Dive into the heart of fire and righteousness as we explore a character born from the fusion of ancient dragon lineage and divine call to duty: the Dragonborn Paladin. This guide will serve as your compass, navigating through the complexities of crafting this powerful character in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (DnD 5e).
Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a novice picking up the dice for the first time, the Dragonborn Paladin offers a unique blend of fiery breath and divine smite that’s bound to ignite your gaming experience. So, ready your shield and steady your greatsword as we embark on this journey to awaken the power of the Divine Draconic.
The Dragonborn: Embracing the Flame
The first step on our journey to building a Dragonborn Paladin is to understand the very soul of a Dragonborn. In the vast landscape of DnD 5e, the Dragonborn race stands apart due to its unique draconic heritage. This ancestry is not merely an aesthetic feature but forms the bedrock of a Dragonborn’s identity and abilities.
The Importance of Draconic Ancestry: Choosing a Red or Gold Dragon
The power of a Dragonborn is innately tied to their draconic lineage. For our build, we focus on the Red and Gold dragons, both of which are associated with the Fire element. This choice is more than thematic; it shapes our character’s Breath Weapon, a unique racial feature that allows Dragonborn to exhale destructive energy. Red and Gold Dragonborn can breathe fire, a powerful weapon that adds to their arsenal.
Understanding the implications of a Fire Element ancestry
Embracing a Fire Element ancestry means more than just possessing a fiery breath. Fire, in the realm of dragons, symbolizes destruction, renewal, and intense passion. A Dragonborn from a Red or Gold dragon lineage often displays a burning determination, an intense passion for their causes, and an indomitable spirit. These traits can greatly influence your role-playing experiences, adding depth to your character’s personality and actions.
Overview of key racial traits
Dragonborn possess several unique racial traits that bolster their capabilities. Beyond the Breath Weapon, Dragonborn have a Draconic Resistance based on their ancestry, providing them with resilience against the same damage type as their breath weapon—in our case, fire. This resistance can prove invaluable in the heat of battle, as it allows your Dragonborn Paladin to withstand fiery attacks that would scorch others.
Moreover, Dragonborn is physically imposing, standing taller and more muscular than most humans, with scales that glitter like precious metals. They have a natural Strength and Charisma increase, making them perfect candidates for a Paladin who relies on these two attributes for their combat prowess and divine abilities.
By choosing to play a Dragonborn, you’re embracing the flame, adopting the fury and passion of a dragon, and preparing to channel that power into your divine mission as a Paladin.
The Paladin: A Warrior of Vengeance
Having embraced the flame of our draconic heritage, we now turn our attention to the divine call that shapes our destiny: the Paladin class. Paladins in DnD 5e are holy warriors, bound by sacred oaths to uphold justice and righteousness. But our focus for this build is not just any Paladin, but a Paladin who has taken the Oath of Vengeance.
A brief Rundown of Class Features
At its core, a Paladin is a martial class with the added ability to cast spells. They are excellent frontline fighters, with a d10 hit dice, proficiency in all armor and weapons, and the ability to heal and smite through their Divine Smite and Lay on Hands abilities. Divine Smite allows a Paladin to expend a spell slot to deal radiant damage, making their strikes a beacon of divine power on the battlefield.
The Oath of Vengeance: What it Means and Why it’s Chosen for this Build
At 3rd level, a Paladin chooses a Sacred Oath to adhere to, a commitment that shapes their divine powers and moral obligations. The Oath of Vengeance is a solemn commitment to punish those who have committed a grievous sin. It’s not merely about dispensing justice; it’s about pursuing retribution against the forces of evil.
For our Dragonborn Paladin, the Oath of Vengeance fits perfectly. It aligns with the destructive and intense nature of our fiery Dragonborn, creating a character who burns not just with draconic fire, but also with a divine mission of retribution. Their fiery breath becomes a literal manifestation of their burning desire for vengeance.
The role of a Paladin in a Party: The Front-line Warrior
As a Paladin, your role in a party extends beyond being a shield-bearer and a healer. You are a source of inspiration, a beacon of hope in the face of overwhelming odds. In combat, you stand on the front lines, your greatsword swinging and your spells blazing. Out of combat, your strong Charisma allows you to be a leader and a diplomat.
In essence, our Dragonborn Paladin is a character who holds the line against the darkness, who stands tall when others falter, and who pursues vengeance against those who would spread chaos and destruction. They are a testament to the power of a warrior who has embraced both their draconic heritage and their divine calling.
The Divine Draconic Fusion: A Focus on Defense
Now that we have delved into the fiery lineage of the Dragonborn and the righteous path of the Paladin, it’s time to bring these elements together. The fusion of these two choices is a character build that is as intriguing as it is formidable, blending the innate abilities of the Dragonborn with the Paladin’s divine powers. This fusion is particularly suited for a defensive focus, emphasizing resilience and protection.
