The Oathbreaker Paladin is a unique and powerful subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3. By breaking their sacred oath, these Paladins gain access to dark powers and abilities, making them formidable foes and valuable allies.
Embrace the Darkness: A BG3 Oathbreaker Paladin Build
Why Choose an Oathbreaker Paladin?
Choosing an Oathbreaker Paladin offers a distinct playstyle focused on manipulating the battlefield with fear and inflicting necrotic damage. Their abilities to control undead and debuff enemies make them valuable assets in combat. Oathbreaker Paladins excel at dealing damage while providing some support to their allies.
Key Abilities and Spells
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Control Undead | Charm and command an undead creature. |
| Dreadful Aspect | Frighten nearby enemies, causing them to flee in terror. |
| Aura of Hate | Grant nearby allies (and yourself) bonus damage against enemies. |
| Hellish Rebuke | Retaliate against attackers with hellish flames. |
| Inflict Wounds | Deal necrotic damage to a single target. |
Building Your Oathbreaker Paladin
To create an effective Oathbreaker Paladin, prioritize the following:
- Ability Scores: Focus on Strength for melee attacks and Charisma for spellcasting and aura effects.
- Race: Choose a race that complements your desired playstyle, such as a Tiefling for additional fire resistance or a Half-Orc for increased damage output.
- Background: A background like Soldier or Acolyte can provide useful skills and proficiencies.
- Feats: Consider taking feats like Great Weapon Master for increased damage or Heavy Armor Master for improved survivability.
Tips for Playing an Oathbreaker Paladin
- Control the Battlefield: Use Control Undead and Dreadful Aspect to manipulate enemy positions and create advantageous situations.
- Embrace the Darkness: Don’t hesitate to use your fear-inducing abilities and necrotic damage spells to demoralize and weaken your foes.
- Protect Your Allies: Use your Aura of Hate to buff your allies’ damage and Hellish Rebuke to punish those who dare attack them.
- Experiment with Multiclassing: Consider multiclassing into Warlock for additional spells and Eldritch Blast damage or into Fighter for increased combat prowess.
Embracing Your Oathbreaker Path
The Oathbreaker Paladin is a compelling and rewarding subclass for those who enjoy a darker playstyle. By mastering their unique abilities and embracing their newfound power, Oathbreaker Paladins can become a dominant force in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Understanding the Oathbreaker Paladin
The Oathbreaker Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a powerful force, embracing the shadows to wield powers many would fear. Here we explore its core concept, potential alignments, and steps to create such a character.
Core Concept and Definition
An Oathbreaker Paladin is a warrior who has forsaken the holy vow that once guided them. They channel dark energies to enhance their combat prowess, gaining unique abilities like necrotic damage and the power to control undead. These paladins are known for their aggressive style, standing in the front lines with imposing strength and charisma.
Alignment and Roleplaying
Traditionally, paladins are paragons of justice, but Oathbreakers diverge with a more complex moral compass. They may exhibit traits of hate or love, courage or fear, as their path is not bound by traditional paladin oaths. This subclass opens avenues for deep customization, encouraging players to flesh out a backstory that explains the shift from a status of an esteemed knight to an Oathbreaker.
Character Creation
Creating an Oathbreaker goes beyond picking a race with high Constitution or Strength; it involves selecting abilities and a background that aligns with their narrative. Players can’t initially select the Oathbreaker during character creation—it’s an outcome of gameplay decisions. Consider focusing on Athletics, Intimidation, and Persuasion to reflect their nature and select abilities that synergize with the Oathbreaker’s powers—like enhancing Charisma for stronger necrotic attacks or increasing Wisdom to better command the battlefield.
Oathbreaker Mechanics and Abilities
Oathbreaker Paladins in Baldur’s Gate 3 harness dark powers to dominate the battlefield. Their abilities focus on manipulating both the living and the undead, dealing hefty damage and instilling fear in their foes.
Oathbreaker Paladin Features
Oathbreakers differ from their Paladin counterparts by their emphasis on necrotic damage and control over the undead. Their Spiteful Suffering feature is a testament to this, causing an enemy to suffer 1d4 + Charisma Modifier in necrotic damage each turn, with attack rolls against them gaining advantage.
Control Undead is another hallmark ability, showcasing the Oathbreaker’s dominion over death by bending undead creatures to their will. Aura of Hate enhances the damage of the Paladin’s attacks, as well as those from any fiends and undead allies within the aura, making the Oathbreaker a formidable leader in combat.
