**Introduction: Smite ‘Em All!**
Ah, the Paladin. The holy knight who rides in shining armor, ready to dish out justice in the name of the gods, or in the case of the *Oath of Vengeance*, to hunt down those who have wronged the innocent and seek retribution. In *Baldur’s Gate 3* (BG3), the Oath of Vengeance Paladin is a powerhouse, combining both divine might and a thirst for vengeance that can melt even the most hardened of villains. But how do you make sure your Paladin is a true vengeance machine? That’s where the build comes in. Let’s dive into the world of the Oath of Vengeance Paladin and break down the best ways to bring justice—whether it’s by the sword or by the divine hand of smiting.
**The Problem: Why Are You Not Smiting as Hard as You Should Be?**
As with any RPG, choosing the right build is crucial. But with so many possible ways to customize your Paladin’s abilities, it can be a bit overwhelming—especially if you’re not sure how to maximize the Oath of Vengeance’s unique powers. Many players find themselves scratching their heads, wondering why their Paladin isn’t dealing enough damage, or why their Divine Smite doesn’t feel as impactful as they imagined.
The Oath of Vengeance Paladin offers some amazing abilities, but if you’re not paying attention to your character’s stats and synergy with other skills, you might find yourself lacking that extra oomph. Whether you’re struggling with high-level enemies or feeling like your Paladin’s wrath isn’t being fully realized, the solution lies in the build.
**The Solution: The Ultimate Oath of Vengeance Build**
Here’s the good news: with the right build, your Paladin can be an unstoppable force of justice. Let’s break down the key elements of a solid Oath of Vengeance build in BG3:
1. **Choose the Right Race**
– While you can go with any race, a Half-Elf or Human is often recommended for their versatility and ability to maximize key stats like Strength or Charisma. A Half-Elf’s ability to choose an extra skill is also a nice bonus.
2. **Focus on Strength and Charisma**
– Strength will give you the physical power needed to hit hard with your weapon (plus, it boosts your melee attack rolls). Charisma, on the other hand, powers up your Paladin spells, including the all-important smites.
3. **Maximize Your Smite Power**
– Smite is your bread and butter as a Paladin, and the Oath of Vengeance offers you the ability to do extra radiant damage on top of your regular attack. Be sure to stack as much Divine Smite as possible, especially on bosses and tough enemies. To get the most out of your smites, consider selecting the *Great Weapon Fighting* fighting style, which allows you to reroll damage dice on a one or two—turning every hit into a potential big damage output.
4. **The Oath of Vengeance Features**
– One of the highlights of the Oath of Vengeance is the *Vow of Enmity* ability, which allows you to target an enemy and gain advantage on attack rolls against them. This means you’re hitting more often and harder. It’s a must-use against any big bad you want to take down.
– Additionally, the *Relentless Avenger* feature lets you move up to your enemy after you hit them, keeping you in the thick of the action and allowing for more smites.
5. **Spells and Utility**
– While Paladins are known for their martial prowess, they have a suite of divine spells that can really help round out your build. *Hunter’s Mark* is a fantastic spell that increases your damage output, and *Misty Step* can help you close the gap between you and your prey if you need to teleport quickly into battle.
6. **Feats to Consider**
– Some useful feats for the Oath of Vengeance build include *Great Weapon Master* (for bonus action attacks) or *Polearm Master* (for reach and extra damage). These feats can add a whole new layer of strategy to your build and turn you into a true vengeance machine.
**Player Experiences: The Struggle and the Triumph**
It’s not all smooth sailing. Many players have gone through the learning curve of optimizing their Oath of Vengeance Paladin build. Reddit and game forums are filled with stories of players getting frustrated with their damage output in the late game. “I thought my Paladin was going to be a god, but I feel like I’m just hitting people with a glorified stick,” one player posted, reflecting the struggles of not utilizing smites properly or focusing too much on tanking rather than damage.
But then, the sweet moment of victory comes when the build clicks. You’ve optimized your strength and Charisma, combined it with the right feats, and suddenly, you’re crushing enemies with a series of devastating smites. Boss fights? They’re over before they even begin. The forum users will rejoice, as someone else asks, “How did you make your Paladin so strong?” and you get to drop the build knowledge bomb.
**User Feedback: What’s the Community Saying?**
The *Baldur’s Gate 3* community loves the Oath of Vengeance Paladin but also has plenty of thoughts on how to fine-tune the build. On one hand, people praise the raw power and the satisfaction of smiting foes left and right. On the other hand, some express frustration with the balance between staying in melee range to deal damage while avoiding being squashed under heavy attacks. It seems the consensus is that this build requires a bit of finesse—if you want to be a true Avenger, you’ve got to be strategic, not just powerful.
Some players recommend pairing the Paladin with ranged support classes like Rangers or Wizards to keep enemies off you while you do the dirty work. Others emphasize the need to keep your positioning in mind; don’t just rush in without thinking.
**Conclusion: Are You Ready to Smite?**
So, are you ready to embrace the Oath of Vengeance and become a terrifying force in *Baldur’s Gate 3*? With the right build, you can transform your Paladin into a vengeful juggernaut, capable of taking down even the toughest enemies with ease. Don’t forget to focus on maximizing your Strength, Charisma, and Divine Smite. Remember, the Oath of Vengeance is about punishing your enemies—and punishing them hard!
Now, over to you: have you tried the Oath of Vengeance build? Have you encountered any roadblocks or triumphant moments? Drop your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
