Oath of the Shield

The Oath of the Shield is a commitment to protect those who cannot protect themselves. When war comes to a peaceful city, when a dragon rains fire from the skies, when all hope is lost -- at times like these, paladins swear an Oath of the Shield, both to protect the weak and to slay the evil that needs protecting against. These paladins are known to be some of the bravest people you will ever meet, standing in the face of certain death if it means saving the lives of their friends and loved ones.

Tenets of the Shield

The tenets of the Oath of the Shield revolve around the protection of the weak and the destruction of the oppressive.

Protection. I am the last line of defense between the evil and the innocent. I must protect them at any cost.

Ruthlessness. A shield is not only for protection, it is also a weapon. If I cannot defend, then I must attack with unstoppable ferocity.

Courage. I must do whatever it takes to protect the innocent, even in the face of overwhelming odds, for if I do not stop this evil, then no one will.

Restitution. If there is an evil I was not powerful enough to stop, I must help those it has harmed.

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Divine Challenge. As an action, you issue a challenge that compels other creatures to do battle with you. Each creature of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is under the effect of the Compelled Duel spell. The creature can remake this saving throw at the end of each of its turns. This effect ends if you are incapacitated, the creature succeeds on its saving throw, or after 1 minute.

Divine Retribution. You can use your Channel Divinity to rebuke those who strike the innocent. Immediately after an attacker within 30 feet of you deals damage with an attack against a creature other than you, you can use your reaction to force the attacker to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the attacker takes radiant damage equal to the damage it just dealt. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage.

 

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.

Oath of Devotion Spells

Aura of the Bulwark

Starting at 7th level, your presence makes even the greatest threats wary of passing you. The area within 10 feet of you is considered difficult terrain for your enemies.

At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.

Divine Shield

Beginning at 15th level, when an ally within 30 feet of you takes damage, you may use your reaction to halve the damage taken. This feature may be used a number of times equal to your charisma modifier (minimum of 1).

Iron Resolve

At 20th level, you are an impenetrable shield against the wicked. As an action, you gain the following benefits for 1 minute:

You gain resistance to all damage

You gain an additional reaction

You emanate an aura of compulsion in a 30 foot radius. The first time any enemy enters the aura or starts its turn there, the creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or direct all of its attacks against you. If a creature has an area of effect attack, it must be centered on you.