Quick Links
Paladins inDungeons & Dragonsare typically geared to face a specific kind of threat, whether that be fiends, devils, the undead, or fey (sometimes even other humanoids). Those paladins who take the Oath of the Watchers train their bodies and minds to defend against the extraplanar creatures that one might find anywhere in the multiverse.
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: How To Build An Oath Of Conquest Paladin
As it turns out, the multiverse is a big place, which means an Oath of the Watchers paladin has to be prepared for almost anything. These particular paladins are more adaptable than their peers, with abilities that affect multiple monster types. If you’re ready to stand against the forces of the outer planes, here’s how you can take the Oath of the Watchers.
Oath Of The Watchers Paladin Features
Like all paladins, you take the Oath of the Watchers at level three and gain both your first batch ofOath Spellsand yourChannel Divinityability. you may view the Oath Spells learned at certain levels below.
Your Channel Divinity comes in two flavors.Watcher’s Willlets you grant a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier within 30 feet advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws for one minute.Abjure the Extraplanarcauses all aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, or fiends within 30 feet to be abjured for one minute if they fail their Wisdom saving throw.
Aura of the Sentinelat level seven provides a bonus to your initiative roll and each creature within 10 feet equal to your proficiency bonus. This aura grows to 30 feet at level 18.
Very few things in D&D provide bonuses to your initiative roll, making Aura of the Sentinel a uniquely potent ability.
Vigilant Rebukeat level 15 lets you use your reaction to deal 2d8 + your Charisma modifier force damage to any creature that forced an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw on you or an ally within 30 feet of you.
And finally,Mortal Bulkwarkat level 20 lets you use your bonus action to gain a number of perks for one minute. First, you gain 120 feet of Truesight. Second, you gain advantage on attack rolls against aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, and fiends. And third, whenever you successfully attack a creature, you can force it to make a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, it’s banished to its native plane.
13th Level
17th Level
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: How To Build An Artillerist Artificer
Best Species For An Oath Of The Watchers Paladin
Anyone can take the Oath of the Watchers.you may be any species and still be a great paladin, but there are a few species that offer some synergistic benefits.Here are a few suggestionsto get you started.
Astral Elf
HavingSacred Flameas a cantrip provides a much-needed ranged attack, whileStarlight Stepgets you into combat faster.Charm resistanceis great for a class that struggles with mind-control effects, andKeen Sensesprovides another much-needed skill proficiency.
Bugbear
Aura of the Sentinel provides a bonus to your initiative rolls that may be enough to triggerSurprise Attack. If not, anextra five feet of reachis always useful for a melee character, as ischarm resistanceandDarkvision.
Centaur
Why bother with a horse when you could justbethe horse?Ten extra feet of movementis always good,hoovesgive you an unarmed strike option and added bonus action damage, andEquine Buildlets you pull the party’s cart.
Dragonborn
There’s less reason to be a dragonborn paladin ever since the custom origin rules allowed more flexible ability score bonuses. That said,Breath Weaponis still a valuable and viable crowd control ability for a class that sometimes struggles with crowds, anddamage resistanceis never a bad thing.
Duergar
Enlarge/Reduceis a useful spell for a melee-focused class, andInvisibilitycan help with a paladin’s complete lack of subtlety.Resistance to poisonandadvantage against being poisoned, charmed, or stunnedare all good for paladins, as is 120 feet ofDarkvision.
Earth Genasi
Like the duergar, earth genasi’sPass Without Tracecan help with those unavoidable stealth checks.Earth Walkcan ensure your mobility, andDarkvisionis always nice to have.
Goblin
Fury of the Smallis a great damage boost for an already highly damaging subclass. Being able to disengage as a bonus action is great too, although you’re not likely to useNimble Escapeto hide.Darkvisionandcharm resistanceare good too.
Goliath
Paladins don’t do a lot with their reactions (outside of opportunity attacks), soStone’s Endurancecan really help keep you in the fight when other species are in their death saves.Athleticsis a good skill to have, andcold resistanceis also nice.
