The New Vengeance Paladin: D&D Ep.

[@DnDDeepDive]

Check out Faerie: A Realm Wanderer's Guide here! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/the-dragons-vault/faerie-a-realm-wanderer-s-guide?ref=D4DD - SMALL ERRATA: Chef is a General Feat :). I think I was thinking Crafter? /shrug ALSO! I say that we get Compulsion and Freedom of Movement for free at 13, but those are the Oath of Glory spells - not sure how I screwed *that* up - Vengeance gets the (much better imo) Banishment and Dimension Door spells.

[@smiegto]

me: no sorry i cant back this time. theres a witch and some cool faerie shit. me: well you got me there.

[@burntcustard]

Chef would make more sense than any other feat to be an origin feat rather than a general feat, so it's an easy mistake to make!

[@ArturoSanabriaVasquez]

5.5!! 5.5!! 5.5!! 5.5!!

[@Lmwpitt]

Hola - Can anyone confirm whether GWM applies to Smites and HuntersMark....? Since they increase the attack's damage with extra dice. GWM's RAW implies the entire attack's damage dice treat any 1s & 2s as 3s... not just the weapon's dmg for the attack.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

My proposed name for this build: "Anyone got a spare bonus action?" - if ever there was a build you wished you had more than one bonus action!

[@theresnoracelikegnome]

Just multiclass with Thief…from Baldur’s Gate. 😜

[@okayhellohihowyadoin]

I love Colby but more than anything this just showed me how bonus-action clogged and unrealistic the set up for this is. I think Palis are fantastic even if they didn’t have smite at all, but there are just sooo many things especially the vengeance paladin wants to do with their bonus action already. I think it’s safe to say smiting is pretty much only something you should do on a crit or if it’ll kill (if your bonus action wouldn’t already do it otherwise AND if it’s a target you want dead immediately AND your allies turns won’t kill then after) which is pretty niche. I think nerfing the aura would’ve been the better route and making smite once per round with no BA cost.

[@NoNameBoi9987]

Still waiting for the Pally Valor Bard build you promised us in a throwaway comment like a month ago

[@lankarddkl8722]

@@okayhellohihowyadoin Lol it is exactly the change I have already decided to make. Lvl 4-5 can cast Smite Spell without bonus action (this way you have to multiclass a lot to get as good as paladin on smites), level 6-8 ANY smite spell without using bonus action, but Smite spell restricted for once per turn (but like sneak attack available on opportunity attacks). Aura of Protection bonus is fixed (since now all feats gives an ability increase it isn't broken) gives +3 at lvl 6, and becomes +4 at lvl 9 and +5 at lvl 12. I will gladly accept suggestion or critics.

[@tiradegrandmarshal]

@@okayhellohihowyadoin Is the action economy really any worse than before, though? Smiting now takes a bonus action, but activating Vow of Enmity no longer does. So that cancels out. And then the other stuff costs the same as always. At least now you can Vow + dual wield attacks on the same turn, or Vow + Divine Favor, or Vow + Hunter's Mark, which you couldn't do before.

[@odhinnfist]

100% agree with Colby on the smite changes. It would have been much more elegant and far less punitive to just add language like "A paladin can only smite once per round" or something similar. No need to cut out possibilities for bonus actions, multiclassed paladin/barbs or paladin/monks.

[@artilerath3]

No need to even have that language. Since it's a spell now, that restricts you to once a round by itself, would have been rather elegant. But instead we have this mess.

[@Klausbro]

I fully intend on advocating for this in my play group as a homebrew

[@odhinnfist]

@@artilerath3 I meant rather than having it as a spell. I don't like it being a spell at all.

[@RevocerGM]

Or, hot-take ... make it a reaction. Yes, it'll steal away opportunity attacks, etc - but I think it makes more sense the 'bonus action you spend on a hit'

[@goji253]

@@RevocerGM Yeah it at least feels more in line with how other spells work.

[@LeonLJ]

Suggestion: Make a full build for each new class where you don't multiclass. So now you have an assassin rogue, pact of the blade warlock and now the vengance paladin. I think it would be great to see what Wotc has done to reward sticking with 1 class. Great video as always, Colby

[@WTH13SERIOUSLY]

I personally think that the shift from burst to sustained will be good for my games anyway. I am a DM and burst is often very frustrating and more difficult for me to deal with or balance for. Thats just my take.

[@Pyromanemac]

I like that Monty came straight out and said that he talked Jeremy Crawford XD

[@DnDDeepDive]

I didn't want to out him or steal his thunder :)

[@nickm9102]

​​@@DnDDeepDivethe sad thing is that this means that Paladin is a Better Fighter at lvl 5 than the fighter is at 20 (or wherever they get the 4th attack now) unless they are also dual wielding light weapons with the feat Edit: I almost feel that it is a must for anyone that can get a fighting style even casters.

