Baldurs Gate 3 Oathbreaker Paladin: How to Unlock the Secret Subclass

Baldurs Gate 3 Oathbreaker Paladin is one of the most interesting subclasses of Larian’s new RPG, but how can you get it?

It’s safe to say that Larian’s new RPG, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a massive success: the game has been breaking records left and right, has an incredibly high Steam rating, an incredible following through content creators, and heaps of console players becoming increasingly hyped for the September release for Xbox, PlayStation, and other consoles.

There’s good reason for Baldur’s Gate 3’s incredible success: the game is extremely well made, very detailed and insanely fun. Larian made the right choice to push the release date for the game, as they might have created a masterpiece that is definitely in contention for GOTY this year.

While the world, story and characters of Baldur’s Gate 3 are incredibly detailed, really filling Faerun with life, the player’s character doesn’t fall flat among the other aspects of the game. With 11 races, 40 subraces, 12 classes, 46 subclasses and a staggering amount of cosmetic customization options, you can create the character(s) of your dreams.

However, customization doesn’t end after you leave the character creation screen, as you can pick up some great skills during your adventures in Baldur’s Gate – and even a new subclass, if you picked the right class to begin with. What I’m talking about is Oathbreaker Paladin, one of the secret subclasses of Baldur’s Gate 3, which provides the Paladin class with some great tools if you want to break your sacred promise. Oathbreaker Paladin is special in more ways than one, as you can’t select it when you make your hero at the start of the game – but how can you become an Oathbreaker then?

Baldurs Gate 3 Oathbreaker Paladin – How to Unlock

At the start of Baldur’s Gate 3, if you choose the Paladin class, you’ll have to choose between three oaths. These oaths are sworn by the holy warriors that are Paladins and in order to uphold it – and keep their powers – they must act according to their oaths. In BG3 and in DnD 5e, these oaths also determine the subclass of the Paladin:

• Oath of Devotion, which is about protecting the innocent and those who can’t fight for themselves, while destroying evil that threatens the greater good – but mostly about protecting everyone,
  • This class is mostly about tanking damage and protecting your allies in fights, while picking the “good” choices in conversations and when exploring the world
• Oath of the Ancients, which takes fighting for the greater good to the next level, fighting for the light in the battle of cosmic entities, and for the beauty of nature, which somewhat overlaps with the Druid class and some Ranger subclasses,
  • This subclass is the healer Paladin subclass, as Oath of Devotion gives Paladins access to some supportive spells such as Healing Radiance
• Oath of Vengeance, the knight of justice, a Paladin that stops at nothing to deliver justice – and more importantly, destroy anyone that committed a sin,
  • This subclass is the “damage” Paladin, as it has access to spells such as Inquisitor’s Might, and with the right perks, feats and weapons can be a formidable foe.

As the name suggests, Oathbreaker Paladins are the one that left their oaths behind for one reason or another – they didn’t agree with their promise anymore, or some life changing event made then venture off the path. In Baldur’s Gate 3, that is the way to unlock this hidden subclass: you have to act against your act. This differs for all three oaths, but there’s plenty of opportunities to break your oath even after the start of the game – spoilers ahead!

• For Oath of Devotion Paladin, attacking the tieflings who took Lae’zel prisoner, or letting the Arka in the Grove shoot Sazza, the goblin prisoner is a quick way to get your new subclass,
• For Oath of the Ancients, betraying the tieflings when rescuing Lae’zel works as well, but if you commit crimes against nature, you’ll break your oath just the same – such as killing the Owlbear near the Grove,
• For Oath of Vengeance, not hunting the guilty result in you breaking your oath – this is the route I took and triggered it when I promised to help True Soul Minthara attack the Grove. Even the promise works at the Shattered Sanctum, as I had no intention of actually attacking the Grove, and even helped the Tieflings defend the Druids’ home, but my oath was broken nonetheless.

Baldurs Gate 3 Oathbreaker Paladin Abilities, Proficiencies and Class Features

While the Oathbreaker Paladins are shunned by other Paladins, disciples of the Oathbreaker Knight are rewarded with powerful abilities to help them on their journey:

• They still have the standard Paladin spells such as Bless, Cure Wounds, the Smites and such, but gain darker abilities such as Hellish Rebuke and Inflict Wounds at level one, and spells such as Crown of Madness, Animate Dead and Bestow Curse,
• Just as “regular” Paladins, Oathbreakers have access to Channel Oath, Lay on Hands and Divine Sense, just as the Proficiencies in all Armour types, Shields, Simple and Martial Weapons, and the Paladin Hit Points.

Oathbreaker Paladins are much more damage focused than the other three choices with some Warlock and Wizard spells sprinkled in their kit, but they can still protect and buff their allies with the proper Fighting Style and Feat choices.

Can you restore your Oath after becoming an Oathbreaker Paladin?

Of course, if you would like to pick your sacred Paladin Oath up again, you can thanks to the Oathbreaker Knight that introduces you to the secret subclass. After you broke your oath, the Knight appears in your camp, explaining that he’s the first Oathbreaker, telling his story and about the life of Oathbreakers. If you want to, he can also restore your Oath as well – but being an Oathbreaker is very cool (and useful) so think twice before restoring your Oath.

Oathbreaker Paladin is one of the must fun ways to play Baldur’s Gate 3. While some NPC’s might be a little uneasy in your presence, becoming a Black Knight – and deciding your own fate – is an incredible roleplay experience, and Oathbreakers are versatile warriors regarding gameplay as well. If you’d like to have a spin on your BG3 run, don’t be afraid to break your sacred Oath!