The Benefits of the Defense Fighting Style and Heavy Armor
As a Paladin, the choice of Fighting Style at the 2nd level greatly shapes your approach to combat. For our Dragonborn Paladin, the Defense fighting style is an excellent choice, adding +1 to AC while wearing armor. This bonus, when combined with the ability to wear heavy armor, makes our Paladin a bulwark on the battlefield.
Moreover, the Dragonborn’s fire resistance from their draconic ancestry complements this defensive focus. Whether it’s a fiery dragon’s breath or a fireball spell, our Paladin can resist fire damage that would otherwise weaken them.
The Role of the Greatsword in this Character Build
While the defense is crucial for our build, a Paladin is still a warrior, and choosing the right weapon is key. The greatsword is a powerful choice for our Dragonborn Paladin. A two-handed weapon, the greatsword deals hefty damage and makes a strong thematic fit for a towering, draconic warrior.
Additionally, the greatsword’s high damage output pairs well with the Paladin’s Divine Smite. When a critical hit lands, Divine Smite can be invoked to add even more damage, turning a successful strike into a devastating blow.
Crafting Your Dragonborn Paladin: A Step-by-Step Guide
With the core elements of our build outlined, let’s now dive into the practical steps of crafting your Dragonborn Paladin. We’ll look at attribute selection, skills and proficiencies, equipment choices, oath selection, and even a brief discussion on creating a fitting backstory.
Selecting Attributes With the Paladin Class and Dragonborn Race in Mind
When it comes to attribute selection, your primary focus should be Strength and Charisma – the key attributes for a Paladin. Strength is crucial for your combat effectiveness, while Charisma fuels your divine abilities. The Dragonborn race provides a natural boost to these attributes (+2 to Strength, +1 to Charisma), making it even more suited to the Paladin class.
Skill Selection and Proficiencies: What Suits a Defensive Warrior
As a Paladin, you gain proficiency in two skills from a list that includes Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Persuasion, and Religion. Athletics and Intimidation are good choices for our build, emphasizing the physical prowess and commanding presence of our Dragonborn Paladin.
Equipment Selection: The Importance of the Greatsword and Heavy Armor
In terms of equipment, our Dragonborn Paladin should start with a greatsword and the heaviest armor they can wear. The greatsword will be our primary weapon, dealing significant damage, especially when combined with Divine Smite. Heavy armor, on the other hand, maximizes our AC, especially when coupled with the Defense fighting style.
The selection of the Oath of Vengeance: Its Role in this Build
At 3rd level, we’ll choose the Oath of Vengeance. This Oath aligns with the fiery and destructive nature of our Dragonborn, creating a character driven by a divine mission of retribution against the forces of evil. The Oath of Vengeance also provides access to potent abilities and spells that can aid in combat and further emphasize the character’s role as a vengeful warrior.
Crafting a Backstory that Fits a Vengeful Dragonborn Paladin
Lastly, consider a backstory that complements your vengeful Dragonborn Paladin. Perhaps your character hails from a Dragonborn clan that was decimated by a powerful evil entity, sparking a desire for vengeance. Or maybe they were a soldier in a great war, where they saw the horrors that evil could inflict, leading them to swear an oath to eradicate such forces.
By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll create a Dragonborn Paladin who is not just a collection of stats and abilities, but a compelling character with a rich backstory, ready to make their mark in your DnD 5e campaign.
Mastering the Battlefield: Combat Strategies
With our Dragonborn Paladin fully crafted, it’s time to delve into the strategies that will make you a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. As a Dragonborn Paladin, you’re not just a warrior; you’re a tactician who uses every resource at your disposal to its maximum potential.
The Role of Divine Smite: Saving Spell Slots for Maximum Impact
A key feature of the Paladin class is Divine Smite, which allows you to expend a spell slot to deal additional radiant damage on a successful melee attack. For our Dragonborn Paladin, this feature is crucial. While it may be tempting to use your spell slots for casting spells, consider saving them for Divine Smite. This strategy ensures that when you land a hit with your greatsword, it’s not just a blow—it’s a divine judgment.
How to Utilize the Fire Breath in Combat
Let’s not forget our Dragonborn’s fiery breath. This racial trait allows you to use your action to exhale destructive energy. It’s an excellent tool for dealing damage to multiple enemies in a cone in front of you. Use it strategically when enemies group together to maximize its impact.
Remember, your fire breath’s damage scales with your character level, so while it may not seem much at lower levels, it becomes a potent weapon as you level up.
