Every D&DP Paladin Explained

The Paladin class in Dungeons & Dragons began as a highly restrictive subclass in the 1975 Greyhawk supplement, demanding exceptionally rare ability scores and strict adherence to a Lawful Good alignment. Over the early editions, including Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, the holy warrior gained iconic abilities like Lay on Hands, Divine Grace, and a trusted warhorse, but was constantly burdened by brutal codes of conduct. A single chaotic act could strip a character of their powers permanently. To counter these champions of light, the game introduced dark mirrors like the Anti-Paladin and the Blackguard, giving fallen heroes and dungeon masters a mechanical path to absolute villainy. As D&D evolved into its modern eras, the Paladin underwent massive structural and philosophical changes. Third and Fourth Editions experimented with loosening alignment restrictions and redesigning class mechanics, paving the way for Fifth Edition's revolutionary Sacred Oaths. Subclasses like the Oath of Vengeance, Oath of Conquest, and Oath of Redemption transformed the class from a rigid archetype into a versatile roleplaying toolkit. Culminating in the 2024 revised Player's Handbook, the Paladin has finally shed its mechanical punishments for breaking oaths and reworked its infamous Divine Smite, cementing its legacy as one of the most mechanically diverse and narratively rich classes in tabletop history. Covered in this video: Greyhawk Paladin, Gary Gygax, Rob Kuntz, First Edition Paladin, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Anti-Paladin, Cavalier, Second Edition Paladin, The Complete Paladin's Handbook, Third Edition Paladin, Divine Grace, 3.5 Paladin, Paladin of Freedom, Paladin of Tyranny, Paladin of Slaughter, Blackguard, Fourth Edition Paladin, Divine Challenge, Oath of Devotion, Oath of the Ancients, Oath of Vengeance, Oathbreaker, Oath of the Crown, Oath of Conquest, Oath of Redemption, Oath of Treachery, Oath of Heroism, Oath of Glory, Oath of the Watchers, Oath of the Open Sea, Matthew Mercer, Critical Role, 2024 Paladin, Divine Smite #DungeonsAndDragons #DnD #Paladin #DnDPaladin #TTRPG #GaryGygax #DnDHistory #TabletopRPG #DnD5e #AdvancedDungeonsAndDragons #OathOfVengeance #Oathbreaker #Blackguard #CriticalRole #MatthewMercer #DnDSubclasses #RoleplayingGames #FantasyLore #DivineSmite #TabletopGaming