Best races for the Paladin class in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Paladin class is one of the most alluring melee classes in Baldur’s Gate 3. Its oath-based nature makes it quite versatile, letting it dominate the battlefield as a tank, warrior, or even pseudo-healer. And that is all before talking about the Necromancer-like Oathbreaker subclass. But what are the best races for the Paladin class in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Best races for Baldur’s Gate 3 Paladin, explained

When it comes to the best races for any class in Baldur’s Gate 3, you honestly can pick whatever you want. While the early access version of the game featured stats that would change depending on the race and class combo you have, that isn’t the case in the full release.

Instead, your stats are mainly determined by your class selection. That said, there are some minor race-exclusive traits and skills that make some ever-so-slightly more appealing for the Paladin than others. If you don’t have a race picked out already, here are four recommendations I have for the Paladin.

Dragonborn

First off, there is the Dragonborn. By far one of the most unique races in its dragon-like appearance, you have 10 different variants to choose from. It depends mainly on your visual preference and what element you’d like resistance to.

Given the hearty, resistant nature of the Dragonborn, they work quite well for the Paladin class. Not to mention, this race looks quite appealing in the classic shiny Paladin armor.

Gold Dwarf

The Gold Dwarf subrace may seem like an odd pick at first glance, but it has the unique trait known as Dwarven Toughness. This gives you an extra health point for every level you have in the game. If you want to be a tank-like Paladin player, this is the one to go with.

Plus, it is quite the entertaining combo.

Half-Orc

While there is no pure Orc in Baldur’s Gate 3 for you to play as, the Half-Orc is one of the better choices for a Paladin. Most of the unique traits you get as the Half-Orc are built towards being a tank or aggressive fighter.

You get Relentless Endurance, which ensures that you won’t get downed by a deadly kill that would otherwise drop you to zero health points. In addition, you have Savage Attacks, which makes your critical melee hits even better.

Human

The Human race might be one of the most boring, but it is also one of the most flexible in the game. You get an extra skill to choose from, more weapons and armor proficiency by default, and solid movement, which is helpful as a melee character.

Humans fit the Paladin bill quite nicely, whether you want to choose the Oath of the Ancients, Oath of Devotion, Oath of Vengeance, or even Oathbreaker subclass.