Oathbreakers are the quintessential evil paladins, and there’s almost no better class to choose when doing a dark playthrough ofBaldur’s Gate 3.
In the tabletop version ofD&D5th edition, the Oathbreaker class was included in theDungeon Master’s Guideand intended for villainous NPCs, but the class has caught on with players in a big way.Oathbreakers came late toBG3, but Larian clearly understood what made the class such a hit at the table. Paladins are already massively powerful half-casters that can smite their enemies with glee, but the Oathbreaker subclass adds some undead magic and dark power to the mix.
How to break your Oath
One does not simply start out as an Oathbreaker Paladin. You’re going to have to choose a different Paladin subclass and then break your Oath once the game gets going. It doesn’t matter what you choose because your Oathbreaker features replace whatever you start out as.
The easiest option here is to start as an Oath of Vengeance Paladin, then talk Arka out of killing Sazza when you reach the Emerald Grove. you may also get the ball rolling by killing an innocent person as an Oath of Devotion Paladin, or an innocent animal if you took the Oath of the Ancients.
Best race for an Oathbreaker Paladin
The good news is that you can’t really pick a bad race for an Oathbreaker. That said, you should remember that even though Oathbreakers can cast spells, they’re really melee fighters. Because of that, Githyanki and Half-Orc Oathbreakers are going to be extra powerful. Githyanki get psionics and mobility options, and Half-Orcs have Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks. Crafty or skull-crushing, the choice is yours.
Best ability scores for an Oathbreaker Paladin
Oathbreakers need to make sure they have a good mix of Strength, Constitution, and Charisma scores. The former pair helps Oathbreakers become masters of melee combat and the latter makes sure Oathbreakers can use the handful of spells they unlock as they progress. Here’s the setup I’d recommend at character creation:
Best background for an an Oathbreaker Paladin
The best backgrounds for Oathbreaker Paladins make good use of the Charisma attribute. Paladins need high Strength for their weaponry, but they also need a reasonably high Charisma for all their magic. Since you’re already going to have a high Charisma score, you might as well pick a background that gives you some social skill proficiencies. you may choose one that boosts your Persuasion and helps mitigate a low Intelligence/Wisdom score, or you can embrace your weaknesses and focus on terrifying and pummeling your foes.
Best feats for an Oathbreaker Paladin
When it comes to picking feats, Oathbreakers are inthe same boat as all the other Paladins. Depending on the build, Oathbreakers only get 2-3 feats, and it’s tempting to only take ability score increases because you need to boost both Strength and Charisma. Items can help you smooth out those scores, however, so these are the feats I’d recommend considering:
Best multiclass for an Oathbreaker Paladin
Oathbreakers are a bit limited when it comes to multiclassing because their signature ability – Animate Dead – doesn’t become available until 9th level. There are still some good multiclass options, though, especially if you’re willing to give up that particular spell.
