Oath of the Ancients Paladin Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Green Knight in D&D 5e

The Oath of the Ancients Paladin is a champion of nature, light, and life, wielding divine power to protect the natural world and uphold timeless ideals of kindness, hope, and renewal. Introduced in the Player’s Handbook, this subclass is perfect for players who want to embody an eternal guardian, a mystical knight, or a fey-touched warrior dedicated to preserving life.

Unlike other Paladins who focus on vengeance, conquest, or divine justice, Ancients Paladins lean into a mix of healing, resistance, and battlefield control, making them one of the most durable and supportive Paladin subclasses. If you love the idea of a nature-bound warrior who protects the innocent, fights against darkness, and draws power from the land and the fey, this subclass is for you!

Why Play an Oath of the Ancients Paladin?

Key Benefits

• Best Paladin for Survivability – Resistance to spell damage makes you incredibly hard to kill.
• Excellent Crowd Control & Healing – Great mix of debuffs and healing options to support allies.
• Perfect Blend of Tank & Support – Defensive auras and healing make you a great frontline protector.
• Strong Fey & Nature Theme – Great for roleplaying as a guardian of the wilds.
• Fantastic Versatility in Combat & Exploration – Mix of mobility, healing, and battlefield control.

Compared to other Paladins, Ancients Paladins are the most durable and nature-themed, making them an excellent choice for long-lasting heroes and defensive frontline warriors.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

Oath Spells (Gained at Levels 3, 5, 9, 13, and 17)

The Oath of the Ancients grants nature-themed spells that enhance mobility, healing, and battlefield control.

• Key Spells:

  • Ensnaring Strike (3rd Level) – Trap enemies in thorny vines, restricting their movement.
  • Speak with Animals (3rd Level) – Communicate with wildlife for information or assistance.
  • Misty Step (5th Level) – Teleport 30 feet as a bonus action, great for repositioning.
  • Moonbeam (5th Level) – Deal radiant damage and force shapeshifters into their true form.
  • Plant Growth (9th Level) – Slow enemies or make an area lush and fertile.
  • Ice Storm (13th Level) – Deal cold damage and slow enemies in a large area.
  • Tree Stride (17th Level) – Travel between trees, allowing for near-instant movement in forests.

• Example: Use Misty Step to teleport into battle, then cast Moonbeam to burn through enemies with radiant energy.

Channel Divinity: Nature’s Wrath (Level 3)

• Use your action to cause spectral vines to restrain an enemy within 10 feet.
• The target must pass a Strength or Dexterity saving throw to avoid being restrained.
• Example: Hold an enemy in place while your allies attack freely.

Channel Divinity: Turn the Faithless (Level 3)

• Force all Fey and Fiends within 30 feet to make a Wisdom saving throw or be turned for 1 minute.
• Great against demons, devils, and mischievous fey.
• Example: Use this to repel a horde of demons trying to overwhelm your party.

Aura of Warding (Level 7)

• You and allies within 10 feet gain resistance to spell damage.
• Example: Reduce fireballs, lightning bolts, and necrotic spells by half, making you a nightmare for enemy spellcasters.

Undying Sentinel (Level 15)

• When you drop to 0 HP, you stay at 1 HP instead (once per long rest).
• You don’t suffer the effects of aging.
• Example: Refuse to die in a crucial battle, standing tall while your foes fall around you.

Elder Champion (Level 20)

• For 1 minute, gain the following:
  • Regenerate 10 HP at the start of each turn.
  • All enemies within 10 feet have disadvantage on saving throws against your spells.
  • You can cast spells like Misty Step as a bonus action.
• Example: Transform into a near-immortal warrior of nature, regenerating every round while debuffing enemies.

These abilities make Oath of the Ancients Paladins the best for defensive combat, resistance to spellcasters, and battlefield control.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Strength – Boosts melee damage and attack rolls.
• Secondary: Charisma – Improves spell saves and healing abilities.
• Tertiary: Constitution – Increases HP and concentration saves.

