Since the earliest editions of Dungeons and Dragons, paladins have been a premier combat class that combines weapons with some divine spellcasting. A big issue for the class is that paladins have been railroaded into being paragons of justice with little wiggle room, leaving players feeling locked into a very specific character archetype.

RELATED: D&D: 10 Best Cleric Multiclass Combos

5th Edition changed this a bit by introducing subclasses based on the different oaths paladins swear. This not only adds more moral flexibility to a paladin character but also makes the class more diverse than its been in previous editions. Paladins are an extremely strong class in D&D, and every subclass has something different to offer.

Updated May 9, 2022 by Declan Lowthian: Since this article's original publication, several of the options have moved from playtest content to official material. Unfortunately, paladins have not had nearly as many additional options added as other classes, but the options that are present remain extremely strong overall.

10 The Oath Of Glory Is Focused On Movement

dnd paladin fighting a hydra with a spear

A subclass introduced in the Mythic Odysseys of Theros tie-in product, The Oath of Glory is taken by a paladin who believes they are destined to achieve glory through deeds of heroism. They dedicate themselves to becoming known as heroes by the general populace and training themselves both to be stronger and overcome their flaws.

The Oath of Glory is an extremely well-rounded subclass mostly focused on buffing itself and allies. It grants the paladin access to spells like Guiding Bolt, Heroism, and Protection from Energy, all great for giving allies the extra edge in combat. It also has a strong focus on movement, able to increase a party's walking speed with its 7th level ability and the Haste spell.

9 Oath Of The Watchers

a dnd paladin with a spectral figure behind her

First debuted an Unearthed Arcana article, the Oath of the Watcher was officially published in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. The Oath of the Watcher is a paladin devoted to defending the Material Plane from extraplanar threats. Like the Horizon Walker ranger, the Oath of the Watcher is going to be at its best in a campaign already focused on interplanar threats.

The Oath of the Watcher gains spells focused on detection, like Alarm, See Invisibility, and Moonbeam. The Oath of the Watcher is a very strong choice for anyone looking to do battle with aberrations, elementals, or fiends.

8 Oath Of Devotion

D&D: half orc paladin in full armor

The Oath of Devotion is the traditional interpretation of the paladin class. It is taken by paladins that seek to be the perfect embodiment of chivalry. A paladin of this oath cannot lie, retreat, or take any morally grey action.

RELATED: D&D: 15 Great Low Level Magic Items From 5e To Give Players Early On In A Session

The Oath of Devotion includes all the abilities associated with the traditional paladin character. It ensures the paladin always has basic protective spells like Protection from Evil and Good prepared, and allows them to enhance their weapon or turn fiends and undead. Oath of Devotion is perfect for new players, but it isn't as in depth as some of the other available options.

7 Oath Of The Ancients

Dnd Druid riding a horse made of plant material

Most paladins can be thought of as a combat-oriented version of a cleric, but the Oath of the Ancients is more analogous to the druid. The Oath of the Ancients calls upon the paladin to protect all that is good in the world, especially the natural places.

The features offered by the Oath of the Ancients overlap with the druid and ranger, including spells like Ensnaring Strike and Speak with Animals. The Oath of Ancients offers a fun and flavorful spin on the traditional paladin archetype, and its combat abilities are very strong as well.

6 Oathbreakers

dnd dragonborn oathbreaker paladin with an axe casting an evil spell

Introduced in the Dungeon Master Guide as a class option for antagonistic NPC paladins, The Oathbreaker is a paladin that has fallen from grace. It is implied that the Oathbreaker is a former Oath of Devotion paladin who has gone dark, gaining a suite of similarly opposite abilities.

Instead of turning undead, Oathbreakers can attempt to sway them to their control. They also gain an ability to instill fear in their enemies, plus a full complement of sinister spells like Inflict Wounds, Bestow Curse, and Crown of Madness. Oathbreakers aren't perfect for every campaign, but they are a fun option to have available if the story calls for it.

5 Oath Of Treachery

A Death Knight wielding a torch in DnD

Introduced all the way back in a 2016 Unearthed Arcana article simply called Paladin, the Oath of Treachery has yet to see an official release. A paladin with the Oath of Treachery is a paladin that has forsworn all other oaths for focusing on their own survival and power

RELATED: Dungeons and Dragons: 15 Of The Most Dangerous & Powerful Demons, Ranked

A paladin with this oath almost feels more like a D&D rogue with an emphasis on manipulation and illusions. The Oath of Treachery is overall a great option for those wanting to play a paladin with a more chaotic, trickster bent, regardless of whether they want to be downright evil or not.

4 Oath Of Conquest

DnD paladin riding a white horse wielding a sword.

From Xanathar's Guide to Everything, this paladin subclasses is best used for most political and war focused campaign. Oath of Conquest paladins are devoted to wiping out their enemies by any means necessary, though their actual moral alignment is left up to the player.

Befitting a character focused on war, many of the Oath of Conquest's abilities are powerful against multiple creatures, often inflicting the frightened condition on nearby creatures. Their spell list is a good mix of offense, defense and control, with some stand-out examples being Armor of Agathys, Spiritual Weapon, and Dominate Person.

3 Oath Of Vengeance

A minotaur wielding a flaming weapon in DnD

The Oath of Vengeance is the subclass for a player who wants to unleash the full combat potential of the paladin class. A paladin with the Oath of Vengeance excels when fighting one enemy, with their Vow of Enmity Channel Divinity option allowing them to gain advantage on a chosen foe for a full minute.

Oath of Vengeance spells also encourage this playstyle, with options like Hold Person, Banishment, and especially Hunter's Mark. Their Abjure Enemy ability essentially allows them to use a Turn Undead-style ability against any kind of creature, making them an extremely powerful choice for combat-focused campaigns.

2 Oath Of The Crown

a dnd paladin riding a lion

A paladin who takes the Oath of the Crown is one that seeks to protect civilization by both defending it from hostile enemies and ensuring that the rule of law is followed within it. These paladins are the ones that rather guard the city's wall than fight a dragon in its lair. The Oath of the Crown is thematically similar to the Oath of Devotion, but with an even stronger focus on defense.

RELATED: D&D: 10 Best 5e Magic Items For Warlocks

They can use their Channel Divinity to heal their allies or force enemies to remain near them. Their spells include options like Compelled Duel, Warding Bond, and Aura of Vitality, further cementing them as one of the best defensive subclasses in D&D.

1 Oath Of Redemption

a dnd paladin healing another character

Introduced in Xanathar's Guide to Everything, the Oath of Redemption is great for paladins looking to avoid violence altogether. They gain spells like Calm Emotions, Hypnotic Pattern, and Sanctuary, all great for descalating conflicts rather than ending them violently.

The Oath of Redemption's Channel Divinity abilities can be used to gain bonuses on Persuasion checks or turn an enemy's attack back on them. Playing an Oath of Redemption paladin opens a great deal of roleplaying opportunities, and is great for anyone looking for a fresh take on the paladin class.