Discover the best Paladin weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3, equipping your class with the top eight early and end-game choices.
Baldur’s Gate is full of powerful weapons and different weapon types. Paladins are one of the few classes that can use various melee and ranged weapons, thanks to their extended weapon proficiencies. While their spellcasting and unique Smite mechanics make them complex, they are a fantastic and mighty class, one of the strongest in Baldur’s Gate 3. This guide and ranking explains and lists the best weapons in BG3, along with how you can utilize them.
What is the Best Weapon for Paladin Class in Baldur’s Gate 3
The best weapon for the Paladin class is Balduran’s Giantslayer because does the most damage, enhances damage to larger bosses, and adds a Strength modifier to overall damage. The +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls make it very accurate and effective, and the advantage against larger creatures makes it perfect for beating the hardest bosses in BG3. Additionally, if you are a fan of Baldur’s Gate lore, you will appreciate the unique backstory of Balduran’s Githslayer alongside its raw power to destroy any creature in the game.
Typically, the Paladin weapon loadout is one of two styles. One Hand and Shield for more of a “tank” defensive style gameplay. Since the Paladin can wear heavy armor, cast spells, particularly healing and buffs, this is a popular playstyle. The alternative meta playstyle is a Two-Handed weapon. The Paladin and the Fighter are the only two classes that can select the Great Weapon Fighting style. When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack with a two-handed melee weapon, that dies is rerolled once.
The Paladin’s offensive spells and skills lean toward high-damage Smite. What makes it even better is the ability to wear heavy armor. The Paladin then becomes one of the only classes that can play an aggressive melee fighter, with spells and high damage.
Best Weapons for Paladin Class in BG3 overview:
- Balduran’s Giantslayer: Highest damage
- The Blood of Lathander: Fantastic Bonuses, Ability to use a Shield
- Corpsegrinder: Easy to get, high damage.
- Hellfire Hand Crossbow: Free spell, Good Damage
- Soulbreaker: Great mid-game Weapon, Even Stronger for Githyanki
- Adamantine Longsword: Fantastic Tank Setup, Extra Shield Protection
- Spellthief: Early game Bow, good bonuses.
- Everburn Blade: Strong early-game greatsword
8 Everburn Blade
Everburn Blade features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Damage: 2D6 Slashing, 1D4 Fire
- Type: Two-Handed Greatsword
- Requirements: Greatsword Proficiency or Martial Weapon Proficiency
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Location: Commander Zhalk on Nautiloid, Prologue
The Everburn Blade remains the best-starting weapon in Baldur’s Gate 3. You can obtain this from the Prologue by killing Commander Zhalk. The weapon’s damage with Slashing combined with extra Fire leaves it as the best option for many hours into the game.
It isn’t until much later in Act 1 that you can encounter a similar damage output weapon, the Sword of Justice. Instead of flame damage, you can cast a defensive spell. However, this isn’t a good alternative choice since the Paladin is loaded with healing and defensive spells. I personally used this Greatsword until the end of Act 1, even on Tactician difficulty, making it the best weapon for the Paladin starting the game.
7 Spellthief
Spellthief features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Damage: 1D8 Piercing
- Type: Two-Handed, Longbow
- Range: 18m
- Requirements: Longbow Proficiency or Martial Weapon Proficiency
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Location: Arron in Emerald Gove, Act 1
We put a bow in the 7th spot which may seem odd. The biggest issue the Paladin faces at low levels is being drained of spell slots. With your spells and Divine Smite, you are constantly starved for spell slots. You also don’t have many options for range damage dealing spells and typically focus exclusively on melee.
The Spellthief bow solves two problems, one lack of range and two getting a spell slot back. If you land a critical, you regain a level 1 spell slot. While this isn’t going to be easy or common for you to do, it’s worth noting that you should pick this item up. Having versatility and the possibility of returning a spell slot is vital in Act 1.
6 Adamantine Longsword
Adamantine Longsword features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Damage: 1D8+1 Slashing (One-Handed), 1D10+1 Slashing (Two-Handed)
- Type: Versatile, Longsword
- Requirements: Greatsword Proficiency or Martial Weapon Proficiency
- Rarity: Rare
- Location: Grymforge (X: -626 Y: 405), Crafted from Longsword Mould and Mithral Ore, Act 1
For those Paladins that prefer the “tank” setup, the Adamantine Longsword makes a great choice. With weapon and armour proficiencies, you can carry a shield and a longsword. This gives you a higher Armour Class (AC) which helps you avoid attacks. Longswords also can do some heavy damage, and this one, in particular, coming from the Grymforge can be obtained in Act 1.
The Adamantine Longsword also has a Pommel Strike ability which is useful to Daze enemies. Rush Attack is particularly useful because it can proc the status effect Off Balance. The affected entity has a Disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity Checks, and Attack Rolls against it have an Advantage. Consider this attack a debuff, though not meant for damage it can help against strength and dexterity-based weapon users. And lastly, the item has 1d8+1 and 1d10+1 damage. While not as high as later game items, this Longsword packs a punch and is a worthwhile pickup in Act 1!
