D&D 5E [GUIDE] My Word Is My Sword: The Paladin Guide

[lkwpeter]

Hi,

I was thinking about a Protector Aasimar Paladin, but from the perspective of optimization this race seems a bit behind (e. g. compared to an half-elf), isn't it?

Our camptaign starts at level 3 and I am looking for a good build with Vengeance Oath. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Blue]

Hi,

I was thinking about a Protector Aasimar Paladin, but from the perspective of optimization this race seems a bit behind (e. g. compared to an half-elf), isn't it?

Our camptaign starts at level 3 and I am looking for a good build with Vengeance Oath. Any recommendations?

Aasimar make good paladins, just a little more focused around their auras and other CHR based their their attacking. And they are thematic as all get-out. They can do that as well, but several of the other Oaths work better with them than Vengeance.

Protector Aasimar increase WIS which doesn't do much for you. But Radiant Soul granting flight starting at 3rd covers a glaring weakness. The bonus damage each round is just a bonus.

Scourge Aasimar are more offensive and boost CON, but their Radiant Consumption is at direct conflict with your paladin auras, which is what your CHR buffs. I would recommend the others before them as a paladin.

Fallen Aasimar increase STR, letting you start with that 16 (assuming point buy/standard array) for STR. If you want Vengeance badly, they are the best for it.

Of the other oaths, Oath of Conquest from XGtE really works well with the +2 CHR. And if you play a Fallan Aasimar their Fear works really well into it.

Oath of Devotion can also really use that higher CHR for their Sacred Weapon CD.

Whatever you do, I would stay just paladin to level 6 at the absolute minimum, and even then be careful of what you will give up with multiclassing.

 

[lkwpeter]

Thanks for your comment!

1.) Would it be viable to ask my DM to change an ability bonus referring to the "variant race rules"?

2.) I could ask for ST/DEX/CON. That would make Aasimar great, wouldn't it?

3.) I still don't know which setup to go for. I was thinking to either go for Polearm Mastery (nice while flying) or Shield and Board. But I think Polearm needs more Feats to be great, right?

Should I better look for another race?

 

[smbakeresq]

Thanks for your comment!

1.) Would it be viable to ask my DM to change an ability bonus referring to the "variant race rules"?

2.) I could ask for ST/DEX/CON. That would make Aasimar great, wouldn't it?

3.) I still don't know which setup to go for. I was thinking to either go for Polearm Mastery (nice while flying) or Shield and Board. But I think Polearm needs more Feats to be great, right?

Should I better look for another race?

1. Sure but don’t need to.

2. It would but see 1. Above

3. Shield and board would be interesting while flying since you can use Shield Mastery feat while flying to prone other flying creatures which causes them to fall. Or shove riders off the creatures they are flying on top of to make them fall.


Shield and board needs zero or one feat, leaving more feats for resilient or warcaster and ability bumps. For polearm you need 2 minimum, pole arm Mastery and Great Weapon Mastery.

Consider Oath of Crown for Spirit Guardians, as that spells radius is 15’ in all directions, which includes vertical dimensions while flying. The Oath feature also is also a radius in all directions.

 

[smbakeresq]

BTW an advantage of using a d10 pole-arm like a halberd and taking GW fighter at second level is it allows you to ask DM to use a d12 instead of a d10 with the re-roll feature. The average damage is identical and you get to use the d12 that comes with every dice set and you don’t waste time on the re-roll.

I usually choose the weapon type no one else is using in the group so less competition for any magic weapon finds. If you use a shield, well some will also, but just tell everyone as a tank you have a higher priority on shield then everyone else.

 

[lkwpeter]

Thanks for your answers! Oh man, that's such a tough decision. All Oaths have pros and cons. And I am still not sure how to combine it with Aasimar.


