Oath of Defiance

The Oath of Defiance calls its adherents to oppose tyranny wherever it takes root. These paladins have no central order from which to take instruction; rather, they operate independently, passing their teachings along to the people they spend their time working to aid, and only taking apprentices from those willing to stridently uphold the values of liberty and self-determination. Paladins of the Oath of Defiance typically favour unadorned armour or eschew it altogether, trusting their lives to their comrades.

TENETS OF DEFIANCE

The tenets of the Oath of Defiance vary wildly from one adherent to another. All can agree on a few central ideas, however.

Stamp out Tyranny. Wherever you see injustice, whatever the degree, dedicate yourself to its defeat. 

Serve the People. Adapt to the needs and wishes of those you are to help. Not all problems have the same solution.

Mourn the Fallen. Do not forget those who lose their lives in the pursuit of freedom. Every casualty is a reminder of the significance of your cause.

Practice Humility. You are not the leader of your movement, only a conduit for the downtrodden. Do not use your oath as an excuse to rule over others.

Channel Divinity

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

Topple Icons. As a bonus action, you can imbue yourself with iconoclastic fervour, using your Channel Divinity. For 1 minute, you have advantage on attack rolls and Strength checks targeting objects and structures, and your Divine Smite feature may additionally target objects and structures.

Turn the Mighty. As an action, you present your holy symbol and speak an accusation of the powerful, using your Channel Divinity. Each creature with a CR greater than your level, or in a position of power over others, that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes damage.

A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.

Oath of Defiance Spells

Aura of Defiance

Starting at 7th level, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you can’t be restrained while you are conscious. In addition, creatures affected by this feature may use their reaction to make one weapon attack when they are reduced to 1 hit point.

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

Protector of the People

Beginning at 15th level, you are always present for your comrades. You can use 5ft of movement to teleport to a willing creature within 30ft of you.

Avatar of the Unbroken

At 20th level, as an action, you wreath yourself in the fighting spirit of those yearning for freedom. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits:

Once per round, when you are reduced to 0 hit points and are not killed outright, you can choose to drop to 1 hit point instead, gaining the amount of damage triggering this ability as temporary hit points.

In addition, you cannot be knocked prone, and are not affected by difficult terrain.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.