Summary
Dungeons and Dragons' paladin class is one of the game’s most well-liked classes, sporting both magic and martial prowess. However, the changes made to the paladin in the upcomingDungeons and Dragonsruleset revision have already sparked both delight and upset.
D&D 5e’s paladin classhas some negative stereotypes, mostly thanks to the ‘lawful stupid’ playstyle carried on from prior editions, but it’s also a source of huge fun. The class' flavor and, most notably, its terrific divine smite feature are great assets to its popularity. Paladins are also hugely versatile; the class can heal, tank, support, and deal boatloads of damage. With all of these elements going for them, it’s no wonder that paladins have long surpassed the bounds ofDungeons and Dragonsto become a popular fantasy archetype.
Every Change Coming With D&D 2024’s Paladin
Spellcasting and Smite Changes
D&D 2024is changing a lotabout the paladin’s spellcasting, now granting it the feature at level 1. The paladin table in the 2024Player’s Handbookwill feature a fixed number of spells that the paladin can prepare, as opposed to the calculation required in the 2014 version. Moreover, the 2024 paladin will be able to cast ‘find steed’ once per day for free and have it always prepared at level 5, suggesting that designers are envisioning the paladin as a cavalry class.
On the subject of spellcasting, a huge change has come to Divine Smite. Divine Smite is now a spell that paladins always have prepared and can cast once per day for free. Carried over from priorplaytests for theD&D 2024paladin, this change will have some major ramifications for those using the new rules. Functioning as a nerf, this makes it so the feature costs a bonus action (which is more crowded for the paladin inD&D 2024, considering that Lay on Hands now costs a bonus action) and can only be pulled off once per turn. It will also exclude reaction-attack smites, making this a not-insignificant drop in power—though not one that will devastate the paladin. Divine Smite now also works on unarmed strikes, so it’s not all negative.
Aura, Subclass, and Channel Divinity Reworks
D&D’s revisedPlayer’s Handbookwill also be tweaking Channel Divinity, including a couple of new options. Channel Divinity will have more uses inD&D 2024, with Divine Sense and Abjure Foes (a trait that will frighten a group of foes) built into it. Auras are also more powerful, as Aura of Courage will now cure the Frightened condition on allies entering its radius. Subclasses also impart new boosts on allies within a player’s Aura of Protection.
Paladin subclasses will see many other changes too—and the Oath of Glory subclass fromTasha’s Cauldron of Everythinghas been included to reap these improvements. That subclass will gain access to a new oath spell and a longer duration on its Peerless Athlete feature, while the Oath of Devotion will get its own duration boosts on Sacred Weapon and Holy Nimbus. Oath of the Ancients' Undying Sentinel regains more hit points and the Oath of Vengeance’s Vow of Enmity will no longer require an action. Altogether, subclass changes mostly amount to some quality-of-life improvements. However,fans ofD&D 5e’s Oathbreakerwill be disappointed with the lack of updates to that major subclass.
Weapon Masteries
Weapon Masteries area big part ofD&D 2024’s martial revisions, allowing players to take advantage of bonus properties found in each weapon. The paladin can choose two weapons at level 1 and gain their mastery properties, though they can also switch out their chosen weapons on a long rest. As well as this, the paladin has also seen changes to its Fighting Styles, with the Blessed Warrior option fromTasha’s Cauldron of Everythingjoining the ranks.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
