Pick the right Paladin Subclasses to help you navigate Baldur’s Gate 3 as we give our tier list ranking for all subclasses from worst to best.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, your subclass determines various unlocks like spells, passives, and Paladin’s Channel Oath abilities. The availability of always-prepared spells and their specific Channel Oath ability makes a specific Paladin subclass more potent than others. For instance, the Paladin lacks mobility at the start of BG3, but the Vengeance subclass gains Misty Step at level 5, giving the subclass a mobility advantage. All the Paladin subclasses have access to the same armour and weapon proficiencies, but the power comes in the subsequent level unlocks and how to use them. Our Paladin Tier List guide will help you decide the best Paladin subclass for you and why.
Paladin Subclasses Tier List – Baldur’s Gate 3
Oath of Vengeance is the best subclass for the Paladin because of its bonus action utility, mobility, multiclass potential, and fun factor, ranking it S Tier. The Oathbreaker Paladin is a solid second place with powerful spells like Hellish Rebuke, Dreadful Aspect, and Aura or Hate to boost your melee damage passively. The Oath of the Ancients is a fine option for players wanting utility, healing, and a Misty Step mobility spell. Lastly, the Devotion Paladin falls behind in power due to weak channel oath abilities and spells. Overall, the Vengeance Paladin is the best, while Oathbreaker makes a great choice, especially if you play an “evil” character.
Here is the tier list for the Paladin Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- S Tier – Oath of Vengeance
- A Tier – Oathbreaker, Oath of the Ancients
- B Tier – Oath of Devotion
Related:
Oath of Devotion (B Tier)
Here’s what the Oath of Devotion Subclass will unlock for you at various levels in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Level 1 – Holy Rebuke Channel Oath
- Level 3 – Sacred Weapon and Turn the Unholy Channel Oath
- Level 3 – Protection from Evil and Good and Sanctuary spell
- Level 5 – Lesser Restoration and Silence spell
- Level 7 – Aura of Devotion allies can’t be Charmed
- Level 9 – Beacon of Hope and Remove Curse spells
We rank the Oath of Devotion Paladin B tier due to weak Channel Oath abilities and support-focused spells. Oath of Devotion Paladins dedicate themselves to a higher code of conduct and strive to exemplify the highest standards of virtue and goodness. The Channel Oath abilities are the weakest point for Devotion Paladin, with Holy Rebuke requiring an action rather than a bonus action. Thus, you use an action to gain a 1d4 radiant damage if attacked in melee. Moreover, Turn the Unholy is a powerful Channel Oath ability, but Clerics gain something similar called Turn Undead. With Turn Undead, Clerics add Destroy Undead at level 5, giving any enemies turned a 4d6 radiant damage bonus. Thus, you are less likely to use this ability because the Cleric version is way more powerful, especially if playing Shadowheart as a Light Cleric.
Furthermore, the always-prepared spells for the Devotion subclass are odd, giving you healing and weak utility spells. Sanctuary and remove curse spells are helpful, but the Cleric makes better use of them as a healer and a support class. Therefore, the Devotion Paladin ends up with 10 or so “dead” skills and spells that you never use, and you begin to wonder why you selected the subclass in the first place. Even if you play this subclass, Divine Smith, Heavy Armour, and other factors make you naturally powerful playing the Paladin class. There are much better choices outside the Role Play (RP) aspect of being a devoted holy warrior.
Oath of the Ancients (A Tier)
Here’s what the Oath of the Ancients Subclass will unlock for you at various levels in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Level 1 – Healing Radiance Channel Oath
- Level 3 – Nature’s Wrath and Turn the Faithless Channel Oath abilities
- Level 3 – Speak with Animals and Ensnaring Strike spells
- Level 5 – Misty Step and Moonbeam spells
- Level 7 – Aura of Warding allies have Resistance to damage from spells.
- Level 9 – Protection from Energy and Plant Growth spells
We rank the Oath of Ancients Paladin subclass as A Tier on our list because of its healing and utility focus rather than raw damage. Oath of the Ancients Paladin is a type of paladin that strengthens itself from nature, light, and goodness from the past. The strength of the subclass is the ability to heal and provide snares and immobilization. The Healing Radiance Channel Oath spell is useful because you heal based on your level, proficiency bonus, and charisma modifier. Thus, as you progress, this heal scales in effectiveness and uses a bonus action rather than an action.