Half-Orc
Intimidationis a good skill proficiency for paladins, andDarkvisionis great to have too.Relentless Endurancekeeps you fighting beyond your hit points, andSavage Attackscan make those rare crits that much more impactful.
Harengon
Hare Triggercombined with Aura of the Sentinel can provide a significant enough initiative bonus that it’ll counteract the low Dexterity most paladins suffer from.Lucky Footworkalso helps with your low Dexterity saves.Rabbit Hopis a great mobility aid for getting you into combat faster.
Hobgoblin
If you’re playing with more than one front-line character, hobgoblins are incredible.Fey Giftlets you consistently use your bonus action to provide buffs to your pal.Fortune of the Manymakes your rolls more consistent.DarkvisionandFey Ancestryare always groovy.
Human
Variant human gives you access toa powerful feat at level one. Polearm Master, Mobile, and Great Weapon Master are all great choices.
Kobold
Draconic Crygives you another option to gain advantage in combat against a whole crowd of enemies.Draconic Sorceryprovides you with a ranged attack cantrip like Fire Bolt or a useful combat trick like Booming Blade.Darkvisionis always great to have.
Minotaur
Hornsgive you a useful unarmed strike, a bonus action push, and an attack after using a Dash action.Survivalis a fine proficiency to have.
Satyr
PerformanceandPersuasionare both useful Charisma-based skills, andMagic Resistancehelps protect you from a paladin’s typical weakness. Mobility comes fromMirthful Leapsand an extrafive feet of movement, and your horns give you a usefulunarmed strikeif you’re ever disarmed.
Shifter
Paladins are already very tough. Shifters add sometemporary hit pointsand eithersome ACoradditional movement, but both are good. PickIntimidationfor your skill proficiency.
Warforged
Paladins are traditionally the heavy armor class of D&D.Add +1 to that AC, then addresistance to poisonandimmunity to sleep effects. Then add askill and tool proficiencyof your choice. Perfect match for a paladin.
Best Ability Scores For An Oath Of Watchers Paladin
You’ll want high Strength and Charismascores to be an effective Oath of the Watchers paladin. Strength ensures your melee attacks hit accurately and hard. Charisma empowers your spells and abilities, so you’ll want this to be as high as possible as well.
Constitutionensures you keep concentration for some of your spells and also provides you with all-important hit points.
You’ll be wearing heavy armor, soDexterity can be safely ignored along with Intelligence and Wisdom.
With your high Charisma score,Paladins make great “face” characters. However, you’ll probably be relying on your teammates for skill checks that don’t involve Strength or Charisma.
If you’re using the points buy system for D&D,a good starting ability score spreadmight look something like this:
17(+3)
8(-1)
15(+2)
16(+3)
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: Phandelver & Below The Shattered Obelisk – What Are Mind Crystals
Best Starting Equipment For An Oath Of The Watchers Paladin
A paladin has a lot of options in terms of starting equipment. You could play more defensively with ashield and a single martial weapon, or you could go for maximum offense withtwo martial weapons.
Abattleaxe,longsword, andwarhammerare all good options with a shield, or you may pair any of these with a larger two-handed weapon like alance,maul, orgreatsword.
A lance offers interesting mounted combat options, but you’d need a horse or some other ridable creature to make it work.
Five javelins provide you with a ranged option, but you can replace that with a simple melee weapon if you’ve taken a species that provides a ranged-attack cantrip.
Anexplorer’s packprovides more goodies than a priest’s pack, so pick that. A set ofchain mailand aholy symbolare the last you need to prepare for your adventure.
Best Spells For An Oath Of The Watchers Paladin
As a half-caster class, Paladins have few spell slots and no ability to cast spells as a ritual. And since your Divine Smite ability uses spell slots, whatever spells you choose had better be good.Here are a few suggested spellsto consider at each paladin level.
