Unlock the Dark Secrets: Mastering the Path of the Oathbreaker Paladin in Baldur's Gate 3

In the world of Baldur's Gate 3, Paladins are revered as paragons of virtue and righteousness. Bound by their sacred oath, they are devoted to upholding goodness and are expected to unwaveringly follow their oath. Despite this, Paladins have the potential to deviate from their promise.

An Oathbreaker Paladin is exactly what it implies - a Paladin who has renounced their creed, whether by choice or not. While this is detrimental for those aspiring to maintain a strong role-playing game, players intrigued by the darker side of divine power may willingly abandon their oaths for a different form of strength.

How to Break the Paladin's Oath

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In general, if a Paladin behaves in a manner that goes against their honorable nature, they will lose the divine blessing that grants them power. The specific guidelines of each Paladin Oath go beyond being mere roleplay elements, and certain actions may be more forgivable or condemnatory depending on the Oath's guiding principles.

For instance, those who have taken the Oath of Devotion must uphold qualities such as courage, compassion, and duty. These Paladins are dedicated to aiding the weak, following righteous laws, and fearlessly engaging in combat. If a Devotion Paladin unjustly takes the life of an innocent, regardless of the circumstances, they will be deemed Oathbreakers.

In contrast, Paladins who follow the Oath of the Ancients are dedicated to upholding love and kindness. Engaging in any malicious acts, such as killing the Owlbear cub in the cave or causing harm to Arabella in the Emerald Grove, will result in the nullification of their oath.

On the other hand, the Oath of Vengeance allows for more flexibility among the three Paladin subtypes. These Paladins are committed to ruthlessly eliminating the cruel and wicked, and administering just judgment to the accused. Failing to spare Auntie Ethel's life or releasing the goblin Sazza would be a violation of this oath.

Breaking an oath will cause the Oathbreaker Knight to visit the player. Talk to him back at camp to formally become an Oathbreaker.

What Does an Oathbreaker Do?

Oathbreakers forfeit their ability to wield holy spells and acquire the ability to harness unholy ones. In lieu of performing the dual role of support and frontline fighter, these Paladins prioritize dealing damage, invoking offensive sorcery, and asserting dominion over the deceased rather than merely vanquishing them. Rest assured, players will continue to have access to the formidable Divine Smite.

In terms of playstyle, Oathbreakers resemble the Warlock's sword-and-sorcery fighting style, seamlessly blending melee attacks with the use of Necrotic magic to harm or weaken enemies. Noteworthy spells among Oathbreakers are:

Spiteful Suffering - Inflicts Necrotic damage on targets, boosting the effectiveness of attacks against them.

Control Undead - Gain control over any lower-level undead

Hellish Rebuke - React to an attack and deal Fire damage to the attacker

Animate Dead - Create an undead minion from a nearby corpse

Aura of Hate - Passively increases the melee damage of the Paladin and their allies based on the caster's Charisma modifier

Baldur's Gate 3 is available now on PC, with a PS5 version releasing September 6, 2023.