No character needs to multiclass in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition. Each class is designed to function perfectly well if a character stays with it from level 1 to level 20. This is particularly true of the paladin. It's considered one of the most powerful classes in the game, capable of doing a great deal with its base kit.

Nonetheless, some builds are best achieved by multiclassing. Sometimes the story calls for a character to take levels in another class. Some players wish to diversify their playstyle. This holds true for the paladin, and there are several other D&D classes that they mesh particularly well with.

Updated January 16th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: The paladin is one of D&D 5e's most powerful classes. It can become even more powerful through making sensible choices while multiclassing. This list has been updated to match CBR's current formatting, as well.

12 Monks Clash With a Paladin's Need For Armor and Weapons

Benefits of a Paladin/Monk Multiclass:

• Ki Points give paladins brand-new options
• Both classes like facing the enemy in close combat

Paladins and monks are both D&D classes that use supernatural abilities alongside physical ones and are both classes that prefer melee combat. However, that's where any similarities between the two end. They play very differently and don't have many features that synergize.

Paladins use powerful weapons and armor, whereas monks traditionally use Unarmored Defense and Unarmed Strikes. Divine Smite and Improved Divine Smite require a character to use melee weapons. In addition, monks need high Wisdom for any of their abilities to work. Few D&D characters can keep Wisdom high alongside all the ability scores that paladins need. These classes are almost total opposites, even if they are both martial classes, so this is the worst multiclass option for a paladin.

11 Wizards Need Intelligence and Ample Spell Slots, Which Paladins Don't Provide

Benefits of a Wizard/Paladin Multiclass:

• Wizards survive more easily with paladin-caliber armor
• Wizards know many spells that paladins don't

Spellcasting classes are particularly difficult to multiclass. The spells of each class use that class' spellcasting modifier. As a result, most successful paladin multiclasses involve other Charisma spellcasters. The wizard uses Intelligence for its spellcasting, which paladins don't benefit from.

There are some benefits to the multiclass. A wizard can give a paladin more spell slots and access to utility or defensive spells like Prestidigitation, Shield, or Absorb Elements. That said, other classes can provide the same with far more synergy. There's not much reason to combine a wizard and a paladin.

10 Druids Need Wisdom and Favor Wildshape Over Weapons

Benefits of a Paladin/Druid Multiclass:

• Wildshape allows paladins to scout in new forms
• Druids offer great magic and abilities for natural settings

Paladins and druids are two of the most powerful classes in D&D 5e, but that doesn't mean they create an effective multiclass. Many druid features and subclasses reward investment in the class. In particular, Wild Shape for a Circle of the Moon Druid begins to lag behind unless a character puts all their levels in druid.

As such, any multiclass with a druid wants to invest heavily in it. However, paladins get invaluable abilities of their own at higher levels. Druid spellcasting also doesn't give a paladin much. Paladins use Charisma for their spells, and druids use Wisdom. A paladin multiclass trying to be effective with both classes' spells will spread itself thin.

9 Clerics Use Wisdom Rather Than Charisma to Fight

Benefits of a Paladin/Cleric Multiclass:

• Roleplay can be easy and fun with this option
• Both classes are built with healing and holy magic in mind
• Clerics have some affinity for weapons and armor

The cleric and paladin have obvious thematic connections, being two of the more overtly divine classes in D&D. Anyone who can roleplay a cleric can probably roleplay a cleric/paladin hybrid well, too. In addition, these two classes have something of a focus on healing and buffing. However, they can be held back by their different spellcasting abilities: Wisdom and Charisma.

There are some synergistic features. Some clerics get boosts to their melee combat abilities, which paladins value, but to an underwhelming degree. It takes eight levels in cleric to get Divine Strike, which provides a 1d8 damage bonus to a single weapon attack. A paladin can reach eleventh level and get Improved Divine Smite, which does the same thing for every weapon attack.

8 Artificers Like to Tinker With Items With Their Intelligence

Benefits of an Artificer/Paladin Multiclass:

• Artificers can modify and enhance weapons and armor
• Artificers have defensive spells that fit a tanky paladin's play style

Artificers have some significant conflicts as a paladin multiclass. All of their abilities want them to have as high Intelligence as possible, which doesn't mesh with a paladin's Charisma focus. Some subclasses even use their Intelligence to attack, which isn't much use to a paladin.

That said, the D&D artificer has several abilities that may appeal to a paladin. For starters, they can improve their own equipment with their Infusions. A paladin/artificer can give themselves access to a +1 sword or +1 armor before they're likely to find one adventuring. Artificers also get several buffs and defensive spells that the paladin can use.

7 Rangers Offer Some Useful Combat Abilities For Paladins

Benefits of a Paladin/Ranger Multiclass:

• Rangers have combat-oriented spells like Hunter's Mark
• Rangers can easily scout and survive in the wild
• Rangers have some affinity for weapons and armor

The ranger and paladin were D&D 5e's only half-casters before the artificer's release. Nonetheless, pairing the two suffers from differing spellcasting ability scores, with the ranger favoring Wisdom. Careful spell choice can negate this, and the ranger has some abilities that the paladin benefits from heavily.

For one, every ranger subclass comes with some form of damage buff that becomes active as soon as level 3. This gives the paladin an easy way to improve their at-will damage. The ranger also gets several buff spells like Hunter's Mark that a paladin would be grateful to have. A second Fighting Style is always welcome.

