I'm just wondering what the strongest paladin race would out of these options, particularly for a damage-centered paladin, not a tank :) pls choose ur top three options, and no spamming. I've just thrown in all the races that seem as though they could work for a paladin, but I really dunno about a lot of them, so...
\ (O_o) /
Feel free to comment why you chose what you did, or any other races you think should be here. I'll probably run another poll later with the finalists to decide on 1 race :) Thanks
EDIT
So it seems as though dragonborn came out on top... thanks to everyone who contributed:)
EDIT 2
The aasimar actually got more votes... a fallen aasimar paladin of vengeance might be cool
I chose centaur as Paladins only need strength and cha. Centaur was my choice because they have the extra movement, and for Paladin purposes, the bonus action charge they can do naturally can be used with Smite.
Dragonborns are also very good because they give the paladin a ranged aoe breath attack option.
Half-elf is the strongest from a defensive point of view. Variant human is the strongest from an offensive point of view. Why? Because it's all about that feat advantage.
With the half-elf, you get all those stats, fey ancestry, and dark vision. Just imagine if a creature tried charming your half-elf paladin, and you roll with both proficiency and advantage-- that's awesome. That unique stat spread also allows for some interesting choices down the line. I'd build a half-elf paladin starting with a 16 in STR & CON, and a 17 in CHA. At lvl 4, I could then take fey touched, which is EVEN MORE AWESOME.
With the v. human, you just get another feat, but that's okay because paladin is so feat starved that it's a win. Doing damage as a martial ultimately means you have to take GWM or PAM, or both. For other races, this means your STR is kinda behind the curve. V.human can at least stay on the curve and achieve 20 STR by lvl 8 with one of those feats, or not be as behind with an 18 but they take both aforementioned feats. You end up with a martial that can deal a lot of hurt and do so on the expected basis.
It depends on the build specifics, but the general answer is Goblin I think (but I don't see it on the poll). Goblin is generally the best race for any class except Rogue because nimble escape is extremely powerful.
At high levels Shaddar Kai is really strong as well, but I think it is generally outclassed by Goblin at low levels for most Paladin builds.
Nimble Escape is an extremely powerful feature, but as a paladin, you are obliged to be a damage dealer, tank, and caster. Nimble escape lets you disengage, which helps you run away fast. Plus, the hide is useless, since you have disadvantage in hiding. Also, you can't wield great weapons like this...
Fury of the Small is a nice bit of extra damage, but it won't accumulate to anything much.
*shaming goblins ritual complete. Now to summon Tiamat from the Nine Hells! Mwah ha hah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!*
Oh, and as for the positive side. I LOVE the idea of a fizban dragonborn, though chromatic are the weakest of the three. Personally, I recommend a gem dragonborn. In my opinion, Saphire is the most usefull for min-maxing, but any dragonborn will do.
Shader-Kai. Elf features, damage resistance, and a PB/long rest 30 ft Bonus action teleport that, when you use it, it gives you resistance to all damage until your next turn. Great durability, you’re no longer locked into melee, and can lead to some great backstory ideas.
Nimble Escape is an extremely powerful feature, but as a paladin, you are obliged to be a damage dealer, tank, and caster. Nimble escape lets you disengage, which helps you run away fast. Plus, the hide is useless, since you have disadvantage in hiding. Also, you can't wield great weapons like this...
Fury of the Small is a nice bit of extra damage, but it won't accumulate to anything much.
*shaming goblins ritual complete. Now to summon Tiamat from the Nine Hells! Mwah ha hah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!*
I think a Goblin Paladin will mop the floor with most others.
Wratful Smite will give an opponent frightened, that condition means they can not advance towards you. They also have disadvantage on the ability check to cancel it and it requires an action to try. Wrathful smite on turn 1 - then back away (taking AOO), and they can't close to attack you on their turn, they can TRY to cancel the frightened withg a full action (with disadvantage). Every turn thereafter close attack, nimble escape and back away and they can't do anything. Maybe they can ready an action to take 1 attack at disadvantage .... and then never even try to cancel the fear.
If you are too far away to attack on round 1 you can still cat it and then attack in round 2. also getting to use nimble escape and taking no attacks at all.
You say the role is tank, damage dealer and spell caster. Giblin gives up nothing on being a tank. A Goblin is still as good a tank as any other race except Shaddar Kai or Earth Genasi. it is not like a Goblin is less a tank than any other race. With fury of the small and bonus action hide (giving advantage) they do MORE damage than most other races. As far as spell caster goes, they are as good as any race that does not get racial spells.
This is in addition to being able to spam wrathful smite and nimble escape
- Immunity to sleep - advantage against being charmed and ending it - bonus action Misty step to get out of being grappled or moving around the board easier - dark vision - keen senses - proficiency in perception - options to switch seasons per long rest for different fey step effects (fire damage, teleport others etc) - change two proficiencies on a long rest (AKA. download from the matrix what you need when you'll need it) - "Trance" to take a long rest in the space of a short rest, brings all your smites / spell spots / lay on hands / channel divinity and divine senses right back !!
Not particularly. If you want an elf, use customized origin (to control the bonuses) and go with Astral, eladrin, high, or shadar-kai. I'd probably go with these first but the elves I mentioned would work: (customized origin) 1/2 orc, mountain dwarf, Yuan-ti, aasimar, and maybe minotaur or shifter (beasthide or longtooth), etc.
