paladin pathfinder guide

The Paladin is a divine-powered martial class, blending combat prowess with holy magic, serving as a versatile defender, striker, and support character in any adventuring party․

1․1 Overview of the Paladin’s Role

The Paladin is a versatile class, serving as both a defender and striker, while also capable of acting as a face or healer․ They excel at protecting allies, dealing damage to enemies, and providing moral support․ With access to divine magic and unique abilities like Smite Evil, Paladins are highly adaptable and invaluable to any adventuring party․

1․2 Key Features and Abilities

Paladins possess unique abilities like Divine Grace, granting bonus saves, and Lay on Hands, which heals wounds or removes harmful effects․ Their iconic Smite Evil deals extra damage to enemies, while Mark of Justice penalizes foes․ These features, combined with martial prowess and divine magic, make Paladins formidable defenders and moral champions in combat and beyond․

Choosing the Right Race and Traits

Optimal races include Aasimar and Half-Orcs, offering divine or martial bonuses․ Traits like Deity’s Favor and Crusader enhance abilities, providing bonuses to healing or combat effectiveness․

2․1 Optimal Races for Paladins

Aasimar and Half-Orcs are ideal races for Paladins․ Aasimar gain bonuses to Charisma, enhancing spellcasting and divine abilities, while Half-Orcs benefit from increased Strength and ferocity, boosting combat effectiveness․ Both races complement the Paladin’s martial and divine aspects, making them strong choices for building a versatile and powerful character․

2․2 Recommended Traits for Paladins

Recommended traits for Paladins include Deity’s Favor and Martial Prowess․ Deity’s Favor enhances spellcasting by granting an early boost to caster level, while Martial Prowess provides an additional melee attack, improving combat versatility․ These traits complement the Paladin’s divine and martial capabilities, ensuring a balanced and effective character build․

Allocating Ability Scores

Paladins prioritize Charisma for spellcasting and Wisdom for key abilities․ Strength is crucial for melee attacks, while Dexterity and Constitution enhance survivability and combat effectiveness․

3․1 Essential Ability Scores for Paladins

Paladins rely on Charisma for spellcasting and class abilities, with Strength or Dexterity for combat effectiveness․ Wisdom enhances perception and Will saves, while Constitution boosts survivability․ Allocate bonuses to Intelligence and Dexterity first, then Strength or Charisma․ A Belt of Dexterity is often recommended as the first major gear investment․

3․2 Ability Score Prioritization

Charisma is the top priority for Paladins, as it fuels spellcasting and Divine Grace․ Strength or Dexterity follows, depending on combat style—Strength for melee, Dexterity for ranged or agile builds; Constitution boosts survivability, while Wisdom enhances perception and Will saves․ Allocate remaining points to Dexterity or Strength, ensuring a balanced build․ Consider using magic items like a Belt of Dexterity to optimize stats without sacrificing ability score points․

Selecting Skills and Feats

Paladins excel with skills like Diplomacy, Perception, and Intimidate, while feats such as Power Attack or Weapon Focus enhance combat effectiveness․ High Charisma aids spellcasting and divine abilities․

4․1 Important Skills for Paladins

Paladins benefit most from skills like Diplomacy, Perception, and Intimidate, which enhance their role as party faces and leaders․ Knowledge (Religion) and Heal are also crucial for their divine and supportive duties․ Additionally, Acrobatics and Ride can improve mobility, while Sense Motive aids in detecting deception, making them well-rounded and versatile in both combat and social interactions․

4․2 Best Feats for Paladins

Key feats for Paladins include Power Attack and Improved Initiative for combat efficiency, while Selective Channeling enhances divine abilities․ Cornugon Smash boosts melee prowess, and Greater Grapple excels in control-focused builds․ Feats like Extra Mercy and Divine Interervention amplify supportive capabilities, ensuring Paladins excel in both offense and divine spellcasting roles․

Understanding Paladin Class Abilities

Paladins possess divine powers like Divine Grace, enhancing saving throws, and Lay on Hands, which heals wounds and offers mercies, making them versatile defenders and supporters․

5․1 Divine Grace and Its Benefits

Divine Grace is a core Paladin ability that grants a bonus to all saving throws equal to their Charisma modifier․ This ability begins at level 2 and enhances the Paladin’s resilience against harmful effects, making them more durable in combat․ It scales with the Paladin’s level, ensuring they remain formidable defenders against magic and other debilitating effects throughout their career․