That's what I know about the character I want to play:

• Race: Protector Aasimar (for RP reasons) OR best optimized race (Human: Varian, Half-Elf)
• Alignment: neutral or good
• I want to be quite flexible with my class/race features (nothing too situational)
• I want to be good in combat
• Fighting style: Shield & Board

These are my concerns:

1. I'd love Polearm, but it seems hardly possible with an Aasimar (lagging of feats). I was thinking about a middle course (like wearing a Polearm without GWM). But that wouldn't be worth it, would it? I guess as main tank (paladin, monk, wizard), Shield and Board would be best, wouldn't it?
2. Don't know which Oath to pick. Considering Ancients, Vengeance or Conquest. Ancients offers a strong aura. Veangence has Vow of Emnity (but only 1 target). Conquest has mass fear and a medicore aura.
3. Should I go for DEX or STR build? Isn't DEX always better? (Because of DEX saving throw, skillss like stealth, etc.?)
4. Which feats would be best for shield and board? Shield Mastery (level 4), Resilient: CON (level 8)

Any more recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gladius Legis]

Thanks for your answers! Oh man, that's such a tough decision. All Oaths have pros and cons. And I am still not sure how to combine it with Aasimar.




That's what I know about the character I want to play:

• Race: Protector Aasimar (for RP reasons) OR best optimized race (Human: Varian, Half-Elf)
• Alignment: neutral or good
• I want to be quite flexible with my class/race features (nothing too situational)
• I want to be good in combat
• Fighting style: Shield & Board

These are my concerns:

1. I'd love Polearm, but it seems hardly possible with an Aasimar (lagging of feats). I was thinking about a middle course (like wearing a Polearm without GWM). But that wouldn't be worth it, would it? I guess as main tank (paladin, monk, wizard), Shield and Board would be best, wouldn't it?
2. Don't know which Oath to pick. Considering Ancients, Vengeance or Conquest. Ancients offers a strong aura. Veangence has Vow of Emnity (but only 1 target). Conquest has mass fear and a medicore aura.
3. Should I go for DEX or STR build? Isn't DEX always better? (Because of DEX saving throw, skillss like stealth, etc.?)
4. Which feats would be best for shield and board? Shield Mastery (level 4), Resilient: CON (level 8)

Any more recommendations?


Thanks in advance!

Both of Polearm Master's benefits work with spears now (after latest errata), so going spear + shield works. You just won't have reach. But you won't have a need to take GWM, either.

As for STR vs. DEX, if you want to use grapple and shove you need STR. STR also has better armor class because of plate armor. If you go DEX you pretty much have to race it to 20 ASAP and not take feats or your AC will suffer, which is not what you want as a tank. So, really, for a tank STR is better.

Shield Master ... consult your DM. If they rule you can use the bonus-action shove before you attack, or rule that you only need to make one attack of your action before shoving, then it may be worth it. If your DM rules that you must complete your entire attack action then I wouldn't bother.

Conquest's aura is not mediocre at all. It can really cripple an enemy if you frighten them. You just need to make sure you have enough frightening abilities on hand, which you can fix in a very large way by keeping Wrathful Smite prepared at all times. Ancients is generally good for defense. Vengeance is pretty much purely offensive, probably not the best for you since you want to be a tank.

 

[lkwpeter]

Thanks for your recommendations!

Oh, did I say the "t-word"? Well, actually I see my party role as "tanky DD/Support" - not just the tank. My fault. ;-)

Considering your suggestions I came up with the following idea of build:

Race: Fallen Aasimar
Class: Pure Paladin
Oath: Conquest
Abilities: STR 15+1 | DEX 10 | CON 14 | WIS 10 | INT 8 | CHA 14+2
Skills: Athletics, Intimidation, Persuasion, Insight/Perception (not sure yet - playing Waterdeep campaign)
Fighting-Style: Duelist Longsword + Shield (perhaps later with Spear, see below)

The FA Race Feature (Necrotic Shroud) gives an extra Mass Fear vs. CHA, what seems pretty strong for a Conquest build. +1 Strength just perfectly fits for a ST-based build.

Feats:
The following feats seem viable for that build. If I see it right, it seems to be important to find a good use of my Bonus Action/Reaction, right?

