D&D 5E (2014) An Argument for Why Paladins are the Strongest Class in 5E D&D

[Garthanos]

Dang that number juggling gets wobbly

 

[FrogReaver]

I'm getting for a level 9 paladin that uses 1 spell slot on average a turn will deal 32.4 DPR (using his level 3 slots first and a 60% chance to hit). This can be further increased with hunters mark (at the cost of more spells per fight)

I'm getting a fireball upcast to 5th level will do 25.2 damage (assuming 60% chance for failed save).

Paladin in this example is doing 29% more damage than the fireball.

Correcting this. 4th level fireball is 25.2. 5th is 28.

Paladin does 16% more damage than fireball at level (assuming spending on average 1 slot per turn and no hunters mark or fireball boosts of any kind)

 

[FrogReaver]

A 5th and 6th level Paladin does 19% more damage than fireball under same set of assumptions.
A 7th level Paladin does 6% more.
A 8th level Paladin does 11% more.

 

[Ashrym]

(Of course, the Paladin also keeps his spell slot if he misses both attacks, but I don't know how to model that part mathemetically.)

lol, if he misses both attacks the damage is going to be low enough in that round I would not worry about modeling it the slots over time.

At 9th level the DC on the fireball would normally be 17 and save proficiency isn't common. The failed save ratio favors the fireball better than 60% at that level. Many monsters do have the +2 from DEX and I think 70% is more reasonable of an assumption.

Unless the monster has a high AC for that level I would be included to go with a slighter hit chance to hit too. The glabrezu example from earlier has a 17 AC so 65% to hit from +9 attack bonus (+5 ability, +4 proficiency) without additional modifiers.

IME 60% is a slightly on the low side of the assumption.

 

[Garthanos]

Did potential crits on the paladin get included it might increase it a bit>

 

[FrogReaver]

Did potential crits on the paladin get included it might increase it a bit>

Did not but it would probably increase by an additional 2-3% overall without calculating

 

[FrogReaver]

lol, if he misses both attacks the damage is going to be low enough in that round I would not worry about modeling it the slots over time.

At 9th level the DC on the fireball would normally be 17 and save proficiency isn't common. The failed save ratio favors the fireball better than 60% at that level. Many monsters do have the +2 from DEX and I think 70% is more reasonable of an assumption.

Unless the monster has a high AC for that level I would be included to go with a slighter hit chance to hit too. The glabrezu example from earlier has a 17 AC so 65% to hit from +9 attack bonus (+5 ability, +4 proficiency) without additional modifiers.

IME 60% is a slightly on the low side of the assumption.

I mean this was a basic example. It also didn't include other tactical considerations or other abilities that enhance attacks easily. It's hard to say overall how ac and dex saves overall compare in any given campaign at those levels.

Point is that overall fireball isn't that far behind the basic Paladin unless you 5MWD - in which case the Paladin goes even higher in damage as you can also through hunters mark on and always double smite when you have the opportunity.

 

[FrogReaver]

lol, if he misses both attacks the damage is going to be low enough in that round I would not worry about modeling it the slots over time.

At 9th level the DC on the fireball would normally be 17 and save proficiency isn't common. The failed save ratio favors the fireball better than 60% at that level. Many monsters do have the +2 from DEX and I think 70% is more reasonable of an assumption.

Unless the monster has a high AC for that level I would be included to go with a slighter hit chance to hit too. The glabrezu example from earlier has a 17 AC so 65% to hit from +9 attack bonus (+5 ability, +4 proficiency) without additional modifiers.

IME 60% is a slightly on the low side of the assumption.

Looking at my chart fireball from 60% to 70% at 5th level only goes up from 28 to 29.75. Potentially cuts the Paladins lead slightly.

 

[FrogReaver]

11th level+ using disintegrate with 6th level slots tends to give the caster a clear advantage over fireball again.

 

[FrogReaver]

I think the more important point is that a level 5+ Paladin's slots allow him to do 22.4 DPR using on average 1 level 1 spell slot per turn. A full caster will do 14 with magic missile in 2nd level slots. That's where the Paladin's real advantage lies IMO.