I'm playing a paladin in a game using a mix of 2014 and 2024 rules (DM doesn't really care which we use, so I'm taking best of both where I can, though smite is a bonus action no matter what). I'm planning to multi class, spending about half my levels (more or less) as paladin and the rest as sorcerer or bard. Both are great options for in and out of combat and fit with the character story I have in mind, but I can't figure which is the "stronger" option.
Bard offers more versatility, especially as a ritual caster, and has some decent utility spells, but overall is "weaker" power wise than sorcerer, which has stronger and more spells, but has less options (I think?).
you shouldn't really be mixing 2014 and 2024 for the character builds themselves, that is liable to be a bit complicated, however since we are talking like that. If the goal is for Paladin 10/Multiclass 10. Then I'd probably say Bard, with the 2024 version of Valor Bard, it's extra attack feature is straight up stronger than Paladin's, it also can use Combat Inspiration to help out the party. Personally I'd really recommend Paladin 12/Bard 8.
Sorcerer gets more damaging spells but you'd be getting them too late for them to be that useful, outside of cantrips but if the goal was cantrip damage then Warlock is clearly the superior option. One thing you can do as a Sorcerer is take Quicken spell as a metamagic and use that to get some more attacks in by casting a spell like True Strike, Booming Blade or Green-Flame blade, however it's very resource based and paladin already has a lot of resources to manage, Dragonic can be used to buff some damage and gives slightly more HP then other sorcerer subclasses but overall I don't think the subclasses add that much. Notably for Dragonic you can also get a resistance for the same type of damage you get a boost too, so if you choose fire (i.e. red dragon), you could add your Charisma Modifier to a searing smite's initial attack.
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I'm playing a paladin in a game using a mix of 2014 and 2024 rules (DM doesn't really care which we use, so I'm taking best of both where I can, though smite is a bonus action no matter what). I'm planning to multi class, spending about half my levels (more or less) as paladin and the rest as sorcerer or bard. Both are great options for in and out of combat and fit with the character story I have in mind, but I can't figure which is the "stronger" option.
Bard offers more versatility, especially as a ritual caster, and has some decent utility spells, but overall is "weaker" power wise than sorcerer, which has stronger and more spells, but has less options (I think?).
you shouldn't really be mixing 2014 and 2024 for the character builds themselves, that is liable to be a bit complicated, however since we are talking like that. If the goal is for Paladin 10/Multiclass 10. Then I'd probably say Bard, with the 2024 version of Valor Bard, it's extra attack feature is straight up stronger than Paladin's, it also can use Combat Inspiration to help out the party. Personally I'd really recommend Paladin 12/Bard 8.
Sorcerer gets more damaging spells but you'd be getting them too late for them to be that useful, outside of cantrips but if the goal was cantrip damage then Warlock is clearly the superior option. One thing you can do as a Sorcerer is take Quicken spell as a metamagic and use that to get some more attacks in by casting a spell like True Strike, Booming Blade or Green-Flame blade, however it's very resource based and paladin already has a lot of resources to manage, Dragonic can be used to buff some damage and gives slightly more HP then other sorcerer subclasses but overall I don't think the subclasses add that much. Notably for Dragonic you can also get a resistance for the same type of damage you get a boost too, so if you choose fire (i.e. red dragon), you could add your Charisma Modifier to a searing smite's initial attack.