Combat and Strategies
When engaging in combat, the Oathbreaker Paladin thrives up close. Using their array of Smite spells—like Hellish Rebuke or Dreadful Aspect—they deal substantial damage while wielding weapons like a greatsword. They excel at making enemies Frightened, turning the tide of battle with a single, potent ability.
Oathbreaker Paladins also augment their own defenses with heavy armor, shielding themselves as they unleash attacks that trigger Divine Smite for extra radiant or necrotic damage. Their saving throw proficiencies in Wisdom and Charisma make them resistant to many forms of magical attacks.
- Useful Combat Features:
- Divine Smite: Inflicts extra radiant damage.
- Hellish Rebuke: A reactionary spell that damages attackers.
- Crown of Madness: Controls enemies, turning them against one another.
- Animate Dead: Creates undead minions for additional battlefield control.
Strategically, Oathbreakers have the upper hand by leveraging advantages across attack rolls, managing the battlefield with necrotic prowess, and unsettling opponents through fear. They’re a tough lot, often chosen by players seeking a powerful and dark twist on the traditional Paladin.
Supporting Abilities and Spellcasting
The Oathbreaker Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3 harnesses both divine abilities and spellcasting to become a formidable force against adversaries. They channel their fallen ideals into powerful necromantic effects and unequivocal support for their allies.
Divine Abilities and Support Actions
Oathbreaker Paladins wield Divine Smite to deal significant radiant damage, with the added twist of channeling necromantic energy to bolster their attacks. Here’s a closer look:
- Lay on Hands: This is their quintessential healing ability, allowing them to heal allies or cleanse poisons.
- Divine Sense: A tool for detecting unholy threats, giving them an advantage by sensing celestial, fiendish, or undead presences.
Spell Selection and Usage
Spell choice for the Oathbreaker Paladin is vital. A strategic mix of offensive and support spells, with careful management of concentration, can turn the tide of battle:
- Oath Spells: Unique to the subclass are spells like Hellish Rebuke for retaliatory damage and Crown of Madness to control enemies.
- Support Spells: They access supportive staples like Bless to improve attack rolls and saving throws, and Cure Wounds for healing. Heroism imparts bravery and temporary hit points.
For efficient support:
- Use Bless for consistent team advantages.
- Heroism provides allies with temporary resilience against fear.
- Aid can be cast to bolster the party’s health pool beyond normal limits.
When it comes to tactical moves, spells like Misty Step grant the Paladin mobility to navigate the battlefield or escape tight situations. They must wisely choose when to use these abilities, as some require them to maintain concentration, limiting their ability to cast other concentration spells simultaneously.
By understanding their diverse abilities and spells, Oathbreaker Paladins can be versatile members of any adventuring party, protecting and empowering allies while striking fear and dismay into the hearts of their foes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Oathbreaker Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3 sparks a lot of curiosity. This section aims to clarify the most common queries around their builds, effectiveness, and how they measure up against other classes.
What are the best builds for an Oathbreaker Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Strong and charismatic, Oathbreaker Paladins benefit from a build focusing on Strength and Charisma. Players often enhance these abilities for more powerful attacks and better control over undead minions.
Can Oathbreaker Paladins be considered effective in Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay?
Yes, Oathbreaker Paladins are very effective. Their skills at both dealing damage and crowd control make them formidable on the battlefield, especially since they can also command undead creatures.
What steps are required to become an Oathbreaker Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3?
To become an Oathbreaker Paladin, a character must initially be a Paladin and then break their sacred oath, which is a significant plot and character development choice.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of multiclassing an Oathbreaker Paladin in BG3?
Multiclassing an Oathbreaker Paladin can offer versatility in skills and abilities. However, it may slow down the acquisition of higher-level Paladin abilities and dilute the character’s effectiveness in their primary role.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, which races synergize well with the Oathbreaker Paladin class?
Races that offer bonuses to Strength or Charisma, such as Half-Orcs or Tieflings, harmonize well with the Oathbreaker Paladin’s abilities, enhancing their combat performance and leadership qualities.
How does the Oathbreaker Paladin’s mechanics and abilities compare to other classes in BG3?
The Oathbreaker Paladin’s abilities are unique, offering a blend of offensive and necromantic powers. While other classes may excel in specific areas, the Oathbreaker’s versatility in combat is hard to match.