[@LuxTheSlav]

​@@nickm9102What are you talking about, a level 20 fighter with the TWF/DW setup gets 6 attacks per round, 11 (!!!) with Action Surge. Fighters are _fine._ As for casters, if they spend a few ASIs or delay their spell progression with a dip to get the necessary proficiencies and masteries, maybe. The only full casters that will realistically dual-wield will be Valor Bards and bladelocks, and both will need to get weapon mastery and fighting style from elsewhere. Just because dual-wielding is finally a viable build doesn't mean it's suddenly the new meta.

[@nickm9102]

@@LuxTheSlav If Fighter doesn't have that fighting style and feat they are being matched by a lvl 5 Paladin. You proved my point the GEM/SD build has been replaced by TWF/DW. BUT THEY FIXED THE GAME, they told us so. The only thing that is worse is if you can get a fighting style on a Druid then it is the same thing but with conjure elementals on top

[@nickm9102]

@@LuxTheSlav this also begs for high lvl play as Ranger3/Druid15 for 9th lvl slots, double Epic Boon Feats, the fighting style. You might not have a 9th lvl spell but you don't need it in the end.

[@apjapki]

Fellow Paladins we are now merely only very powerful.

[@AndrewThoesen]

Colby - it was some mysterious benefactor Monty - JEREMY SAID DUAL WIELD GOES HARD

[@AwesomeWookiee]

I heard the Elden Ring intro music during the freakout. Ain't sneaking that past me. ...a duel wielding build... bathed in rays of Gold!

[@crazybattlegoose8872]

I'm using the help action to boost engagement. Thanks for another fun and powerful build!

[@Bacon_and_Busch]

Any Dex pally build has my undivided attention. Dual wielding Dex Pally? You're my hero!

[@Zoddlander]

I agree! slice and dice!

[@pheralanpathfinder4897]

In 5.0 paladin 2 Sword Bard 15 and Psi Warrior 3 was nice DPS when burning Simulacrum spell slots.

[@carlosmarroquin3019]

Wait that what MM said was the Rangers thing.. your telling me everyone else can... wow.. who new.. lmao

[@ninnusridhar]

I completely agree with the sneak attack idea for smites. A class feature you can use once per turn, does so many d8s per spell slot, and you can sacrifice a number of d8s to add the searing effect or the banishing effect. It could've been so flavourful and special.

[@keeganmbg6999]

Same train of thought here. I’d even be ok with it sacrificing a die to have a rider effect like they did with SA and then just getting by flat damage boosts throughout the levels at much smaller intervals without their being a spell cost.

[@twinlamp]

It really feels like they made the changes to paladin before they figured out the (genius) changes to sneak attack and didn't want to re-open paladin and use the same framework.

[@foldionepapyrus3441]

That would be fun, though for me I see no reason to limit it to once a turn, the ability to go really nova really adds to the flavour and impact - for just a moment the wrath of your god flows through you to big effect. And as Paladin get very few spell slots so being able to go nova burns them out really quickly - they can feel powerful, impactful, but never outshine everyone else as they are only able to bring that much punch in a tiny number of rounds a day. To deal with multi classing simply limit the size of the smite so it is related to Paladin levels - you can still smite with that 5th level slot you got for being mostly a pure caster, but being only a little bit paladin your smites are effectively capped at level 1 smite power...

[@ninnusridhar]

@@foldionepapyrus3441 that ends up feeling like you're punishing multiclassing. Remember that when multiclassing while you can't pick up higher level spells from other spellcasting classes you can upcast your usual spells like always. So best not to mess with the base logic for the old divine smite The disadvantage of not going more levels in paladin is not getting auras, the smite spells, etc. So let's not mess with my baby divine smite.

[@maxtionhero1169]

Why would they make a feature for one class and then just give it to another? Paladins are still cracked. Using your Bonus Action to do things is a choice. Just like it is for Rangers, Monks, etc.

[@christophertherians2243]

2 straight classes in a row? Is this the true Colby or a doppelganger? Yove us the epic boon of true sight and we will find out.

[@manandshark]

When you reach level 9, you can actually use Spirit Shroud for your concentration instead of Hunters Mark. It will give you a d8 instead of d6 extra damage, it uses your bonus action once and won't require it again after downing enemies, and it adds a slow effect on the hits as well. 😁

[@DnDDeepDive]

Ha ha - I totally forgot that SS was available to Pallies! It wouldn't be a huge bump at level 9, but at 17 when you could upcast to 2d8, it would likely overshadow haste by just a bit.