5 Soulbreaker
Soulbreaker features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Damage: 2D6+1 Slashing, 1D4 Psychic (If you are Githyanki)
- Type: Two-Handed Greatsword
- Requirements: Greatsword Proficiency or Martial Weapon Proficiency
- Rarity: Rare
- Location: Kith’rak Therezzyn in Creche, Creche Y’llek, Mountain Pass
The next fantastic Baldur’s Gate 3 weapon for the Paladin class is the Soulbreaker, available in the later stages transitioning from Act 1 and 2. The weapon is meant for a Githyanki because of the Githborn Psionic Weapon passive, but any class or race can use it. Two things make this extraordinarily strong, one being Seldom Caught Unaware. The Paladin isn’t known for having high Initiative. This is one of the major downsides to the class, going later in the round and risking the chance of being crowd controlled and skipping your turn.
Having a +2 bonus to Initiative rolls doesn’t seem that useful, but it’s the difference between you going first and killing an enemy or them going first and incapacitating you. There’s a useful feat that can complement this effect called Alert. This gives a +5 to Initiative and you cannot be surprised. This allows you to almost always go first, regardless of your Dexterity rating, and never skip the opening turn because of surprise.
The other strength of this weapon is an extra skill Soulbreaker. This does minimal Psychic damage but you can stun a target. Having the chance to stun the target with just a weapon skill rather than a spell is super helpful. Also, the percentage chance to stun can be very high. This is recommended when you just need to prevent that annoying Githyanki Fighter from taking another turn and attacking 7 times.
4 Hellfire Hand Crossbow
Hellfire Hand Crossbow features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Damage: 1D6+2 Piercing
- Type: Hand Crossbow, Light
- Range: 15m
- Requirements: Martial Ranged Weapon Proficiency
- Rarity: Very Rare
- Location: Yurgir in Gauntlet of Shar, Act 2
We have a Hand Crossbow coming in at the 4th spot and what might seem like another odd selection. You most likely won’t be using this weapon later in the game when you get it, but it gives you a free spell. Scorching Ray Shot at level 3 is very useful on our slow and mobility-challenged Paladin.
Moreover, you can “back bar” this weapon and leave it on your secondary slot merely to have the extra spell. Use the spell infrequently, but when you need some range damage and cannot reach the target, lack Misty Step or Fly.
3 Corpsegrinder
Corpsegrinder features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Damage: 2D6+2 Bludgeoning, 1d4 Thunder
- Type: Two-Handed
- Requirements: Maul Proficiency
- Rarity: Rare
- Location: Rivinton, northwest boat fight area NPC, Act 3
As we are progressing, we’ve reached some Act 3 weapons. My favorite rare weapon is the Corpsegrinder. The damage is high with added Strength modifier and bludgeoning damage. You get extra thunder damage and the Tenacity perk. Making it by default a hard-hitting maul that you can pick up early in Act 3.
The weapon skills are very good as well. Backbreaker can land enemies prone, Concussive Smash can Daze a target, and Grand Slam acts as a 3m area-based knock. You can kill many enemies by knocking them off ledges not to mention this does area damage which the Paladin lacks as a single target killer. This weapon is easy to get, keeps your damage high, and has great utility skills.
2 The Blood of Lathander
The Blood of Lathander features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Damage: 1D6+2 + Strength Modifier + 3, Bludgeoning,
- Type: Maces
- Requirements: None
- Rarity: Legendary
- Location: Underneath Rosymorn Monastery in Mountain Pass, Solve the Puzzle to Get Dawnmaster’s Crest First
Coming in our number two spot is a legendary found in Act 2, The Blood of Lathander. This is meant for tank-focused Paladins running this Mace and a Shield. The benefits are pretty obvious here, but it prevents you from dying once per Long Rest and gives you one health. Allies regenerate health in 9m which is a wide radius.
The most beneficial and slightly roleplay-centric ability is Lathander’s Light. In a 6m radius, fiends and undead or blinded unless they succeed in a Constitution saving throw. Blinded is a status effect, in which range attackers suffer a disadvantage on attack rolls, and attack rolls against blinded creatures have an advantage. This is literally a perfect fit for a holy warrior who smites the undead!
You also get a free Sunbeam 5-48 Radiant damage spell of 18m. This w/eapon does everything, offensive, defensive support, and amazing Paladin roleplay.
1 Balduran’s Giantslayer
Balduran’s Giantslayer features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Damage: 2D6+Strenght Modifier + 3, Slashing
- Type: Two-Handed, Greatsword
- Requirements: Non
- Rarity: Legendary
- Location: Ansur in Dragon’s Sanctum, First solve Puzzle in The Wyrmway passage, Act 3
Coming in at number one is the ultimate two-handed damage-dealing weapon Balduran’s Giantslayer! The weapon deals 2d6 + Strength Modifier damage. It also has a perk that doubles the damage from your strength modifier.
Paladin’s main ability is Strength, meaning you want the highest possible value (cap at 20 unless specified in the item’s tooltip), however, you can get much more damage from this weapon if you drink the Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength. This bonus action-based single-use consumable skyrockets your strength to 27, and it last until long rest, making it a great combination. Also, if you take the Great Weapon Master feat, you can proc an additional attack when you critical strike or kill a target. Paladins receive an extra attack at a certain level, and with the potion active you are likely to kill a target, which will give you yet another attack.
This weapon is also designed for “Big Folk” aka the biggest and nasties monsters and enemies in the game. The feature deals additional damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus. On a hit, Large, Huge, or Gargantuan creatures take an additional 2-12 Slashing damage and must succeed in a Strength Saving Throw or fall prone. This weapon makes you the God Slayer of Baldur’s Gate 3 and while painful to obtain, is the best weapon for Paladin in the game.
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