Hello! I have got a S&B defense devotion paladin who is going to play with a dex battlemaster and a melee assassin.
My build is so far 16 STR & CHA / 13 CON / 10 DEX / 8 INT / 12 WIS
I am torn between Resilient (CON) to keep my concentration buffs up and round up my CON or Shield Master. My DM will allow to lower WIS to 10 and get CON 14 if I wish to tune my build (and I might if I go with Shield Master, 13 CON is scaaaaaaary). Shield Master seems more fun, but really Resilient seems so useful....
ASI is also an option, but would definitely go +2 CHA if so, as I plan to max it first.
If your DM allows, drop your WIS to make your CON 14 and then I'd recommending ASI -> STR, then CHA, then STR, then CHA, then grab a feat. You need your primary ability scores to be as high as possible if you like hitting things/casting spells, and as a paladin STR is usually a higher priority (for smiting, combat, etc). Lean on spells that don't rely on your Charisma as much, like the smite spells/lesser restoration, etc.
Alternatively, take 1 level in Hexblade and dump STR for CHA, and take all the feats you want with the later ASI's instead of maxing STR.
Ok I've said this multiple times in the Paladins forums.
If you're playing with magical items dont be concerned with wasting ASI on str. There are plenty of magical items that make you're str anything from 19 all the way to 29.
I personally always take Res Con. Not only does this buff you're you're Con it makes you're Con saves extremely high past level 6.
Shield Master is nice but I'd take it later it wont benefit all that much anyways unless you're DM decides to not follow the sage advice errata to it. The only reasons I ever consider it is for the other things it does outside of the shove bonus action.
I also really wouldn't be concerned with maxing Cha. An 18 Cha is perfectly fine. Once there I'd raise you're con. If you're going straight Paladin and take the resilient feat this still gives you two other feats to pick from. I generally take tough as one as well.
You can effectively have an 16 Con, 18 Cha and a 19 or higher str doing this. If you're a scourge aasimar you essentially get a better damaging version of you're level 20 ability at level 3. Find a holy avenger and you have a combined better version. If you're willing to give up an ASI you can multiclass two levels.
Why do I recommend this stuff? Well I predominantly play a Devotion Paladin. My current version of my character is a Scourge Aasimar and will be lvl 18 Devotion Paladin/ lvl 2 War Cleric multiclass.
Why War Cleric? Well if you have a 14 Wis you can make 2 attacks as a bonus action per a long rest, get a channel divinity for a +10 to hit, get a ranged cantrip and spell, and finally get a level 6 spell slot. The added benefit of better insight, perception and wis saves is just icing on the cake.
Now you could do this but it cost you an Asi to do it. I put it down mainly as something of an option of what can be done by only doing a 2 level dip.
I’d say Shield Master over Resilient (Con), and here’s why: at 6th level, you get your Cha mod as a bonus to your saves, including your Con saves. Moreover, that Cha bonus stacks with your shield bonus to Dex saves. Pretty sweet combo, if you ask me.
Shield Masters saves are very specific and only to dex which in a max point buy is one of the 3 dump stats.
Increasing a Con save for concentration saves is far more important. Being able to keep shield of Faith, protection from evil and good, bless, and other spells up is far more important than what shield master offers.
Furthermore at lvl 6 you are talking, if 16 Cha and 16 Con, a 9 vs a 6 to con saves. At higher lvls this divide further increases. Shield mast I grab as an additional aid to boost saves. Half the time I dont even bother with it because I go other routes. Generally speaking a Paladin that's not a human variant should generally take 2 feats but never more than 3 and you only take 3 if you have a fully mapped out plan to build a successful character.
Hello! I have got a S&B defense devotion paladin who is going to play with a dex battlemaster and a melee assassin.
My build is so far 16 STR & CHA / 13 CON / 10 DEX / 8 INT / 12 WIS
I am torn between Resilient (CON) to keep my concentration buffs up and round up my CON or Shield Master. My DM will allow to lower WIS to 10 and get CON 14 if I wish to tune my build (and I might if I go with Shield Master, 13 CON is scaaaaaaary). Shield Master seems more fun, but really Resilient seems so useful....
ASI is also an option, but would definitely go +2 CHA if so, as I plan to max it first.
Opinions?
If your DM allows, drop your WIS to make your CON 14 and then I'd recommending ASI -> STR, then CHA, then STR, then CHA, then grab a feat. You need your primary ability scores to be as high as possible if you like hitting things/casting spells, and as a paladin STR is usually a higher priority (for smiting, combat, etc). Lean on spells that don't rely on your Charisma as much, like the smite spells/lesser restoration, etc.
Alternatively, take 1 level in Hexblade and dump STR for CHA, and take all the feats you want with the later ASI's instead of maxing STR.
Partway through the quest for absolute truth.
Ok I've said this multiple times in the Paladins forums.
If you're playing with magical items dont be concerned with wasting ASI on str. There are plenty of magical items that make you're str anything from 19 all the way to 29.
I personally always take Res Con. Not only does this buff you're you're Con it makes you're Con saves extremely high past level 6.
Shield Master is nice but I'd take it later it wont benefit all that much anyways unless you're DM decides to not follow the sage advice errata to it. The only reasons I ever consider it is for the other things it does outside of the shove bonus action.
I also really wouldn't be concerned with maxing Cha. An 18 Cha is perfectly fine. Once there I'd raise you're con. If you're going straight Paladin and take the resilient feat this still gives you two other feats to pick from. I generally take tough as one as well.
You can effectively have an 16 Con, 18 Cha and a 19 or higher str doing this. If you're a scourge aasimar you essentially get a better damaging version of you're level 20 ability at level 3. Find a holy avenger and you have a combined better version. If you're willing to give up an ASI you can multiclass two levels.
Why do I recommend this stuff? Well I predominantly play a Devotion Paladin. My current version of my character is a Scourge Aasimar and will be lvl 18 Devotion Paladin/ lvl 2 War Cleric multiclass.
Why War Cleric? Well if you have a 14 Wis you can make 2 attacks as a bonus action per a long rest, get a channel divinity for a +10 to hit, get a ranged cantrip and spell, and finally get a level 6 spell slot. The added benefit of better insight, perception and wis saves is just icing on the cake.
Now you could do this but it cost you an Asi to do it. I put it down mainly as something of an option of what can be done by only doing a 2 level dip.
I’d say Shield Master over Resilient (Con), and here’s why: at 6th level, you get your Cha mod as a bonus to your saves, including your Con saves. Moreover, that Cha bonus stacks with your shield bonus to Dex saves. Pretty sweet combo, if you ask me.
Shield Masters saves are very specific and only to dex which in a max point buy is one of the 3 dump stats.
Increasing a Con save for concentration saves is far more important. Being able to keep shield of Faith, protection from evil and good, bless, and other spells up is far more important than what shield master offers.
Furthermore at lvl 6 you are talking, if 16 Cha and 16 Con, a 9 vs a 6 to con saves. At higher lvls this divide further increases. Shield mast I grab as an additional aid to boost saves. Half the time I dont even bother with it because I go other routes. Generally speaking a Paladin that's not a human variant should generally take 2 feats but never more than 3 and you only take 3 if you have a fully mapped out plan to build a successful character.
Take Great Weapon Master, use a maul or greatsword.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
charisma charisma charisma, it powers your aura that boosts all your saves and people close to you