Oath of the Crown Paladin Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Royal Guardian in D&D 5e

The Oath of the Crown Paladin is a sworn protector of law, civilization, and rulership, dedicating themselves to defending their allies, upholding order, and leading in battle. Introduced in Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide (SCAG) and later in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, this subclass is perfect for players who want to play a noble knight, a royal guardian, or a battlefield commander.

Unlike other Paladins who focus on vengeance, conquest, or divine justice, Crown Paladins specialize in battlefield leadership, protecting allies, and reinforcing law and order, making them one of the best tanky and support-focused Paladin subclasses in D&D 5e. If you love the idea of a royal protector, a battlefield general, or an unbreakable wall for your allies, this subclass is for you!

Why Play an Oath of the Crown Paladin?

Key Benefits

• Best Paladin for Party Defense – Forces enemies to target you while protecting allies.
• Excels in Battlefield Control – Uses spells and abilities to lock down enemies.
• Strong Healing & Support Abilities – Provides extra healing and buffs to the party.
• Tough & Hard to Kill – Built to be an unmovable frontline tank.
• Perfect for Roleplaying a Knightly Protector – Ideal for royal guards, military commanders, and law-abiding warriors.

Compared to other Paladins, Oath of the Crown excels at tanking, battlefield control, and defensive support rather than pure offense.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

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

The Oath of the Crown spell list focuses on defense, crowd control, and healing.

• Key Spells:

  • Command (3rd Level) – Force an enemy to obey a one-word command like “Drop” or “Flee.”
  • Compelled Duel (3rd Level) – Force an enemy to focus on you, protecting your allies.
  • Warding Bond (5th Level) – Share damage with an ally while boosting their AC and saves.
  • Zone of Truth (5th Level) – Force creatures to speak honestly.
  • Aura of Vitality (9th Level) – Healing aura that restores HP every turn.
  • Spirit Guardians (9th Level) – Summon radiant spirits to slow and damage nearby enemies.
  • Banishment (13th Level) – Temporarily remove an enemy from the battlefield.
  • Guardian of Faith (13th Level) – Summon a spectral guardian to defend an area.
  • Circle of Power (17th Level) – Grants allies advantage on saving throws against spells.
  • Geas (17th Level) – Compel a creature to follow your orders for 30 days.

• Example: Cast Compelled Duel to keep a boss focused on you while your allies attack from range.

Channel Divinity: Champion’s Challenge (Level 3)

• As an action, force all enemies within 30 feet to make a Wisdom save or be unable to move away from you.
• Great for locking down enemies and preventing them from targeting your allies.
• Example: Use this to force enemies to stay engaged with you while casters and ranged allies attack.

Channel Divinity: Turn the Tide (Level 3)

• As a bonus action, heal all allies within 30 feet for 1d6 + Charisma if they are below half HP.
• Great for stabilizing wounded allies mid-battle.
• Example: Use this in large fights to keep your allies from dropping.

Divine Allegiance (Level 7)

• When an ally within 5 feet takes damage, you can use your reaction to take the damage instead.
• Essentially a bodyguard ability—protect squishy teammates.
• Example: Use this to shield a dying ally from a finishing blow.

Unyielding Spirit (Level 15)

• Gain advantage on saving throws against paralysis and stunning effects.
• Example: Prevents you from being locked down by effects like Hold Person or Stun.

Exalted Champion (Level 20)

• For 1 hour:
  • You have resistance to all bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
  • Allies within 30 feet have advantage on death saves and Wisdom saving throws.
  • You regain 10 HP at the start of your turn.
• Example: Turn into an unkillable battlefield leader, keeping allies alive while tanking damage.

These abilities make Oath of the Crown Paladins the best at tanking, protecting allies, and battlefield control.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Longsword + Shield (Balanced Build) – Best for defense while still dealing decent damage.
• Warhammer + Shield (Tank Build) – Maximizes AC while delivering heavy blows.

Armor

• Plate Armor – Max AC for tanking and frontline combat.
• Sentinel Shield – Boosts initiative and perception.

Magic Items

• Shield of the Sentinel – Boosts AC and protects against surprise attacks.
• Cloak of Protection – Grants +1 AC and saving throws.
• Amulet of the Devout – Increases spell DCs and Channel Divinity effectiveness.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your leadership and justice-themed character with these noble dice sets:

• Royal Guardian Dice Set: For a gold and blue combination symbolizing leadership and justice, consider the Blue Sandstone Silver Font Gemstone DND Dice Set. This set features deep blue sandstone with shimmering inclusions, complemented by silver numerals, capturing the regal essence of a royal guardian.
• Knight Commander Dice Set: To represent a battlefield tactician with steel and silver hues, the Black Inked Lightning Cracked Glass DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. These dice showcase a striking cracked glass design with black inked numerals, reflecting the sharp mind and resilience of a knight commander.
• Defender’s Oath Dice Set: For shimmering hues representing a noble protector, the Gemstone Raised Dichroic Glass DND Dice Set offers a mesmerizing array of colors that shift with the light, embodying the steadfast commitment of a defender's oath.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for an Oath of the Crown Paladin

1. Sentinel – Prevents enemies from escaping your Champion’s Challenge.
2. Shield Master – Lets you block spells and shove enemies with your shield.
3. Tough – Boosts HP, making you even harder to kill.
4. Resilient (Wisdom) – Boosts Wisdom saves against mind control and fear.
5. Inspiring Leader – Gives allies temporary HP before combat.

Best Multiclass Options

1. Paladin 6 / Fighter (Battle Master) 14 – The Tactical Commander

   • Gets more attacks and maneuver-based battlefield control.

2. Paladin 7 / Cleric (Life Domain) 13 – The Holy Protector

   • Maximizes healing spells and keeps allies alive.

3. Paladin 10 / Bard (College of Valor) 10 – The Warrior Leader

   • Boosts leadership abilities with Bardic Inspiration.

The Oath of the Crown Paladin is one of the most durable and supportive Paladin subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at battlefield control, protecting allies, and reinforcing law and order.

If you want to play as a noble protector, a royal knight, or a battlefield commander, this subclass is for you!