Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Oathbreaker Paladin build: Race, spells, weapons & more

Building an Oathbreaker Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be a complex yet fulfilling endeavor. This guide will help you craft the ultimate Oathbreaker Paladin.

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers extensive character customization, enabling players to delve into a variety of classes, subclasses, and races to create unique and powerful characters.

While there are tons of options, one can be a little hidden, as it’s inside another class. The Oathbreaker Paladin can only be achieved when breaking your oath, so has to be treated with care. So, to ensure you create this tricky character perfectly, here’s the best Oathbreaker Paladin build in Baldur’s Gate 3.

How to become an Oathbreaker Paladin

Baldur's Gate 3 paladin — Larian Studios

Unlike the likes of a Necromancer, you can’t just become an Oathbreaker Paladin at the beginning of Baldur’s Gate 3. Instead, you need to choose an Oath and then break it, which will lead to you speaking to the Oathbreaker Knight.

So, to help you know how to break your Oath, here’s each Oath and the actions required to break it:

Oath of Ancients:

Kill the Owlbear and it’s cub.

Oath of Devotion:

Kill Findal under the Emerald Grove.

Oath of Vengeance:

Free Sazza
Kill Nymessa and Damays when you find Lae’zel.
Reanimate Mayina’s husband.
Complete the ‘Avenge Glut’s Circle’ questline.

If you’re looking for a quick and painless way to become an Oathbreaker, then we suggest choosing the Oath of Vengeance since you can either kill Nymessa and Damays near the beginning or just free Sazza instead. You should still be level 2 by the time you do this, meaning you can get the most out of the build and its features.

Best race for an Oathbreaker Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3

When it comes to the ideal race for an Oathbreaker Paladin, there are quite a few choices thanks to some handy features:

High Half-Elf
Human
Mephistopheles Tiefling
Half-Orc

With a focus on damage over any control spells, we suggest opting for the Half-Orc thanks to its Darkvvision, Savage Attack, and Relentless Endurance, as you’ll likely be upfront in battle. Alternatively, if you want a few more spells, we recommend going for the High Half-Elf.

Best background for an Oathbreaker Paladin

Thankfully, the Oathbreaker Paladin isn’t too dissimilar from the traditional Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3, especially when it comes down to their specific base build, including race and background.

So, with that in mind, and in line with our Paladin build guide, we recommend choosing the Soldier background for proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation. Alternatively, if you want a bit more of a charisma-based character, then Noble is your best bet, for proficiency in History and Persuasion.

Best spells for an Oathbreaker Paladin

an image of a Paladin in Baldur's gate 3 — Larian Studios

While spells aren’t a huge part of the Oathbreaker Paladin, some can greatly increase your damage and control over the battlefield:

Level 1: Bless
Level 1: Cure Wounds
Level 1: Compelled Duel
Level 1: Divine Favour
Level 1: Searing Smite
Level 1: Thunderous Smite
Level 1: Protection from Good and Evil
Level 1: Inflict Wounds
Level 1: Hellish Rebuke
Level 1: Heroism
Level 2: Crown of Madness
Level 2: Lesser Restoration
Level 3: Animate Dead
Level 3: Revivify

Best armor and weapon for an Oathbreaker Paladin

Since your Oathbreaker Paladin will likely be up close and personal with the enemy, you need a good weapon and armor that will protect you from any oncoming hits.

For your weapon, you’ll want to keep an eye out for two-handed weapons, like Greatswords. We suggest looking for the Sword of Justice due to its cleave action and other features. You’ll find this with Anders in Act 1.

Then, for your armor, it’s good to look into Adamantine Splint Armor, which you can make from the Grymforge. It reduces your incoming damage and has some great features to keep you alive, as well as increasing your armor class tenfold in the game.

Best build for an Oathbreaker Paladin

Baldur's Gate 3 Oathbreaker — Larian Studios

Race: Half-Orc

Background: Soldier

Skills: Persuasion, Insight

Weapon / Armor: Sword of Justice, Adamantine Splint Armor

Companions: Gale, Shadowheart, Astarion

Level	Features
1	Oath of the Ancients
2	Spiteful Suffering — Divine Smite — Spells: Cure Wounds, Compelled Duel — Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
3	Divine Health — Control Undead — Dreadful Aspect — Spells: Hellish Rebuke, Inflict Wounds
4	Ability Improvement: Strength +2 — Spells: Searing Smite
5	Extra Attack — Spell: Crown of Madness, Lesser Restoration
6	Aura of Protection — Spell: Magic Weapon
7	Aura of Hate — Spell: Thunderous Smite
8	Ability Improvement: Strength +2
9	Spells: Animate Dead, Revivify
10	Aura of Courage — Lay on Hands Charge — Spell: Blinding Smite
11	Spell: Bestow Curse
12	Feat: Great Weapon Master

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