2024 Paladin vs. 2014 Paladin: What’s New

Tags author-davyd-atkins Player's Handbook

Ever the stalwart warrior of divine power, the Paladin returns in the 2024 Player’s Handbook with a new yet still familiar arsenal at their disposal. Lay on Hands and their signature smite features appear once more, but with a new look and refined wording alongside new features such as Faithful Steed and Weapon Mastery. Oh, and you can now smite with your fists!

In this article we’ll cover the highlights of the 2024 Paladin that you’ll find in the pages of the new Player’s Handbook. If you don’t see a feature covered, such as Aura of Protection, that means it is unchanged from the 2014 Paladin, or only saw very minor changes.

The 2024 Player’s Handbook is Now Available!

Buy the 2024 Player’s Handbook today and dive into revised rules, enhanced character options, and exciting gameplay innovations.

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What's New for the 2024 Paladin?

Class Feature

Level

What's New

Lay on Hands

1
  • Now a Bonus Action.
  • Can now be used on Constructs and Undead

Spellcasting

1
  • Paladins have access to spellcasting from level 1 now.
  • Number of prepared spells is a fixed number listed in the Paladin table.

Weapon Mastery

1
  • Choose two weapons you’re proficient with. You gain use of their mastery properties.
  • May change your chosen weapons each Long Rest.

Fighting Style

2
  • Fighting Styles are now feats, and some have seen minor tweaks.
  • The Paladin also has access to the special Blessed Warrior option, which first appeared in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

Paladin’s Smite

2
  • Always have the Divine Smite spell prepared.
  • Can be used with Unarmed Strikes.
  • Now requires a Bonus Action, which you can take immediately after hitting a creature with an attack.

Channel Divinity

3
  • Can be used twice before Short or Long rest.
  • The Paladin's Divine Sense feature is now part of Channel Divinity and lasts for 10 minutes.

Paladin Subclass

3
  • Oath of Devotion: Subclass features last longer and have a reduced action cost. Divine Smite also now grants cover to you and your allies.
  • Oath of Glory: Peerless athlete has a longer duration and your aura ability has a larger radius.
  • Oath of the Ancients: Aura of Warding now affects specific damage types rather than just spell damage and Undying Sentinel now lets you regain Hit Points. Elder Champion can also be restored using a level 5 spell slot.
  • Oath of Vengeance: Vow of Enmity no longer requires a Bonus Action, has a larger range, and can be transferred on killing a creature. Avenging Angel can be restored using a level 5 spell slot.

Faithful Steed

5
  • Always have Find Steed prepared, which you can cast once per Long Rest without using a spell slot.

Abjure Foes

9
  • Use Channel Divinity to potentially cause a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier to become Frightened of you.
  • While Frightened this way, they can only use limited actions.

Aura of Courage

10
  • If an ally with the Frightened condition enters your aura, the condition no longer has any effect.

Radiant Strikes (previously Improved Divine Smite)

11
  • Now works with Unarmed Strikes.

Restoring Touch

14
  • Spend 5 Hit Points from your Lay on Hands pool to remove selected conditions.
  • Can remove multiple conditions by spending more points.

Epic Boon

19
  • Choose one Epic Boon feat, or another feat of your choice.

2024 Paladin Class Features Overview

Artist: Michael BroussardAn orc paladin in silver and gold plate with a radiantly glowing longsword.

Lay on Hands — Level 1

Formerly an action to use, the Paladin's Lay on Hands now only requires a Bonus Action, granting the class more versatility with options on their turn. This is a theme you’ll see throughout the class, as many features have been changed from an action to a Bonus Action.

Additionally, Lay on Hands can remove the Poisoned condition and can now be used on Constructs and Undead.

Spellcasting — Level 1

A big change from the 2014 Paladin is that the spellcasting feature is now accessible from level 1, with the number of spells you can prepare now a fixed number listed in the Paladin table. This opens up a lot more options for level 1 Paladins, especially given the new and improved smite spells.

Weapon Mastery — Level 1

Your first level of Paladin gets even more exciting with the addition of the Weapon Mastery feature, which grants access to a suite of special rules for the weapons you wield. You can select two weapons that you’re proficient with and unlock their mastery properties, and each Long Rest you can choose to change which two weapons this feature applies to.

To highlight this new option for Paladins, let’s take a look at the mastery properties for a signature Paladin weapon, the Longsword:

  • Longsword (Sap): Any character wielding a Longsword while it’s their selected Weapon Mastery armament will be able to use the Sap mastery property. When you successfully hit a creature with an attack using a weapon with the Sap mastery property, its next attack roll before the start of your next turn has Disadvantage.

Fighting Style — Level 2

Fighting Styles have been adjusted now to be a special subtype of feat that any class can choose from if they have the Fighting Style class feature. Paladins can pick one of these feats, or alternatively, they can choose the Blessed Warrior option, which grants them two Cleric cantrips.

Paladin’s Smite — Level 2

Previously a dedicated feature in the 2014 Paladin and formerly known as Divine Smite, the level 2 Paladin Smite feature on the 2024 Paladin works a bit differently. Instead of granting you a smite feature directly, it gives you the Divine Smite spell as a permanently prepared spell.

This new spell works much like the 2014 Divine Smite class feature, with a couple of key differences. First, it can now be used on Unarmed Strikes, which is a relief for Paladins who want to sock monsters with a divine punch to the face. Second, it now requires a Bonus Action to use, which you take immediately after you hit a creature with an attack roll, bringing it mostly in line with the original Divine Smite's mechanics.