Recommended Races

Since Ancients Paladins rely on Strength, Charisma, and Constitution, the best races include:

• Firbolg – Fits the nature theme perfectly and has great utility abilities.
• Wood Elf – High Dexterity and speed for a mobile guardian.
• Aasimar (Protector) – Bonus healing and radiant damage synergy.
• Half-Orc – Relentless Endurance makes you even harder to kill.

Playing as an Oath of the Ancients Paladin

Role in a Party

• Frontline Tank & Defender – Protect allies while resisting magic attacks.
• Crowd Control Specialist – Use spells like Moonbeam and Plant Growth to hinder enemies.
• Battlefield Support & Healing – Remove conditions, heal allies, and sustain yourself.

Compared to other Paladins, Ancients Paladins are the best at sustaining fights, resisting magic, and defending against dark forces.

Tips for New Players

• Always stay near your allies – Your Aura of Warding protects them from spell damage.
• Use Misty Step to reposition – Great for engaging or escaping tricky situations.
• Hold off on Undying Sentinel until absolutely necessary – It’s a once-per-long-rest survival ability.
• Moonbeam is great for dealing with shapeshifters – Use it against lycanthropes and disguised foes.

Roleplay Suggestions

• The Fey Guardian – A protector of the wilds, sworn to defend fey creatures and ancient forests.
• The Green Knight – A mystical warrior who upholds the balance between civilization and nature.
• The Eternal Sentinel – A Paladin who has lived centuries, watching over a sacred land.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Greatsword – Best for raw damage output.
• Spear & Shield – Thematically fits a guardian of nature and provides extra AC.

Armor

• Plate Armor – Maximize defense for frontline durability.
• Breastplate (for Dexterity builds) – Pairs well with Wood Elves and mobile playstyles.

Magic Items

• Cloak of Protection – Boosts AC and saving throws.
• Staff of the Woodlands – Perfect nature-themed magic item.
• Horn of Valhalla – Summons warriors to fight alongside you.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your nature-bound warrior aesthetic with these Ancients Paladin-themed dice sets:

• Elderwood Guardian Dice Set: For green and gold hues symbolizing the power of the wilds, consider the Green Glitter Liquid Core Sharp Edge Resin DND Dice Set. This set features vibrant green tones with a dynamic liquid core, capturing the essence of ancient forests and their guardians.
• Moonlit Sentinel Dice Set: To embody a mystical forest knight with silver and green colors, the Gemstone Green Fluorite (Chlorophane) DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. Handcrafted from genuine green fluorite, these dice showcase translucent green hues, reflecting the serene glow of moonlight filtering through the forest canopy.
• Feywarden Dice Set: For deep emerald hues with glowing runes, the Gemstone Raised Dichroic Glass DND Dice Set offers a mesmerizing array of colors that shift with the light, symbolizing the enchanting magic of the fey and their protective wards.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for an Oath of the Ancients Paladin

1. Resilient (Constitution) – Boosts concentration saves for spells like Moonbeam.
2. Sentinel – Locks down enemies, keeping them within your aura.
3. War Caster – Helps you maintain concentration while in combat.
4. Tough – Grants additional HP, making you even harder to kill.
5. Polearm Master – Grants extra opportunity attacks and battlefield control.

Best Multiclass Options

1. Paladin 7 / Druid 13 – The Nature Warden
   • Best for: Maximum nature synergy.
   • Strategy: Wild Shape for versatility, combined with Paladin auras.

1. Paladin 10 / Ranger 10 – The Fey Champion
   • Best for: Archery, tracking enemies, and fey-based abilities.
   • Strategy: Use Hunter’s Mark + Smites for massive burst damage.

1. Paladin 6 / Sorcerer (Divine Soul) 14 – The Mystic Healer
   • Best for: Divine spellcasting and enhanced healing.
   • Strategy: Quicken spells like Haste or Protection from Energy for ultimate battlefield control.

The Oath of the Ancients Paladin is one of the most resilient and supportive Paladin subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at damage resistance, battlefield control, and nature-themed divine magic.

If you want to play as a mystical protector of life, a druidic warrior, or a champion of the fey, this subclass is for you!