I'm just wondering what the strongest paladin race would out of these options, particularly for a damage-centered paladin, not a tank :) pls choose ur top three options, and no spamming. I've just thrown in all the races that seem as though they could work for a paladin, but I really dunno about a lot of them, so...
\ (O_o) /
Feel free to comment why you chose what you did, or any other races you think should be here. I'll probably run another poll later with the finalists to decide on 1 race :) Thanks
EDIT
So it seems as though dragonborn came out on top... thanks to everyone who contributed:)
EDIT 2
The aasimar actually got more votes... a fallen aasimar paladin of vengeance might be cool
I chose centaur as Paladins only need strength and cha. Centaur was my choice because they have the extra movement, and for Paladin purposes, the bonus action charge they can do naturally can be used with Smite.
Dragonborns are also very good because they give the paladin a ranged aoe breath attack option.
Blank
I think this is too situational. What is the environment you will be playing in? Races all have some benefit that may or may not matter.
Attributes are subjective depending on equipment obtained.
Why isn't half-orc in the poll (it's one of my choices)? Or lineages like Dhampir?
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E/RPG geek.
Half-elf is the strongest from a defensive point of view. Variant human is the strongest from an offensive point of view. Why? Because it's all about that feat advantage.
With the half-elf, you get all those stats, fey ancestry, and dark vision. Just imagine if a creature tried charming your half-elf paladin, and you roll with both proficiency and advantage-- that's awesome. That unique stat spread also allows for some interesting choices down the line. I'd build a half-elf paladin starting with a 16 in STR & CON, and a 17 in CHA. At lvl 4, I could then take fey touched, which is EVEN MORE AWESOME.
With the v. human, you just get another feat, but that's okay because paladin is so feat starved that it's a win. Doing damage as a martial ultimately means you have to take GWM or PAM, or both. For other races, this means your STR is kinda behind the curve. V.human can at least stay on the curve and achieve 20 STR by lvl 8 with one of those feats, or not be as behind with an 18 but they take both aforementioned feats. You end up with a martial that can deal a lot of hurt and do so on the expected basis.
It depends on the build specifics, but the general answer is Goblin I think (but I don't see it on the poll). Goblin is generally the best race for any class except Rogue because nimble escape is extremely powerful.
At high levels Shaddar Kai is really strong as well, but I think it is generally outclassed by Goblin at low levels for most Paladin builds.
Really? Goblin?
I mean...
Nimble Escape is an extremely powerful feature, but as a paladin, you are obliged to be a damage dealer, tank, and caster. Nimble escape lets you disengage, which helps you run away fast. Plus, the hide is useless, since you have disadvantage in hiding. Also, you can't wield great weapons like this...
Fury of the Small is a nice bit of extra damage, but it won't accumulate to anything much.
*shaming goblins ritual complete. Now to summon Tiamat from the Nine Hells! Mwah ha hah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!*
DMing:
The Cataclysm Stadium
Rise of the White Mask
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian.
Oh, and as for the positive side. I LOVE the idea of a fizban dragonborn, though chromatic are the weakest of the three. Personally, I recommend a gem dragonborn. In my opinion, Saphire is the most usefull for min-maxing, but any dragonborn will do.
DMing:
The Cataclysm Stadium
Rise of the White Mask
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian.
Shader-Kai. Elf features, damage resistance, and a PB/long rest 30 ft Bonus action teleport that, when you use it, it gives you resistance to all damage until your next turn. Great durability, you’re no longer locked into melee, and can lead to some great backstory ideas.
I think a Goblin Paladin will mop the floor with most others.
Wratful Smite will give an opponent frightened, that condition means they can not advance towards you. They also have disadvantage on the ability check to cancel it and it requires an action to try. Wrathful smite on turn 1 - then back away (taking AOO), and they can't close to attack you on their turn, they can TRY to cancel the frightened withg a full action (with disadvantage). Every turn thereafter close attack, nimble escape and back away and they can't do anything. Maybe they can ready an action to take 1 attack at disadvantage .... and then never even try to cancel the fear.
If you are too far away to attack on round 1 you can still cat it and then attack in round 2. also getting to use nimble escape and taking no attacks at all.
You say the role is tank, damage dealer and spell caster. Giblin gives up nothing on being a tank. A Goblin is still as good a tank as any other race except Shaddar Kai or Earth Genasi. it is not like a Goblin is less a tank than any other race. With fury of the small and bonus action hide (giving advantage) they do MORE damage than most other races. As far as spell caster goes, they are as good as any race that does not get racial spells.
This is in addition to being able to spam wrathful smite and nimble escape
Dragonborn
Yes, the damage resistance and breath weapon are good on a paladin.
Eladrin Paladin for the win!
- Immunity to sleep
- advantage against being charmed and ending it
- bonus action Misty step to get out of being grappled or moving around the board easier
- dark vision
- keen senses - proficiency in perception
- options to switch seasons per long rest for different fey step effects (fire damage, teleport others etc)
- change two proficiencies on a long rest (AKA. download from the matrix what you need when you'll need it)
- "Trance" to take a long rest in the space of a short rest, brings all your smites / spell spots / lay on hands / channel divinity and divine senses right back !!
Would a wood elf be a good race for a paladin?
Not particularly. If you want an elf, use customized origin (to control the bonuses) and go with Astral, eladrin, high, or shadar-kai. I'd probably go with these first but the elves I mentioned would work: (customized origin) 1/2 orc, mountain dwarf, Yuan-ti, aasimar, and maybe minotaur or shifter (beasthide or longtooth), etc.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E/RPG geek.