Paladin

A Paladin, clad in heavy armor, raises a longsword.

“
*Even as I raise this sword, I pray that this wretched sinner may receive eternal life.*
”
— Oaken Knight Gaellard, who swore an Oath of the Ancients, about to execute an evildoer.
**Paladins** are powerful knights who swear an oath to stand against the forces of evil. A Paladin's strength is derived from his or her own martial practice and training, as well as their conviction in their Oath. Paladins serve at the front lines of the unending cosmic war between good and evil. Although most Paladins proudly serve under the banner of altruism, many have become corrupted, embracing a path of evil.

Whatever their origin and their mission, paladins are united by their oaths to stand against the forces of evil. Whether sworn before a god’s altar and the witness of a priest, in a sacred glade before nature spirits and fey beings, or in a moment of desperation and grief with the dead as the only witness, a paladin’s oath is a powerful bond. It is a source of power that turns a devout warrior into a blessed champion.

## Abilities

First and foremost, a Paladin is a warrior for his or her cause. Paladins tend to deal with their problems head-on, relying on the strength of their arms and the toughness of their heavy armor. Paladins channel arcane power into their strikes through smites; these can stun, blind, and burn their foes.

Paladins are spellcasters, and are considered to be half-casters. The strength of their arcane prayers and incantations, through which they summon healing magic or powerful smites, is predicated by their willpower and conviction.

## Organizations

### Divine Concord

*Main article: Divine Concord*
The Divine Concord is the primary legacy left on the world by the Exiled Gods after their departure. The Concord, as would be expected, freely administers Oaths to would-be Paladins. The Oaths most frequently administered are those of Devotion and Redemption.

### Primeval Circle

*Main article: Primeval Circle*
The Primeval Circle of Druids tenders and administers Oaths of the Ancients (also known as Oaths of Nature and Oaths of the Old Faith) to Paladins who wish to protect nature and life from the undead, from elemental imbalance, and from the excesses of civilization. Many regional Druid Circles also tender such oaths.

## Subclasses

Paladin subclasses are known as Sacred Oaths. Prior to swearing a sacred oath, a paladin is in a preparatory stage before they commit to being paladins forever.

### Oath of the Ancients

Believed to be the oldest of the Oaths, the Oath of the Ancients leads a Paladin to fight on behalf of life and good. Convened to the Primeval Circle of Druids, Paladins who swear this oath often collaborate with Druids and Rangers in maintaining elemental balance, protecting nature, destroying undead, and containing the worst excesses of civilization.

### Oath of Conquest

An Oath of Conquest binds a Paladin forever to the cosmic battle against Chaos. Cold, ruthless, and stoic, these Paladins are rarely seen as adventurers, given the rather chaotic tendencies of adventurers.

### Oath of Devotion

An Oath of Devotion binds a Paladin to fight on behalf of justice, virtue, and order. They act in pursuit of justice and the greater good, holding themselves to the highest standards of conduct.

### Oath of Redemption

One of the most difficult Oaths to be sworn, Paladins who swear to the tenets of redemption harbor the hope that evil the most evil and deranged of creatures may yet be illumed by the radiance of purity.

### Oath of Vengeance

The most solemn and grim of the commitments, Paladins who swear an Oath of Vengeance become stern executioners: Charged with punishing those who commit grievous sins, setting right that which has gone wrong. These paladins are willing to sacrifice their own purity in order to serve the cause of justice.

### Oathbreaker

Paladins fight on the trenches against chaos and evil. Through prolonged exposure, some Paladins may become corrupted by that which they fight, or willingly betray their sacred oaths in the pursuit of some nefarious ambition or goal. Such Paladins become known as Oathbreakers. Oathbreakers are the most powerful and diverse Paladins, and no two Oathbreakers are exactly alike.

## Notable Paladins

Classes
Artificer • Barbarian • Bard • Cleric • Druid • Fighter • Monk
**Paladin** • Ranger • Rogue • Sorcerer • Warlock • Wizard

1. ↑ Player's Handbook.