Clerics vs. Paladins in Baldur’s Gate 3: Which Class Reigns Supreme?

In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Paladin and Cleric serve as the game’s primary divine spellcasters, each bringing a unique set of strengths to the table. While they can occupy similar positions within a party, often viewed as healers or damage dealers, their abilities extend far beyond these traditional roles. This complexity can present a challenge for players trying to determine which class to choose for their journey in Faerûn.

Given their overlapping abilities and similarities in lore, players often grapple with the decision of selecting either a Paladin or a Cleric for their character. Ultimately, the best choice hinges on individual playstyle preferences, but a comparative analysis of their features can shed light on which class may better suit a player’s needs. So, what specific strengths do these classes offer?

The Paladin’s Distinct Advantage: Divine Smite

Clerics Enjoy a Broader Spell Selection

Despite their conceptual similarities, Paladins and Clerics experience a disparity in popularity among players, as highlighted on X. Paladins are classified as half-casters, limiting their spellcasting capabilities to third-level spells. In contrast, Clerics can harness a wider array of powerful spells, especially those that inflict area damage. Paladins are notable for their ability to execute a variety of smite attacks, with Divine Smite standing out as their signature move. This ability not only deals substantial damage but also conserves spell slots, as it does not expend a slot on a missed attack. Additionally, players can convert regular critical hits into Divine Smites using a reaction.

Astarion has been your favourite Origin character avatar, shortly followed by the wizard of Waterdeep and, of course, Godâ€™s favourite princess. However, over 93% of players chose to play as a custom avatar. Nice. pic.twitter.com/rzyj3scKPx — Baldur’s Gate 3 (@baldursgate3) August 7, 2024

On the other hand, Clerics are full casters, granting them access to a much larger pool of spells as the game progresses. While Paladins confine themselves to third-level spells without multiclassing options, Clerics can wield formidable spells like Harm, Telekinesis, and Planar Ally later in the game. Early on, spells such as Inflict Wounds can prove highly effective against opponents, making Clerics versatile from the start.

Paladins: Flexible, While Clerics Provide Underappreciated Versatility

Clerics’ Subclass Diversity Allows Role Flexibility

Though often pigeonholed as mere healers, Clerics possess a rich tapestry of abilities designed for versatile gameplay. Baldur’s Gate 3 encourages players to think creatively about Cleric usage; exemplified by Shadowheart’s Trickery Domain or Minthara’s original clerical design before transitioning to a Paladin in early development stages. Certain domains equip Clerics with heavy armor and damaging spells, enabling them to hold their own on the front lines.

Furthermore, the various Cleric domains unlock potential abilities that are otherwise unique to other spellcasting classes. War and Tempest Domain Clerics wield damaging spells, along with proficiency in martial weaponry, armor, and shields. For instance, the Tempest Domain’s ability, “Destructive Wrath,”unleashes maximum damage for thunder or lightning attacks. Should a party already feature robust melee attackers, a Cleric can serve as an excellent alternative to a Paladin.

While Paladin Oaths define much of the class, they can sometimes hinder gameplay. As highlighted by Reddit user ozangeo, players seeking Paladin-like spells with more tactical freedom might prefer a War Cleric. This choice allows for maintaining the moral high ground while engaging in strategic gameplay, such as saving Mayrina or tactfully dealing with Duergar slavers.

Paladins are exceptional in melee combat and strength-focused roles, ensuring they maintain strong damage output even when using regular attacks instead of smites. Future updates may further enhance this balance, such as the anticipated introduction of the “Oath of the Crown”subclass for Paladins, which could make them a formidable competitor against damage-oriented Clerics. Additionally, Paladin spells are influenced by their Charisma stat, which presents utility outside of combat—simplifying various encounters like battling Yurgir in the Gauntlet of Shar.

Clerics Excel in Support Roles, Yet Paladins Remain Strong Contenders

Clerics Offer Greater Power, While Paladins Provide Reliability

Clerics readily emerge as the superior choice for support roles, boasting an expansive range of healing spells. Though many of the support spells available to Paladins can also be accessed by Clerics—and often at lower progression levels—Cleric spells allow for upcasting, making them even more effective in high-pressure situations. As a result, the support capabilities of Paladins generally fall short when compared to their Cleric counterparts.

Paladin Spells	Paladin Level	Cleric Level
Bless Command Protection from Evil and Good Shield of Faith	Level 2	Level 1
Divine Favor	Level 2	Level 1 (War Domain)
Sanctuary (Oath of Devotion) Inflict Wounds (Oathbreaker)	Level 3	Level 1
Aid Hold Person (Oath of Vengeance)	Level 5	Level 3
Magic Weapon	Level 5	Level 3 (War Domain)
Daylight Remove Curse Revivify Beacon of Hope (Oath of Devotion) Protection from Energy (Oath of the Ancients, Oath of Vengeance)	Level 9	Level 5
Crusader’s Mantle	Level 9	Level 5 (War Domain)

While the Oath of the Ancients grants a mass-healing capability, the limitations of oath charges mean this will seldom rival a Cleric’s mass healing abilities, even though it can make the crucial difference in battle. Overall, Paladins are typically the “safer”class choice due to their foundational strength in gameplay. They remain the premier half-caster class. Nonetheless, Baldur’s Gate 3 brings forth the potential of a Cleric to become extraordinarily powerful with the right build and strong spells, allowing for higher damage output.

Sources: Baldur’s Gate 3/X, ozangeo/Reddit

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