Strength, justice, and unwavering willpower—the Paladin has always stood as the bridge between warrior and mystic, between battlefield fury and divine peace.
In the Dungeons & Dragons 2024 update, the Paladin becomes even more versatile, more thematic, and—most importantly—more satisfying to play at every level.
Today at RPGInquisitor, we take a full deep dive into everything you need to know about the refreshed Paladin class and its iconic subclasses. Whether you’re a returning veteran or a new acolyte, there’s never been a better time to swear an Oath.
✨ What Changed in D&D 2024 for Paladins?
Before we look at Oaths individually, here’s what’s different across all Paladins:
- Divine Smite Cleaned Up:
Smite can now be triggered in more flexible ways without needing strict spell slot expenditure timing. It prevents “front-loading” absurd damage at low levels while keeping Paladins deadly when needed. - Lay on Hands Rebalanced:
Still the gold standard for direct healing, but now scales more naturally across tiers. High-level Paladins feel less punished by limited pools. - Aura Improvements:
Your protective auras now auto-scale based on Paladin level, with larger radii (30 ft) kicking in without you needing to track them manually.
(Great for faster combat, tactical movement, and new players.) - Channel Divinity Streamlined:
Now subclass-specific and action-based—no more confusion between “uses per rest” and “types of activation.” Every Paladin subclass now has a unique Channel Divinity at early levels that fits its story. - New Sacred Orders:
You choose a Sacred Order at Level 3 (Martial, Holy, or Mystic), letting you shape your progression toward smite-heavy combat, spell dominance, or defense/buffing.
🎲 In short: the Paladin finally feels like the inspiring hybrid it was always meant to be—not just a fighter with spells, but a true avatar of sacred power.
🛡️ Deep Dive: Paladin Subclasses (Oaths)
✝️ Oath of Devotion – The Shield of the Innocent
Core Fantasy:
The ideal of the knight in shining armor—a beacon of hope and unwavering truth. You are the shield against evil, corruption, and deception.
Major Updates:
- Sacred Weapon (Channel Divinity): Now a bonus action, faster activation, and lasts longer without complex reapplication. Your weapon literally shines with radiant power.
- Aura of Devotion: Resists charm effects on you and your allies, vital in high-level campaigns full of enchantments and mind-control threats.
Playstyle Focus:
- Defensive anchor
- Supportive leader (protection, buffing)
- Frontline tank
Standout Spells:
- Protection from Evil and Good
- Lesser Restoration
- Holy Weapon (new upgrades!)
Best Suited For:
- Players who enjoy classic “noble knight” roleplay.
- Story-driven campaigns with strong moral lines.
- Groups needing a rock-solid frontline guardian.
Placeholder Link: Find sacred armaments here
✨ RPGInquisitor Verdict:
“The Devotion Paladin in 2024 is the living memory of a better age—and a sword to reclaim it.”
⚡ Oath of Vengeance – The Blade of Reckoning
Core Fantasy:
A holy avenger sworn not just to protect—but to punish. Justice pursued with relentless focus, beyond mercy.
Major Updates:
- Vow of Enmity: Now easier to apply even against cunning enemies who teleport, go invisible, or disengage. Perfect for boss fights.
- Relentless Avenger: Movement-based reaction attacks are now triggered more fluidly, allowing you to stick to your target across the battlefield.
Playstyle Focus:
- Single-target annihilation
- Skirmisher and tactical striker
- Flexible damage-dealer
Standout Spells:
- Hunter’s Mark (intrinsic tracking)
- Hold Person
- Banishment (send enemies far, far away)
Best Suited For:
- Players who love intense, focused combat.
- Dark fantasy campaigns about moral grey areas.
- Anti-heroes seeking redemption—or ruin.
⚡ RPGInquisitor Verdict:
“The Vengeance Paladin is fury given form—a living warning to evildoers that judgment has come.”
🌿 Oath of Ancients – The Beacon of Nature
Core Fantasy:
Guardians of the primeval forces of life, renewal, and wild magic. Paladins of the Ancients defend the world itself—not just mortals.
Major Updates:
- Aura of Warding: Expanded defenses against elemental damage and hostile magic now feel meaningful at all levels, not just “if your DM remembers.”
- Nature’s Wrath: Improved ease of use; divine vines, roots, and natural forces now respond immediately to Paladin summons without convoluted timing.
Playstyle Focus:
- Durable tank
- Debuffing enemies
- Supportive spells without heavy damage focus
Standout Spells:
- Moonbeam (amplified control)
- Plant Growth
- Wall of Thorns
Best Suited For:
- Players who love druids but want heavy armor and divine flavor.
- Campaigns focused on nature, fey, or elemental forces.
🌿 RPGInquisitor Verdict:
“Where cities fall and gods fade, the Ancients Paladin endures—rooted deeper than kings.”
🌌 Oath of the Watchers – Sentinel of the Planes
Core Fantasy:
Champions tasked with guarding the mortal realm against extraplanar intrusion. You fight not just for your world—but for every world.
Major Updates:
- Channel Divinity: Watcher’s Will:
Boosts the entire party’s resistance against spells, fear effects, and mind domination. - Vigilant Rebuke:
Now auto-triggers against enemy spell attacks on your allies—punishing mind-controlling villains with psychic feedback.
Playstyle Focus:
- Anti-caster specialist
- Defensive buffing
- Battlefield prediction and control
Standout Spells:
- Counterspell
- Hold Monster
- Dispel Magic
Best Suited For:
- Players who want to protect the multiverse.
- Campaigns featuring extraplanar threats (e.g., demons, aberrations, time travelers).
🌌 RPGInquisitor Verdict:
“The Watchers Paladin is the secret fire in the dark—the invisible hand that ensures the end does not come today.”
🧠 Paladins in 2024: Final Takeaways
- Smite feels good again: flexible but powerful.
- Healing is meaningful even at high levels.
- Aura synergy encourages team-centric play.
- Each subclass delivers a clear, mythic fantasy without bloated mechanics.
Whether you’re fighting a tyrant king, shielding a desperate village, hunting a mindflayer priest, or holding a rift in reality closed with your willpower alone—the 2024 Paladin is ready.
⚔️ Take Up the Oath
Start your journey toward honor, redemption, or wrath with the new Player’s Handbook 2024 and equip yourself.
⚡ Stay tuned for:
- “Top 5 Paladin Multiclass Combos for D&D 2024”
- “Auras and Synergies: How to Build the Ultimate Support Team”
- “Channel Divinity Powers: Tactical Breakdown for Each Oath”
