Oath of Glory Paladin Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Heroic Champion in D&D 5e

The Oath of Glory Paladin is a warrior of legendary feats and divine inspiration, dedicated to achieving greatness and guiding others to do the same. Introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, this subclass is perfect for players who want to be an Olympic-style warrior, a heroic gladiator, or a mythic champion blessed by the gods.

Unlike other Paladins who focus on justice, vengeance, or conquest, Glory Paladins empower themselves and their allies with supernatural athleticism, battlefield mobility, and divine resilience, making them one of the best team-support Paladins in D&D 5e. If you love the idea of a warrior who seeks personal greatness while inspiring those around them, this subclass is for you!

Why Play an Oath of Glory Paladin?

Key Benefits

• Best Paladin for Mobility & Athletics – Use magical speed boosts and powerful movement abilities to dominate the battlefield.
• Great Buffs for Allies – Support your team with inspiring auras and temporary hit points.
• Resilient & Hard to Kill – Gain resistance to damage and boost your survivability.
• Excels in Marathon Battles – Glory Paladins thrive in prolonged encounters thanks to stamina-enhancing abilities.
• Epic Roleplay Potential – Play as a legendary warrior seeking glory, honor, and divine perfection.

Compared to other Paladins, Oath of Glory Paladins are more mobile, durable, and focused on pushing both themselves and their allies toward greatness.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

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

The Oath of Glory spell list grants spells that enhance mobility, resilience, and group combat effectiveness.

• Key Spells:

  • Guiding Bolt (3rd Level) – A ranged radiant attack that grants advantage on the next attack against the target.
  • Heroism (3rd Level) – Grants an ally immunity to fear and temporary hit points each turn.
  • Enhance Ability (5th Level) – Boost Strength, Dexterity, or other abilities for key moments.
  • Magic Weapon (5th Level) – Temporarily turn a normal weapon into a magical one with a bonus to attack and damage.
  • Haste (9th Level) – Doubles speed, adds AC, and grants an extra attack every turn.
  • Protection from Energy (9th Level) – Gain resistance to a specific damage type.
  • Compulsion (13th Level) – Force enemies to move in a direction of your choice.
  • Freedom of Movement (13th Level) – Ignore difficult terrain and resist restraints.
  • Commune (17th Level) – Ask your deity three yes/no questions for divine guidance.
  • Flame Strike (17th Level) – A devastating radiant fire blast.

• Example: Cast Haste to supercharge your movement and attacks, then follow up with Guiding Bolt for a devastating blow.

Channel Divinity: Peerless Athlete (Level 3)

• For 10 minutes, you gain the following:
  • Advantage on Strength (Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.
  • Doubles your carrying, pushing, lifting, and jumping distances.
• Example: Jump across massive gaps in battle, wrestle enemies, or perform superhuman feats of agility.

Channel Divinity: Inspiring Smite (Level 3)

• After using Divine Smite, distribute temporary hit points to allies equal to 2d8 + your Paladin level.
• Example: Smite an enemy and immediately grant your allies extra durability!

Aura of Alacrity (Level 7)

• You and allies within 10 feet (30 feet at level 18) increase their speed by 10 feet.
• Example: Make your whole team faster, ensuring they reach enemies or escape dangerous situations.

Glorious Defense (Level 15)

• When an ally within 10 feet is hit by an attack, use your reaction to add your Charisma modifier to their AC.
• If the attack still hits, you can counterattack with a melee weapon.
• Example: Protect squishier allies like Wizards or Rogues while retaliating against their attackers!

Living Legend (Level 20)

• For 1 minute, you gain:
  • Advantage on all Charisma checks.
  • Once per turn, add +10 to an attack roll after seeing the roll.
  • Reroll failed saving throws once per turn.
• Example: Become an unstoppable champion in both battle and social encounters!

These abilities make Oath of Glory Paladins the best at movement-based combat, team support, and survivability in prolonged fights.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Greatsword (Strength Build) – High-damage, great for Divine Smites.
• Rapier + Shield (Dexterity Build) – Pairs well with increased mobility and defense.

Armor

• Plate Armor – Best protection for frontline combat.
• Breastplate (for Dexterity builds) – Allows greater movement and stealth.

Magic Items

• Belt of Giant Strength – Massively increases Strength-based combat abilities.
• Cloak of Protection – Boosts AC and saving throws.
• Boots of Speed – Doubles your speed, making you even faster.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your heroic champion aesthetic with these thematic dice sets:

• Glorious Champion Dice Set: For a gold and white combination symbolizing divine excellence, consider the Gemstone Opalite (Gold Font) DND Dice Set. Handcrafted from opalite with gold numbering, these dice exude a luminous quality, capturing the essence of a glorious champion.
• Olympian’s Might Dice Set: To represent legendary warriors with blue and silver hues, the Blue Sandstone Silver Font Gemstone DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. This set features captivating blue sandstone with a shimmering appearance, complemented by silver numerals, reflecting the strength and valor of an Olympian hero.
• Heroic Destiny Dice Set: For radiant hues perfect for a destined champion, the 95MM Massive Gold and Glitter Fireball D20 Liquid Core Dice offers a mesmerizing molten gold liquid core, swirling with fiery energy, symbolizing the burning determination of a hero's journey.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for an Oath of Glory Paladin

1. Mobile – Increases speed and allows disengaging after attacking.
2. Great Weapon Master – Maximizes damage output for Strength-based Paladins.
3. Sentinel – Prevents enemies from escaping you.
4. Polearm Master – Great for keeping enemies at bay and getting extra attacks.
5. Resilient (Constitution) – Boosts concentration saves for spells like Haste.

Best Multiclass Options

1. Paladin 7 / Fighter (Champion) 13 – The Ultimate Athlete

   • More crits, more attacks, and more durability.

2. Paladin 10 / Bard (College of Valor) 10 – The Warrior Skald

   • Boosts leadership abilities with Bardic Inspiration.

3. Paladin 6 / Monk (Way of the Open Hand) 14 – The Martial Artist

   • Boosts mobility, unarmed strikes, and Dexterity-based combat.

The Oath of Glory Paladin is one of the most athletic, supportive, and high-mobility Paladin subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at team support, battlefield control, and prolonged endurance in combat.

If you want to play as a legendary hero, gladiator, or divine champion, this subclass is for you!