Paladins

Explore Paladin classes in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, including Cavalier, Inquisitor, Undead Hunter, and Blackguard, their unique abilities, and spell progression.

Class Features:

• May wear helmets
• May wear any armor and use any weapon
• May achieve Specialization (two slots) with any weapon class
• May achieve Specialization (two slots) in any fighting style
• May take three slots in Two-Weapon Style
• Receives +2 to all saving throws
• May use the Lay on Hands ability to heal 2 HP per level once per day
• May Detect Evil once per round
• May cast Protection from Evil on himself once per day per level
• May turn undead as a Cleric two levels lower starting at level 3
• May cast cleric spells from level 9
• 10 HP / level for the first nine levels, 3 HP per level thereafter

Tips: The vanilla Paladin has decent abilities, especially the saving throw bonus, but is generally eclipsed by the Paladin kits.

Cavalier

The Cavalier is a Paladin who leads from the front.

• +3 to-hit and damage vs. dragons, wyverns, demons and devils
• May cast Remove Fear once per day per level
• Immune to fear, charm and poison
• 20% Fire and Acid Resistance
• May not use ranged weapons.

Tips: Creatures affected by the combat bonuses are rare but powerful. The immunities are very good, although the inability to use ranged weapons is a moderately severe restriction.

Inquisitor

The Inquisitor's specialty is battling evil Mages.

• May cast Dispel Magic once per day per four levels
• May cast True Sight once per day per four levels
• Immune to hold and charm
• May not turn undead
• May not use Lay on Hands
• May not cast cleric spells.

Tips: Dispel Magic is cast at twice the Inquisitor's level, making it very likely to stick, but it is not a party-friendly spell. The price for the Inquisitor's abilities, losing the ability to turn undead and use divine magic, is somewhat high.

Undead Hunter

Does what it says on the tin.

• +3 to hit and damage vs. undead
• Immune to hold and level drain
• May not use Lay on Hands

Tips: There are a lot of undead enemies in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, so the combat bonuses are quite decent. The immunity to level drain is fantastic. This is probably the best of the Paladin kits.

Blackguard

The Paladin's evil twin brother.

• Immune to fear and level drain
• May use the Absorb Health ability once per day, draining 2 HP per level from an enemy
• May use the Poison Weapon ability once per day per five levels. Enemies struck by the Blackguard's weapons during the next round take additional damage over time
• From level 3, may use Aura of Despair once per day, inflicting combat penalties on enemies. The ability gets more powerful as the Blackguard gains levels
• Alignment restricted to Evil
• May not cast Detect Evil or Protection from Evil
• May not use Lay on Hands.

Tips: Poison Weapon is a powerful ability. Aura of Despair is also decent, but once per day is not that great.

Paladin Spell Progression:

Paladins gain limited spellcasting abilities from level 9. Eventually, they are able to cast 4th-level Cleric spells.

• Level 9: 1 (1st-level spell)
• Level 10: 2 (1st-level spells)
• Level 11: 2 (1st-level spells), 1 (2nd-level spell)
• Level 12: 2 (1st-level spells), 2 (2nd-level spells)
• Level 13: 2 (1st-level spells), 2 (2nd-level spells), 1 (3rd-level spell)
• Level 14: 3 (1st-level spells), 2 (2nd-level spells), 1 (3rd-level spell)
• Level 15: 3 (1st-level spells), 2 (2nd-level spells), 1 (3rd-level spell), 1 (4th-level spell)
• Level 16: 3 (1st-level spells), 3 (2nd-level spells), 2 (3rd-level spells), 1 (4th-level spell)
• Levels 17-18: 3 (1st-level spells), 3 (2nd-level spells), 3 (3rd-level spells), 1 (4th-level spell)
• Level 19: 3 (1st-level spells), 3 (2nd-level spells), 3 (3rd-level spells), 2 (4th-level spells)
• Level 20+: 3 (1st-level spells), 3 (2nd-level spells), 3 (3rd-level spells), 3 (4th-level spells)