Level 4 choice:
- Shield Master (BA) to shove (DM might allow full attack after shoving)
- Polearm Master (BA/R): BA attack + Reaction for opportunity attack (using a spear, pretty nice in the front lines)
- Sentinel (R): R for opportunity attack (playing with a monk in the group)

Level 8 choice:
- Resilient CON (mandatory for buffs and the ST is also strong)


What feat for level 4 is the strongest/most reasonable to pick? Is there anything I forgot/didn't take into account?

By the way: I was considering going for CON 13 and taking Resilient CON at level 4. Then I could go for DEX or WIS 12 (instead of 10). But that would delay the other feats until level 8. Reasonable?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Blue]

Oh, did I say the "t-word"? Well, actually I see my party role as "tanky DD/Support" - not just the tank. My fault. ;-)

Considering your suggestions I came up with the following idea of build:

Race: Fallen Aasimar
Class: Pure Paladin
Oath: Conquest
Abilities: STR 15+1 | DEX 10 | CON 14 | WIS 10 | INT 8 | CHA 14+2

...

The FA Race Feature (Necrotic Shroud) gives an extra Mass Fear vs. CHA, what seems pretty strong for a Conquest build. +1 Strength just perfectly fits for a ST-based build.

Feats:
The following feats seem viable for that build. If I see it right, it seems to be important to find a good use of my Bonus Action/Reaction, right?

Level 4 choice:
- Shield Master (BA) to shove (DM might allow full attack after shoving)
- Polearm Master (BA/R): BA attack + Reaction for opportunity attack (using a spear, pretty nice in the front lines)
- Sentinel (R): R for opportunity attack (playing with a monk in the group)

Level 8 choice:
- Resilient CON (mandatory for buffs and the ST is also strong)

I really wouldn't pick feats for both 4th and 8th - Paladins are MAD, and ignoring your ASIs completely will leave you well behind. At 11th having only a +3 to hit/damage, +2 to HP for a somewhat tanky role, and missing out on some of your aura and Conquest saves with only a +3 CHR is well behind the curve.

If you want one of the styles from 4th, go for it but take +2 STR at 8th. If you want Resilient (CON) then take +2 STR at 4th, and rearrange your starting ability scores some to give you an odd CON so it boosts it. I'd suggest DEX 8 and CON 15. A DEX penalty won't hurt your AC in heavy armor.

 

[lkwpeter]

I really wouldn't pick feats for both 4th and 8th - Paladins are MAD, and ignoring your ASIs completely will leave you well behind. At 11th having only a +3 to hit/damage, +2 to HP for a somewhat tanky role, and missing out on some of your aura and Conquest saves with only a +3 CHR is well behind the curve.

If you want one of the styles from 4th, go for it but take +2 STR at 8th. If you want Resilient (CON) then take +2 STR at 4th, and rearrange your starting ability scores some to give you an odd CON so it boosts it. I'd suggest DEX 8 and CON 15. A DEX penalty won't hurt your AC in heavy armor.

Thanks for your advice!


Resilient (CON):

You are right. Furthermore, I think Resilient is stronger on later levels, when the proficiency bonus that is added, is higher. I even might find out that there is no need for resilient, because the Aura of Protection (adding CHA mod. to all my saves) might be enough.


Dumping DEX:

If I see it right, dumping DEX doesn't make sense without Resilient, because there are no stats to put these points in, are there? In addition, I think DEX 10 is not the worst choice, because it's an important saving throw + gives a bonus initiative.

STR 15+1 | DEX 10 | CON 14 | WIS 10 | INT 8 | CHA 14+2


Feats:

Isn't it important to get a good use for my Bonus Action and Reaction? Polearm Master and Shield Master both offer good opportunities for that.

Polearm Master offers a Reaction attack + Bonus attack.
Shield Master offer Shove as a Bonus Action + Advantage for subsequent attacks.

If I see it right, this pretty much exceeds +1 STR mod, doesn't it?


Thanks in advance!