The Best Races for Paladin Builds in 5e 2024

This guide delves into the optimal racial choices for Paladins in 5e, exploring how diverse ancestries can amplify the core strengths of these sacred knights and unlock unique synergies that transcend traditional archetypes.

The foundation of an effective Paladin rests upon two primary ability scores: Strength (STR) and Charisma (CHA).

Strength fuels the Paladin's martial capabilities, determining their effectiveness with weaponry and in contests of physical might.

Charisma, however, empowers their spellcasting, enhances their aura abilities, and governs their social interactions. When selecting a race for your Paladin, prioritizing these attributes can establish a robust baseline for your character's development and efficacy on the battlefield.

Racial bonuses play a crucial role in optimizing these key attributes. While Tasha's Cauldron of Everything introduced rules for customizing ability score increases, many players still adhere to traditional racial bonuses when constructing their characters. Let's examine how various races can complement and augment the Paladin's inherent strengths.

Dragonborn emerge as an obvious choice for Paladins, offering an ideal fusion of thematic resonance and mechanical advantages.

Traditionally, Dragonborn receive a +2 bonus to STR and a +1 bonus to CHA, perfectly aligning with the Paladin's primary ability score requirements. This racial selection not only optimizes core stats but also confers additional benefits that synergize exceptionally well with the Paladin class.

The Dragonborn's breath weapon ability grants a potent AoE damage option, addressing a capability gap in the Paladin's base class features. This breath attack scales with level, maintaining its utility throughout character progression. Moreover, the draconic ancestry ties into the noble and powerful themes often associated with Paladins, fostering rich opportunities for character backstory and roleplay.

For players prioritizing customization and early power spikes, the Variant Human or Custom Lineage options present compelling alternatives. These races permit a feat at 1st level, unlocking strategic build possibilities from the outset of character creation.

When opting for a Variant Human Paladin, players can assign a +1 bonus to both STR and CHA, ensuring a solid foundation for core abilities. The primary allure, however, lies in feat selection. Popular choices for Paladin builds include:

• Polearm Master: Enhances action economy and battlefield control.
• Sentinel: Bolsters the ability to protect allies and impede enemy movement.
• Great Weapon Master: Substantially increases damage output at the cost of accuracy.

These feats can dramatically alter a Paladin's playstyle and effectiveness from the first level, providing a significant head start in character optimization.

Half-Orcs bring a unique blend of resilience and raw power to the Paladin class. With a +2 to STR and +1 to CON, Half-Orcs are naturally suited for frontline combat. Their standout feature, Relentless Endurance, allows them to drop to 1 hit point instead of 0 once per long rest, synergizing beautifully with the Paladin's self-healing capabilities.

The Half-Orc's Savage Attacks feature, which adds an extra weapon damage die on critical hits, complements the Paladin's Divine Smite ability. When these features combine on a critical hit, the burst damage potential is astronomical, facilitating truly epic moments in combat.

Aasimar represent perhaps the most thematically fitting race for Paladins, given their celestial heritage. While they don't offer direct bonuses to STR, their +2 CHA bonus is invaluable for Paladins. Aasimar come in three subraces, each offering unique abilities that complement different Paladin playstyles:

• Protector Aasimar: Ideal for defensive Paladins, granting flight and radiant damage.
• Scourge Aasimar: Perfect for offensive builds, dealing AoE damage to nearby foes.
• Fallen Aasimar: Suits Paladins with a darker theme, offering fear effects and necrotic damage.

The Aasimar's Healing Hands feature provides additional healing capabilities, further enhancing the Paladin's support role. Their innate spellcasting abilities also expand the Paladin's magical repertoire, creating versatile characters both in and out of combat.

While Tieflings might seem an unlikely choice for Paladins due to their infernal heritage, the Zariel Tiefling subrace offers compelling benefits. Zariel Tieflings receive a +1 to STR and +2 to CHA, perfectly aligning with Paladin ability score needs. Furthermore, they gain access to additional smite spells like Searing Smite and Branding Smite, expanding their divine arsenal.

The apparent alignment clash between Tieflings and traditional Paladin archetypes can lead to rich character development and interesting roleplay opportunities. A Tiefling Paladin might embark on a path of redemption or seek to prove that one's heritage doesn't dictate one's destiny.

Dwarves, particularly Mountain Dwarves, offer a robust option for Paladin builds. With +2 to STR and +2 to CON, Mountain Dwarves create durable Paladins capable of withstanding significant punishment. Their natural armor proficiencies also allow for more flexible feat and ability score improvement choices as characters progress.

