Creating an Oath Paladin can be one of the most rewarding character builds in Dungeons & Dragons, and choosing a great god with the right flare for your Oath Paladin is extremely important. But where should you start looking in D&D's vast pantheon?

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Regardless, you intend to enter the Swearer subclass. or temporarily abandon your current oath, there are many D&D gods to choose from. Just make sure you talk to your DM about which gods are in their pantheon. If so These evil gods may suit your oath.
Some DMs don't want the sworn Paladin subclass in their campaigns. If you're still interested in the narrative options offered to Oath Breakers. Work with your DM to explore how a Paladin's choice to forgo the oath might alter or change their abilities. while still keeping your original subclass.
10 Cyrul the Sworn
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Forked tongue |
liar, cheater, traitor |
Starting with the most obvious, Syrul Oathbreaker is a great choice for paladins with a devious streak. Her symbol is a forked tongue, and for good reason. Her lies and deception are well known to those who choose to worship her.
As part of Greyhawk's pantheon of gods, Syrul's followers are often associated with the Scarlet Order, a deceptive faction within the city's gates. Creating a paladin who might have some connection to Syrul and this vicious assassin order could pave the way for more treacherous and sometimes unrealistic characters who use sword-like tricks.
9 Erithanul, many
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
drop of blood |
Thief, Berserker, Soldier |
Erythnul is known for its bloodlust and violence. Erythnul is a vicious and evil god who is also based in the Greyhawk Temple. The cultists of Erythnul believe that blood spilled on the battlefield imbues their god with his power. He often depicts scepters and hail from the chaotic outer planes of Pandemonium.
For paladins with a military background or backstory Erithnul can be a great god worthy of worship. A soldier who believes that power comes from the strength of the sword and shield rather than words. Many irrational flavors will be found in this bloodthirsty god. If you want to create a combat-focused paladin, Erythnul should provide plenty of roleplaying reasons to do so.
8 Kelemvor god of death
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Scaletal arm holds scale |
Monks, common people |
Kelemvor is a classic D&D god, considered the traditional god of death in the Forgotten Realms setting. His symbol is a skeletal arm holding a set of scales. Thus, he weighs the balance of life and death. and protect the barrier between the living world and the next.

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While many classic paladin creations serve the Force of Life, worshiping Kelemvor as a sworn paladin can prove to be an interesting roleplaying challenge. Kelemvor isn't necessarily evil. but are servants of the natural order. Abandoning the vow to save life and promises to preserve the power of death instead It is a complex dimension for role-playing Paladin players.
7 Hextor The Calamity of Battle
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Six downward arrows are in the fan. |
soldier, tyrant |
If your paladin is facing a crisis of faith in the natural goodness of the world, consider Hextor your chosen oath-breaking god. Part of Hextor's belief is that ruthlessness and cruelty are a necessity of life. They shouldn't be afraid. but should be respected
There are several religious-military factions from various versions of the Greyhawk campaign (of which Hextor is a part) that worship the Scourge of Battle. Creating a theocratic military order for your paladin to be a part of might be a starting point. A good place to build your Paladin structure is also to consider whether your previous Paladin came from a more peaceful worship order. And how they were pushed towards Hextor instead.
6 Incabulos Black Rider
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Reptile eyes inside horizontal diamonds |
shaman |
Incabolos often appear as deformed figures with skeletal hands and are extremely terrifying deities. Violators who seek to inflict illness and plague on their enemies and reserve healing for only their most trusted allies. This deity should be considered for their buildings. Incabolos are fond of contagious diseases and other ailments.
If you plan on using the previous 5th edition D&D rules and playing the Oathbreaker subclass appropriately, the expanded subclass spell list will help the Paladin of Incabulos complete with spells like Blight and Contagion at your disposal. If you're playing by the 2024 Player's Handbook rules, consider using an Origin Feat like Magic Initate to flesh out your spell list. Ask your DM about magical items that might allow your paladin to inflict ailments on others.
5 Neral the Grim Reaper
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Skull and sickle |
Murderer Necromancer |
Nerull is the favorite god of death-loving necromancers and other magic users. Seeking to change the barrier between life and death, Nerull's followers are feared by the common people. Believing that only murder could quench their god's thirst for blood, Nerull is said to reside in Carceri's prison plane, which can prove to be an interesting place for visiting high-level players.

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To add more Paladin flavor to Nerull, consider adding additional effects to your healing spells. Work with your DM to see if the Cure Wounds spell performed by your Paladin of Nerull reduces health. Temporary maximum or not? One way or another You can add flare to your spells by having your healing spells use a darker aura or tone.
4 share
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Black disk with purple border |
Those traitors, those tragic losses. |
Shar will be familiar to fans of Baldur's Gate 3 and is often known as the Dark Traitor or Mistress of the Night. Her worshipers love tricks and deception above all else. If your campaign takes place in Faerun, Shar is a great choice from this temple.
The main concept of Shar is darkness when creating the Paladin of Shar. Consider that your paladin previously worshiped the deity Pelor. whose main theme is light and goodness? This can create an interesting contrast when you decide to break an oath in favor of a new one.
3 Vecna the Whisperer
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Eye in the left palm |
Necromancer, Undead |
Longtime fans of Critical Role will definitely remember Vecna. Vecna was previously human. but received divinity And currently one of the darkest and most mysterious figures in the greater D&D realm, Vecna's followers thirst for arcane knowledge above all else. And they can often cheat death.
If your paladin is frustrated with a mysterious and benevolent god who refuses to provide answers or speak directly, consider Vecna your sworn god. Vecna often makes promises to his worshipers. And giving your DM the chance to take on the role of one of the most dastardly figures in canon is probably worth the effort.
2 Sirik, god of lies
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Jawless white skull |
traitor, thief, barbarian |
Another trickster god from the forgotten pantheon, Cyric's followers are some of the most devious. Marked by a symbol with a skull sitting in the middle of a dark sun, Cyric draws attention away from intrigue and illusion. His design aims to turn lifelong friends into enemies. Or just a ruler becoming a dictator?

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Players interested in a heavy roleplaying campaign should consider Cyric as a sworn paladin. If your build has a high Charisma stat block Taking on the role of a deceptive worshiper of Cyric can prove truly engaging and fun. This is especially true if your campaign is based in a densely populated center or driven by palace intrigue.
1 Bahal, god of murder
mark |
Followers |
---|---|
Skull surrounded by Ring of Bloody Droplets |
assassin, forced assassin |
Another classical deity widely known throughout the pantheon, Bhaal yearns for murder and death above all else. Assassins who work in the shadows also like Baal. In the end A knife in the back is safer than a sword stabbed in the chest.
If you or your players have recently committed a murder in one of the campaigns It might not even be fair. Consider using Bhaal to tempt your Paladin into breaking his oath. This can create unique roleplaying moments for you or your players. You can also create your own build and incorporate the Divinity feature of the Touch of Death slot from the original Death Domain subclass in Fifth Edition, which adds fixed damage to weapon attacks.

dungeons and dragons
- Original release date
- 1974-00-00
- Designer
- E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
- Number of players
- 2+