For the best Baldur's Gate 3 Paladin build, you'll need to combine their frontline tank power and versatile charisma-based skills and abilities to create a real all-rounder - a character as formidable as they are charming. Like any other class, you can choose to be a Paladin while creating your Baldur's Gate 3 character, but if not, Minthara is the only Paladin you can recruit to your party out in the world of Faerun. It also happens to be one the best Baldur's Gate 3 classes, so having one on your team will never not be a bad idea. Here are the fundamentals on how to make the best Paladin build Baldur's Gate 3, with everything you need for a crushing crusader.
Best Paladin class build in Baldur's Gate 3
The best Paladin build in Baldur's Gate 3 focuses on the following elements, at least in my eyes:
- High hit points/Armor Class
- Melee Combat emphasis
- Charisma and dialogue skills
Healing and support spells are definitely useful, but the Paladin isn't as good at these things as the Cleric - and with Shadowheart in the party, healing is amply covered. Lay On Hands is there if you need it, but you're more of a backup healer in Baldur's Gate 3, with your primary focus being to draw aggro and take down foes with powerful smites. With that in mind, here's how to start making your Paladin for the optimum build:
- Race: Half-Orc
- Highest attributes: Strength, Charisma, Constitution
- Subclass: Oath of Vengeance
- Background: Charlatan
- Class Skills: Persuasion and Athletics
- Equipment: Heavy Armor, shield, one-handed versatile weapon of player's choice (a longsword, for example), throwing weapons
The logic here is that the Half-Orc is the best race for melee fighting and being a tank, so that's an easy pick, and for this specific build, the Oath of Vengeance is the best option, though you'll have to level up a couple of times for it to come into its own and get the powers that make it effective - namely, drawing enemy attention and bashing them with powerful melee strikes.
The Charlatan background and class skills are meant to emphasise the other leg of this build - being a smooth charmer, invaluable out of combat. You can swap Athletics for Insight if you want to really lean into this, but considering you're a burly bruiser with a high strength score, having that Athletics bonus for the Shove action is going to be very helpful.
Later level Paladin builds: As you level up, you want to find magic gear that keeps you protected in close quarters-combat, as well as makes your weapon strikes more deadly. Enchanted armor and shields are a must, but if you want to double down on support and control, consider multiclassing a few levels into the Baldur's Gate 3 Bard class, so you can better manage your foes and be even more charming.
Alternatively, find ways to up your mobility - because you have very few ranged options, you need to be able to run into the fray at any moment, getting between your allies and those who want to hurt them. The Rogue's ability to dash as a bonus action at second level could be very helpful, not to mention adding Sneak Attack to those deadly smites.
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