5․2 Lay on Hands and Mercy Abilities

Lay on Hands allows Paladins to channel divine energy to heal wounds or harm undead․ As a swift action, it enables self-healing while maintaining offensive capabilities․ Mercy Abilities enhance this, offering effects like curing diseases or removing blindness․ These abilities make the Paladin a versatile support character, capable of aiding allies while remaining effective in combat situations․

Exploring Paladin Archetypes

Paladin archetypes offer unique twists, such as the Holy Gun, which trades armor for ranged prowess, and the Iroran Paladin, focusing on unarmed combat․ These options allow players to customize their playstyle while maintaining the class’s core themes of righteousness and divine power․

6․1 Holy Gun and Iroran Paladin Archetypes

The Holy Gun archetype trades armor proficiency for mastery of firearms, channeling divine power through ranged attacks, while the Iroran Paladin focuses on unarmed combat, blending martial prowess with divine grace․ Both archetypes offer unique playstyles, allowing players to customize their Paladin’s abilities while maintaining the class’s core themes of righteousness and divine intervention in battle․

6․2 Other Notable Paladin Archetypes

Beyond the Holy Gun and Iroran, other notable archetypes include the Shamen, blending divine magic with primal forces, and the Undead Scourge, specialized in combating undead․ The Wrathful archetype amplifies offensive capabilities, while the Empyreal focuses on celestial magic and support․ Each archetype offers unique twists, allowing players to tailor their Paladin’s role and playstyle to suit their campaign needs effectively․

Unique Paladin Abilities

Paladins possess unique abilities like Smite Evil, dealing extra damage to evil foes, and Mark of Justice, which punishes wrongdoers․ These abilities make them formidable champions of righteousness in combat and beyond․

7․1 Smite Evil Mechanics

Smite Evil allows Paladins to deal extra damage to evil creatures, with the bonus scaling as they gain levels․ This ability can be used once per day per creature, making it a powerful tool in combat․ Paladins can smite evil outsiders, undead, and dragons, dealing double their level bonus damage on the first hit․ This ability is a cornerstone of the Paladin’s offensive capabilities․

7․2 Mark of Justice Explained

Mark of Justice is a powerful spell-like ability that imposes a lawful-aligned penalty, such as a -2 penalty to AC or attack rolls, on a creature․ It can be used once per day per creature and requires a successful melee touch attack․ The effect lasts until the creature is slain or the judgment expires, making it a strategic tool for controlling enemies in combat․

The Paladin’s Role in the Party

The Paladin is a versatile champion, serving as a defender, striker, or support character․ They excel at protecting allies, dealing damage, and providing divine magic to aid the party;

8․1 As a Defender

The Paladin excels as a defender, using Divine Grace to boost saving throws and martial prowess to protect allies․ Their high Armor Class and ability to wear heavy armor make them a sturdy frontline tank․ Paladins can also use auras to grant nearby allies defensive bonuses, enhancing the party’s overall resilience in combat while maintaining offensive capabilities․

8․2 As a Striker

Paladins are formidable strikers, leveraging martial prowess and divine magic to deal significant damage․ Their Smite Evil ability enhances offensive capabilities, adding bonus damage against evil foes․ High Charisma also fuels spellcasting, enabling Paladins to complement melee attacks with offensive spells․ While primarily defenders, Paladins can adapt to striker roles, balancing damage output with defensive resilience in dynamic combat situations, making them versatile combatants․

8․3 As a Face

Paladins excel as faces due to their high Charisma and divine authority․ Their aura of confidence and righteousness makes them compelling negotiators and leaders․ Spells like Bless and Sanctuary enhance their ability to protect allies and demoralize foes․ Aasimar paladins, with innate Charisma bonuses, are particularly effective in this role, making them natural party spokespersons and moral compasses in social interactions and diplomacy․

8․4 As a Healer

Paladins are capable healers, using their divine magic to mend wounds and protect allies․ Their Lay on Hands ability allows them to channel healing energy, while Mercies provide targeted relief from afflictions like diseases or blindness․ With high Charisma, paladins can effectively use spell-like abilities to sustain their party, making them versatile supporters in both combat and exploration scenarios․