[@christophertherians2243]

We know how.much you love monks and how much they buffed them, and bow you told Chris that in your opinion now sorcerer is the strongest class I completely agree that earlobe was the correct choice for the first 2024 video, but thought 2nd and 2rd would have been monk and sorcerer, when are you planning those? Always great to see you, thanks for all the fun you share with us!

[@DnDDeepDive]

So much to do! I'll probably start working on Monk next week, and might do a sorc after that?

[@IFailAtUsernames19]

"Hunter's Mark is a better spell than Haste." - Colby, 2024

[@StriderZessei]

Totally not taken out of context at all, btw! 😂

[@James-kv3ll]

Can’t wait for a Rogue or Barbarian build. Your videos are so well made.

[@Tylerjstratton]

As a life long Paladin main my self I’m glad that “save your slots for smite” has been opened up! Great videos. Loved your stormlight one too.

[@JudeCranberry]

Finally at a point where I can Justify some monthly subscriptions, and I’m super glad to be a part of this community!

[@DnDDeepDive]

Hey thanks! Welcome!

[@seerozymandias7616]

I love that the first Paladin you have built for 2024 rules is dex-based. Such a cool character idea that was hard to pull off under 2014 rules.

[@ryanscanlon2151]

It's time for Divine Favor to shine! Divine Favor is gonna be a very commonly picked spell now and I for one am glad, it was so underappreciated before

[@tiradegrandmarshal]

It was underappreciated before because it wasn't that good before. Removing concentration from it was a very welcome change that makes it worth using now.

[@pheralanpathfinder4897]

Enlarge has similar benefits. My friend's monk loved the extra 1d4 on flurry of blows at level three.

[@ryanscanlon2151]

@@tiradegrandmarshal in a lot of combats with multiple enemies not having to pay your bonus action for move hunters mark makes a big difference. Concentration free is just icing on the cake

[@WTH13SERIOUSLY]

Awesome build, Homelander! I personally want to see more builds like this that are more reliable and don't rely on kind of cheesy or unreliable things. Love the concept and the build. Super excited for the updates and all the builds to come.

[@TarninTheGreat]

It was wonderful meeting you at Gencon! For anyone at home wondering: apparently Colby's Paladin Aura IRL has "All characters are under the effect of the Bless spell while in this emanation".

[@ValuelessPond22]

Glad to see you do a dual wielding paladin! I did a fun dual wielding sorcadin build for my last campaign, and was so crushed to hear the bonus action requirement for the new smite! Excited to hear you work your magic on this one!

[@Wightwind]

First time ever supporting a youtube channel by joining as a member, and its absolutely worth it. Only recently discovered the channel, and was sold when I saw how much of a Sanderson fan you are as well! Keep the epic content coming!

[@DnDDeepDive]

Cheers!

[@flamefyr]

I think what I like most on the new rules for Pally is Smite is now what it should have always been: The Finisher. You always have it in your back pocket to finish off the boss or something that is giving your party trouble and it's no longer the answer to everything. Ita a fair change and one that doesn't make using smite outside of a crit unimpressive. I wait on baited breath for the Berzerker build, a build I hope has some burst to but can also just 'Do this all day' vibe. ❤❤❤

[@robertpower8374]

Love the build. I also realised you can grab Hunter's Mark with Fey Touched, so you can do the dual wield stacking damage spells with other Paladin subclasses as well.

[@clarkside4493]

What a Paladin/Barbarian loses in smiting, he can sort of make up for in durability since Lay on Hands is not a spell and now a Bonus Action. Paladin/Monks will benefit most from _Divine Favor_ and the +1d8 Radiant damage on each hit feature. You can save smiting for when you're out of Points for Flurry of Blows.

[@ducky36F]

Smiting is more fun than laying on hands. Worst trade deal in the history of trade deals 😂 I’m a Paladin I’m here to smite evil. Let the clerics handle the healing :P

[@mossblomma]

Wood elf vengeance paladin: "they cut down MY tree! their blood will nourish the soil!"

[@DrenosNDragons]

Love this. I was working on an Eladrin Paladin8/ Warlock12 with elven Accuracy that was a SAD Dual Wielder. You would use a club with Shileleagh in your main hand (pact of the tome or Magic Initaite Druid) and have a blade pact Scimitar in your off hand. Both attack with Charisma for 4 attacks per round. The only problem was at Warlock 12 Devouring blade only works with your pact weapon, so no SAD 5 attack build. You can also get 2 epic boons and a 22 charisma if you plan your levels right.