While Dwarven Paladins might seem cliché to some, their cultural emphasis on honor, tradition, and craftsmanship aligns well with many Paladin oaths. To create a unique Dwarf Paladin, consider unconventional backgrounds or motivations that distinguish your character from the stereotypical "stout defender of the faith."

For players interested in exploring non-traditional Paladin builds, the Halfling race offers an intriguing option for creating a "dexadin" – a Dexterity-focused Paladin. While Halflings don't receive bonuses to STR, their +2 Dexterity can be leveraged to create a nimble, dual-wielding Paladin.

Lightfoot Halflings, with their additional +1 to CHA, are particularly well-suited for this build. The Lucky trait, allowing rerolls on natural 1s, adds a layer of reliability to attacks and saving throws. A Halfling Paladin can excel in hit-and-run tactics, using their small size and natural agility to outmaneuver larger foes while still bringing the full might of divine smites to bear.

The introduction of Tasha's Cauldron of Everything brought significant flexibility to character creation with the Custom Origin rules. These guidelines allow players to reassign racial ability score increases, potentially making any race a viable option for Paladins. If you're using these rules in your campaign, you can consider the following:

• Allocate a +2 bonus to either STR or CHA, depending on your primary focus.
• Assign the remaining +1 to the other key ability, or to CON for increased durability.
• Evaluate racial features beyond ability scores, such as movement types, resistances, or special abilities that complement the Paladin's role.

This flexibility enables the creation of unique combinations that were previously suboptimal, such as a Goblin Paladin with high STR and CHA, or a Kenku Paladin with enhanced social capabilities.

While optimizing your Paladin's abilities is crucial, it's equally important to create a character that resonates narratively. When selecting a race, consider how it fits into your character concept and the story you aim to tell. Ponder questions such as:

• How does your character's race influence their perspective on their oath?
• What cultural or personal experiences led them to become a Paladin?
• How do they reconcile potential conflicts between their racial heritage and divine calling?

By working these elements into your character's backstory, you can create a Paladin that is not only mechanically sound but also rich in roleplay potential.

Different Paladin subclasses, known as Sacred Oaths, can benefit from specific racial traits. Here are some potent combinations to consider:

• Oath of Vengeance: Half-Orc Paladins excel here, using Relentless Endurance to persist in battle and Savage Attacks to maximize critical hit damage when they finally corner their quarry.
• Oath of the Ancients: Protector Aasimar complement this oath's focus on radiant damage and protection, enhancing the Paladin's ability to shield allies from harm.
• Oath of Conquest: Zariel Tieflings make formidable Conquest Paladins, using their innate fear-inducing abilities to control the battlefield.
• Oath of Redemption: Halfling Paladins can leverage their natural charm and Lucky trait to excel in the diplomatic aspects of this oath.

When choosing your race and subclass combination, consider how racial abilities can enhance your oath's specific features and playstyle.

For players looking to maximize their Paladin's potential through multiclassing, race choice can play a crucial role in meeting multiclass prerequisites and synergizing with secondary class features. Popular multiclass options for Paladins include:

• Paladin/Sorcerer: Aasimar make excellent Paladin/Sorcerers, using their high CHA to power both classes' abilities. This combination allows for more spell slots to fuel Divine Smites and adds versatile spellcasting options.
• Paladin/Warlock: Zariel Tieflings are well-suited for a Paladin/Warlock multiclass, particularly with the Hexblade patron. This build, often referred to as a "Hexadin," can be incredibly potent, using CHA for attack and damage rolls with weapons.
• Paladin/Bard: Half-Elf Paladins, with their bonus to CHA and two additional skill proficiencies, make excellent Paladin/Bards, blending martial prowess with expanded support capabilities.

When considering multiclassing, ensure that your race choice provides the necessary ability scores to meet the requirements of both classes, typically a minimum of 13 in STR and CHA for Paladins.

The optimal race for your Paladin transcends just the mechanical optimization. While races like Dragonborn, Variant Human, and Aasimar offer clear advantages, unconventional choices can lead to unique and compelling characters. The true power of your Paladin lies not just in racial traits, but in how you bring your character to life at the table. Whether you're smiting evil as a towering Half-Orc or inspiring allies as a charismatic Tiefling, the most rewarding characters are always ones that you feel most comfortable with.