Paladin Subclass— Level 3

Artist: Michael BroussardAn tiefling paladin channels divine magic.

All four subclasses for the 2024 Paladin are returning options, but each one has had a small glow-up. All three 2014 Player’s Handbook subclasses return in new and improved form, with a fourth option familiar to anyone that has read Mythic Odysseys of Theros or Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything: the Oath of Glory.

  • Oath of Devotion: Paladins who swear an Oath of Devotion will find their features lasting longer as Sacred Weapon and Holy Nimbus each now last 10 minutes instead of 1 minute. In addition to its longer duration, Holy Nimbus can also be used again by spending a level 5 spell slot, rather than just being once per Long Rest. They also have a new feature that replaces Purity of Spirit in the form of Smite of Protection, which grants cover to you and your allies within your aura when you cast Divine Smite. Finally, Oath of Devotion Paladins gets tweaked spells in the form of Shield of Faith and Aid, replacing Sanctuary and Lesser Restoration, respectively.
  • Oath of Glory: Oath of Glory has had its Aura of Alacrity feature improved. Previously, it had a 5-foot radius, now it uses your Aura of Protection to determine who it affects. This use of Aura of Protection is something else you’ll see recurring throughout the 2024 Paladin and its subclasses, meaning better synergy between your class features. Oath of Glory Paladins can also enjoy a 1-hour duration on Peerless Athlete and access to a brand new Oath Spell called Yolande’s Regal Presence.
  • Oath of the Ancients: One of the biggest upgrades to Oath of Ancients is to Undying Sentinel. Where the 2014 Oath of the Ancients Paladin would simply go to 1 Hit Point instead of 0, the 2024 version instantly regains a number of Hit Points equal to three times your Paladin level. Nature's Wrath also now affects each creature of your choice within 15 feet, and your targets must make a Strength saving throw instead of getting to choose between making a Strength or Dexterity saving throw. Elder Champion has also seen some love, now requiring a Bonus Action instead of an action, and can be refreshed with a level 5 spell slot.
  • Oath of Vengeance: Carrying on the trend, Oath of Vengeance receives an action economy boost with Vow of Enmity no longer requiring an action and instead can be applied when you attack. It also has an increased range and can be transferred when the current target of your vow is reduced to 0 Hit Points. Relentless Avenger and Avenging Angel have also had boosts, with the former reducing the target's Speed to 0 and the latter being able to be refreshed with a level 5 spell slot.

Faithful Steed — Level 5

Paladins now always have a faithful steed on hand with the Find Steed spell always prepared from level 5 onwards. This feature also grants a single free casting of the spell once per day so you can summon your Otherworldly Steed. That’s right, your mount has had an upgrade too, with a brand new bespoke stat block for the 2024 Find Steed spell. The Otherworldly Steed is much better suited for combat and can even regain Hit Points whenever you receive magical healing.

Abjure Foes — Level 9

This new Paladin feature allows you to spend your Channel Divinity to target a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier and force them to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature is Frightened by you, and, while Frightened this way, is limited to only moving, taking an action, or a Bonus Action on their turn. It’s a very powerful way to control the battlefield, so if your idea of a Paladin features a control aspect, the 2024 version has you covered.

Restoring Touch — Level 14

Another new feature for the 2024 Paladin, Restoring Touch gives you an alternate use for your Lay on Hands points. You can now choose to remove one condition from a list of options and can even do this for multiple conditions if you spend enough Hit Points.

Epic Boon — Level 19

Previously a special reward found in the 2014 Dungeon Master’s Guide, Epic Boons have made their way over to the 2024 Player’s Handbook as a new type of feat with the prerequisite of being level 19+. While Paladins can take any Epic Boon, the recommended pick is the Boon of Truesight, which we’ll look at here:

  • Boon of Truesight, Epic Boon Feat (Prerequisite: Level 19): Increase one of your ability scores by 1 up to a maximum of 30 and you gain Truesight out to a radius of 60 feet.

Take Your Oath

The 2024 Player's Handbook is now available on the D&D Beyond marketplace, which means it's time to set out on new adventures with fresh or familiar characters!

The 2024 Player's Handbook brings a new and improved Paladin to your tabletop armed and ready with a slew of exciting new features and quality of life changes. You can charge into battle astride your Otherworldly Steed, abjuring foes abound while your Aura of Protection drives back the forces of darkness.

We’re delighted to share with you the changes to fifth edition D&D that appear in the 2024 Player’s Handbook. Make sure to keep an eye out on D&D Beyond for more useful guides on using the wealth of new options, rules, and mechanics found in the 2024 Player's Handbook!

 

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Davyd is a moderator for D&D Beyond. A Dungeon Master of over fifteen years, he enjoys Marvel movies, writing, and of course running D&D for his friends and family, including his daughter Willow (well, one day). The three of them live with their two cats Asker and Khatleesi in south of England.

This article was updated on August 12, 2024, to issue corrections or expand coverage for the following features and subclasses:

  • Lay on Hands: Removed mention of Lay on Hands not affecting disease as disease is a depreciated mechanic.
  • Weapon Mastery (Sap): Corrected terminology around Sap mastery property. Also, specified that the target has Disadvantage on its next attack roll (not attack) before your next turn.
  • Paladin’s Smite: Changed wording to remove "can,"  as the Bonus Action to activate Paladin's Smite after hitting a creature with an attack roll is not optional.
  • Channel Divinity: Added that Divine Sense now lasts 10 minutes.

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