[@guyperson7487]

I was surprised about how much I liked the new devotion paladin. I really want to try to play one! (And eldritch knight getting the bladesinger multi attack is very enticing)

[@ARSP33LS]

Taking this build for a spin in a couple weeks. First time playing essentially. This was perfect as I planned to be wood elf paladin. Dual wielding seems more thematic too

[@VoxRatio]

I love using your videos to get me in the D&D mindset while prepping. Every now and then I have to pause because I'll go off on a tangent due to your brilliance. lol.

[@PiroMiru]

Here's a Fun idea: Take Tavern Brawler, use a shield as an improvised weapon and use it with a scimitar. Use dual wielding feat + style with a shield. Improv weps are only a 1d4 unless they take 2 hands, but this should work! It costs you using a 1d4 vs a 1d6, and you lose the vex mastery, but you gain a shields full AC in tradeoff! You do have to be strength though, unless you can figure a way around that! I think I remember a rule somewhere of small inprov weapons counting as a club? But maybe I am not remembering correctly. If it does though, that also grants you the Slow mastery, so that's neat.

[@DnDDeepDive]

Got this on the to do list!

[@Valaris312]

I've never been so early! All of the bots are still here! xD Love the builds Colby, can't wait to enjoy this one!

[@DnDDeepDive]

The bots are increasing in both size *and* aptitude. I'm getting nervous.

[@kel8923]

This is a bot comment if I ever heard one.

[@joshuaclendenon]

Came for the build, stayed for the Deadpool & Wolverine talk. Hilarious movie! 2024 PHB seems to be shaping up pretty decently...

[@SomeRandomDude161]

I love your videos. Even if I don't get to try out any of your builds at my table, since I'm the DM. Also your outtakes always crack me up.

[@mirandathomas9004]

I'm soooooo excited to rebuild my vengeance pally 🤩 We'll see, but I think making smites less of an obvious use for spell slots might make combat more interesting.

[@Bman6464]

Glad to see you still making builds brother! I dont know anyone that plays where im living, so im living vicariously through you 😂

[@donaldcrankshaw1627]

I do think Searing Smite might be better than people give it credit for, at least if I understand the new version correctly. Since it scales both initial and repeated damage as you upcast it, and it does damage at the start of the target's turn before the target rolls their save, you essentially increase damage by 2d6 each spell level, meaning that it outpaces normal Divine Smite by level 2 (4d6 vs 3d8). And that's assuming the target makes their save.

[@tiradegrandmarshal]

Yeah, Searing Smite got a nice buff. It's better damage than Divine Smite except on crits or against fiends and undead.

[@tiradegrandmarshal]

I feel like the action economy improvements for Devotion and Vengeance went a long way toward making the smite changes a lot more tolerable than they would have been. I was extremely pissed about the Playtest 6 version of the Paladin, precisely because of the bonus-action congestion that appeared headed for, but the CDs for Devotion and Vengeance getting moved to no action cost for the final product really helped with that.

[@BunkinBranding]

Thank you Colby. I appreciate all the effort you go through to make awesome and entertaining videos. You are the bomb! Maple waffle fan club!

[@iammattis1479]

SO glad that Colby’s talking points on smite were the same as mine. 100% agree! I’ve always been of the opinion that making it cost a bonus action was the big design misstep; everything else was fine in my opinion (well - except for the fact that I think Paladin’s Smite is kind of a lame name for the feature 😅). I’m glad I’m not the only one, because it definitely felt like I was for a while 😆

[@wizzzjer]

That's hell of an opening! I'm hitting the like button and now proceeding to watch :D

[@umpatte0]

Duel wielding paladin is neat. Ever consider a 2h strength ranger? Hunter subclass with horde breaker, halberd with cleave property, polearm mastery. At level 5 you can 5 times in a round (multi target) PLUS a possible opportunty attack from polearm master which can cleave too

[@DnDDeepDive]

@@umpatte0 got it on the to do list!

[@umpatte0]

@DnDDeepDive senpai noticed me!

[@umpatte0]

@DnDDeepDive bugbear with their extra reach goes well with the reach weapons. And it isnt a gloomstalker ranger assassin rogue!

[@novarren]

I've heard "5.24e" bandied about and it seems like a mouthful. I have also heard that with the release of the PHB, the version of the SRD is moving to "5.2", so I've taken to calling it 5.2e.

[@MatthewDragonHammer]

Give it time. In 6 months everything on D&D beyond will just be the 2024 version. In 6-12 months after that, 95% of players will just be calling the new stuff “5e” and the 2014 “old”.

[@sebastiendubois6876]

really like your voice. its soothing and i could listen to you all day. Great content!

