasses
| Name | Source | Publisher | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oath of Castigation | The Crooked Moon | Avantris Entertainment | 5.5e |
| Oath of Pestilence | Grim Hollow: Player’s Guide | Ghostfire Gaming | 5.5e |
| Oath of Revelry | Valda’s Spire of Secrets | Mage Hand Press | 5.5e |
| Oath of Slaughter | Grim Hollow: Player’s Guide | Ghostfire Gaming | 5.5e |
| Oath of the Eldritch Hunt | Steinhardt’s Guide to the Eldritch Hunt | MonkeyDM | 5.5e |
| Oath of the Guardian | Cthulhu by Torchlight | Chaosium | 5.5e |
| Oath of the Harvest | Heliana’s Guide to Monster Hunting | Loot Tavern | 5e |
| Oath of the Hearth | The Griffon’s Saddlebag: Book One | The Griffon’s Saddlebag | 5.5e |
| Oath of the Open Sea | Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn | Darrington Press | 5e |
| Oath of the River | Obojima: Tales from the Tall Grass | 1985 Games | 5.5e |
| Oath of the Spelldrinker | The Griffon’s Saddlebag: Book Two | The Griffon’s Saddlebag | 5e |
| Oath of Valhalla | Northlands Worldbook | Kobold Press | 5.5e |
| Oath of Zeal | Grim Hollow: Player’s Guide | Ghostfire Gaming | 5.5e |