How do paladins get an edge against undead? The answer lies in their access to Shield and the damage buff from Hexblade’s Curse. In this article, I’ll also discuss their damage buff from Guiding Bolt and Hexblade’s Curse. And, of course, they’ve got Aura of Protection! But what’s the best way to use these two powerful spells?
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paladins get advantage against undead
The Blessed Warrior style is one of the best options for Dexterity and Str-based Paladins because it provides more support for casting spells. Standout skills are Guidance and Toll the Dead, both of which give more damage, and the better your Charisma, the better you can cast them. Blind Fighting is another option, and it provides blindsight and can be built around Darkness or Fog Cloud.
While Divine Allegiance is a good option for many situations, it only benefits melee attacks and is only relevant to a limited range. While it’s still useful, it does not reduce damage and requires an action to use. Similarly, Unyielding Spirit is a niche feature, and should only be used in certain situations. Nevertheless, it’s important to have the best option available for your build.
They have access to Shield
While Shield against undead can be useful, the best use of the spell is as a tank. Shield of the Righteous provides a good amount of hp regeneration, and a Paladin can also use the Retribution Aura, which grants wings and a short duration Avenging Wrath when an ally dies. Holy Paladins can use this ability as well.
Regardless of which class you choose, you should learn the skills associated with shields. Shields provide significant protection against undead and fey. Shields can be enhanced with the Tower Shield proficiency. Defender of Siberys, on the other hand, increases the AC of a shield. Both of these abilities are essential for melee or ranged combatants. When choosing a class, consider the type of character you want to become.
The Crownguard Lance is an excellent weapon for Paladins. This magical weapon grants +3 to damage and attack rolls, and allows the Paladin to use the Lay On Hands spell on an attacking creature. This spell is especially useful when dealing with fiends, skeletons, or other undead. It has a 30-foot radius. The Crownguard Lance is a great weapon for an adventuring paladin, so consider equipping one.
They gain damage from Hexblade’s Curse
Hexblade Hexlocks are capable melee combatants who can wear medium armor and summon a Zweihander of shadow and flame. Warlock subclasses have expanded spell lists, which helps you focus on the subclass’ strengths. Some of these spells include Branding and Blur. Here are a few other useful tips:
This feat gives the paladin an extra attack on the main hand and only works with that weapon. This feature is also limited to melee attacks, so the paladin can’t use this skill while evading or attacking. In contrast, the paladin can use this skill as an extra attack when they need to. However, it can be used only if they are using one or two weapons at a time.
As a bonus action, Hexblade’s Curse can grant the Paladin with an extra hit point when attacking the cursed creature. This attack can be used once every 30 seconds, and while it increases hit chance, it also heals the caster. The damage bonus can be used when the target is nearby or in melee range. However, it must be noted that Hexblade’s Curse does not stack with Wrathful Smite or Sword Burst. The damage bonus of the spell is only 0.25%, so the difference is not significant.
They have access to Guiding Bolt
While many Celestials have a high resistance to radiant damage, the damage you deal to them is single-target. As a result, you should avoid targeting Celestials with Guiding Bolt, as the damage you do will not be as devastating to these enemies. Nonetheless, this spell does scale well into the mid-game and is still worth casting on high-level enemies. Although it doesn’t scale well against undead, it is a good early-level spell to learn and should be used against enemies that are vulnerable to fire. Regardless of your class, DMs should make sure to explain the benefits of Guiding Bolt to new players.
Guiding Bolt deals 4d6 damage at first level, and it can be used against any creature that attacks you in 120 feet. This spell can deal up to 14 damage, making it one of the most powerful attacks available to a Paladin. The disadvantage is that it requires a spell slot to use. As a result, if you are looking to take advantage of Guiding Bolt against undead, you should be aiming at the end of the dungeon, where the baddies are the most difficult to defeat.