[@thesouthernfire2112]

I wasn't expecting to hear Gregory Alan Isakov at the end! Absolutely incredible songwriter!

[@Zoddlander]

I like this build and there is also a back up in that the character can be go with ranged weapons if the enemy becomes air born because of the Dex focus! Nice build!

[@dogglesnake]

This was a fun listen! Excited to hear more ideas using the new system

[@Hatscatsandwaffles]

Always here for a dual wielding build! I am so excited to see your take on the new Valor Bard and Eldritch Knight

[@Aidscapade71]

This is giving me so much hope for my dual handaxe build that I've wanted to make for so long!!

[@bluesaysnope6289]

Can't wait to see what your new take on the bladesinger is gonna be

[@nodiggityindeed]

As a Nick, the nick mastery almost got me in trouble early in the playtest because my DM just thought I was giving myself a free attack and yelling out my name like an anime protagonist and now whenever anyone does it we say it just like that.

[@christophercox1630]

Was discussing this idea with a friend, glad to see we weren’t alone.

[@chillycharizard5985]

55:20 "Definitely gonna have a hard time singing with this cold." *Proceeds to sing absolutely beautifully*

[@Notsogoodguitarguy]

Paladins are still definitely one of the best classes in 5e. They were never because of smite or anything like that. It's the Aura of Protection. It's always been the Aura of Protection. Saves are just so extremely important, and a paladin just makes it so, so much easier. Until they rework the aura to be less powerful, paladins are still gonna be strong and they'll have to work really hard to make them suck.

[@kaemonbonet4931]

No, stop this slander! We're all friends here but to be clear: Smite is really good and the goal of nerfing it was clear. Aura is also really good but as someone who has played paladins from older editions it just doesn't work without the aura. Both are necessary to the fantasy and good for the mechanics of game. 🎉🎉🎉

[@apollosungod6673]

Paladins were strong because of their defensive utilities *and* their front loaded offensive capabilities through class features as a pairing. One without the other makes the class feel disjointed.

[@ducky36F]

But smiting is the fun part. They nerfed the fun part.

[@Notsogoodguitarguy]

@@ducky36F true, true. But we were talking about what made them strong, not fun xD

[@zebesttfd]

We were discussing something with a friend of mine, and the more interesting part of the Dual Wielder feat is actually Quick Draw. The wording of it is kind of weird, saying that you can draw or stow two weapons, no specifics about whether you draw one and stow another, because otherwise that ability is just completely useless and something that most tables would've allowed anyways. BUT, if you can do that, that means that one or two of your attacks can be done with a d8 weapon instead of a light weapon. This is no significant increase as you said, but it's still something to consider.

[@James-kv3ll]

I was literally just trying to make a dagger wielding Dragon Sorcerer + Dex Paladin work.

[@Wintermute909]

Whether its deliberate, or just serendipity, I'm loving the synergy of d4 & the DD analysing the new Paladin at the same time! Imo it makes both videos more interesting! (Which I didn't think possible......but now I'm wondering if Treantmonk could join and make it a trifecta of happiness?!)

[@WTH13SERIOUSLY]

This dual wielding thing is going to make bladesingers and stuff like that amazing. The multiclasses are going to be wild. So excited

[@bjpaljug]

Thanks for this! As you point out, it's not just about the nova nerf, it's the stifling of build and gameplay diversity that's so disappointing (especially since the blade lock is right there with its third attack and Eldritch Smite). I think it's bad when you're often better off not using a core class ability.

[@charliebrooks1474]

You 100% would be a fan of Gregory Allan Isakov. If you haven't had a chance, definitely go see him live.

[@sinisterplank3113]

I had a thought, I think there's a good argument for choosing Magic Initiate (wizard) for this build, and picking up the blade ward cantrip for some extra spell slot free defense, and the shield spell. It's a solid pick for those wanting to shore up some of the lack of defense for a shield less Frontline. Pairing blade ward and divine strikes will certainly bump you up a notch in tier 1

[@andrewmcmillan229]

Let’s go! been refreshing all morning at work

[@ian6843]

Colby, College of Valor is Broken 2 level sorcerer, 2 level fighter, 1 level warlock with agonizing blast invocation. Rest on College of Valor Turn 1 - Cast CME at highest level posible, Activate Innate Sorcery Turn 2 - Quicken Upcast Scorching Ray, Double Eldritch Blast with action surge = Big Damage

[@ALDO_GOODENS]

I didn’t think the new action surge could be used for spell actions?

[@bronzejoseph9393]

But you can't use magic action in Action Surge, so how do you do second Eldritch Blast?