Dipping Into the Paladin Class

Dipping into the Paladin class offers access to Divine Grace and other early abilities, making it a popular choice for multiclass builds seeking survivability and versatility․

9․1 Benefits of Taking a Few Paladin Levels

Taking a few Paladin levels grants access to Divine Grace, enhancing saving throws, and early spellcasting․ This makes Paladins an excellent choice for multiclass builds, boosting survivability and versatility without full dedication to the class․

9․2 Drawbacks of Multiclassing

Paladins rely on charisma for spellcasting and divine abilities, making multiclassing challenging․ Splitting levels can dilute their divine focus, reducing access to higher-level class features․ Additionally, multiclassing may limit the effectiveness of key abilities like Divine Grace and Smite Evil, as the Paladin’s power is optimized when focused on a single class progression․

Paladin Spellcasting

The Paladin is a divine spellcaster, drawing power from charisma to heal, protect, and smite enemies․ Their spellcasting complements martial prowess, offering versatile support in combat and exploration․

10․1 Spellcasting Basics

The Paladin gains spellcasting ability at level 1, drawing divine magic from their charisma score․ They begin with a limited number of spells per day, focusing on blessings, healing, and smite abilities․ Spell slots increase with level, and higher-level spells require a minimum charisma score․ Paladins prepare their spells daily, using their divine connection to fuel their magic in combat and exploration․

10․2 Advanced Spellcasting Techniques

Advanced paladin spellcasting involves optimizing divine magic in complex situations․ Higher-level spells enhance healing, protection, and smiting abilities․ Paladins can use spell trigger and completion items effectively, leveraging their high Charisma․ Combining spells with martial prowess allows for devastating attacks and efficient healing․ Managing spell slots strategically ensures sustained effectiveness in prolonged encounters, making the paladin a versatile and powerful divine caster․

Equipment and Gear for Paladins

Paladins rely on sturdy weapons and armor, prioritizing items that enhance their martial and divine abilities․ Magic items like belts of Dexterity and spell-trigger gear boost effectiveness in combat and spellcasting․

11․1 Weapons and Armor Choices

Paladins excel with martial weapons like longswords or greatswords, and heavy armor for superior defense․ Enhancing these with magic, such as holy weapons, boosts their effectiveness in combat; Additionally, items like belts of Dexterity improve mobility and spellcasting, while armor with divine enhancements complements their divine grace ability․

• Focus on weapons that match your combat style․
• Choose armor that balances mobility and protection․
• Invest in magic items that enhance both martial and divine abilities․

11․2 Essential Magic Items

Paladins benefit from magic items that enhance their martial and divine capabilities․ Essential items include belts of Dexterity for improved mobility, rings of protection for defense, and gloves of archery for accuracy․ Amulets of natural armor and cloaks of resistance further bolster their survivability․ Additionally, holy avenger weapons and magic armor with divine enhancements are crucial for maximizing their effectiveness in combat․

• Enhance mobility and defense with belts and rings․
• Boost accuracy and survivability with gloves and amulets․
• Opt for holy avenger weapons and divine-enhanced armor․

Advanced Tactics and Strategies

Paladins excel by combining divine magic with martial prowess․ Use Smite Evil on high-priority targets, position yourself to protect allies, and manage Lay on Hands for critical moments․ Control enemy movements with Mark of Justice and leverage high Charisma for social interactions and spellcasting efficiency, ensuring versatility in both combat and diplomacy scenarios․

12․1 Combat Tactics

Paladins shine in combat by combining divine might with strategic positioning․ Use Smite Evil on high-priority foes like evil outsiders or undead․ Position yourself to protect allies while dealing damage․ Manage Lay on Hands for critical healing moments․ Utilize Mark of Justice to control enemies, ensuring they remain vulnerable․ Leverage your high Charisma to enhance spellcasting efficiency, making you a versatile combat asset․

12․2 Out-of-Combat Strategies

Paladins excel in strategic roles outside combat, leveraging their divine magic and charisma․ Use Lay on Hands to heal allies or yourself, ensuring the party is prepared for future challenges․ Act as a mediator in social encounters, utilizing high Charisma to negotiate or inspire․ Employ divine sense to detect evil, aiding in decision-making and avoiding threats․ These abilities make the Paladin a valuable asset beyond the battlefield․