In Baldur’s Gate 3, Paladin is a support tank class. These noble warriors protect allies with buffs and deliver massive damage while being resilient to various attacks. The high Strength and Charisma of this class set it apart. The race that suits Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3 augments one of these key aspects.
Dragonborn (Hearty Variant) provides extra health and higher resilience. Wood Elf grants you agility and the ability to see through the darkness. Zariel Tiefling provides high defense against fire-based attacks while also providing bonus strength and charisma. You can also go with a Half-Orc if you prefer a more aggressive playstyle.
- Zariel Tiefling
- Wood Elf
- Dragonborn
- Half-Orc
You should use our best Tank Build in BG3 if you want this utility class to also be a great tank in the game.
Zariel Tiefling
Zariel Tiefling sub-race is the best match for Oath of Vengeance Paladin build. Being extra aggressive and masters of combat, this build gets bonuses from Zariel Tiefling that enhance its offensive ability by multiple folds.
- Increased movement speed up to 9m per turn.
- Darkvision: You can see in the darkness up to 12m.
- Hellish Resistance: You gain resistance against Fire Attacks and take only half the damage.
- Thaumaturgy: You gain an advantage on Intimidation and Performance checks.
- Searing Smite: This spell allows you to deal an additional 1~6 fire damage with your weapon.
- Branding Smite: You mark your target with light, which prevents them from turning invisible.
Wood Elf
Wood Elf sub-race is the best match for the Oath of Ancients Paladin built-in Baldur’s Gate 3. Due to their strong connection with nature and having qualities of Druid, Wood Elf only ends up enhancing this build with its passive bonuses.
- Darkvision: Can see up to 12m in the darkness.
- Keen Senses: You gain proficiency in Perception checks.
- Fey Ancestry: You can’t be put to sleep and gain an advantage on saving throws against being charmed.
- Elven Weapon Training: You gain proficiency with Longswords, Shortswords, Longbows, and Shortbows.
- Fleet of Foot: You gain 10.5m movement speed per turn.
- Mask of the Wild: You become proficient in Stealth skills.
Dragonborn
For our Oath of Devotion Paladin build, we have decided to go with the Dragonborn race. Being an extremely balanced build with offensive and defensive capabilities, the Dragonborn race provides additional resilience and an extra health pool to overcome the only vulnerability.
- You get to choose from 12 sub-races, each with its unique benefits. Go with anyone you want.
- Breath Weapon: You hit enemies with a breath of destructive energy with the damage type corresponding to your ancestry.
Half-Orc
Each Paladin sub-class can break their oaths by performing specific actions. This will make their Godly entity abandon them, converting them into the Oathbreakers. Dark and vicious by nature, the Half-Orc race perfectly matches the Oathbreaker Paladin build in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Menacing: You gain proficiency in Intimidation skills.
- Savage Attacks: When you deliver a critical attack, you get to roll the damage dice one more time. The result is then added to your critical damage.
- Relentless Endurance: Once your HP hits 0, you survive with 1HP instead of dying. You can only use this once per long rest.
- Darkvision: Can see up to 12m in the darkness. Very handy while exploring the Underdark.