[@solarkhan484]

@@ALDO_GOODENS You can take the attack action with action surge and then replace one of those attacks with a e blast. He needs another lvl in warlock tho since agonizing has a requirement of warlock 2

[@ALDO_GOODENS]

@@solarkhan484 Oh! I see now. I forgot Valor bards got that feature now. Thank you for the clarification

[@hawkname1234]

@@solarkhan484 Also needs Sorc 3 to get scorching ray

[@TheAusar]

You had me at "dual wielding"

[@forcepike]

I played an elven accuracy vengeance paladin and it was really fun! Looking forward to dual wielding being more viable in the new rules, although I will miss the multiple smites per round. Great video!

[@chrisminerd5752]

Hey Colby! Love this and I'm a huge fan of the channel. If I can make one suggestion going forward it would be to run damage numbers with and without 2014 content. I'm curious what the DPR looks like without EA and maybe something like slasher instead. Again love your channel and appreciate what you do for the community!

[@Unorbit]

Vengeance will reign from above, let my enemies taste my blade and anger!

[@woutvanostaden1299]

... from below? I don't it sounded like the cliché sentence wasn't finished yet.

[@shoganmajere7913]

you mean until a valor bard / warlock / sorcerer melee build will enter and show you how to bring the vengeance down on your opponents or a Bladesinger / Warlock / sorcerer or a sorcerer / warlock ..... and will deal about 500 sustained dmg in a round Paladin is not only weaker but it is ( beside AMind Sorc ) the only class that gets an ability that is rendered completly obsolete in later lvls ( read divine smite ) coby did a good job piling on things you can add to still do some damage but its a long uphill battle vs. the mentioned builds ..... top build ( nova ) will be : 15 valor / 2 sorc / 2 ftr / 1 warlock => 20 attacks in 1 round with each +12d8 once a short rest

[@TheRealZiktus]

​​@@shoganmajere7913I'm curious how that top build you mention get 20 attacks +12d8 on each during their nova round with that combination of classes. I'm trying to think of anything, but closest I can get with that class and level spread, is 8 attacks during your nova round with two weapon fighting, Dual Wielder, the Nick mastery, Haste and Action Surge taken into account.

[@Yabbamann]

Unless I read it wrong, the dual-wielder feat says that the bonus action attack does NOT add your ability score modifier, unless it's negative. This significantly reduces the damage on those bonus action attacks since you're not getting the +3/4/5 extra damage from your Dex. This makes Hunter's Mark and Divine Smite more appealing to use, slightly. The wording on the dual-wielder feat also means that (I believe) you can use the Nick attack of the scimitar as the trigger for the Enhanced Dual Wielding feature. This means you can Shortsword (Vex), advantage on Scimitar attack (for free with Nick), Enhanced Dual Wielder Shortsword attack using bonus action (Vex), advantage second regular Shortsword attack (Vex until next turn). Therefore, there's an argument to be made that Vow of Enmity isn't really required since 2 attacks on your turn will already have advantage from the Vex property of Shortswords. If you do want to use Vow of Enmity, you could debatably choose your 2 weapon masteries to be Nick and Slow (from a Longbow). Also, since you're making 3 shortsword attacks, the benefit of the Magic Weapon feature or just a magic +1 weapon in general are intensified.

[@Wanderingsage7]

'WOTC hates Paladin!' deadpans in Artificer.

[@zSavageWolves]

I’m working on a video comparing different martial fighting styles from the 2014 rules to the 2024 rules, and with my initial math done, I can say that damage is up, across the board. Weapon masteries and origin feats (magic initiate: wizard in particular for a familiar) go a long way, and largely offset changes to feats and the loss of things like variant human. The crown has changed hands, but everyone does more damage (yes, even the hand crossbow guy; vex is a hell of a drug). I’m using a generic no subclass fighter for my comparisons, using variant human for the 2014 versions and either custom background or human species to start with MI:W for the 2024 versions.

[@dominicdwk]

You nailed it, completely agree. Reducing Nova raises the bar for players. They’ll need to work together more than in 5e.

[@deadku6150]

you should check out a 1) elf (elven accuracy - recc shadar kai) 2) Champion Fighter (Great Buff) 3) Shortsword + Rapier (plus dual wield feat) recc piercer feat at level 8 the build comes online as early as level 4, gets better at 6 and 8. great all around fun slapping

[@tjstyles1171]

Sorry if it has already been said (I did a search and didn't see it come up), but a quick note on if you wanted to use Dual Wielder with a non-light weapon. If you have a Longsword and a Shortsword, you only need to make a single attack with the Shortsword to allow a bonus attack with the Longsword. Meaning if you are a fighter with Extra Extra attack, you could take the attack action and attack twice with your Longsword, then attack with your Shortsword for the Extra, Extra attack. That attack would trigger the DW game text allowing you to attack again with your Longsword with your BA. So, when you compare it to the 2014 version, you are really only having to downgrade one attack to a light weapon. Still a debuff, but not as severe as it may seem at first.

