Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition paladins gain access to powerful divine spells as they level up, with spell selection and level availability shaping each oath and playstyle. This progression ensures that every paladin feels uniquely strong in combat, support, or utility depending on their chosen tenets and spell choices.
Below is a detailed breakdown of paladin spells by level, including a compact summary table, keyword-focused sections, common questions, and key takeaways to help you build an effective holy warrior.
Paladin Spell Progression Overview
Paladin spellcasting focuses on radiant damage, healing, protection, and smite abilities, with key spells tied to their oath. As they gain levels, paladins unlock potent class features and spells that amplify their role as frontline guardians and divine avengers.
| Character Level | Paladin Spells Known | Spell Slots per Level | Key Features Unlocked | Core Spell Themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 2 1st-level | Divine Sense, Lay on Hands | Detect evil, basic healing |
| 3 | 3 | 3 1st-level | Spellcasting feature | Protection from evil and good |
| 4 | 4 | 4 1st-level | Ability score improvement | Improved survivability |
| 5 | 4 | 4 1st-level, 2 2nd-level | Aura of Protection | Enhance allies' defenses |
| 7 | 5 | 4 1st-level, 3 2nd-level | Improved Divine Smite | Radiant damage on every hit |
| 10 | 6 | 4 1st-level, 3 2nd-level, 3 3rd-level | Channel Divinity options | Cleansing burst, healing surge |
| 15 | 6 | 4 1st-level, 3 2nd-level, 3 3rd-level, 3 4th-level | Purity of Spirit | Resistance, enhanced aura |
| 20 | 6 | 4 1st-level, 3 2nd-level, 3 3rd-level, 3 4th-level, 4 5th-level | Holy Nimbus, Improved Aura of Divinity | Legendary-level presence and healing |
Level 1–2 Foundational Spells
At level 1, paladins focus on utility and defense, learning spells such as Protection from Evil and Good, which grants advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened. Lay on Hands provides reliable healing without consuming spell slots, establishing the paladin as both protector and healer right from level 2.
By level 2, paladins add Divine Sense to detect celestials, fiends, and undead within a specified radius. This early choice defines many paladin builds, especially oaths that specialize in hunting specific creature types.
Level 3–5 Expansions and Aura Growth
At level 3, paladins gain access to Bless, a versatile concentration spell that boosts attack rolls and saving throws for allies—an essential support tool for any adventuring party. Compelled Duel keeps enemies engaged and forces movement, ensuring the paladin remains central to combat.
By level 5, Aura of Protection extends to allies within 10 feet, adding the paladin’s proficiency bonus to saving throws. This dramatically increases party survivability, especially for squishier spellcasters and martials relying on Dexterity or Wisdom saves.
Level 7–10 Combat Enhancements
At level 7, Improved Divine Smite empowers every weapon attack with radiant damage, requiring no spell slot and synergizing perfectly with high-hit builds. This feature strengthens paladins even when spell slots are reserved for crucial moments.
By level 10, options like Lesser Restoration and Aid give the party greater resilience against debilitating conditions and massive damage. Channel Divinity choices further diversify playstyles, allowing paladins to specialize in healing, control, or damage bursts based on their oath.
Level 15–20 Legendary Presence
At level 15, features like Purity of Spirit grant advantage on saves against being charmed or frightened, while aura enhancements provide resistances and clearer judgment through spells such as Commune. These tools reduce downtime and ensure the paladin remains effective in long campaigns.
Reaching level 20, paladins unlock Holy Nimbus and the full power of their oath, allowing them to turn undead like clerics and dominate battlefields with radiant aura. Spell choices at this stage often focus on survivability, team support, and finishing off major threats with epic-level impact.
Optimizing Your Paladin Build with Spell Choices
- Choose level 3 spells that complement your oath, such as Protection from Evil and Good for Ancients or Command for Conquest paladins.
- Prioritize Aura of Protection at level 5 to maximize party durability in tough encounters.
- Leverage Improved Divine Smite from level 7 onward to maintain pressure even when conserving spell slots.
- Plan Channel Divinity usage at level 10 to cover weaknesses and enhance role-specific tools.
- Use level 15 spells and features like Commune and aura enhancements to prepare for epic-tier campaigns.
- At level 20, select spells that reinforce your legendary presence, such as mass healing or powerful auras that turn the tide of battle.
FAQ
Reader questions
What is the best paladin spell at level 3 for single-target control?
Compelled Duel is widely regarded as the best level 3 spell for single-target control, as it forces the target to move toward you on each of their turns and ends if they move away, enabling perfect positioning and protection of allies.
Which paladin spell should I prioritize at level 5 for group protection?
Aura of Protection is not technically a spell, but its impact at level 5 is immense; when selecting actual spells, Shield of Faith provides a powerful +2 bonus to AC for one ally, making it a top priority for group survivability.
At level 7, is it better to focus on damage or survivability spells?
Focus on damage with Improved Divine Smite active, spells like Crown of Madness or Blasphemous Blast add strong control and damage, while still maintaining survivability through class features and a few defensive spells like Protection from Energy.
What level 10 spell is essential for long rest sustainability?
Lesser Restoration is essential at level 10 for removing conditions such as paralyzed, poisoned, or stunned, which frequently appear in challenging encounters, allowing the party to remain operational without burning precious resources.