Oathbreaker Paladin Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Dark Paladin in D&D 5e

The Oathbreaker Paladin is the fallen knight, a warrior who has abandoned their sacred vows in favor of darkness, destruction, and unholy power. Found in the Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG), this subclass is perfect for players who want to play an anti-hero, a corrupted warrior, or a dark champion who manipulates undead and spreads fear.

Unlike traditional Paladins who uphold justice and virtue, Oathbreakers wield necrotic energy, command the undead, and instill terror in their foes. If you love the idea of a dark crusader, a cursed warrior, or a former holy knight who has turned to darkness, this subclass is for you!

Why Play an Oathbreaker Paladin?

Key Benefits

• Best Paladin for Necrotic Damage & Fear Effects – Turn enemies into frightened weaklings while dealing necrotic damage.
• Control & Command Undead – Turn enemy undead into allies with Control Undead.
• Excellent Damage Output – Aura of Hate increases melee damage for you and nearby undead.
• Terrifying Presence – Force enemies to cower in fear with Dreadful Aspect.
• Dark Roleplay Opportunities – Play as a fallen knight, a death knight, or an antihero seeking redemption.

Compared to other Paladins, Oathbreakers are much more aggressive and sinister, excelling at necrotic damage, undead control, and fear-based crowd control.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

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

The Oathbreaker spell list is focused on necrotic damage, control, and fear effects.

• Key Spells:

  • Hellish Rebuke (3rd Level) – Retaliate with fire when struck.
  • Inflict Wounds (3rd Level) – High-damage melee necrotic attack.
  • Crown of Madness (5th Level) – Force an enemy to attack their allies.
  • Darkness (5th Level) – Obscure the battlefield, making it harder for enemies to hit.
  • Animate Dead (9th Level) – Raise skeletons and zombies as servants.
  • Bestow Curse (9th Level) – Weaken enemies with crippling magical effects.
  • Contagion (13th Level) – Infect enemies with a deadly disease.
  • Blight (13th Level) – Drain life energy from enemies.
  • Dominate Person (17th Level) – Completely control a humanoid.
  • Cloudkill (17th Level) – Summon a moving, toxic fog that kills enemies over time.

• Example: Use Animate Dead to raise an undead army, then buff them with your Aura of Hate for extra melee damage!

Channel Divinity: Dreadful Aspect (Level 3)

• As an action, force all enemies within 30 feet to make a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute.
• Targets can only retry the save if they move out of line of sight.
• Example: Start fights by frightening your enemies, making them easier to defeat.

Channel Divinity: Control Undead (Level 3)

• Target an undead creature within 30 feet and force it to obey you for 24 hours.
• Only works on undead with equal or lower CR than your Paladin level.
• Example: Take control of enemy zombies and skeletons and turn them against their masters!

Aura of Hate (Level 7)

• You and all undead within 10 feet (30 feet at level 18) gain a bonus to melee weapon damage equal to your Charisma modifier.
• Example: Turn your skeletons, zombies, or vampire minions into powerful melee threats.

Supernatural Resistance (Level 15)

• Gain resistance to non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
• Example: Become harder to kill in fights against standard melee enemies.

Dread Lord (Level 20)

• For 1 minute:
  • Darkness spreads around you in a 30-foot radius.
  • Creatures frightened by you have disadvantage on saving throws and attack rolls.
  • As a bonus action, make a spectral attack against a frightened enemy, dealing necrotic damage.
• Example: Become a living nightmare, terrifying and slaughtering enemies in complete darkness!

These abilities make Oathbreakers the best Paladin subclass for fear-based tactics, necrotic magic, and commanding undead minions.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Strength – Boosts melee damage and attack rolls.
• Secondary: Charisma – Improves fear effects, spellcasting, and Aura of Hate.
• Tertiary: Constitution – Increases HP and concentration saves.

Recommended Races

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

• Tiefling (Levistus or Zariel) – Bonus Charisma, fire resistance, and thematic fit for a dark warrior.
• Fallen Aasimar – Radiates necrotic energy and gets a Charisma bonus.
• Dhampir – Perfect for a vampire knight aesthetic with life-draining abilities.
• Half-Orc – Extra survivability with Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks.

Playing as an Oathbreaker Paladin

Role in a Party

• Primary Damage Dealer – Aura of Hate buffs you and undead minions.
• Fear & Control Specialist – Dreadful Aspect weakens enemies before combat.
• Undead Commander – Control Undead and Animate Dead let you raise minions.

Compared to other Paladins, Oathbreakers focus on raw aggression, fear-based tactics, and commanding the dead.

Tips for New Players

• Use Dreadful Aspect at the start of fights – Frightened enemies are easier to kill.
• Control Undead works on many creatures – Zombies, skeletons, ghouls, wraiths, and more!
• Aura of Hate applies to ALL undead – Pair with Animate Dead for a deadly army.
• Dread Lord makes you untouchable – Enemies in your darkness can’t see you but you can hit them easily.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Greatsword – Best for raw melee damage.
• Flail & Shield – Thematically fitting and gives better AC.

Armor

• Plate Armor – Maximize AC for survivability.

Magic Items

• Blackrazor – Absorbs souls and grants extra power.
• Cloak of Displacement – Makes you harder to hit.
• Amulet of the Undead Lord – Boosts undead minions and Aura of Hate.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your dark paladin aesthetic with these thematic dice sets :

• Shadowfell Knight Dice Set: For a black and purple combination perfect for a dark paladin, consider the Purple Gemstone Amethyst DND Dice Set. Handcrafted from genuine amethyst, these dice showcase deep purple hues, capturing the enigmatic essence of the Shadowfell.
• Bloodstained Oath Dice Set: To embody a fallen warrior with crimson and silver tones, the Smoke and Blood Resin DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. This set features a captivating blend of smoky black and deep red colors, reflecting the somber journey of a bloodstained oath.
• Necrotic Fury Dice Set: For glowing green and black colors symbolizing undead power, the Green Fluorite Gemstone (Chlorophane) DND Dice Set offers translucent green tones with natural variations, embodying the eerie glow of necrotic energy.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for an Oathbreaker Paladin

1. Great Weapon Master – Maximizes melee damage output.
2. Sentinel – Prevents frightened enemies from escaping your aura.
3. Tough – Boosts HP, making you an unstoppable tank.
4. Polearm Master – Allows more opportunity attacks and battlefield control.
5. War Caster – Helps maintain concentration on Animate Dead or Cloudkill.

Best Multiclass Options

1. Paladin 7 / Warlock (Hexblade) 13 – The Undead Smiter
   • Hexblade’s Curse increases crit range and healing from kills.
   • Darkness + Devil’s Sight combo makes you nearly untouchable.
2. Paladin 10 / Necromancer Wizard 10 – The Undead General
   • Animate Dead raises stronger undead.
   • Aura of Hate turns your undead into killing machines.
3. Paladin 6 / Sorcerer (Divine Soul) 14 – The Spellbreaker
   • Sorcery Points allow for Quickened Divine Smites.
   • Counterspell shuts down enemy mages.

The Oathbreaker Paladin is one of the most aggressive, fearsome, and unique Paladin subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at undead control, fear-based crowd control, and overwhelming necrotic damage.

Whether you want to become a dark knight commanding legions of undead, a corrupted warrior of vengeance, or an anti-hero walking the line between good and evil, the Oathbreaker offers incredible combat and roleplaying opportunities.