[@typoko]

It is good to take note that this build scales extremely well with magical weapons that increase damage by dice, such as flametongue.

[@sinisterplank3113]

I think, if you cast hunters mark at round 1 and Divine Favor at round 2, rather than the other way around, you gain an additional 3 points damage average on the first round. Small, but counts.

[@Kimbrell]

I don't mind the Paladin changes overall, this build is a f un one! I'm sure my buddy who plays nothing but Paladin will enjoy this. I have a dual-wielding pact of the blade Archfey Warlock ready to go once they release this book. One-level fighter dip for weapon mastery. 5 attacks at level 12 vs an enemy with hex? I'm in. A couple options for your main weapon to give you advantage on other attacks as well. May not be the most optimized but a full Nightcrawler type of build sounds like so much fun.

[@Corax_Gamer]

Should also mention at level 4 you could switch to studded leather to drop scale mail’s disadvantage on stealth checks.

[@deanstavru7138]

Great video as always!! my only objection with he new build videos is that in new books whatever is reprinted going forward (like species, backrounds, feats etc) will make the new builds void from that point on... Maybe just staying with only the new rules would be better for the survivability of the builds and their videos.. Plus it will cover the people not using both old and new rules, which I think will be the majority at the end..

[@Bigryguy95-epic]

I agree with the BA change sucking. As my groups forever DM, my plan as soon as I heard it was to keep it all the same but drop the BA part for the sake of my players. It just doesn’t feel like a necessary change imo. But the once per turn smite limit, again as the forever DM, is such a blessing and feels completely needed. It always took away from mine and the other players fun when a paladin would save all their smites to 1 or 2 turn the climactic boss fight.

[@kallebuchholz2156]

Finnaly, a Den based build. Love it! But I have to ad that I would find your videos much more compelling if you would build them not just for damage but more balanced or with a secondary goal like ... teleporting every round or whatever.

[@Abyzdecannes]

Dual Wielding dex based Paladin is how I most often play the class on BG3, I go Bard 6 Paladin 2 and it's triple smite per turn time

[@ThatGuy182545]

It’s like Christmas in July, in August!

[@TeamofLouie]

Okay so last night I simulated 4 rounds of combat with my old level 8 pally 2 hexblade build and then this build at level 10. The dual wielding dex paladin cleared damage all 4 rounds, even with a critical level 3 smite. This build is gonna life up my DM.

[@cassandrasibley228]

Yesterday you posted a short about dual wielder and my first thought was to use it on a paladin with the new divine favor, same brain cell 😂

[@gervasiosantos3563]

C'mon Colby, now you gotta do a pure class build for all of them! Just how strong can you get without multiclassing?

[@TheSchantz3]

I'd point out one thing to note comparing a pact of the blade lock's damage to most other martials' is that enemies will now resist magical sources of piercing, bludgeoning and slashing. I wonder if you may find yourself in situations where smiting is optimal on many fights because it gets around general weapon resistances. In those cases Divine Favor is more impactful as well when comparing damage against other martials. Bladelock being able to change damage types on the fly may be more impactful than some people at first might appreciate for the same reason.

[@wizzzjer]

To whom it may concern: I took some time to calculate and compare flat damage from 4 light weapon attacks as Colby suggests here, common (?) dual wielding combo 2 versatile + 1 light attacks, and good old 2 heavy + 1 butt polearm master attacks. 4 attacks deals the highest damage, followed closely by polearm master, with the versatile+light combo being the last one. But the difference is VERY insignificant! By 10th - TENTH - round of combat cumulative damage of 4 light attacks will be only 3-4% higher than polearm master's damage. Don't stress too much about it, fellow pals. Go ahead, use your favorite weapon and be the frontliner beast you deserve and love to be!

[@oshermdaddy2058]

Paladins have aura of protection so they still are inherently one of the best classes still

[@williambowen8054]

I'm very excited about the divine favor change. My biggest wish for 5e has accessible spells that help gish. At my table, with the new rules, I would be tempted to allow rangers with a subclass to have concentration free hunters mark.

