Oath of Devotion Paladin Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Holy Knight in D&D 5e

The Oath of Devotion Paladin is the quintessential knight in shining armor, embodying honor, justice, and unwavering faith. Introduced in the Player’s Handbook, this subclass is perfect for players who want to be a heroic champion, leading the charge against darkness while protecting the innocent with divine might.

Unlike other Paladins who focus on vengeance, conquest, or nature, Devotion Paladins specialize in powerful radiant abilities, protective spells, and pure-hearted righteousness, making them one of the best frontline defenders and healers. If you love the idea of a classic holy warrior who stands against evil with sword and shield, glowing with divine light, this subclass is for you!

Why Play an Oath of Devotion Paladin?

Key Benefits

• Best Paladin for Pure Good & Heroic Roleplay – Perfect for playing a noble champion or divine protector.
• Strong Defensive Capabilities – Aura of Devotion prevents charm effects on you and allies.
• Powerful Radiant Damage – Use Sacred Weapon and Holy Smite for glowing, smite-filled attacks.
• Great at Fighting Fiends & Undead – Turn the Unholy forces evil creatures away from battle.
• Balanced Between Offense & Support – Strong healing abilities while still excelling in combat.

Compared to other Paladins, Devotion Paladins offer a well-rounded mix of offense, defense, and utility, making them an excellent all-around choice for any adventuring party.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

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

The Oath of Devotion grants holy spells that enhance combat, defense, and support.

• Key Spells:

  • Protection from Evil and Good (3rd Level) – Prevents possession, charm, or fright effects.
  • Sanctuary (3rd Level) – Shield an ally from attacks unless enemies pass a saving throw.
  • Lesser Restoration (5th Level) – Remove poison, disease, paralysis, or blindness.
  • Beacon of Hope (9th Level) – Maximize healing and boost saving throws.
  • Flame Strike (13th Level) – A radiant fire explosion to burn through enemies.
  • Holy Weapon (17th Level) – Empower a weapon with radiant energy for extra damage.

• Example: Cast Holy Weapon on your sword before a battle, dealing extra radiant damage on every attack.

Channel Divinity: Sacred Weapon (Level 3)

• Make your weapon glow with divine power for 1 minute:
  • Adds your Charisma modifier to attack rolls.
  • Weapon emits bright light in a 20-foot radius.
  • Attack rolls are no longer affected by darkness or blindness.
• Example: Activate this before attacking a major foe to increase your accuracy and damage output.

Channel Divinity: Turn the Unholy (Level 3)

• Force all fiends and undead within 30 feet to flee for 1 minute.
• Example: Use this against hordes of zombies, skeletons, or demons to take control of the fight.

Aura of Devotion (Level 7)

• You and allies within 10 feet (30 feet at Level 18) are immune to charm effects.
• Example: Negate charm spells from vampires, succubi, and enchanters, keeping your team focused.

Purity of Spirit (Level 15)

• You are always under the effects of Protection from Evil and Good.
• Example: Fiends, undead, and aberrations have disadvantage on attack rolls against you.

Holy Nimbus (Level 20)

• For 1 minute:
  • Radiate bright light (30 feet) that deals radiant damage to enemies.
  • Gain advantage on saving throws against spells cast by fiends and undead.
• Example: Turn into a divine beacon of power, obliterating nearby undead and fiends.

These abilities make Oath of Devotion Paladins the best at fighting evil, leading the charge, and protecting allies from magical influences.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Strength – Boosts melee damage and attack rolls.
• Secondary: Charisma – Improves spellcasting, aura effects, and Sacred Weapon.
• Tertiary: Constitution – Increases HP and concentration saves.

Recommended Races

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

• Aasimar (Protector) – Bonus healing and radiant damage synergy.
• Half-Elf – High Charisma and two skill proficiencies.
• Dragonborn (Gold or Silver) – Radiant-themed and strong Strength/Charisma bonuses.
• Variant Human – Start with a feat like Inspiring Leader or War Caster.

Playing as an Oath of Devotion Paladin

Role in a Party

• Primary Tank & Defender – Protect allies and maintain battlefield control.
• Damage Dealer Against Evil – Use Divine Smites and radiant spells to annihilate undead and fiends.
• Support Healer & Utility Caster – Use healing spells and auras to sustain the team.

Compared to other Paladins, Devotion Paladins are the best at standing firm against dark forces, offering strong healing and radiant abilities.

Tips for New Players

• Always activate Sacred Weapon before a big fight – Boosts accuracy and power.
• Use Turn the Unholy against undead and demons – Great for crowd control.
• Beacon of Hope before healing for max effectiveness – Perfect for saving downed allies.
• Aura of Devotion keeps charm-heavy enemies at bay – Counter succubi, vampires, and mind-controlling foes.

Roleplay Suggestions

• The Holy Champion – A knight dedicated to the gods, seeking to uphold righteousness.
• The Sacred Guardian – A warrior who protects the weak with unwavering faith.
• The Exorcist – A Paladin who hunts and purifies undead and fiends.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Longsword & Shield – Classic knight build for defense and offense.
• Greatsword – More damage for aggressive holy warriors.

Armor

• Plate Armor – Maximize defense for frontline combat.
• Shield (for AC boost) – Works great with one-handed weapons.

Magic Items

• Holy Avenger – The ultimate Paladin weapon, boosting saves and radiant damage.
• Cloak of Protection – Increases AC and saving throws.
• Belt of Giant Strength – Massive Strength boost for combat effectiveness.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your holy warrior aesthetic with these Devotion Paladin-themed dice sets:

• Divine Radiance Dice Set: For a gold and white color scheme symbolizing purity and light, consider the Gemstone Opalite (Gold Font) DND Dice Set. This set features luminous opalite with gold numbering, capturing the essence of divine radiance.
• Knight’s Oath Dice Set: To represent honor and justice with silver and blue hues, the Blue Glitter Liquid Core Sharp Edge Resin DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. These dice showcase vibrant blue tones with a dynamic liquid core, reflecting the steadfast commitment of a knight's oath.
• Celestial Guardian Dice Set: For shimmering white and silver colors perfect for a holy knight, the Gemstone Raised Dichroic Glass DND Dice Set offers a mesmerizing array of colors that shift with the light, embodying the celestial nature of a guardian.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for an Oath of Devotion Paladin

1. Sentinel – Locks down enemies and protects allies.
2. Shield Master – Gives strong defensive bonuses and shove attacks.
3. War Caster – Helps maintain concentration on key spells like Sanctuary and Beacon of Hope.
4. Tough – Boosts HP, making you even harder to kill.
5. Inspiring Leader – Grants temporary HP to allies before fights.

Best Multiclass Options

• Paladin 6 / Cleric (Life Domain) 14 – The Ultimate Healer
  • Maximized healing spells.
  • Great synergy with Aura of Devotion.

• Paladin 7 / Sorcerer (Divine Soul) 13 – The Holy Smiter
  • More spell slots for Divine Smites.
  • Quickened spells for combat efficiency.

• Paladin 10 / Bard (College of Valor) 10 – The Warrior Skald
  • Bardic Inspiration boosts your allies in combat.
  • Enhances leadership and support capabilities.

The Oath of Devotion Paladin is one of the most balanced and iconic Paladin subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at defense, healing, and radiant power.

If you want to play as a noble warrior, a beacon of light, or a divine protector, this subclass is for you!