Other Combat Strategies Tailored to this Build
In addition to these, there are other strategies that can maximize your effectiveness in combat. Your high AC, thanks to heavy armor and the Defense fighting style, allows you to wade into the heart of battle. Use this to your advantage to protect squishier party members or to draw enemy fire.
Remember, as a Paladin, you also have healing capabilities. Don’t forget to use your Lay on Hands pool to heal yourself or an ally when needed.
Roleplaying Your Dragonborn Paladin: Tips and Tricks
Creating a character is just the first step in your DnD journey. The real magic comes in playing them, in stepping into their shoes and seeing the world from their eyes. To help you breathe life into your Dragonborn Paladin, let’s explore some roleplaying tips and tricks.
How to Embody a Vengeful, Fiery Character
Your Dragonborn Paladin is not just any character; they’re a being born of fire and vengeance. To embody this character, think about how these traits might manifest in their personality and actions. Perhaps they’re quick to anger, or maybe they’re slow and deliberate, with their fury simmering beneath the surface like a volcano about to erupt.
As a vengeful character, they likely have a strong sense of justice and a desire to right the wrongs they see in the world. They might be unforgiving, holding onto grudges until they can exact their retribution.
Building Relationships With Other Party Members as a Dragonborn Paladin
As a Dragonborn Paladin, you might find yourself standing out in a crowd, both due to your imposing draconic features and your fiery personality. This can make for interesting dynamics within your party. You could be the stern voice of reason, the uncompromising warrior, or the fiery heart of the group.
Remember that relationships are not just about conflict. Your character can also form deep bonds with others, their shared experiences on the battlefield and their common cause forging strong ties. Use your Paladin’s charisma to your advantage in these social situations.
Balancing the Dual Nature of a Draconic Being With a Divine Mission
Finally, a significant aspect of roleplaying a Dragonborn Paladin lies in balancing their dual nature. On the one hand, they have their innate draconic traits—fire, power, and a fierce sense of independence. On the other, they have their divine mission, their sacred oath that compels them to uphold certain ideals and principles.
Roleplaying this dual nature can lead to rich, complex character moments. Maybe your character struggles with these two sides of themselves, or perhaps they’ve found a way to harmoniously blend them. This internal conflict and balance can serve as a powerful roleplaying tool, adding depth and intrigue to your character’s journey.
Related Articles:
- Review of the Wingspan Oceania Expansion
- Is Stranded Deep Cross Platform
- Can Ps5 GTA play with Ps4 Online Together
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Dragonborn be paladins?
Yes, Dragonborn can be Paladins. In DnD, the Dragonborn race can choose any class, including Paladin.
What class is best for Dragonborn?
The “best” class for a Dragonborn depends on the player’s preferences and play style. However, due to their racial bonuses to Strength and Charisma, Dragonborn often excel as Paladins or Sorcerers.
What is the best weapon for a Dragonborn Paladin?
The “best” weapon for a Dragonborn Paladin can vary based on the player’s choices and the specifics of their build. However, a common choice is the Greatsword due to its high damage output.
What is the best race for a Paladin in D&D?
The “best” race for a Paladin in D&D can vary depending on the player’s preferred playstyle. However, races that grant bonuses to Strength and Charisma, such as the Human, Half-Elf, or Dragonborn, can be advantageous for Paladins.
How old is a Dragonborn Paladin?
The age of a Dragonborn Paladin would depend on the character’s backstory created by the player. According to the Player’s Handbook, Dragonborn reach adulthood by age 15 and live up to 80 years.
What race is the Dragonborn canonically?
In the DnD canon, Dragonborn are a race of draconic humanoids. In the Elder Scrolls series, “Dragonborn” is a title given to mortal characters with the soul of a dragon, not a specific race. The player character in Skyrim, often referred to as the Dragonborn, can be any race available in the game.
What Oath Should My Dragonborn Paladin Be?
A Dragonborn Paladin would often choose the Oath of Vengeance for a fiery, retribution-focused character, or the Oath of Devotion for a more noble, righteousness-driven character. However, the choice should ultimately align with your character’s backstory and motivations.
Final Words
This guide has taken you through the creation of a unique Dragonborn Paladin, a fiery warrior of divine retribution. We’ve explored the synergy of a Dragonborn’s fiery lineage with a Paladin’s divine mission, and the strategic choices that shape this character.
But remember, this is your character. Feel free to deviate from this guide and add your own personal touch. DnD is a game of limitless imagination, and your Dragonborn Paladin should reflect your vision.
So, embrace the adventure. Use this guide as a foundation, and craft a character that truly resonates with you. We’re excited for the epic tales your Dragonborn Paladin will undoubtedly inspire.