[@11111416]

Okay hear me out, a STR based version of this might work with polearm master. I'm not super clear on how drawing and stowing weapons works now in the new rules and if you can stow a weapon as part of a bonus action attack. And I'm not sure if free object interaction is still in the game. However, with dual weapons, Polearm Master, and a Halberd, I think you can do the following sequence: Halberd attack action, Cleave Attack, Bonus Action Attack, end-of-attack-stow, free 1H draw, 1H attack, before-attack-draw offhand, offhand attack. Next Turn (dual wielding): Main attack, Offhand attack, end-of-attack stow, free object sword stow, draw halberd before attack, halberd attack, cleave, polearm master BA attack. cycle on repeat. If this doesn't work it might work with the dual wielder feat, if it does work then you basically end your turn with your dual swords or your halberd alternating forever, so you sacrifice your special reaction attack every other turn. However it lets you theoretically do five attacks with cleave as a level five paladin.

[@mikecarson7769]

nice build! i was thinking similar DEX vengeance paladin wood elf, but with single-hand finesse weapon, light armour, shield, and defensive duelist

[@BinxyBrown]

This sounds great too, I think there is a shield bash feat, I don't remember if it used your bonus action but if it doesn't that lets you smite more often and also gain 2ac which is pretty good

[@EdibleFriend05]

Really surprised I didn't see Spirit Shroud on this build, an extra 3d8 on set up round, 4d8 thereafter seems pretty good, especially if you stack a smite on it That being said, overall it's just nice seeing a Paladin build with more than 2/6 levels. As I kinda figured they aren't DPS kings any longer, but dps doesn't account for the amazing utility features like Aura of Protection or Lay on Hands Given how well Cunning Strikes was recieved I'm genuinely surprised we didn't see a variant of Treantmonk's Paladin's Smite feature he cooked up. Oh well. Maybe one day we'll get a Tasha's 2.0 and it'll be in there as a variant option Ive been playing a 2024 Paladin with Eldritch Adept for Pact of the Blade in a Spelljamer campaign for a while now. Ill be the first admit it, not blowing all my slots on Smite sucks, but I do find myself actually using spells way more often now. I think that is ultimately a net good. Once we hit double digit levels I wanna see this bad boy do same damage with Genie Warlock levels

[@darklight9450]

I mean the main thing about giving paladins a type cunning strike is that takes away from the utility from other classes . I will say though divine smite should be once per turn without a ba at level 5 . As the Auras already help with team play. Witch also giving them something like cunning strike that would mean Paladin’s would be better rouges,monks,and a better fighter battle master.

[@mistformsquirrel]

Oooh... Dual wield dex paladin is something I've occassionally tried to do since 3.0... *I will be taking notes on this one*

[@emulationemperor8924]

I should probably just become a member at this point with how much I bother you with builds. And it's not like you don't already have a million in the back of your mind. But I would love to see another stab at a whirling dervish of a monk. The Tasmanian Devil build that you did exploited a weird interaction with a Barbarian subclass that got you 3 attacks with your action. But now with the nick property, it's less an exploit and now an intended mechanic. I imagine a Monk with a Ranger dip. Monk would get you to 3 attacks with your bonus action, and Ranger would open up weapon masteries, fighting styles, and hunter's mark. Borrowing heavy inspiration from the build in this video, you make 3 attacks with your action, then bonus action flurry of blows for 3 more attacks. With the upgraded martial arts dice of D&D 5.24 and hunters mark applying, you can get some fairly solid damage. Plus, 6 attacks in one turn feels like a Kung Fu action movie with a ton of rapid strikes.

[@leohale6449]

You sir are the Mr. Rogers of DnD.

[@moby517839]

I would also like to say that having one straight class build for every class would be appreciated as it would be a good way to see how the new classes shake out all the way to lvl 17

[@mappybc6097]

Cool build, and the number crunching is on point, save for a little detail. You do not add your ability modifier to the extra atk from dual wielder. There is no ambiguity in the wording of two weapon fighting style: " When you make *the extra atk granted by the light weapon property,* you add your ability modifier to the damage of the extra atk." No if or buts. You only add the ability modifier if the extra atk happens as a result of the light property. Now, what does dual wielder says? It says, "When you take the atk action on your turn and atk with a weapon that has the light weapon property, you can make an extra atk as a bonus action." It doesn't say anywhere that the atk is part of or a result of the light weapon property. Raw it simply doesn't happen. Your fourth atk doesn't add your ability modifier, end of the story. The second extra atk is still good to have, but it's nowhere as effective as the extra atk from nick+two weapon fighting. And in fact, if you are not adding extra dice from some other source such as divine favor? Imo it might not even be worth trading your bonus action for a single d6/d8. Also, a question. Do you now get saving throw proficiencies from multiclassing? In 2014 you would never get saving throw proficiencies from other classes.