I’m starting a campaign in a month and we just had our session zero. I was going to run luxodon, but the dm isn’t allowing us to reallocate ASI traits. Not a big deal and I’m not here to complain about that, but it does mean I have to rethink my options a bit. Please keep in mind I’m not looking to optimize or min/max. I’m just looking for input on potential perks/downsides to any of these I may not be thinking of. Bonus points if you have playing experience with that combo. The rest of the group is drunken monk, warlock, sorcerer, rogue, ranger. I know we’re missing a healer but we don’t care and neither does the dm. I’ll be able to help a bit there, but I’m mainly looking at tanking up in the thick of it.
Zariel Tiefling (free smite + fire res is nice)
Shadar Kai (that free misty step with res to ALL damage sounds incredible for a glaive wielding paladin.
Minotaur (we’re going to space for at least a bit and goring rush could be really fun on a ship, also always knowing which way is north)
I can’t comment on playing with those races, just want to point out that ancients gets misty step as a domain spell — though the free cast is certainly nice. Also, there’s no north in space.
As an OoA tank, I would rank them: Shadar Kai, Zariel Tiefling, Minotaur
-Shadar kai has increased passive necrotic resistance, the Blessing of the Raven Queen gains another set of resistance at 3rd level, and a decent tank stat (+1 CON)
-Zariel tiefling has a pretty big damage increase for Paladins in that free smite and a good stat block (+2 CHA \ 1 STR)
-Minotaur has charge and a decent stat block (+2 STR \ 1 CON)
Overall, I think Shadar Kai is just an outright better tank than the other two. You do lose some possible damage opportunities but your party has 5 other dps characters so it shouldn't be a problem.
Zariel tieflings are great for paladins, personally I think because of the Flames of Phlegethos feat. Check it out if you’re able, you won’t regret taking it.
If you are using the Monsters of the Multiverse version of Shadar Kai then I would take the Shadar Kai. You can put the +2 and +1 in whatever stats you want (probably Charisma and Strength). Blessing of the Raven Queen will help you get into melee quicker if you start too far away to use your move, this will make you far more effective in the first round of combat. The resistance to all damage for a round and permanent resistance to necrotic is certainly nice too.
If you are using Legacy version Shadar Kai and can reassign the ability score increases as per Tasha's Caldron of Everything, then I would still take Shadar Kai.
The Zariel Tiefling is better than the Legacy SK if you can't reassign ability score increases because it has strength and charisma, which is what you want. Of course if you roll stats that could depend on what you roll as well.
Zariel tieflings are great for paladins, personally I think because of the Flames of Phlegethos feat. Check it out if you’re able, you won’t regret taking it.
I have looked at that, because I really like it thematically and want to build a character around that feat. The problem I see with it on a Paladin is wreathed in flame only activates when you cast a spell, only lasts a round and you have to use a fire spell to bring it into being. Searing Smite from Zariel Tiefling would cause it, but that is only once a day, for one round, and only does 1d4 damage per time you are hit on that round.
To get more than one round use out of it you would need to use other spells. The only Paladin spells I think of that cause fire damage are elemental weapon, which takes an action, and searing smite. You could prepare searing smite as a Paladin as well, in addition to the Zariel free cast but that is still going to be very limited uses and again it only activates the round you cast it. At 10th level you have 9 total spell slots, so if you use every one of them on Searing Smite or Elemental Weapon you will have a total of 10 rounds that you are wreathed in flame (9 from spells and 1 from the Zariel spell). At 20th level it is only 16 rounds, and that is using every slot you have for seaering smite or elemental weapon. Since they are both concentration you would also have to end it early and recast it to renew the wreathe a second time in a fight.
I also find smites are generally better than smite spells because there is no concentration or bonus action required, you use the slot after you hit and if you crit you can choose a higher level smite to get the most out of it.
I’m starting a campaign in a month and we just had our session zero. I was going to run luxodon, but the dm isn’t allowing us to reallocate ASI traits. Not a big deal and I’m not here to complain about that, but it does mean I have to rethink my options a bit. Please keep in mind I’m not looking to optimize or min/max. I’m just looking for input on potential perks/downsides to any of these I may not be thinking of. Bonus points if you have playing experience with that combo. The rest of the group is drunken monk, warlock, sorcerer, rogue, ranger. I know we’re missing a healer but we don’t care and neither does the dm. I’ll be able to help a bit there, but I’m mainly looking at tanking up in the thick of it.
Zariel Tiefling (free smite + fire res is nice)
Shadar Kai (that free misty step with res to ALL damage sounds incredible for a glaive wielding paladin.
Minotaur (we’re going to space for at least a bit and goring rush could be really fun on a ship, also always knowing which way is north)
I can’t comment on playing with those races, just want to point out that ancients gets misty step as a domain spell — though the free cast is certainly nice.
Also, there’s no north in space.
As an OoA tank, I would rank them: Shadar Kai, Zariel Tiefling, Minotaur
-Shadar kai has increased passive necrotic resistance, the Blessing of the Raven Queen gains another set of resistance at 3rd level, and a decent tank stat (+1 CON)
-Zariel tiefling has a pretty big damage increase for Paladins in that free smite and a good stat block (+2 CHA \ 1 STR)
-Minotaur has charge and a decent stat block (+2 STR \ 1 CON)
Overall, I think Shadar Kai is just an outright better tank than the other two. You do lose some possible damage opportunities but your party has 5 other dps characters so it shouldn't be a problem.
Zariel tieflings are great for paladins, personally I think because of the Flames of Phlegethos feat. Check it out if you’re able, you won’t regret taking it.
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If you are using the Monsters of the Multiverse version of Shadar Kai then I would take the Shadar Kai. You can put the +2 and +1 in whatever stats you want (probably Charisma and Strength). Blessing of the Raven Queen will help you get into melee quicker if you start too far away to use your move, this will make you far more effective in the first round of combat. The resistance to all damage for a round and permanent resistance to necrotic is certainly nice too.
If you are using Legacy version Shadar Kai and can reassign the ability score increases as per Tasha's Caldron of Everything, then I would still take Shadar Kai.
The Zariel Tiefling is better than the Legacy SK if you can't reassign ability score increases because it has strength and charisma, which is what you want. Of course if you roll stats that could depend on what you roll as well.
I have looked at that, because I really like it thematically and want to build a character around that feat. The problem I see with it on a Paladin is wreathed in flame only activates when you cast a spell, only lasts a round and you have to use a fire spell to bring it into being. Searing Smite from Zariel Tiefling would cause it, but that is only once a day, for one round, and only does 1d4 damage per time you are hit on that round.
To get more than one round use out of it you would need to use other spells. The only Paladin spells I think of that cause fire damage are elemental weapon, which takes an action, and searing smite. You could prepare searing smite as a Paladin as well, in addition to the Zariel free cast but that is still going to be very limited uses and again it only activates the round you cast it. At 10th level you have 9 total spell slots, so if you use every one of them on Searing Smite or Elemental Weapon you will have a total of 10 rounds that you are wreathed in flame (9 from spells and 1 from the Zariel spell). At 20th level it is only 16 rounds, and that is using every slot you have for seaering smite or elemental weapon. Since they are both concentration you would also have to end it early and recast it to renew the wreathe a second time in a fight.
I also find smites are generally better than smite spells because there is no concentration or bonus action required, you use the slot after you hit and if you crit you can choose a higher level smite to get the most out of it.