However, the downside of the subclass is weak overall damage amplification spells and utility. While the Oath of the Ancients subclass gains Misty Step, you don’t have the power of other classes with a damage-producing Channel Oath or Aura. Most likely, you are playing a Paladin to do damage on the front-line tank, and in this regard, spending actions on Nature’s Wrath and Plant Growth is effective compared to the other subclasses on our tier list. Therefore, we recommend playing the Oath of the Ancients subclass if you want extra healing, nature-specific spells, and Role Play. Otherwise, Oathbreaker and Vengeance are more powerful subclasses at later levels in BG3.
Oathbreaker (A+ Tier)
Here’s what the Oathbreaker Subclass will unlock for you at various levels in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Level 1 – Spiteful Suffering Channel Oath
- Level 3 – Control Undead and Dreadful Aspect Channel Oath
- Level 3 – Hellish Rebuke and Inflict Wounds spells
- Level 5 – Crown of Madness and Darkness spells
- Level 7 – Aura of Hate gains additional damage from melee weapons equal to your charisma modifier.
- Level 9 – Bestow Curse and Animate Dead spells
With an entirely damage focus with an evil twist, the Oathbreaker Paladin is ranked A+ tier on our list. Oathbreaker Paladin is a unique subclass that focuses on darkness and corruption, allowing you to play an antihero or a fallen Paladin seeking redemption. The upside of the Oathbreaker is its Hellish Rebuke spell, Dreadful Aspect Channel Oath, and Aura or Hate passive. Hellish Rebuke is a powerful and simple way to return damage to attackers, and it’s responsible for many kills. However, Hellish Rebuke drains your spell slots, which is the bane of Paladin, especially at early levels. Moreover, Dreadful Aspect can immobilize large groups near you, and Control Undead is useful in specific fights.
Why did we not rank Oathbreaker Paladin as the best? First, it’s hard to unlock in later levels, especially in Act 3, where it bugs out. Second, unlike Vengeance and Ancient Paladin subclasses, the Oathbreaker has no movement-improving spells or abilities. Therefore, you miss out on damage without a Mist Step spell or rely on gear sets to give you this spell.
Lastly, the most powerful aspect of the Oathbreaker is the Aura of Hate passive, which boosts melee weapon damage equal to Charisma. Most Paladin melee builds focus on Strength; therefore, you can expect only 2 to 4 damage from this bonus instead of an incredible amount. Players can argue that Vengeance and Oathbreaker are the best subclass in BG3. However, Vengeance’s mobility and utility spells make it the best.
Oath of Vengeance (S Tier)
Here’s what the Oath of Vengeance subclass will unlock for you at various levels in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Level 1 – Inquisitor’s Might Channel Oath
- Level 3 – Abjure Enemy and Vow of Enmity Channel Oath
- Level 3 – Bane and Hunter’s Mark spell
- Level 5 – Misty Step and Hold Person spells
- Level 7 – Relentless Avenger: If you hit an enemy with an Opportunity Attack, gain 4.5m movement next turn.
- Level 9 – Haste and Protection from Energy spells
The Oath of Vengeance Paladin is the best subclass because of its utility spells, mobility, and Channel Oath Inquistor’s Might, ranking it S Tier. A burning desire for justice drives Vengeance Paladins, and they will stop at nothing to see their enemies brought to ruin. Vengeance subclass gives you the most well-rounded Paladin build with spells like Haste to increase actions per turn and Misty Step to increase mobility. Moreover, you gain Hunter’s Mark and Inquisitor’s Might, which are damaged amplification spells that can be used with a bonus action rather than an action. This separates the Vengeance subclass from others on our tier list; you can use an action and a bonus action nearly every turn rather than one or the other.
The major downside to the Vengeance Paladin is that there is no additional aura at level 7. With Aura’s, you can activate multiple outsides of combat, and they persist until you die or are unconscious. However, you can multiclass the Paladin at level 5 or 6 and gain the utility of another bonus action with the Rogue/Thief combination. This additional bonus action outweighs the benefit of Relentless Avenger or the Oathbreaker’s Aura of Hate. Furthermore, gaining Hold Person gives you a ranged crowd control spell that helps you avoid waiting for another spell caster’s turn to lock down a high-powered enemy.
Combining the Great Weapon Master feat at level 4 ensures that every turn, the Vengeance Paladin will use an action with a bonus action, giving you the most offensive firepower of all the Paladin’s subclasses. Thus, we recommend Vengeance as the best in all of BG3!
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