D&D: Oath of Conquest Paladins are the Dark Knights We Deserve
Oath of Conquest Paladins are great for players and NPCs who wanna walk on the darker side…
That’s right, Paladins of Conquest are appearing on the final version of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, giving players a more forceful option to take when considering playing a Paladin.
Called Hell Knights or Knights Tyrant or Knights of Avernus, these Paladins revere order above all else. To the point where “defending order” as a concept drives them to do darker deeds. They are all about crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you, and hearing their loved ones lament.
via Wizards of the Coast
When the Hell Knight appeared before, it had already undergone a fairly serious overhaul. Gone were some of the previous mechanics that didn’t quite reflect on the theme of the class–instead we get a Paladin, who still feels very much like a Paladin, only with the outlook and abilities of someone who’s clearly fallen.
Ah, but for those who fall, this subclass adds a ton to the combat prowess of a regular paladin, with a selection of abilities that really double down on the theme of a tyrannical knight. Whether it’s in the ability to Channel Divinity to cause fear, or the later acquisition of an ability that damages foes who deign to attack you, this subclass really hits its idea home.
As a Paladin of Conquest, you’ll be debuffing your enemies like there’s no tomorrow, while also still dishing out damage. The 7th level ability grants you am aura that reduces the speed of creatures who are frightened of you to 0, and then damages them. The 20th level ability turns you into an avatar of Conquest, letting you score a crit on 19 or 20, while also gaining resistance to all damage. This subclass was very solid, and it sounds like there’s still a few tweaks to the final version, but seeing how it’s been progressing, I’m eager to see what the final version of this Avernus Knight ends up granting. I want to see how this class pairs with actual play.
Xanathar’s Guide can’t come soon enough, but in the meantime, enjoy and happy adventuring.