6 Rogues Do Extreme Damage With Sneak Attacks and Can Be Decent Fighters

Benefits of a Paladin/Rogue Multiclass:

• Rogues can easily hit with Sneak Attack and do extra damage
• Some rogues make good use of Charisma

On the surface, the paladin and rogue seem incompatible. This is because of stereotypes about their typical behavior. However, D&D 5e has relaxed the limitations on paladins. This opens up a lot of roleplaying paths. Similarly, nothing actually requires rogues to steal from others and break the law.

Furthermore, while their abilities don't synergize perfectly, they can work together well. Mixing Divine Smite with Sneak Attack can lead to vicious damage — particularly on a critical hit — letting a player quickly deal with a threatening enemy. Furthermore, many Swashbuckler rogue subclass abilities use Charisma, fitting the paladin well, so the rogue/paladin multiclass combo ranks in the middle of all paladin multiclass options. Still, it's far from the best paladin multiclass option, since rogues can survive direct combat, but rarely thrive in it.

5 Fighters Are Already Like Paladins, Minus the Holy Magic

Benefits of a Paladin/Fighter Multiclass:

• Fighters share all weapon/armor proficiencies with paladins
• Fighters have Action Surge
• Fighters have relevant subclasses for paladins

The fighter and paladin have very similar capabilities. They're the only two classes in D&D to get proficiency in all weapons and heavy armor automatically. After the first level, however, they diverge. The paladin's abilities go in a more divinely magical direction while the fighter gets more mundane combat skills.

​A multiclass of the two has plenty of synergy. A single level in fighter gets the paladin another fighting style — including options the paladin doesn't get access to. Two levels gets Action Surge, one of the best abilities in Dungeons & Dragons. Three gets a subclass, many of which are beneficial for the paladin. If one doesn't know where to stop, they can risk diluting the paladin's abilities too much.

4 Barbarians Hit Hard Up Close, Just Like Paladins

Benefits of a Paladin/Barbarian Multiclass:

• Barbarians boost HP with their d12 hit die
• Barbarians offer Rage to increase survivability
• Barbarians can use Divine Smite

Many of D&D 5e's martial classes are equally skilled with melee or ranged weaponry. However, two classes prioritize melee heavily: the paladin and the barbarian. Both of their most effective combat abilities only work with melee weapons. Combining Divine Smite with the barbarian's Rage can create a terrifying combat machine.

The barbarian's Rage halves most incoming damage, effectively making the paladin's self-healing stretch twice as far. In addition, the barbarian has access to Reckless Attack, which doubles the chance of a critical hit. This lets a paladin do even more damage with a well-timed Divine Smite.

3 Bards Are Tricky, Useful Charisma Casters

Benefits of a Paladin/Bard Multiclass:

• Bards already use Charisma for spellcasting
• Bards have lots of support spells to offer
• Bards give paladins more spell slots

Paladins blend martial skills and magic in D&D 5e. They are considered a "half-caster" in terms of their spell progression. They gain spell slots at half the rate of more magical classes, like wizards or clerics, and have fewer spells available. Bard is one of the best multiclasses to improve a paladin's spellcasting capabilities.

The bard is a full caster, gaining new spell slots with every level and learning spells rapidly. In addition, the magic they get synergizes well with the paladin's role, with plenty of healing and buffs. As an added bonus, they both use Charisma. Bards also have a higher hit die than many caster classes and have some martial subclasses, stopping the paladin from losing their melee edge.

2 Sorcerer

Benefits of a Paladin/Sorcerer Multiclass:

• Sorcerers already use Charisma for spellcasting
• Sorcerers offer lots of offensive spells for paladins at range
• Sorcery points can be used on paladin spells

Sorcerers have high spellcasting potential but low hit points and an inability to use most weapons or armor. Paladins are powerful martial warriors who often run the risk of running out of spell slots. Combining the two creates one of D&D's most powerful paladin multiclasses, dubbed the "Sorcadin" by fans.

By taking early levels in paladin, the player gets access to all weapons and heavy armor. They can improve their combat abilities to the desired level before taking levels in sorcerer to skyrocket their spellcasting. This gives them impressive melee prowess and excellent spellcasting. As an added bonus, they can use their spell slots to Divine Smite more often than a non-multiclassed paladin.

1 Warlocks Are Spellcasters With Nifty Melee Spell Options

Benefits of a Paladin/Warlocks Multiclass:

• Warlocks already use Charisma for spellcasting
• Warlocks have defensive spells like Armor of Agathys
• Warlocks can use Hex to boost damage output
• Hexblade already has a focus on swordplay

One of the most notorious multiclass combos in D&D involves the paladin and a specific subclass of D&D warlock: the Hexblade. Hexblades get the ability to use Charisma for their weapon attacks. Taking this ability on a paladin results in a character that uses one stat for weapons, spells, saving throws, and more.

There are other benefits, however. The unique short rest-focused casting of the warlock means the paladin can have more spell slots to Smite. The various warlock Pacts, like the Pact of the Chain or Tome, can give unique social or combat abilities that complement the paladin's kit. Warlock spells like Armor of Agathys or Hex can also help this paladin multiclass dominate enemies. Such exciting, elegant combos make the warlock the single best option for any paladin character aiming to take levels in other classes.